Mardi Himal is one of our favourite hikes in high season.
… What about winter?
Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.
(via Adventure Blog)
Bhutan’s Snowman Trek
Ramblin’ Boy posted a detailed trip report on the famed Snowman / Lunana Trek.
He was guided by Yangphel, a Thimphu adventure travel agency though he had booked through the trip through World Expeditions.
Snowman is one of the best treks in the world. However, the cost to trek in Bhutan was $300 / day.
If money is no object, go for it.
… Covering over three hundred kilometres in twenty-three days at high altitude means there is lots of time for something to go wrong –
There were 16 in our trekking party, most with a tent of their own. As well, perhaps ten locals – guides, cook team, tent team, horse handlers. The horses made up the single largest group – there were 43 of them. We were a village on the move! …
Start on this page. Follow the links.
Bhutan’s Snowman Trek Preview:
Part 1 – Paro To Shana To Laya
walk to Everest Base Camp via Tumlingtar
Most who walk to Lukla (rather than fly) do so from Jiri (1,905m), Nepal over 5-8 days of trekking.
The main downside is the terrible 10 hour bone rattling bus ride Kathmandu to Jiri.
Here’s a little known alternative — Tumlingtar (460m) to Lukla. (8-12 days)
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- fly Kathmandu to Tumlingtar (avoiding the dangerous roads)
- start lower. More time for acclimatizing to altitude.
- very few hikers means few & rudimentary bhattis (teashops) with simple menus. Mostly dal bhat.
- you can hike independently or hire a porter / guide en route as needed
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Sue and Howard have hiked via Tumlingtar three times. Read one of their trip reports:
Nepal Khumbu to Arun Valley
hiking the Chinese Wall, Montana
I’ve always wanted to see the Chinese Wall in the Bob Marshall Wilderness.
I’m planning on hiking and climbing it June 2020.
It’s a thousand foot high cliff of limestone that stretches unbroken for 12 miles between Haystack Mountain and Larch Hill Pass.
Click through to read a trip report: A Hike to the Chinese Wall – Ear Mountain Photography
Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.
One of our best hikes in the North American Rockies
History of climbing K2
In advance of a trek to K2 Base Camp and Gondogoro Pass, I’m doing some reading about those insane alpinists that dare to climb the second highest peak in the world.
The 1954 Italian Karakoram expedition finally succeeded in ascending to the summit of K2 via the Abruzzi Spur on 31 July 1954. …
… 23 years after the Italian expedition, Ichiro Yoshizawa led the second successful ascent, with Ashraf Aman as the first native Pakistani climber. …
The third ascent of K2 was in 1978, via a new route, … by an American team led by James Whittaker …
I recommend K2: Life and Death on the World’s Most Dangerous Mountain. (2010) by Ed Viesturs.
Ed’s the Mount Rainier alpine guide who went on to become the most accomplished American high altitude climber.
Cautious and lucky, Ed survived 30+ expeditions to the world’s highest peaks. And he’s climbed Rainier over 200 times.
Makalu Base Camp … independently
I’m researching a possible independent trek to Makalu Base Camp, Nepal for November 2020, the 5th highest mountain in the world. (8,485m)
Since 2016 at least there have been simple teahouses and meals of dal bhat all the way up.
I’d carry a tent and food, as well, just in case.
Not many hikers are choosing this destination in Nepal yet. And very few are doing it independently, so far.
Click PLAY or watch a video by guides Mountain Kingdom on YouTube.
Check our Makalu Base Camp information page.
Trek the 8000m peak base camps
Emma and Trevor — from New Zealand & Australia — conceived ProjectBase8000.
Great idea!
The objective is to be the first non-mountaineering trekkers to hike to all the base camps of the world’s 14 highest mountains by 2020.
They are all over 8,000m, located in the Himalayan and Karakoram ranges – Nepal, Pakistan and Tibet, China.
They want to help raise funds & awareness for the Australian Himalayan Foundation.
plan a trip to the Dolomites
One of our top 10 hiking regions of the world.
The Dolomites are a mountain range located in north-eastern Italy. A tourist mecca, the Dolomites are famous for skiing in the winter months, mountain climbing, hiking and climbing in the summer.
AT A GLANCE
- a wonderful region mostly in Italy
- Italian: Dolomiti; German: Dolomiten
- limestone geology results in fascinating shapes and colour
- named a UNESCO World Heritage site
- highest peak Marmolada 3,343m
- convenient airports include Venice, Munich, Milan, Innsbruck, Verona
- easy access to trails of all all levels of ability and experience
- very good tourist infrastructure
- convenient, efficient public transport. Buses & trains run on time.
- best weather for hiking mid-June to early October
Check our Dolomites information page.
Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.
(via Adventure Blog)
SHOULD we hike Pakistan?
Since 2013 I’ve been recommending hikers boycott Pakistan after terrorists killed 11 at Nanga Parbat Base Camp.
The U.S. State Department advises against travel due to terrorism.
On the other hand, I’m inspired by Eva zu Beck, a Polish travel vlogger, who spent many months there. She thinks it could be the next Nepal for trekkers.
Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.
I’m talking to the Epic about their trips in 2020.
Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.
hiking out of Manali and Dharmsala
I’m considering hiking the Indian Himalaya starting sometime July 2020.
Here are a few of the treks I’m considering.
Trekking Guide to the Western Himalayas
Popular guided hikes out of Manali include:
Beas Kund (2-3 days)
Pin Parvati Pass (8 – 11 days) – DANGEROUS
Hamta Pass to Lahaul (5 days)
Ideally I’d like to hike there independently. But I might want to start with one guided hike.
Leave a reply if you have advice for me. Thanks.
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