The latest from Project Himalaya
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Upper Mustang ceremony
Hello everyone
Are you feeling inspired enough after getting back to work to book a break already?
Back in New Zealand, Esther and I have been spending quality time with my family over Christmas and New Year but behind the scenes there has been plenty going on.
I have been offered an incredible opportunity for the spring season, the reason I postponed our snow leopard and conservation-oriented Project Naar-Phu until 2020. That was a tough tough choice, more on that below...
Our 21 day Zanskar Spring trek is filling, do get in touch quickly, if you are interested, and note we have a 4 week Zanskar Canyons variant in 2020 if longer journeys are your thing.
Although the 2019 trek lists might look sparse, we are arranging a number of private group trips for both Ladakh, and Nepal, especially the Kanchenjunga region. If you are interested in our Kanchenjunga Double Magic fixed departure then please get in touch now before a private group takes that spot.
The biggest news though, is we are running our absolutely unique Upper Mustang to Dolpo Wild trek again this year, and since we can now trek earlier in the season, it promises to be even better (more below)!
Greetings! Jamie
Above, our favourite Phoksundo Lake camp
2019 Mustang Dolpo Wild
Our 2018 trek was an incredible adventure crossing from Upper Mustang over the rarely used 5600m Kekyap La to the best Upper Dolpo traverse. Exploring the wild area between, we climbed a straightforward 6000m peak and explored the enigmatic Ghami La too.
It was a trek of highlights, the strikingly turquoise Phoksundo has to be seen to be believed, however the remote parts of Upper Dolpo are changing. We came across trails out of Tinje/Tinkyu repurposed into motorbike roads, easier to make than a full road, and these are in regular use so I am debating avoiding these and reverting to a route we first trekked in 2008. In Upper Mustang the jeep tracks now seem quaint compared to the two lane highway under construction, although we can still mostly avoid this, and the gompas and whitewashed villages and canyons are still as beautiful as ever.
This year, we will start at least a week earlier, while crops are still in the fields and hopefully before the westerlies pick up in the highest areas. Previously, a since rescinded local edict prevented trekking in the high country until after the harvest was finished (in a ceremony we partook in, in 2018).
Joining these two "best trek" areas together does take time though, and the minimum is 35 days although with the earlier start and ambition to visit remote Bhijer, I am tending towards a closer to 40 days.
To take part in the planning, get in touch now!
2020 Project Naar-Phu
While I didn't take bookings for our planned 2019 trip, there was lots of support, both from trekkers ready to book, and also researchers and local business developers and I am bummed that I can't actually run it for this year. The idea has real interest and some experts in the field think the concept of snow leopard safaris, or rather a comprehensive alpine safari, introducing all the major flora and fauna of the region would be a great new tourism draw. And this project is vital to check that I have the fundamentals right; is the area truly suitable, and are the locals 100% behind the concept?
Of course, the trek itself is simply a comprehensive exploration of the area that stands as a great trek regardless. The fact that each trekker enables a researcher to accompany us makes for great no cost conservation...
New Nepal guides focus
With more locally lead treks, the quality of the guides is absolutely key, perhaps the most important and variable aspect, and the difference between an OK trek and an incredible experience.
After a couple of learning experiences (I have to admit), I am serious about this and took three good guides for further discussions and training on our last trek of the season. Here is the beginnings of our guide list.
Aside from being qualified (which doesn't say much in Nepal, at least for trekking guides), each guide will carry their own pulse oximeter, water filter while teahouse trekking (that saves you money!), carry a good trekking first aid book, manage their own first aid kits and be a relative expert. Most importantly, they are good companions to trek with, each is interesting and interested, and without ego.
Check out a brief profile of Bire Tamang (photo above) who will be leading Kanchenjunga groups, especially.
Ngatemba (NT) Sherpa is a climbing guide who has summited Everest, loves Mera Peak and trekking the Khumbu, and while his page is a little thin, he has worked on a surprising number of Project Himalaya private groups previously as well as several American guiding companies. He is free for a March Everest High Passes trek before heading to Everest in April-May.
Flickr photo albums
I cherish each trek, and here are some more memories.
2018 Ganesh GHT - we explored new GHT route possibilities on my personal last section of the Nepal GHT
2018 Bardia (a 3 day wildlife safari trip after Dolpo)
and an oldie, 2010 Aconcagua
Where would you rather be?!
