Tread with caution: Auden's Col trek in Uttarakhand

Auden's Col, a high altitude mountain pass, is located at an elevation of 18,010 ft in the Garhwal Himalayas. It is one of the least traversed trekking routes in the state. The pass connects Rudugaira valley and Bhilangna valley and, while doing so, connects dangerous mountain peaks and deadly glaciers.

Auden’s Col is also one of the routes through which one can reach Kedarnath, a route that is a bit on the tougher side but a route nonetheless. To reach Kedarnath, one needs to trek through Auden’s Col and then proceed to the Mayali Pass. From here, one proceeds to Gangotri and then to Kedarnath. Watch out for the notorious crevasses on the way!


The discoveryThis high-mountain pass was first discovered in 1935 by John Bicknell Auden of the Geological Survey, who later crossed this treacherous stretch in 1939. The pass is named after him.



The trekThis trek is not for the faint of heart. Even regular mountaineers call this trek a difficult one, as it is located at an incredible height and is full of dangerous patches that may or may not have been fully explored. This trek should be attempted by only those who have the experience of high-altitude trekking.


The rewards of completing the Auden's Col trek are immense. The mesmerising views of the surrounding snow-capped peaks, including some of India's highest mountains like Gangotri, Jogin, and Kedar Dome, leave trekkers in awe of nature's grandeur.

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For those planning to do the trek, there are two favourable windows – first, from the second week of May to the last of June, and second, from the last of August to the second week of October. Trekking in the month of May and June will give you a lot of snow. The section after the Gaumukh Glacier is especially very tricky even for regular trekkers.