Category: alpine

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Everest trek – day 1

Trip report by site editor Rick McCharles.

I’ll post a photo trip report of my superb 17 day trek in the Everest region of Nepal, over the next 17 days.

The highlight of the day was flying in to Lukla Airport 9,380ft (2,860m), officially named Tenzing-Hillary Airport since 2008.

That landing is enough to get your heart rate up above 200.

The safety statistics are comparatively good for a short takeoff runway. Comparatively good means planes have only crashed 3 times recently, 1991, 2004 and 2008. Everyone was killed except for the pilot in 2008.

(Actually, the taxi ride from Kathmandu to the Airport is likely statistically more dangerous.)

Immediately the mountain views are stunning. Is that Everest?

The mantra out of Lukla is SLOWLY, SLOWLY. It takes some time to acclimatize to the 2800m elevation. We did not walk far day 1.

This elevation is still surprisingly warm and lush considering the date, Nov. 11th, 2009.

A group of us hiking independently (no guide, no porters) stayed together until the village of Phakding. I checked into a room (less than $1 / night) and crashed for the evening without dinner.

I was altitude sick … complicating my KathmanFlu.

more photos from Everest trek – day 1

… on to day 2

days: 1|2|3|4|5|6|7|8|9|10|11|12-13|14|15|16|17| info page

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hiking the mountains of Iran

When flying over the country recently I studied for almost an hour the impressive mountains of Iran. Big and mostly empty of people.

Alborz Mountain Range, Caspian Sea

That image by Views of the Earth is posted on an excellent website called Iran Nature.

All useful information you need to visit Iran natural and historical attractions and landscapes. Hiking & trekking Iran nature and ecosystem, Iran mountain, valley, and cave, Iran forest and garden, Iran plain and desert, Iran lake, river, spring, and waterfall, Iran protected and wildlife zone, Iran island.

The most popular adventure in Iran is climbing Mount Damavand, the highest peak 5671m (18,605ft). It’s near Tehran.

Personally I’m more interested in hiking opportunities. But I cannot find much information on the web. Leave a comment if you have any advice about trekking in Iran.

President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has many problems these days. Too many problems to think much about the 3 American hikers who entered Iran illegally, accidentally, from Iraq.

He did say that he hopes the punishment dealt out by the Iranian judge is not too severe.

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Climbing the Mountains of Indonesia

Daniel Patrick Quinn wrote to let us know about a new website called Gunung Bagging – Climbing the Mountains of Indonesia.

Two English expats have recently compiled a list of all the mountain and volcano peaks in Indonesia with a prominence of 1000 metres or more.

Thanks to huge advancements in mapping technology, this list of peaks, known humorously as “The Ribus”, represents a new development in our understanding of the mountain areas of the Indonesian archipelago. …

It is hoped that the list of peaks and the website will encourage hikers, whether Indonesian, expatriate or backpacker, to explore this amazing country in more detail and visit incredible areas as yet largely unexplored. …

Check out the site – gunungbagging.com

INTERESTING RIBU FACTS

Highest Ribu: Carstensz Pyramid, Puncak Jaya (4,884 metres elevation and prominence) Papua
Lowest Ribu: Tombia (1,022 metres elevation) Sulawesi Tengah
Most western Ribu: Hulumasen (2,310 metres elevation) Aceh
Most eastern Ribu: Cycloop (2,000 metres elevation) Papua Timur
Most northern Ribu: Seulawah Agam (1,810 metres elevation) Aceh
Most southern Ribu: Wanggameti (1,225 metres elevation) Nusa Tenggara Timur
Province with the most Ribus: Nusa Tenggara Timur (East Nusa Tenggara)

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pack it out? … to where?

So said Sir Edmund Hillary in Nepal.

Any hiker carrying their trash back from the Himalaya to Kathmandu is making a mistake. The capital of Nepal has a worse trash disposal system than either Namche Bazaar or Lukla, in the mountains.

New Road, Kathmandu

Should we carry trash all the back to our home nation? … Think of the carbon footprint.

As far as I’m concerned, in Nepal it’s best to burn paper in the mountains. Shatter glass into a remote waterfall. Bury metal under a pile of stones.

I did the same in the Andes.

This all contradicts the dictates of the Nepali National Parks.

Leave a comment if you have a contrary opinion.

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is the Annapurna Circuit dead?

Or is this simply a catchy blog post title?

Adventu.re – Yep, The Annapurna Circuit is Dead.

… Newly-built roads now reach nearly all the way around Nepal’s Annapurna Circuit, the most popular long trek in the world. Is the journey is still worth the effort? Probably not, if you’re going with a big tour company that hasn’t updated their itinerary. Yes, if you plan your route carefully. …

I did Annapurna 11yrs ago … and loved it.

I do regret that motor vehicles are degrading one of the world’s best hikes. But I’ve been trekking the Everest region over the past 2wks, … where I spoke to at least a dozen hikers that did Annapurna as well this Fall.

Not one mentioned to me that they were disappointed with the Circuit.

Not one told me that “Annapurna was dead“. They all enjoyed it.

Annapurna is not dead yet.

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last meal in Kathmandu

Egg masala dosa, garlic naan and coffee.

The vegetarian restaurant at Pilgrim’s Book House. If you’re into trekking, climbing or spirituality, this is one of the best bookstores in the world.

4576311-Pilgrims_Books-Kathmandu

I picked up a classic, Nepal Himalaya by H.W. Tilman (1952). Some reading to supplement my audio books. I’ll need it during my acclimatization days at altitude.

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Three Passes of Everest

by site editor Rick McCharles

I’ll try for the most difficult of the “established” treks in the Everest region.

To the seekers of adventure and authenticicity, this is an ultimate trek, that will take you throught the famous three passes of Everest , namely the Renjo La pass, the Cho La pass and the Kongma La pass. It is a trek with unparalled alpine beauty and without doubt the grandest mountain scenery on the world.The highlights of the trek include the Sherpa village of Khumjung, the pristine Gokyo lake, the breathtaking scenery fron the all these passes and the vist to Everest base camp. Unlike other treks in Everest region , this trek makes a loop , hence no tracing back of the route. The good thing about this trek is despite having to cross three passes , you do not require any technical climbing and any person with good fitness and previous trekking experience can complete the trek successfully. …

details of a guided trek

3-passes

I’ll be hiking independently, looking for other independents to hike with en route.

everest-3-passes-map
hiking counter clockwise

Tea houses are available everywhere, aside from long sections over the 3 passes.

Very few internet cafes are available up that high.

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where to hike in Nepal?

Just browsing the new Lonely Planet Trekking in the Nepal Himalaya (August 2009).

Enjoy the high passes, breathtaking landscapes and exhilarations of trekking in Nepal with Lonely Planet. Whether you want to make a tilt at Everest Base Camp, reach remote Tibetan villages or circuit sacred lakes, this guide lets you light out for the roof of the world.

LP-Trekking-Nepal

I’d love to do something near Kachenjunga. But I’m leaning towards the Everest region. Independent trekking. Likely I’ll carry my tent just in case I want to go off the teahouse trails.

Leave a comment if you’ve a recommendation. I’ve at least 2wks of hiking days.

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confirmed – BestHike to Nepal

I post this from the airport in Dubai.

Departing Nov. 3rd from Maui, I don’t arrive into Kathmandu until Dec. 6th. … And I don’t cross the international date line as I decided to fly the long way around the world. Perhaps 60hrs in transit. (I’m at 32hrs, so far.)

… Don’t ask.

Nepal

I’ll have about 3wks during prime trekking season in the Himalayas.