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"Welcome to our World"ianoffthewallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09893050670803576833noreply@blogger.comBlogger52125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4685057110957823513.post-47533854904985654642019-09-15T20:04:00.004-07:002019-09-15T20:06:02.936-07:00Newsletter August 2019<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Nepal is not just about trekking and mountains, Nepal is host to some of the most diverse ecological regions found in the world. At its lowest altitude Nepal is only 70 metres above sea-level, yet within 178 kilometres as the crow flies you can reach the highest point on Earth. This image is of Rara Lake in the Far West of Nepal, three days drive, with over 14+ hours being off road, from Kathmandu.<br />
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As I posted the last Newsletter the Spring Season was just getting underway and little did anyone know what it had in store, only as the days and weeks rolled out did the events that are now written in Nepal’s history begin reveal themselves.</div>
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On the mountains, although very much at that stage a low profile project was slowly gaining momentum. On the 23rd April a party including a former British Gurkha soldier, Nirmal ‘Nims’ Purja became the first team to successfully reach the top of a Nepalese 8000m peak, Annapurna 1, in 2019. His project, Project Possible was to summit all 14 of the 8000ers in seven months. </div>
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As always Everest got more than its fair share of media exposure during the 2019 spring season but unfortunately for all the wrong reasons. Nepal issued a record number of Everest permits with the route to the summit being eventually fixed on the 14th May by the Sherpa team after a delay due to the arrival of Cyclone Fani. Once the route was fixed 150 expedition members reached the top close on the heels of the rope fixing Sherpa team. The Jet Stream was unpredictable and returned causing more delays but by the next weather window almost 800 people were heading up. The rush started at the beginning of May and literally hundreds summited early each morning during the next narrow weather window of only a few days. The ‘Mad Dash’, which wasn’t so much of a ‘dash’ but more of a congested syagger was captured by Nirmal ‘Nims’ Purja in his now infamous summit ridge image. By August 2019 Nirmal ‘Nims’ Purja had only got three more summits to reach to achieve his goal, a target unimaginable literally only 7 months ago. However this final stage is not going to be without its problems, Manaslu and Cho Oyu should not cause any issues however Sishapangma has been closed by the Chinese this season so maybe his November deadline might just not be possible.</div>
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Related to climate change a project known as ‘<b>The EverDrill Project’</b>, a joint venture between the Himalayan Research Centre and the universities of Leeds, Aberystwyth, Sheffield and Kathmandu, research work has been carried out at heights of up to 5,200 metres on the Khumbu glacier. The research team used a specially adapted car wash unit that produced a pressurised jet of hot water to drill boreholes as far as 190 metres into the glacial ice. Strings of temperature sensors were installed into the boreholes and left to collect data for several months. Researchers found that there was evidence to suggest that the ice was warming at a rate of around 0.5°C per decade indicating that floods and droughts were likely to become more common along with glacial lake growth. This is of obvious concern not only to the health of our planet but in more personal and local terms to the state of SE Asia for whom the Himalaya are the main source of drinking water.</div>
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Over the decades the way and approach to climbing big mountains and in particular Everest has changed. In an attempt to reduce the amount of time acclimatising certain continental expedition operators are now using altitude tents in their home countries before reaching Nepal, this cuts acclimatisation in Nepal down to a minimum. Companies using this technique have recorded good successes this season.</div>
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<b>EverestER,</b> the temporary health post situated at EBC is a project established by the Himalayan Rescue Association in 2003, the 50th anniversary of the first ascent of Everest. During the spring expedition season the HRA reported a big increase in the number of inexperienced patients that they were seeing, they registered the total number of patients seen as being 582, 58% of them being Nepalese, this was the fourth busiest season since the HRA began operations.</div>
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<b>Lukla flights</b> were diverted on the 1st April from the normal Kathmandu to Lukla route to fly from Mantali to Lukla as there was major maintenance work being undertaken at the International Airport. This revised route required an additional 4 hour journey by road to the rural airstrip before flying onto Lukla or an expensive helicopter journey directly to Lukla from Kathmandu. This caused not only confusion but the new route lacked appropriate infrastructure to cope with the high numbers of tourists. At the time of writing there is a plan to keep this as the normal access route into the Khumbu region to ease flight congestion in Kathmandu.</div>
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As would have been expected being appointed to Kathmandu Environmental Education Project as CEO has enabled me to get a really good insight into many aspects of Nepal that have so far slipped under my radar. I’ve had the opportunity to visit many of the higher elevated lakes, several times, and for me these have provided days and in some cases weeks of pure pleasure and enjoyment. </div>
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<b><u>Rara Lake</u></b></div>
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However there has always been one lake that has managed to evade my planning but never the less remained high on my ‘must visit’ list and that was Rara Lake. Described by GORP founder Bill Greer as "a shimmering blue jewel set in a ring of snowy peaks" I was finally able to take on the challenge of driving across Nepal to the far western region before turning north to Mugu in June 2019. This trip was to support the delivery of a Sustainable Tourism Awareness program. The Lake, also called Mahendra Daha, is located in the Karnali Zone, Jumla and Mugu District, the poorest and most remote district in the Nepal.</div>
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Rara is the biggest lake in Nepal with a length of 5.2 km, a breadth of 2 km and depth of 167m, the total surface area is 10.4 square kilometres and it is situated at an altitude of 2980m, by road, 842kms from Kathmandu with at least one-third of the journey being on a rough dirt road, then of course you have the return journey!</div>
