News, Safety

  
  
     

Trekking Agencies’ Association of Nepal (TAAN)Like Page5 hrs · 

Trekker Missing in Everest

Mr. James Griffin of Great Britain has gone missing from Everest trekking region since 2 November. He is reported to have arrived in Nepal on 29 October before beginning his Everest trek. His passport no. is 536538452.

We would like to request our member agencies and trekking guides to report to TAAN immediately if they have happened to come across or seen Mr. Griffin in Everest region. Any clues of his whereabouts or assistance to find him would be most appreciated.

Thanking you.


  
  
     

Trekking Experience from our guest, Harold

  
  
     

Last May of 2018, our guest and friend Harold had planned to trek to EBC – Jiri. We went to greet him up at the airport where he had landed during the evening of 6th of May. The next day was all fun, with having jet lags and giving time for body to recover from it, we all took a stroll down the  Swayambhu Nath Temple also known as the “Monkey Temple”.

The next day, May 8th in the morning we all headed to our destination. With happy faces and a desire for adventurous memories we drove east of Kathmandu through heavy traffic.

On May 8th, we rested at a hotel there. Harold even mentioned that he liked the hotel’s comfy bed. The hotel was destroyed during the massive Gorkha Earthquake, but they did a good job re building it. The next morning we continued our journey from Jiri to Shivalaya. After a good walk among the nature, we reached Shivalaya and rested at a tea house.

The journey so far seemed very pleasing as all of us were very happy to be sharing our experiences along the trails. The next day, we started early as there were more steeps to climb and more stairs to step on. We left for our next stop at around 0700 at the morning.

Along the way to the base camp, we all got to live a Nepali life style. With fresh home made like lunches and dinners and gathering around local community, everything made the journey even more special. We all got to see life that is independent of technologies that we are used to. The struggle, smile and love of the community gave us more energy to keep going.

Harold maintains a blog, where he expresses all his experiences in a beautifully crafted words. Our journey to Jiri-EBC-Lukla started from May 8th and we all returned back to Kathmandu on June 9th. We would like to thank Harold for writing such beautiful articles about his experience in trekking with our team. We hope to see you again for a next trip.

 


  
  
     

The different between hiking and trekking

  
  
     

Hiking

Hiking means you are walking from a lower elevation to a higher elevation. Hiking a day trip that requires little planning and organization. It’s basically just walking on trails. Hiking is a natural exercise that promotes physical fitness and it is also called a pleasure walk. It is more of a slow walk that one does while enjoying breeze, the beauty of nature. You can go hiking in any beautiful natural environment like: Forests, hills and mountains are absolutely perfect. This is an excellent way to clear your mind whilst being surrounded by nature. Hiking will improvements in both your physical and mental health too. Hiking bring hikers connect with themselves and nature in a way that brings about peace and a sense of well-being. Before heading, familiarize yourself with the trail map and Follow marked paths and trails. Check the weather, and dress and pack accordingly. Do not hike alone at first, especially on unfamiliar or remote trails. A partner or group can help you navigate and assist if you get hurt.

Here are some Best hiking destination in Nepal:

Trekking

Trekking is an outdoor recreational activity of hiking or walking for more than a day. Therefor trekking is more challenging than hiking because you will be walking for multiple days in a row. Trekking usually takes places in the area of great natural beauty, usually in the mountain areas without any means of transport. A trek can last anything from days to months, and it is definitely a challenge. The objective of trekking is not just the particular destination, but the journey itself. Before heading, do research about the locations, you may have the option to stay at small lodges, mountain huts or even bed and breakfasts along the way. Trekking is the best way to experience a modest pace, observing nature, rural communities, and spectacular mountain panoramas. Trekking is not a climbing trip, but it is also done in risky mountain areas so it will help to gain more adventurous. Trekking in mountain gives travelers an up-close view of incredible scenery. To be a trekker they must have to these things that are Budget, Holiday, willing to do adventure. In case of Nepal, Nepal has many places where people can easily do trek for 3 days up to 3 months.

Here are some Best Trekking destination in Nepal:


  
  
     

Tea house Trekking In Nepal

  
  
     

A Tea House is the combination of guest house, restaurant, and social hang out. Tea house Trek is one of the most popular styles of trekking in Nepal among both foreigners and locals. Most of the teahouses are owned, managed and inhabited by local families. Tea houses basically mean small hotels established along the trekking routes in local villages. This is a cheap way of trekking where both meals, as well as accommodation, but the cost are depends on remoteness and altitude of the place together with the standard of the rooms and services it provides . Teahouse trekking also saves you from having to carry your own camping equipment like tents, sleeping bags and food. This is the great places for you to interact with them, experience the local hospitality and diverse culture. Most lodges have all the basic requirements for trekkers to stay overnight – a dormitory, several private rooms, toilet and a shower room. They offered very serve simple and hygienic meals. Most of the popular trekking routes of Nepal like Annapurna, Everest, Langtang or Helambu areas have tea-house lodges in different milestones. In recent years with the help of Government as well non-Government agencies many of these lodge owners have gone through training programmes aimed at raising the quality of services as well as instilling environmental awareness.

Food:

Basically, tea houses offer traditional home cooked meal Dahl Bhat. A plate of Dal Bhat includes steamed rice, lentil soup, vegetable or non-veg curry and sautéed spinach. And of course Nepali milk tea is served everywhere. But these days teahouses offer an astonishing combination of world cuisines like: Chow Mein, Mo:Mo, Pizza, Pasta. Generally, cereal, porridge, bread and egg dishes are available for breakfast. Similarly every tea house are with bar alcohol and soft drinks are easily available. In some areas you will also find, Biscuits, Chocolates bards and local seasonal fruits.

