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Nepal trekking routes condition – update

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Nepal trekking routes condition – update

Here’s the latest from our team in Nepal on the current state of many of the trekking routes and climbing areas. Overall, it’s a very positive message.

Nepal-trekking-updates

Dolpo – All the trails are intact. This area didn’t even feel the tremor of the earthquake. Just a few days ago a group flew to Phoksundo and walked back down to Juphal. Some private groups are still trekking from Juphal to Jomsom. Tarak Shahi, our contact in Juphal, says he has bookings at his lodge for this monsoon. All the locals are busy in Yarsa Gumpa harvest and traveling to high mountains to collect Yarchagumba (an aphrodisiac herb which earn them a fortune).

Dhaulagiri Circuit – No damage to the trekking trails, Karma Gyalze (one of our senior Sirdars) contacted the Tea house owner at Italian base camp and the Trans Himalaya lodge in Marpha. Similarly, Sirdar, Lhakpa ‘Tomato’ has checked on the trail from Beni-Darbang-Italian base camp, where there is no evidence of damage or changes to the trail. The locals who run little tea shops at Italian BC have just came down to villages for their off-season break.

Phu Naar – No damage to the trekking trails, but there is a section in-between Koto and Metha through the woods which is prone to rock fall. This appeared after the second earthquake, with locals warning of precaution moving across this section. BB Rai through local contacts confirmed that trail to Phu – upper route – Kangla pass – Manang are fine.

Annapurna Circuit – Mingma collected information through a lodge owner, Amrit Gurung, of the Thorong La lodge at Besisahar. The trails in this area are fine, though some sections are prone to landslides when descending to Jomsom via Tilicho Lake.

Annapurna Sanctuary – Mingma collected information through lodge owners at Chomrong, Bamboo, Himalaya, Deurali and Machhupuchare Base Camp. The trails are fine, with lodges running as normal. The owner of the Mountain View lodge reported that at least 2 to 3 groups were heading towards Machhupuchare BC every day.

Annapurna foothill trek – The owner of the Green View lodge in Ghorepani told us that the Annapurna foothill trek was accessible, the trails from Demuwa-Thulo Chaur-Jogikuti-Ghorepani-Tada Pani–Ghandruk and Nayapul are fine, with locals travelling from Ghorpani, Ullare to Jaljale to collect grasses for cattle, wild mushroom and dry wood almost everyday.

Mustang – Trails in this region are fine but most of the monasteries were damaged in the quake and a few collapsed. As per Ram Bista, a lodge owner at Lo-Mathang, the King’s Palace in Chharang and Lo-Mathang also suffered some damage.

Everest Base Camp – Local guide, Chogba, reported that the trail from Jiri –Shivalaya-Junbesi-Thaksindo–Kharikhola–Paiya- ukla or Phakding is fine, with the locals travelling along this every day. The trail near Phakding was blocked by a landslide about 20 metres wide, but the locals have already made a new trail which avoids it. The trail from Monjo to Namche is fine. Tenzing, the previous monk of Tyangbuche Gompa and the owner of Rivendale and Gomba lodge, said that a few lodges are damaged in Phakding, Monjo, Namche, Tyangbuche, Debuche, Pheruche, Dingbuche and Lobuche, but most of them have been rebuilt and are ready to business.

Mera Peak – Gyalzen TT and Dawa Tamang have contacted the locals in Khare. They said that there is no damage to trails but a few tea houses suffered damage. Rebuilding is in progress and all affected lodges are expected to be in working condition for the autumn season.

Island Peak – Conditions are fine, with a few people having climbed the mountain since the earthquake.

Kangchenjunga – Karma (Chinese) has contacted the locals in Yamphudin. The trail from Gopetar to Yamphudin and across the Sele La to Ghunsa is fine. Mingma also talked with Chungdak Sherpa, a lodge owner at the Kangchenjunga Guest house in Ghunsa. He said that the route above Ghunsa to Pangpema was fine, as was the route down to Taplejung and Suketar. The locals have been travelling back and forth along this as usual.

Rolwaling – no update as yet.

Manaslu – no update as yet, though reports are that much of the trail has been affected by the earthquake.

Langtang – as has been widely reported, the Langtang Valley was devastated by the earthquake. It is difficult to imagine trekking being possible here for some time to come.

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Source: www.jagged-globe.co.uk

Tourism-reliant Nepal to seek assurances Everest is safe after quakes

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Tourism-reliant Nepal to seek assurances Everest is safe after quakes

Nepal will ask international experts to assess the safety of Mount Everest trekking trails in an effort to convince tourists it is safe to return after two devastating earthquakes closed most routes.