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The lake has not always been as idyllic and healthy as it appears now. Forty-seven years ago there were small local businesses, agricultural farms and homesteads dotted around the lake shore but they were all removed when the area was designated as a National Park. This was in the days of the Panchayat era when King Mahendra issued the royal decree himself and there was no question of disobeying. The King was mesmerized by Rara, in 1964 he penned his famous poem Rara Ki Apsara while sitting under a juniper tree on the southern shore. However, the King died before his dream of creating a pristine nature reserve could be realised, but his son, Birendra, fulfilled his father’s vision.</div>
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<b>Rara </b></div>
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Oh! Rara! Pray tell!</div>
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Who you are?</div>
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A nymph from heaven?</div>
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Or you have fallen on earth </div>
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Owing to Indra’s wrath,</div>
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And have been tucked away a long time </div>
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Neglected in this wilderness.</div>
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Tell me! I beg of thee,</div>
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How you ended up in our beloved country,</div>
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In the heart of Asia?</div>
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Or have you mistaken this place,</div>
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For heaven itself?</div>
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A portion of the poem penned by M B B Shah</div>
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Rara’s displaced families were told that the government had already built concrete houses for them, but that turned out to be just one of the many lies that they were fed and they were eventually relocated to, what were at the time the malaria-infested jungles of Bardiya. It is suggested that if Mahendra hadn't taken on and implemented this policy then today buffalos would be wallowing in the lake, there would be no fish left, the forest would be cleared, and the lake would be filled with rubbish, an environmental disaster-zone. The only way to protect Rara from its own beauty for the future, say conservationists, will be to encourage limited high-value tourism and ensure that tourism provides local employment through services, farm products and handicrafts, a sustainable tourism model.</div>
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In 2007 Rara was declared a Ramsar Site of over 15 square kilometres of surrounding wetlands, a site designated to be of international importance. The water in the lake flows east to the west where the outlet eventually drains into the Mugu Karnali River via the Nijar River. The water quality is characterized by a high level of basic water-based solution, meaning that it is has a high ph rating, conductivity and total hardness. </div>
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All this amounts to the fact that Rara Lake water is classified as having low organic compounds resulting in the water being very clear and clean and specified as being of a high quality drinking water.</div>
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Rara Lake, is surrounded by the Rara National Park and is uniquely important with several rare and vulnerable floral and faunal species. In 1976 the park was established to preserve the beauty of the lake and to protect it from sedimentation and adverse human activities. The Park flora consists of 1074 species, of which 16 are endemic to Nepal, the fauna includes 51 species of mammals and 214 species of birds.</div>
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The lake supports three unique fish species, two species of the Nepalese Snow-Trout and the Rara Snow-Trout and one endemic frog, the Rara Lake Fog. During the winter many water birds visit the lake to reside or rest during migration, including Gadwall, Mallard Northern Shoveler, Common Teal, Tufted Duck, Common Golden Eye, Common Merganser, Common Coot and the Solitary Snipe. </div>
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<b><u>The post of Tourism Minister</u></b> had been vacant for almost five months since the demise of the then tourism minister Rabindra Adhikari in a helicopter crash on February 27th Since then the Prime Minister had taken responsibility for the tourism ministry.</div>
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Soon after the oath ceremony, Minister Bhattarai, pictured on the left in the image above, assumed his duties and committed to following up on the pending workloads of the ministry. </div>
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Bhattarai vowed to implement the suggestions from, and with the support of, experienced Nepal tourism stakeholders to:-</div>
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1. Complete the construction of Gautam Buddha International Airport in Bhairahawa before the deadline of December 2019. The airport will serve as a means of increasing tourism towards the west of Nepal.</div>
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2. Address the issues concerning the Nepal Airlines Corporation, which has come under increasing attack for not meeting anticipated route development to increase Nepal’s tourism potential.</div>
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3. Inject vigour into the preparations for Visit Nepal 2020 campaign</div>
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4. Revise the policies, preservation and promotion of cultural and historical heritage sites of the country.</div>
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Tourism is the biggest foreign currency generator, apart from Remittance, contributing to Nepal’s GDP.</div>
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<b><u>People and expeditions to watch during the Autumn Season 2019</u></b></div>
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The legendary Spaniard Kilian Jornet is already in Nepal and will be attempting to speed climb Everest, Jornet, who holds multiple speed records on various mountains across the world, will be using Gorak Shep as his base camp. There are reports that the he will try to climb Everest via a new route if possible.</div>
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Joe Vernachio who joined the Mountain Hardware Company a few years ago will be testing a new series of high-altitude equipment on Everest this up-coming season. </div>
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Polish adventurer Andrzej Bargiel will attempt to ski down from the summit of Everest along with two others. Bargiel, who skied down K2 in 2018, will try to descend to Everest base camp without using supplemental oxygen. </div>
