Nepal earthquake relief update

Dawa (below) and Jamie's Expedition Himalaya team took loads of supplies out the Ramche-Shershung area where Bali (Bal Bahadur) and Lhakpa ( below) and our porter teams are from, and that is one of the areas we will focus on. It is near the bottom end of Langtang and was particularly hard hit.

Although I have barely mentioned previously Dawa is on the board of HAMMWA, the High Altitude Mountain Workers Welfare Association (who I support), who normally provide educational support for children whose fathers died mountaineering, especially the poor and otherwise overlooked. Now they are full swing into relief operations and will add rebuilding soon. All of my tents in Kathmandu have been donated (our Everest tents are still stuck in Tibet) and more "kitchen" tents have been made and donated.

Exodus (UK) who shared our base camp on the north side quickly donated (thank you!) and Kevin from K2 Adventures Foundation who climbed Everest with us in 2007 is directing all the donations collected to HAMMWA. Some of these will be used in the next few days in and around Kurima where Dawa is from, as there are more than a dozen houses down in his village and zero aid has made it there. Rebuilding the school to a monsoon-functional state is a priority.  

Zanskar bridges down

As you might know, Ade's January Chadar trip was pulled off the frozen Zanskar River when it was discovered a landslide much further up the river created a dangerous dam. Indian army engineers worked to try to ensure the dam would drain relatively gently, rather than catastrophically, but even so the ensuing flood still destroyed all the ten bridges downstream including this 2014-new bridge below that we crossed before it was truly completed. So our Zanskar Traverse trek is postponed to 2016; dates and details already on the website.

Kim's Ultimate Ladakh: Markha & Jumlam to the Suru Valley will be rerouted, details later. 

Travel warnings and autumn treks

This seems to be a real disaster email so far, however our Fall treks are going ahead, supporting Nepal tourism. Jamie's GHT Wild West is full and the following GHT Mugu Wild is filling.

Kim heads across Sacred Dolpo to Mustang again with a full team on the most ambitious long trek route there. She still space on the Everest High Passes Trek, perhaps the best Khumbu trek itinerary there is, and this will be a chance to support the recovering Everest region with tourist dollars as well.

Currently the travel advice/warnings suggest to defer non-essential travel (and so voiding most insurance) but these will be reviewed and very likely lifted three months after the second quake, so from mid-August onward, and should be updated early September at the latest.

While I am not an earthquake scientist, to me everything points to a settling of the area and so I feel the risk of another major aftershock is very low, here is some of what I base my analysis on.

Ladakh photo gallery

At lastly another photo gallery. In mid-2014 we climbed Kang Yatse II, a popular peak in Ladakh that was exceedingly dangerous, at least climbing in the style of the local guides (see 2014 Previous treks for more detail). Additionally it is not a true peak, rather a bump on the ridge. So in 2015 we return for a similar wonderful trek but at least two peaks, one a satisfying and safer 6200m peak, Dzo Jongo, and the other an exploratory peak, perhaps that elusive peak that could make a good alternative to crowded and dirty Stok Kangri - who is coming?

The Wild Markha 6000m+ Starts 18 June, so in 4 weeks time, come along for some last minute adventure. And Jet Airways is offering a 10% on already cheap flights...

Jamie's 2014 Kang Yatse II Flickr album

Jamie's 2014 Kang Yatse II Google+ album

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