A trekker stands in front of Mount Everest, which is 8,850 meters high (C), at Kala Patthar in Solukhumbu District May 7, 2014. REUTERS/Navesh Chitrakar

A trekker stands in front of Mount Everest, which is 8,850 meters high (C), at Kala Patthar in Solukhumbu District May 7, 2014. REUTERS/Navesh Chitrakar

The quakes, on April 25 and May 12, killed almost 9,000 people and shook mountains triggering avalanches that killed scores of climbers and guides. Experts say catastrophic landslides could be triggered during this monsoon season that begins in mid-June.

Tourists fled the Himalayan nation after the first quake and hotels and trekking companies said they have suffered heavy cancellations ahead of the autumn.

Tourism, including trekking and climbing permit fees, contributes about 4 percent of Nepal’s gross domestic product.

“After the earthquakes, many trekking groups started raising questions about the safety of hikers,” said Tulsi Prasad Gautam, the head of Nepal’s tourism department. “Their cost of insurance also began to rise. Therefore, we are undertaking the study to increase their confidence.”

Geologists from Europe, Japan and Singapore have shown an interest in conducting the studies, said Ramesh Dhamala, president of Trekking Agents’ Association of Nepal.The main focus of the assessment would be in the Annapurna and Everest regions which attract 70 percent of trekkers, officials said.Nepal has been urging tourists to visit if they want to help it recover. The country is one of the poorest in the world and many depend on tourism for their income.Climbing on Mount Everest is closed for the second climbing season in a row after Sherpas refused to rebuild broken paths across a deadly glacier and mountaineering companies said it was too dangerous to ascend.

Langtang valley, Nepal’s third most popular trekking destination, remains closed after the quake triggered a catastrophic landslide that buried hundreds of people in one village in the valley.

In a sign of the dangers ahead of this monsoon season, heavy rains triggered a landslide killing at least 13 people, including children, and dozens were missing in the Taplejung district in east Nepal on Thursday.

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Source: reuters.com

Nepal tourism appoints son of Edmund Hillary to promote Everest mission

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Nepal tourism appoints son of Edmund Hillary to promote Everest mission

After the Earthquake Nepal’s Everest missions has taken a back seat as people are weary to scale the peaks in fear of avalanches. The Nepal government on May 28, 2015 observed the international Everest Day marking the conquest of the world’s highest peak by Edmund Hillary and Tanzing Norgey Sherpa 62 years ago. The day was observed with intentions of reviving tourism in the country.

Peter-Hillary-son-of-Edmund-Hillary

In a bid to call back tourists the Nepalese Tourism Minister Kripasur Sherpa appealed to international tourists to visit the country. He assured them that there are still many safe and beautiful places which include heritage and cultural sites along with trekking trails that have remained intact despite the devastating earthquakes.

The minister looked for support from the private sector. He felt that together the public and private sector can rebuild the losses that Nepal has met with.

The mountaineering sector was suffering losses since 2013 when 16 mountain guides were killed in April 18. But the Earthquake in central and North-West Nepal was hit by the devastating earthquakes. The avalanche from the quake killed 18 people which had 5 foreigners and all expeditions had to be brought to a halt.The area is under grave threat owing to melting glaciers and continued avalanches. The country needs faith and support from international tourists and climbers to get things back in tempo.

Before the quakes thousands of climbers trekked the Everest each year providing employment to the Sherpas and bringing millions of dollars for the Government. If Everest mission should stop it would amount to grave losses for the government. So the government has appointed 19 goodwill ambassadors which include Peter Hillary, son of Edmund Hillary, Jamling Tenzing, son of Tenzing Sherpa, Junko Tabei, the first women Everest Summiteer from Japan and Reinhold Mesner, Italy, who climbed the Everest without oxygen for the first time. They will help promote tourism in Nepal.

Source: Travel And Tour World

PATA experts to help Nepal make tourism recovery plan

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PATA experts to help Nepal make tourism recovery plan

Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) has taken initiative to help and support attempts of Nepali tourism industry to bounce back after the earthquake. A recovery plan with clear guidelines and action plan will be prepared by mid-June with the help of PATA experts, according to PATA officials.
PATA Nepal Chapter (2)
PATA Vice President Andrew Jones and Crisis Management Expert Bert Van Walbeek, who have a long experience on crisis management have helped countries like the Philippines, Thailand, Bali, Sri Lanka to name a few cope with natural calamities and after war effects, are in Nepal in this context.
To help them in the initial preliminary task, an interaction with the entrepreneurs and representatives from the private and public sectors was organized recently to explore and exchange ideas on tourism recovery initiatives in the aftermath of April 25 earthquake.

