How to prepare for Chadar Trek

Chadar Trek - Frozen River Trek in Ladakh is one of the most glamorous treks in the world. It is considered to be extremely difficult because you have to trek on the frozen Zanskar river in winter when the temperature ranges between -15°C and -30°C.
Though the walk is simple, with no ascend, this trek brings it's own set of difficulties. The temperatures are beyond human tolerance. The ice on the river forms and breaks without any notice and in the worst case scenarios an alternate route through the snow-covered steep rocks has to be trailed through. It can snow at any time and leave the trekker guessing if there is ice or water beneath the snow cover. The preparation is tricky if not very difficult.

How to dress for Chadar Trek

The most important rule is to make layers, instead of carrying think and heavy jackets.
For top make layers in this order: Thermal inner, full sleeves tee, woolen sweater / fleece jacket, windcheater / down jacket (water and wind proof).
For bottom make layers in this order: Thermal / woolen inner, water proof trekking pants.
For palms make layers of: woolen / fleece gloves, water proof gloves.
For feet make layers of: sports socks, woolen socks.
For face and head: Use a balaclava which covers the head and face, and a woolen cap.
Shoes: Snow trekking boots are the best for this trek, but if you don't wish to buy them, carry your normal trekking shoes and buy the local gum boots (Rs. 300 - 400) from the market in Leh. These gum boots would be needed when you have to cross the patches of chadar which aren't completely frozen. On fully frozen patches and the alternate rocky patches, the normal trekking shoes could be used. It is difficult to walk with the local gum boots entire day, so use them only when really required. It's always a good idea to use micro-spikes on the shoes/boots to avoid slipping on the ice.

Important things to carry for Chadar Trek

Trekking pole isn't required extensively, but it is good to have when you need to climb some steep alternate patches.
Hot water bag is a must. Slide it in your sleeping bag in the night, to help you survive the difficult temperatures in the tent.
2 Sleeping bags are must, one to be used as liner and the other as the main one.
Insulated water bottle which can be tightly sealed. Anything else would freeze the water inside the bottle and put you in serious trouble.
Extra pairs of clothes including gloves and cap should be kept handy while trekking. Also, keep the clothes wrapped in plastic bags in the rucksack. It helped me a lot when I had fallen into the frozen river with my rucksack and had to immediately change into fresh clothes.

Where to buy the gears from for Chadar Trek

Local market in Leh: Though most part of Ladakh remains shut in winters, the local markets are open to sell the trekking gears for the winter treks.
I would suggest you to rely on local markets for the following gears:
Woollen cap, balaclava, woollen socks, woollen gloves, water proof gloves, woollen sweater, woollen pants that can be used as inner layer, local gum boots, trekking pole, sleeping bag.
You can also find good backpacks and windcheater/down jacket in the markets of Leh. 

Buy the following gears before you land in Leh:
You don't want to panic if you don't find the most important gears in the limited markets of Leh. And you shouldn't exert yourself before the trek when you land in Leh. So I would suggest to be prepared with the following gears before you land in Leh, and keep only the woollens to buy from Leh (as it is difficult to buy woollens from most cities in India).
Backpack, windcheater/down jacket, trekking shoes, tshirts, waterproof pants, thermals, sports socks, insulated water bottles, headlamp/torch, sunglasses.

Fitness and Acclimatization required for Chadar Trek:

Fitness is very important, though the trek isn't exhaustive. Your body needs to be strong enough to handle the extreme weather at those high altitudes. 3-4 kms of jogging (or equivalent amount of any other workout) everyday for 1-2 months is a good way to prepare your body.
Additionally, you can train your body to handle the cold by avoiding hot water, warm clothes and blankets in the winter in your own city for a couple of months before the trek.

Acclimatization is very important. The day you land at Leh, all you need is complete rest and no sight-seeing or strenuous activity. 2 days of acclimatization before the trek is optimal. Also, completely avoid the heaters in the room in Leh before the trek. I have seen some serious health issues with people who used heaters and couldn't acclimatize well.
Drink lot of hot liquids (warm water, soup, tea) during the trekking days.

Please be prepared with alternate plans as Chadar is very sensitive and the climate changes aren't helping much to keep the Zanskar river Frozen even in the winters. Chadar breaks at certain points and it may not be possible cross beyond a certain point. Read my post on How I managed to complete the Chadar Trek.

Few useful tips from my friend Gunjan Juyal - an adventurer, traveler, very cheerful, cool and helpful guy I met on Chadar trek:
1. If you don't use microspikes, then avoid rubber gum-boots. Instead go for the PU (compressed foam, found in most bathroom slippers) gum-boots. In these temperatures the rubber boots become hard as stone, slippery as ice skates!
2. Don't try to avoid the cold, instead try and embrace it as far as you can. Some of us sat with the porters and sang after the trek was over, instead of burrowing inside the bags. Sometimes we drank straight from the river and even washed our faces with that cold water. Soon the cold became bearable and it was (almost) fun.

Read my stories on my experience with Chadar Trek:

Chadar Trek Tales1: How I survived to tell this tale

Chadar Trek Tales2: How I managed to complete the trek