Stok Kangri

{{short description|Mountain in the Stok Range of the Himalayas in the Ladakh region of northwest India}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2019}}

{{Infobox mountain

| name = Stok Kangri

| other_name =

| photo = Stok Kangri .jpg

| photo_size =

| photo_alt =

| photo_caption = Stok Kangri as seen from the Shanti Stupa, Leh.

| map = India Ladakh

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| map_relief = yes

| map_size =

| location = Zanskar Range, Himalayas

| label =

| label_position = left

| coordinates = {{coord|33|59|10|N|77|26|33|E|display=inline,title}}

| elevation =

| elevation_m = 6153

| elevation_ft = 20187

| elevation_ref = {{Cite book |title=Footloose in the Himalaya |last=Aitken |first=Bill |publisher=Orient Blackswan |year=2003 |isbn=9788178240527 |page=188}}

| prominence_ref = {{cite web |title=Stok Kangri |url=https://www.peakbagger.com/peak.aspx?pid=33737 |website=Peak Bagger | accessdate = 12 October 2024}}

| isolation =

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| parent_peak =

| listing = Ultra

| translation =

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| pronunciation =

| range = Stok Range

| topo =

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| volcanic_arc =

| volcanic_belt =

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| last_eruption =

| first_ascent = 1951

| easiest_route =

| normal_route =

| access =

| prominence_m = 810

}}

File:StokKangripic.jpg

File:Viewofleh.jpg.]]

Stok Kangri ({{convert|6153|m|ft|0|abbr=}}) is the highest mountain in the Stok Range of the Zazkar Mountains a Trans-Himalayan mountain in the Ladakh region of north India. The peak is located in Hemis National Park,

{{cite web

| url = https://www.google.co.uk/maps/place/Hemis+National+Park/@33.7448967,77.041626,10z/data=!4m5!3m4!1s0x0:0xf74ea9833e5618e2!8m2!3d33.7563151!4d77.2833252

| title = Hemis National Park on Google Maps

| access-date = 2016-10-28}} 12 km southwest of the trailhead ({{convert|3610|m|ft|0}}) in the village of Stok and around 15 km southwest of the city of Leh, the capital of Ladakh.

Despite its high altitude, Stok Kangri is a popular trekking peak and is often climbed as an initial non-technical foray into high altitude mountaineering. However, the difficulty of Stok Kangri is often underestimated and the need to acclimatise before and during the ascent makes Stok Kangri an enduring challenge.{{Cite web|title = Why the Stok Kangri trek in Ladakh is meant for the experienced trekker|url = https://indiahikes.com/why-the-stok-kangri-trek-in-ladakh-is-meant-for-the-experienced-trekker/|first = Arjun|last = Majumdar|website = indiahikes.com|accessdate = 2016-10-28}}{{Cite web|title = Stok Kangri: A Different Kind of Success|url = http://www.masteringmountains.org/stok-kangri/|first = Nick|last = Allen|website = www.masteringmountains.org|accessdate = 2016-10-28}}

In late July and August, all but the top of the peak may be snow-free. 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 metre climb. Another GPS reading provided a 6136-meter elevation.{{Cite web|url= http://nalajcie.org/2013/09/23/stok-kangri-trekking/#!jp-carousel-2503|title= Stok Kangri GPS Measured|website=nalajcie.org/2013/09/23/stok-kangri-trekking/|date = 23 July 2013|accessdate = 26 January 2018}} The shortest route to the peak is along the Stok valley, following the Stok Chu to Stok village.

{{cite map

|author = Partha S Banerjee

|title = Ladakh and Zanskar Trekking Map

|year = 2016

|scale = 1:175,000

|series = Milestone Himalayan Series

|publisher = Milestone Books

|location = Kolkata

|language = English

|isbn = 978-81-903270-9-1

}} This valley's grazing landscape, especially near the village, was devastated by the 2010 Ladakh floods, the most severe in decades.{{Cite web|title = Ladakh Floods & Climbing Mountains, India – August 2010 {{!}} Stephen Cunliffe|url = http://www.stevecunliffe.com/2010/08/ladakh-floods-climbing-mountains-august-2010/|website = www.stevecunliffe.com|accessdate = 2016-10-28}}

In December 2019, the All Ladakh Tour Operators Association announced that Stok Kangri is closed for trekking and climbing from 2020 to 2023, due to over-tourism. The interval is meant to give the region a chance to recuperate.{{Cite web|url=https://www.outdoorjournal.com/news/india-stok-kangri-peak-ladhakh-to-close-for-3-years-the-adventure-tourism-industry-reacts/|title=Stok Kangri To Close For 3 Years|last=|first=|date=December 6, 2019|website=The Outdoor Journal|access-date=}}