Stok Kangri (elevation 6,153 m (20,182 feet) is the highest mountain in the Stok Range of the Himalayas in the Ladakh region of northwest India. The peak is located in Hemis National Park, 12 km southwest of the trailhead at 3,610 m (11,845 feet) in the village of Stok and 24 km southwest of the Ladakhi capital of Leh. Despite its altitude, Stok Kangri is a popular peak and is often climbed as an initial non-technical foray into high altitude mountaineering.
In late July and August, all but the top of the peak may be snow-free, as can be seen by clicking on and following the Google Earth link, which leads to some excellent new high resolution satellite imagery. The elevation data was verified by GPS readings from 11 satellites at the Summit during a late July 2007 joint Nepalese-US expedition which encountered snow cover for 85% of the final four hour, four km, 900 meter climb.
The shortest and most popular approach to the peak ascends the Stok valley, along the Stok Chu. This valley's grazing landscape, especially near the village Stok, was decimated by flooding in the first week of August 2006, the most severe in decades.
The first official winter season ascent was made in march/April 2002, by the Bicton college team, which had three members on the summit. Snow was so deep base camp was located over a mile down an adjacent valley pitched on the frozen river.
The peak has been judged safe enough to climb for teams by expedition companies, for example World Challenge who send many students every year. The Perse School's Exploration Society has previously summited the peak in 2009 and again in 2011 during a 4 week expedition in Ladakh.[1]