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<b>The Project Possible team,</b> Nirmal ‘Nims’ Purja, only have three more mountains to climb to finish all of the world’s 8000 mt peaks in less than seven months. According to Magar, they might be trying a new route on Cho Oyu which is no longer climbed as much from the Nepal side. Magar will then go to Manaslu after which he will travel to Tibet for Shishapangma. However, there is a catch, the Chinese are not issuing any permits to climb Shishapangma this year.</div>
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<b>Smashing age barriers on Dhaulagiri</b><div style="text-align: justify;">
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Carlos Soria Fontan is already in Nepal preparing for his attempt to climb Dhaulagiri. At the age of 80, he is also attempting to complete all of the worlds’ 8000 mt peaks. Fontan only has Dhaulagiri and Shishapangma left on his list. He is the only person to have summited ten 8000mt peaks after turning 60 years of age.</div>
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<b>Lhotse getting Popular</b></div>
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A nine-member Polish team will attempt Lhotse via the standard route through the Khumbu Icefall this autumn. They are already trekking to their Khumbu Base Camp.</div>
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<b><u>Manaslu the place to be for mountaineers, or maybe not!</u></b></div>
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So far the Department of Tourism has issued approximately 194 permits to 18 teams for Manaslu. This number is likely to increase as the days go by and it looks like the mountain will again be crowded.</div>
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It seems that this year autumn mountain expeditions are coming back into vogue</div>
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<b><u>My Rant!</u></b></div>
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Some of you might remember my rant way-back in 2014 about the rubbish left by domestic Yarshagompa collectors in Dolpa. Well now my latest rant is also about rubbish and in this case accountability!</div>
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The mid 1930s saw the previous and, up to then, largest earthquake to hit Nepal. At that time there was little in terms of logistical development, there were virtually no roads outside of the Kathmandu Valley, there were no domestic flights and no idea of earthquake resistant construction methods and more significantly no NGOs or modern communication systems. As a result all the buildings that unfortunately collapsed were simply reconstructed using the same methods and materials and equally as importantly the same cultural architectural style.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwA7DriBQ0_vGbgyKfiCYXKpavfpTrFxWRl5Y7RM1AS1Ywo6FMC_MwkSStd4Te2-DCXiy2fiUfV9GN2M4I0MK0_KBnNqQn1gCyhos8Jsu4e5OJfsA6TGTS8eAYytEvEBAYKHYVoZI39nM/s1600/P1010055.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwA7DriBQ0_vGbgyKfiCYXKpavfpTrFxWRl5Y7RM1AS1Ywo6FMC_MwkSStd4Te2-DCXiy2fiUfV9GN2M4I0MK0_KBnNqQn1gCyhos8Jsu4e5OJfsA6TGTS8eAYytEvEBAYKHYVoZI39nM/s640/P1010055.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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In 2015 when the 7.8m earthquake hit Nepal causing approximately $10 billion of damage the news of the event spread round the world in a matter of seconds. As a result hundreds of NGOs and their supporters were motivated to travel to Nepal to provide much needed help and thousands of dollars were pledged in support aid. For everyone the first concern was to provide water, food and shelter to those communities affected, many of which were in the remoter regions of Nepal. Millions of plastic water bottles were given out, along with polypropylene sacks containing rice and plastic based tarpaulins. Concerns were growing with regard to the fast approaching monsoon season.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKG7hHidWgUYbGuv_Q2SK1wvtN1OCAZd0eUUKBR_LxKyLTdt9YrDLD1js7P162R9iJYncxUHDQYw1NkjLKGhWQIEjjyse9xTmMAVVBDqeulXJH842aagciEaV4_zjMK05tfWojkNhD2Is/s1600/0a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="803" data-original-width="1080" height="470" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKG7hHidWgUYbGuv_Q2SK1wvtN1OCAZd0eUUKBR_LxKyLTdt9YrDLD1js7P162R9iJYncxUHDQYw1NkjLKGhWQIEjjyse9xTmMAVVBDqeulXJH842aagciEaV4_zjMK05tfWojkNhD2Is/s640/0a.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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In the aftermath of the devastation people started to rebuild their lives. However the plastic tarpaulins were still used to cover the buildings, when the ‘tarps’ began to fail they were recycled to covering animal shelters, then dung piles until the weather eventually reduced the sheets to tatters and the wind spread them around the community where they got tangled up and totally discarded but not destroyed. </div>
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Four and a half years on from the earthquake and many of these plastic sheets are still very visible around those villages that received NGO aid. With the advancement of road building and the accessibility to modern material and techniques for developing earthquake resistant buildings these communities started to ‘import’ cement and steel rods in large quantities, all packaged in polypropylene sacks, which were then simply discarded at the end of their serviceable life. All contribute to environmental pollution of the middle hill districts of Nepal.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2R-eg6DwD2V9z_dsl_58cgVfA0bCfcjZa25K68vneBtA3cpY64S5wOSr-LpRFgzxvVKOwLBWv9eGbhJapGVQzfo17RriZNQCThlfZOvZqbSj2wCi_I7W-hbIq2tMw6Hv5pGvYscsaFHA/s1600/Machhakhola+2005.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="691" data-original-width="923" height="474" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2R-eg6DwD2V9z_dsl_58cgVfA0bCfcjZa25K68vneBtA3cpY64S5wOSr-LpRFgzxvVKOwLBWv9eGbhJapGVQzfo17RriZNQCThlfZOvZqbSj2wCi_I7W-hbIq2tMw6Hv5pGvYscsaFHA/s640/Machhakhola+2005.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsrAG-2OScVzfWE7XN1n2CHDepAYu5ayezFkIx16gkQ6bXG1rPhkdIkR4S9vdWPb0lz5xiKKaqPsVxeSjxKT4r9fg4h24AGu6y08ZKGpa9JDWsyPfHgvaHL3iIUuJOnRTVEwjWF64yEHM/s1600/Pollution+2015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1104" data-original-width="1600" height="440" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsrAG-2OScVzfWE7XN1n2CHDepAYu5ayezFkIx16gkQ6bXG1rPhkdIkR4S9vdWPb0lz5xiKKaqPsVxeSjxKT4r9fg4h24AGu6y08ZKGpa9JDWsyPfHgvaHL3iIUuJOnRTVEwjWF64yEHM/s640/Pollution+2015.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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The images above, one taken in 2005 shows Machhakhola as it was, the image below, taken from virtually the same location on the bridge, shows the impact of plastic pollution, road development and NGO aid.</div>