Accommodation:

The accommodation is very simple, yet clean and functional. The rooms usually include single sized beds that have the mattress, sheets, pillows and blanket. Some teahouses may have rooms with en-suite bathrooms and western toilets but most often they are a shared facility with traditional squat toilets Rooms are quite drafty, and with no heating available (besides perhaps a wood fire burning in the dining hall), be prepared for cold nights the higher up in the mountains you go.

Wi-Fi:

There is normally no electric lighting in the rooms unless the village has hydroelectric power. The dining room usually has solar lighting.  When weather turn bad no sun, no electricity. Some teahouses on the main trekking routes like Annapurna and Everest Base Camp offer wifi and charging outlets accessible in the eating lobby.

Cost:

The benefit of Tea house Trekking is a relatively cheap way of trekking. The price of your accommodation will vary depending on where the tea house is located and what comforts and services it offers. It is cheaper at lower altitude and dearer as we get higher. Tea house trekking is for the adventurous, curious and open minded traveler. For many this is a rustic experience, away from the comforts and frills of western living.


  
  
     

Nepal’s top five highest and valuable mountains

  
  
     

Mountains are very beautiful and physical dream of the land. Nepal is known as land of Himalayas all over the world. Nepal is home to some of the world’s most iconic peaks. Nepal has 8 out of 10 highest peaks in the world including Mount Everest also 9% mountain region occupying of Nepal’s total land as well as consists of more than 80 peaks that exceed 7,000 meters height. The Himalayas of the country are the major sources of many rivers and glaciers and play an important role in the country’s economy as well additionally, Base camp trekking journeys in Nepal are famous all over the world Nepal’s largest generator of revenue in the tourism and trekking business.

1. Mount Everest- the highest mountain peak
Mt Everest is known as “Sagarmatha”(Mother of the Universe) in Nepal. It is also known by the Tibetan name “Chomolangma” (Goddess Mother of the Snows). It is located in Solukhumbu District which is Part of the Khumbu Mahalangur Himalayan Range and China (Tibet) border. The Khumbu is also famous for being a prime Sherpa settlement. The Sherpa people of Nepal are renowned as the best mountain climbers. Trek to Everest base camp is mystique derived from its soaring giant, ever panoramic peaks and the extreme adventures of legendary mountaineers.
Mount Everest summit stands at 8848 meters (29,029 ft) above sea level (30 Shards), but is growing at 4mm each year as a result of tectonic plate movement. Base Camp is located at 5380m, ~3500m below the peak. Average age of climbers is 34.There is ~60% less oxygen than at sea level. Mount Everest was first climbed in 1953 by a New Zealand mountaineer- Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay Sherpa who was his Nepali Sherpa companion.

2. Kanchenjunga- Five Treasures of the Great Snow
Kanchenjunga is the third-highest mountain in the world. The word “Kanchenjunga” comes from Tibet. It roughly translates to “five repositories of great snow”. Kanchenjunga summit stands at 8,586 meters. This is one of the most remote trekking regions which is situated in Eastern Nepal bordering the Indian state of Sikkim. It is situated at 125 kilometers south-east of Mount Everest. This area houses Snow Leopard, National bird of Nepal,Musk Deer, Blue Sheep and maybe legendary Yeti. Kanchenjunga was first climbed on 25th May, 1995 by Joe Brown and Gorge Band.

3. Lhotse
Mt. Lhotse is the fourth highest mountain in the world. Mt. Lhotse better known as “south peak”. It is situated at the border of Tibet and Nepal. It is comprised of three prominent peaks- the main summit elevations is 8,516 meters, The Lhotse Shar 8383m and The Lhotse Middle or East 8413m. Lhotse Main was first climbed in 1956 by Ernst Reiss and Fritz Luchsinger and Lhotse Shar was first climbed on December 5, 1979 by Sepp Mayerl and Rolf Walter. However the Lhotse Middle is remained unclimbed for a long time, until in 2001.

4. Mount Makalu
Mount Makalu elevations is 8,481 meters (27,766 ft). This mountain is the fifth highest mountain in the world. It is an isolated peak that lies 14 miles (22 kilometers) southeast of Mount Everest on the border between China and Nepal. The mountain is not often climbed and it is considered one of the most difficult mountains in the world to climb, as only five of its first sixteen attempts were successful.
This mountain is located in The Khumbu region which is a part of the Makalu Mahalangur Himalayan range.Mount Makalu is the beautiful Makalu-Barun Valley. Makalu is located in the Sankhuwasabha district of Nepal.Mount Makalu lies entirely inside the Makalu Barun National Park. Enclosed in the park are about 3,128 different species of flowering plants, the Asian golden cat, snow leopard and the red panda and nearly 440 species of birds. This valley has a unique landscape that shelters some of the last unsullied mountain ecosystems on the planet. Mount Makalu was first climbed on May 15, 1955 by Lionel Terray and Jean Couzy.

5. Mount Cho Oyu
Mount Cho Oyu elevations 8,188 meters (26,864 Ft) above sea leve.This is the World’s sixth-highest mountain. The mountain’s name has Tibetan origins and the word ‘Cho Oyu’ means ‘Turquoise Goddess’, This mountain is situated between China and Nepal which is 20 km to the west of Mount Everest and this mountain acts like a natural border between the two countries. Mount Cho Oyu was first climbed on Oct. 19, 1954 by Herbert Tichy, Sepp Jöchler, and Pasang Dawa Lama. The Mountain also makes up a part of the glaciated High Pass mainly used for trading by the Tibetan and Nepali traders.