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Trekking In Nepal
Nepal began its career as a trekker’s paradise
in 1949 when a British adventurer, Bill Tilman, managed to get permission
from the King to make several treks into the Kali Gandaki, Helambu,
and Everest regions. Trekking in Nepal really took off with the
first to the base of Mount Everest; an American led
expedition in 1950 and a British one in 1951. On May 29, 1953, Sir
Edmund Hillary of New Zealand and Tenzing Norgay Sherpa of India
were the first people to reach the summit of Mount Everest, the
world’s highest peak at 8,848 metres. After the original period
of pioneer mountaineering in Nepal, increasing numbers
of foreign visitors came to Nepal and many of them wanted to trek
into the mountains. A whole industry sprang up, complete with guides,
porters and guest houses dotting the way along most routes. People
either trek from guest house to guest house, or send porters ahead
to set up camp and cook a delicious dinner for the end of a long
day’s walk. To trek in Nepal is to experience the beauty of
a Himalayan Kingdom and all the comforts it offers! All levels of
treks are available, from slow and easy, to scaling the highest
peaks on earth!
ANNAPURNA AROUND MANASULU LANGTANG VALLEY / HELAMBU
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The
awe-inspiring Himalayas, highest mountains on earth, are known to
Hindus and Buddhists alike as the abode of the gods. Trekking is
the best way to directly experience the beauty and culture of Nepal.
Trekkers pass jungle-covered mountains, rhododendron forests, high
yak pastures, turquoise lakes, snow capped peaks, beautiful temples,
and rustic villages nestled in the mountains among shimmering, terraced
rice fields. Playful children love to skip along beside you for
an hour or so as you walk through the dizzy heights of their beautiful
homeland. Once you leave Kathmandu and get off the beaten path,
Nepal will thrill you with the spectacular scenery and cultural
attractions of its countryside. Nepal has only been open to the
outside world for 50 years so there are still very few roads but
there are innumerable foot routes winding through the countryside.
For most Nepalis, trekking is the only way to go and they say you
haven’t visited Nepal until you’ve gone trekking!
EVEREST
BASE CAMP
Machhapuchare’s famous
triangular fishtail peak turning pink to gold, the more distant
bare rock wall of Annapurna II still in shadow. As we climb, the
flora turns to classic cloud forest with mosses of lichen, tree
ferns and orchids hosted by the hardier trees. Now and then, there
are windows in the woods that look out onto thrilling panorama
towards Hinchuli. Just a short steep climb through storm-torn
trees, broken by the winter snows and wind, and we are out of
the forest. We picnic in the meadow with its tumbling stream.
Annapurna South and Machhapuchare seem near enough to throw a
rock at. You are standing on a spot that has been your constant
aim for days now, a place, a time, a view that is almost impossible
to equal - and you’ve earned it!