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One expectation of trekkers visiting Nepal is to experience the unique cultural architecture. Unfortunately earthquake resistant designs don’t take into account cultural architecture. With a lack of monitoring, guidance and supervision communities take matters into their own hands, new construction is taking place and modern raw-material packaging is being irresponsibly discarded and cultural design, well that is another matter!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuri2AT40hBOkIY9KJUKm1_xmxI6Wl5HeBuJLjWA3fw4i4qvPYEPk_C72oBRjii-z77sYA768SPOoczM7cxFqIkkpJJmXkpa8sbQcJ4n_SeOSu_DKJ9fjxEofDqQlBV83Xz2uYAIewkaE/s1600/IMG_0701.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuri2AT40hBOkIY9KJUKm1_xmxI6Wl5HeBuJLjWA3fw4i4qvPYEPk_C72oBRjii-z77sYA768SPOoczM7cxFqIkkpJJmXkpa8sbQcJ4n_SeOSu_DKJ9fjxEofDqQlBV83Xz2uYAIewkaE/s640/IMG_0701.JPG" width="640" /></a>Is it not the responsibility of the NGOs to ensure the materials that are handed out in good faith do not end up as a detrimental side product to, in many cases, the only sustainable income generating activity these hill people have – Tourism? Should the NGOs not pay a return visit to their aid assisted communities to ensure their intervention has had a minimum impact on the environment?</div>
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Many of the nation sports associations of Great Britain were formed towards the end of the 19th Century, the Football Association – 1863, the Cricket Association – 1903, the Lawn Tennis Association – 1888, the Rowing Association – 1882 and the Alpine Club – 1857. However, in Nepal national associations were formed only in the early 1970s, The Nepal Mountaineering Association – 1973, the Himalayan Rescue Association – 1973 and Trekking Agencies Association of Nepal – 1979. TAAN was established by a handful of trekking agency operators who felt it was time to devise sound business principles as well as regulate the sector which was growing by leaps and bounds with every passing year. TAAN operates several departments including: </div>
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Construction & Developmental<br />
Trainings & Human Resources</div>
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Development</div>
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Promotional Activities</div>
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Environmental Activities</div>
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Philanthropic Activities</div>
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Emergency Response</div>
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<span id="goog_2082042362"></span><span id="goog_2082042363"></span>In 2016 Sarita stood for election as a General Executive Board Member and got elected onto the Board at the 2016 AGM. Over the last few weeks TAAN has again held their election with a new Board being voted in. This time Sarita stood for the position of General Secretary and again I’m proud to say she won. As such Sarita is the first female to hold this position in TAAN since it was formed in 1979.</div>
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Congratulations to Sarita who is not only able to represent the Nepal tourism industry in such an auspicious position but also to up hold the commitment that Off the Wall trekking has in supporting the mountain tourism industry of Nepal.</div>
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<b><u>Brexit!</u></b></div>
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You might well be wondering how Brexit effects life in Nepal. As you know the pound has been slipping against the US dollar. This has now caused the exchange rate to have dipped. In Thamel at a recent high the pound was worth 166 Nrs, this then slid to 144 Nrs where it remained static for several months, now it has slipped again to around 139 Nrs, although a few weeks ago it went as low as 134 Nrs.</div>
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<b><u>Weather Predictions</u></b></div>
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With the tourist season about to start its time to consider the influence that the weather could have on your trekking plans.</div>
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The monsoon arrived as predicted but then everything came to a halt. Although the western regions of India have seen a great deal of flood damage little rain fell in Kathmandu, that is until a few days ago when things started to return to monsoon like conditions. The long range forecast indicates that there will still be cloud cover and precipitation at least up to the end of September.</div>
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If you are coming this way before the end of the month it’s best to check up on the weather apps for the latest information .. and be prepared for a damp start to your stay in Nepal.</div>
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However it is worth mentioning that every valley has its own weather pattern and sometimes once out of Kathmandu you will be pleasantly surprised!</div>
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Below is an image from the Mask Dance performed at the auspicious once in 12 year festival at Shey Gompa in Dolpa in 2012. The next festival is due in 2024, if you would like to go then please let us know as we are organising a trek to Shey for the Festival (early September) although the dates are not fixed yet.</div>
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August 2019</div>
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ianoffthewallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09893050670803576833noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4685057110957823513.post-30927078992807983132019-09-14T20:53:00.001-07:002019-09-14T21:32:41.751-07:00Adventure Tourism in Nepal <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">NMA article 9pm 4 April<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<b style="text-align: center;"><u><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Content</span></u></b></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">1.<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Introduction<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">From
the early dawn of adventure and exploration in the Himalaya to 1950<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">3.<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Introducing modern Adventure
Tourism in Nepal 1950 – 1992<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">4.<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">How would the fathers of the
Nepal tourism industry view the ‘developments’ of the present generation?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">5.<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The Adventure Travel Guide<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><u>List of illustrations</u></b></div>
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Front piece The small dwarfed by the big – A trekker stands on a boulder in front of Sobi Thongje 6670m Kangchenjunga Region ©Ian Wall</div>
