I have just this minute received an email from Zanskar stating that a vehicle left for Kargil this morning - the Pensi La remains open. There is little snow (as you would expect), it is cold with a little wind. So, perhaps this year chaddar-trekkers arriving in Padum can - for the first time ever - take the bus out to Kargil and then Leh. Failing that one could always try the weekly air service that has now commenced between Kargil and Jammu, although, as this is administered by the military I suspect this service is not open to foreign nationals.