Speaking at the program, Jones suggested using the expertise of professionals, to have more promotional programs and engage celebrities. He further assured to mobilize PATA network to help Nepal for overcoming the recent crisis.

PATA is also recommending its action-oriented plan to the government, PATA Nepal Chapter and PATA headquarters.
Walbeek presented various ideas on the recovery process. He asked Nepali tourism stakeholders to believe in positive things and suggested not to offer discount packages but give additional value added services to the guests.

PATA Nepal Chapter (1)

Similarly, National Planning Commission (NPC) Member Chandra Mani Adhikari requested stakeholders to work on to rebuild damages, try to showcase the heritage sites which are intact, and be positive toward daily business life. He believed that the input from PATA experts will help Nepal to formulate short-term, mid-term, and long-term plans for revival of tourism industry. Tourism Secretary Suresh Man Shrestha highlighted the importance of an experts’ view to make recovery plans and informed participants of the interaction about the programs being carried out by the Tourism Recovery Committee (TRC).

PATA Secretary Basanta Mishra said that if things go smoothly, Nepal’s tourism can bounce back in the upcoming season starting from September.

Similarly, Administrative Chief of Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) Ramesh Adhikari highlighted two major things to do at the time of crisis — repairing and preparing. “Repairing for now and preparing for tomorrow can be done by the stakeholders through common effort and joint initiative,” he added.

Source: Myrepublica

TICC established

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Department of Tourism, under the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation has started an initiative to gather information about tourists who have gone missing, are dead or injured in the devastating earthquake and the avalanche in the Himalayan region due to the quake. ntb

A meeting held today at the department decided to set up a Tourist Information Coordination Centre (TICC), where people from anywhere in the country can provide information on tourists who are missing, dead or injured at the toll free number ‘1144’. People can inform Tourist Police through that toll free number.

For better coordination, Rukesh Tandukar, in-charge of Tourist Police Unit and Sarad Pradhan (contact number 9851077385) of Nepal Tourism Board will be available at all times to gather information.

The centre will work directly under Director General of the department, Tulasi Prasad Gautam. It will gather information in coordination with Tourist Police, Department of Immigration, Trekking Agencies’ Association of Nepal, Nepal Mountaineering Association, Nepal Association of Tour and Trekking Agents, and Hotel Association Nepal. TICC will promptly convey the message to the rescue and relief team of the government.

This initiative is expected to address queries of foreign missions in Nepal whose citizens were visiting the country at the time of the devastating earthquake. Thousands of tourists are still unaccounted for, as per various foreign missions.

The European Union (EU) said at least 1,000 EU citizens so far are unaccounted for after the quake. Talking to The Himalayan Times, EU Ambassador to Nepal, Rensje Teerink said they did not know where their citizens are in the country. “Many could have left the country unharmed, however, it hasn’t been brought to our notice.”

source:the himalayan times

Mt. Everest gets ready for climbing season with new, safer route

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everest-base-camp

Preparations are underway for the upcoming mountaineering season at Mt. Everest, including plans for a new, more difficult but safer route to the summit, while 288 climbers have already registered to take on the peak.

The arrangements are in part due to an avalanche last year that killed 16 sherpas, consequently canceling the remainder of the season’s climbing activity on the world’s highest peak.

The Nepal Tourism Board announced on Monday that the first climbers had already reached the base camp, at an altitude of about 5,000 meters (about 16,400 feet) above sea level.

Over the coming days, 31 registered groups will begin the first ascent of the season, while the numbers are expected to rise.

“We hope that the number of mountaineers increases as last year climbers had to abandon their plans to climb Everest and return,” tourism board official Gyanendra Shrestha told Efe, adding that the number of expeditions could go up to 41.

Climbers who had paid for their permits, with a price tag of about 10,000 euros ($11,000), to climb the mountain in 2014, but were made to cancel their plans, have been allowed by the Nepalese government to use the same permit by 2019.

everest base camp

Authorities have been preparing the new route since following what was the most tragic accident on Mt. Everest last year, circumventing the Khumbu Icefall where the avalanche occurred, according to the Nepalese press.

The government has also increased the number of medical personnel stationed on the mountain and set up a permanent office in the base camp to improve security and coordination.

Approximately 4,500 mountaineers have reached the summit of Mt. Everest since it was first scaled by New Zealander Sir Edmund Percival Hillary and Sherpa Tenzing Norgay on March 29, 1953.

Source: laprensasa