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Page 4 Looking across the northern mountains of Shey-Phoksundo National Park ©Ian Wall</div>
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Page 5 1922 British Mount Everest Expedition Photograph from "The assault on Mount Everest, 1922, C. G. Bruce, facing page 46 "The Expedition at base Camp." Left to right, back row: Henry Morshead, Geoffrey Bruce, John Noel, Arthur Wakefield, Howard Somervell, John Morris, Teddy Norton. Front row: George Mallory, George Finch, Tom Longstaff, Charles Bruce, Bill Strutt, Colin Crawford.</div>
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Brian Hodgson, British Resident 1828 – 1844 (with a 2 year gap 1831-1833)</div>
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Page 6 King Prithvi Narayan Shah</div>
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Page 7 Final Ascent: George Mallory, left, and Andrew Irvine, right, preparing to leave their camp on the north col, 1924. AP / John Noel Collection</div>
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Page 9 The cover of Paris Match celebrating the French success on Annapurna </div>
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Page 10 The Hippy Trail across Central Europe and Asia to Nepal </div>
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Page 11 Colonel Jimmy Roberts (1916–1997), Sir Chris Bonington, Reinold Messner ©Ian Wall</div>
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Page 12 Tek Chandra Pokharel, Trans-Himalayan Tours</div>
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Page 13 Rob Hall and Gary Ball, organisers of the first commercial expedition to Everest 1992</div>
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Page 14 – 18 Adventure activities available in Nepalure Tourism in Nepal</div>
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<b><u><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Introduction<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">From the earliest of times Nepal has
always conjured up images of a romantic Himalayan destination. Little was known
about the country or even the Himalayan mountains that form the back bone of
the country and protective northern border. To the south the Ganges and the
Tarai region again provided an almost impenetrable southern border. The early
migrants from both the northern and southern plains rotated into Nepal to the
east the people from the north arrived and to the west those from the south. As
in most migration circumstances these people were looking for a better life and
or escaping religious or political persecution. By the 16<sup>th</sup> century
other adventurous travellers were eyeing Nepal for other reasons, then came the
Pundits, the British Residents, the scientific explorers (flora and fauna) the
anthropologists and then eventually the adventurous ‘travellers’ and tourists.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The political turmoil in Tibet was part
of the catalyst that persuaded the Nepal Monarchy to open the borders to the
French in 1950 and the mountaineering industry developed. The Hippy Trail
provided adventure tourism of a different sort in the 1960s and white-water
rafting and trekking started to develop. With a change of the monarchy in 1972
Adventure Tourism was given another boost.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">By the mid-1990s ‘Adventure Travel and Tourism’
was a fully commercial operation producing millions of dollars of foreign
revenue for the Nepal Government. Things started to change when the political
situation played a major role in the governance of Nepal. Since then adventure
tourism has never been the same. Today there are many underlying and
potentially disturbing issues having a negative impact on Nepal tourism, in
some quarters trust has been lost in Nepal’s tourism industry by international
operators. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">At one time Nepal was the Premier
Adventure Tourism Destination but now many other countries have followed
Nepal’s lead and are rapidly developing their own adventure tourism
destinations, all in competition with Nepal. While adventure tourist numbers
are increasing Nepal seems reluctant to embrace new ideas, technologies and
potentially lucrative opportunities are being missed, client expectations are
not being fully understood or addressed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The disastrous earthquake of 2015
provided an unwelcome break in the flow of tourists but at the same time it was
an opportunity for the industry to address some concerns and future policies,
but again the opportunities slipped by.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">For Nepal to keep its grasp on the
Premier Adventure Tourist Destination crown and its potential for increased
generation of foreign income it must revisit its tourism policies and bring
them into line with client expectations and modern thinking.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">In this article I have tried to write a
short history of ‘foreign visitors’ coming to Nepal and their effect on Nepal’s
tourism industry while concluding with some ideas as to how to meet certain
client expectations in the mountain tourism industry.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Ian Wall, Kathmandu April 2019<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><u>From the early dawn of adventure and exploration in the Himalaya to 1950</u></b><br />
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The saying goes; ’beauty is in the eye of the beholder’ and Nepal has ‘beauty’ in abundance but maybe now we should reconsider the definition of ‘adventure’ in the context of Nepal ’Nepal also has adventure in abundance but adventure is in the mind of the visitor’. I say this because the definition of adventure, according to the dictionary is ‘the involvement, willingness or participation in things that involve uncertainty and possibly physical risk’. In today’s adventure industry in Nepal the elements of ‘uncertainty and possibly physical risk’ have to a greater extent been virtually eliminated in all but the mind of the activist. </div>
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The history of Nepal began in, and generally centers on the Kathmandu Valley. Over the last two centuries Nepal's boundaries have been extended to include huge tracts of neighbouring India which was at that time ruled by the British East India Company on behalf of the British Empire, and then contracted to little more than the Kathmandu Valley and a handful of nearby city-states. To the very few that had even heard of Nepal the territory was considered to be only that area of land known as the Kathmandu Valley, beyond that few had little idea of the country or its natural wealth and beauty. Though it has ancient roots, the modern state of Nepal emerged only in the 18th century.</div>
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Foreigners have been visiting the land we now call Nepal since ancient times. Some of the most famous visitors from a bye-gone era (between 1,500 and 2,000 years ago) included a Chinese monk called Huyen Shang (who wrote a description of the Kathmandu Valley), the Indian Emperor Ashoka (who erected a tower in Lumbini,), and his daughter Charumati (who reputedly built Buddhist shines in Kathmandu). However, there is no record of any Europeans arriving in Nepal until the first quarter of the 17th century. In 1628 AD, a Portuguese Jesuit called Father Juan Cabral arrived in Kathmandu. He was received by the then King Laxminarasing Malla, who awarded him an auspicious copper plate and allowed him to preach Christianity and so Juan Cabral and his team of Jesuits were most probably the first known and recorded Europeans to visit Nepal.</div>
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The British had a history of mountaineering and exploration in the European Alps and Norway and by the fact that they were the rulers of India under the British Empire they soon developed a keen interest in the Himalaya, but at that time not for mountaineering purposes but for the study of flora, fauna and culture. The first British citizen to arrive in Nepal was probably William Hunter Douglas Knox, a Resident (emissary) of the British Empire. He arrived in Kathmandu in 1802 but then went back a year later. He was followed by John Peter Bolleau and then Edward Gardener. Brian Houghton Hodgson became, up to then, the longest serving First Resident staying in Nepal over the period 1829 – 1843. Hodgson was a pioneer naturalist and ethnologist working in Nepal where he was a British Resident. He described numerous species of birds and mammals from the Himalaya, and several birds were named after him by others such as Edward Blyth. Hodgson was a scholar of Newar Buddhism and wrote extensively on a range of topics relating to linguistics and religion. For these travelers a visit to Nepal certainly encompassed the adventure elements of uncertainty and possibly physical risk.</div>
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</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><!--[endif]--><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM_CggjGHvafQ9FQZDVJ7CmHk-VjcDJmeywBLKBpktBxCC_qPuQpZlqwdWlRRVLEnYzi53eQcXwDkG1upQJdAqHt8MfIcbhp4uA188HpjrQJGLkK1PpIOcEZzL-3sFabR0L8hbLAQHYkk/s1600/1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="443" data-original-width="440" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM_CggjGHvafQ9FQZDVJ7CmHk-VjcDJmeywBLKBpktBxCC_qPuQpZlqwdWlRRVLEnYzi53eQcXwDkG1upQJdAqHt8MfIcbhp4uA188HpjrQJGLkK1PpIOcEZzL-3sFabR0L8hbLAQHYkk/s320/1.jpg" width="316" /></a>During this time Nepal was under-going a radical change and King Prithvi Narayan Shah was successful in bringing together diverse religious-ethnic groups under one nation. He was a true nationalist in his outlook and was in favour of adopting a closed-door policy with regard to the British. Not only his social and economic views guided the country's socio-economic course for a long time but his use of the imagery, 'a yam between two boulders' in Nepal's geopolitical context, formed the principal guideline of the country's foreign policy for future centuries. The combination of a closed borders and national turmoil made Nepal very much off limits for many explorers and travelers at that time.</div>
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However ‘adventure’ and ‘exploring’ the unknown have always been a key driving force of humanity and on a September day in 1863, a Moslem named Abdul Hamid entered the Central Asian city of Yarkand. Disguised as a merchant, Hamid was actually an employee of the British Survey of India, and he carried concealed instruments to enable him to map the geography of the area. He was the advance guard of an elite group of Indian trans-Himalayan explorers and adventurers recruited, trained, and directed by the officers of the Great Trigonometrically Survey of India who were to traverse much of Tibet and Central Asia during the next thirty years. Babu Sarat Chandra Das was an Indian of a different order from the other pundits of the Survey of India team; he was a highly-educated and sophisticated man, who has been accurately described as a “traveller, and explorer, a linguist, lexicographer, an ethnographer and an eminent Tibetologist’. Das also played an important diplomatic role during the Macaulay mission of 1885-86. When, in 1901, Kipling immortalized the pundits in his famous work Kim, the character of the secret agent Huree Chunder Mookerjee was most probably based on Das and Kim became a ‘must read’ adventure story reaching far beyond the readers within its own generation.</div>
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There was a natural desire on the part of the personnel of the British Survey of India to obtain as much credit as possible from the exploits of their trans-Himalayan adventures and exploration. Men such as Montgomerie, Trotter, and Walker naturally wanted to publicize their own adventurous achievements and those of the pundits, particularly through the meetings and publications of the Royal Geographical Society, these lectures and presentations all went to give south east Asia and in particular Nepal a high public profile. Thirty years then elapsed between the first experimental dispatch in 1863 of a pundit when Montgomerie sent Abdul Hamid set off to Yarkand, and the pundits’ last known exploration when Hari Ram and his son traveled in Nepal and Tibet in 1892-93.</div>
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These Pundits were adventurers and explorers in the true sense of the definition and their expeditions had all the ingredients of true adventure and exploration literally having to find their way from one valley to the next and from one community to the next using stealth and survival skills to avoid detection and capture, yet mixing with the local people enough to be able to sustain themselves. There were no maps or guide books, no internet or telephone; they had to be self-reliant, independent and resourceful. Yet they had a mission to accomplish, to gain knowledge of the geography of Nepal, Tibet and Central Asia they were not on vacation, adventure tourism was their ‘occupation’. However, from the late 1890s to 1950 there was little to report in terms of foreign travellers in Nepal.</div>
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The first recorded Himalayan expedition was that of Alec Kellas along with Sherpa Sony and ‘Tuny’s’ brother who succeeded on Pauhauri, stated as being the source of the Teesta River on the border of Tibet, China, Sikkim and India.</div>
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All pre-World War II Himalayan mountaineering expeditions had avoided entering Nepal due to the closed border situation and had traveled via Tibet or India, but in 1949, alarmed that the communist regime in China seemed to be gaining momentum, Tibet expelled all Chinese officials and closed its borders to foreigners. In October 1950 Tibet was occupied by the People’s Republic and its borders remained closed indefinitely.</div>
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For over one hundred years Nepal, ruled by the Rana Dynasty, had not allowed explorers or mountaineers into the country. However, by 1946 the possible communist-sponsored revolution in Tibet was considered even less welcome than Western influences in Nepal so the latter opened diplomatic discussions with the United States that privately hoped to be able to use Nepal as a Cold War launching point for missiles. Scientific expeditions became permitted but two requests in 1948 from Switzerland and Britain for purely mountaineering expeditions were refused. However, a year later mountaineers were allowed to enter Nepal if they were accompanying scientific travelers.</div>
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The British had a long history of attempting Everest all-be-it from the Tibetan side and in 1953 they successfully summated, subsequently Everest has become one of the most sought after destinations for ‘adventurers’ since its discovery as the highest mountain during the Great Trigonometrically Survey of India in 1856.</div>
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With the French success on Annapurna and the media hype associate with it, the first of its kind, a truly adventurous mountaineering expedition and the recognition of the romance that it entailed in a magical Himalayan Kingdom fired the imagination of many who saw themselves as potential adventurers in this Himalayan Kingdom.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFnUw7YUQCC_W1RNUcREUr824mLog3rIWIhZmZHmOgtJoi8BoeUamImr7zqK5bWUKg-pydpqUp-X_By4SW_Zf1QGwNSq8F3KjmbTl4aoABs-6i4h-jTZ7n6eNED2bn2PgPgNBL7hXpHnM/s1600/3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="464" data-original-width="376" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFnUw7YUQCC_W1RNUcREUr824mLog3rIWIhZmZHmOgtJoi8BoeUamImr7zqK5bWUKg-pydpqUp-X_By4SW_Zf1QGwNSq8F3KjmbTl4aoABs-6i4h-jTZ7n6eNED2bn2PgPgNBL7hXpHnM/s400/3.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span>Despite the fact that there have been foreign travellers in Nepal for many years from the early Jesuit Priests, the Pundits, the early British Residents and naturalists their travel and exploration was by default ‘an adventure’, there was little or no information on travelling in Nepal. The first focal point for actual mountain generated tourism, a specific mountain attracting real traveller’s attention was in fact Kanchenjunga. The third-highest mountain in the world which was, at that time believed to be the highest mountain once Dhaulagiri had been rejected as such. The enormous mass of Kangchenjunga lies on the border of Nepal and Sikkim. Rising straight up out of the eastern plains of India and being in the east of Nepal it is the first of the mighty Himalayan peaks to catch the early sunrise and in certain conditions as the sun hits the summit ridge the snow glows in a fine golden yellow as if a golden thread was floating high in the dark sky. With Darjeeling developing as a British Hill Station in 1835 visitors were soon arriving with their sole intention of witnessing the wonders of this great giant. Even in the mid-nineteenth century it was quite possible to make a one week tour from Calcutta travelling by train from Siliguri and then by ‘gharry’ to Darjeeling. Many inspiring works across all artistic genres were produced about Kanchenjunga during the nineteenth century, poems, paintings, travel accounts and reports on the flora and fauna of the region. All these formed the initial foundations of mountain tourism in the Himalaya which was accessible to the masses, all-be-it the financially well-established masses.</div>
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In 1851 a small company was established in the UK by Thomas Cook who initially dealt with a domestic market but by 1855 he had organised his first tours to Europe and then in 1866 to the USA. Thomas Cook had acquired business premises on Fleet Street, London by 1865.and the office contained a shop which sold travel accessories, including guide books, luggage, telescopes and footwear. In 1866, Thomas Cook organised the first escorted tours of the United States for British travelers, picking up passengers from several departure points. They then introduced the first escorted round the world tour which departed from London in September 1872. It included a steamship across the Atlantic, a stage coach across America, a paddle steamer to Japan, and an overland journey across China and India. The tour cost around £300 and lasted 222 days. By 1888, the company had established offices around the world, including three offices in Australia and one in Auckland, New Zealand, and in 1890, the company sold over 3.25 million tickets. A husband and wife might, for example, pay £85 for a Thomas Cook tour of Germany, Switzerland, and France over six weeks. While expensive enough the trip would likely be the only one in their lifetime, the company would arrange for a variety of activities new to the middle class including museum visits, the opera, and mountain climbing. Access to romantic and adventurous parts of the world had suddenly become a lot easier and with the new ‘package’ deals the numbers of adventurous travelers and explores travelling the world looking for adventure rose dramatically.</div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Introducing
modern Adventure Tourism in Nepal 1950 – 1992<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
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Boris Lisanevich (1905-1985), was a Russian émigré to Nepal, he was a ballot dancer, hotelier and a restaurateur, but above all he was an entrepreneur and the father of the mass adventure tourism industry in Nepal. He opened Nepal’s first hotel, the Hotel Royal in 1951, a converted Rana Palace and later he created the Yak & Yeti Hotel and The Chimney Restaurant. At that time, 1951, visas were difficult to obtain for Nepal but in 1955 in an attempt to reform this process, Lisanevich convinced a group of 20 tourists from his ‘Club 300’ based in Kolkata (Calcutta), mostly women, to come to Nepal, he then proceeded to have an intense discussion with the newly crowned King Mahendra about granting them a 15-day visa. Boris convinced the king that people would like to visit Nepal and would actually pay for the experience, citing to the King that the country could make profit from these visits. Finally the king relented, the guests arrived and Boris held the country’s first handicraft exhibition. The Royal Hotel and the Yak and Yeti bar went on to become the meeting place for climbers from the 1950s right up to 1971 when the Royal Hotel was closed.</div>
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In 1950 the French got permission from the Nepal Government to undertake an expedition to Dhaulagiri, at one time thought to be the highest mountain in the world as the mighty south face viewed from the plains of India rose in one unbroken 7000m leap to the summit, or failing that, Annapurna which was consider at the time to be of lesser importance. This was the first expedition to attempt an 8000m peak and the first permitted to undertake a mountaineering expedition in Nepal in over a century. After failing to climb Dhaulagiri 1 at 8,167m the team attempted Annapurna 1, 8091m with Herzog and Louis Lachenal <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louis_Lachenal"></a>reaching the summit on 3rd June 1950. The expedition was a great achievement for French mountaineering and caught the public’s imagination with front-page coverage in a best-selling issue of the magazine the Paris Match. Herzog wrote the immensely popular book ‘Annapurna’ which was full of vivid descriptions of heroic endeavour and the anguish suffered on the expedition. The region had only previously been casually explored and the mountain heights had been determined by surveyors with precision using theodolite technology based far away in India as part of the Indian Survey. Other nations felt that they should have been given priority but Nepal had favoured France. The Maharajah of Nepal appointed G.B.Rana as the local liaison, translation and general organisation officer to accompany the expedition.</div>
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But it was not until the French gained permission from the Nepal Government for Annapurna in 1950 that the tide of Himalayan ‘adventurous’ mountaineering and exploration really start. Within four years 1953 – 1957 Everest, Cho Oyu, Chomo Lonzo, Makalu, Kanchenjunga, Gansehi I, Lhotse, Manaslu, and Machhapuchhare had all been climbed.</div>
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All these expeditions were undertaken in the true sense of the word ‘adventurous’ mountaineering tourism, there were no paths, hotels or lodges, no domestic flights, maps or other technologies and no other services that we now take for granted.</div>
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The ‘adventure tourism industry’ was born, after the initial rush of expeditions in the early 1950s people got to learn of the treasures and natural beauty of Nepal. Books were being written, lectures were given and Boris had opened the first hotel and restaurant for tourists and companies like Thomas Cook were facilitating more accessible travel arrangements. But there were still adventures to be had. And the Hippy Trail was conceived!</div>
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The hippie trail (also called the Overland Trail) was the name given to the overland journey taken by members of young adventurers and the hippy subculture from the mid-1950s to the late 1970s. These overland journeys<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hippie_trail#cite_note-2"></a> occurred between Europe, the USA and South Asia travelling mainly through Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan, India and Nepal. The hippie trail was a form of adventure tourism, and one of the key elements was travelling as cheaply as possible, mainly to facilitate and extend the length of time away from home for these tourists, there was little planning and the return ‘tickets’ were often the last thing on the hippies’ mind. The term "hippie" became current in the mid-to-late 1960s and lead to the prosperity, in relative terms, of the old marijuana shops, lodging, rented rooms and cafe businesses of Jhocchen, (Freak Street) Kathmandu.</div>
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In every major stop along the hippie trail, there were hotels, restaurants and cafés for Westerners, who networked with each other as they travelled east and west. The hippies tended to interact more with the local population than the traditional middle or upper class sightseers of the day did. However, these adventure travellers didn’t spend all their time in a marijuana haze and at some point went seeking out other opportunities for adventure and the white water rafting sector was borne as an alternative way of spending time outside of the valley but still involving a low-cost adventurous past-time.</div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The hippie trail largely ended in the
late 1970s after the Iranian Revolution and the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan
closed the route to Western travelers. But this chapter was another deciding
factor in establishing Adventure Tourism in Nepal.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">One of the early travel guides to Nepal
was the BIT Guide. This recounted the collective experiences <o:p></o:p></span>of travellers and was then reproduced at a fairly low cost as little more than a duplicated stapled-together bundle of foolscap sheets with a pink cover providing information for travellers. It was updated by those on the road warning of pitfalls and places to see and stay. The 1971 edition of The Whole Earth Catalogue devoted several pages to the "Overland Guide to Nepal’.</div>
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Many of these overland travellers arrived in Nepal and headed to Kathmandu initially staying in the Freak Street locality, but in 1968 the Sakya family opened the Kathmandu Guest House offering 13 rooms for rent at a maximum rate of 5 US $ per night, the KGH herald another chapter of ‘Adventure Tourism in Nepal’.</div>
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Up to this point the history of adventure tourism in Nepal was based on two factions, the mountaineering expeditions and well-heeled travellers who tended to stay in the old Rana Palaces with large gardens suitable for preparing and packing expedition equipment and logistics on the one hand while the hippies and overland travellers focused on the small private Newari houses where they could rent very cheap rooms in private quarters on the other. There was little mid-way accommodation available.</div>
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With the death of King Mahendra in 1972 the newly crowned King Birendra took a more proactive role in developing Tourism with one of his main goals being to rid Nepal of its ‘freak and drug heaven’ image and to replace it with ‘adventure tourism’. Within a very short period of time Nepal established its first Ministry of Tourism, its first National Park and Wildlife Preserve and its first Cultural Zone. Jimmy Roberts’ trekking initiative got a boost from the Nepal Government as it began to promote Nepal as an ‘Adventure Tourism’ destination. Up to this point tourism in Nepal had more or less developed accidentally. From 1973 all that changed.</div>
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With improved logistics and transport infrastructure the tourism focus was again shifting from the high-on-time-low-on-cost philosophy of the hippies to the high-on-cost-low-on-time philosophy of the middle-class adventure tourist.</div>
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From 1973 through to the mid-late 1990s the adventure travel and tourism market of Nepal flourished. In 1973 Nepal received 68,047 tourists with an average stay of approximately two weeks (14 days) by 1999 this number had risen to 491,504 tourists but again the duration of their stay was approximately still only two weeks.</div>
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In 1988 Tek Chandra Pokharel and the Trans-Himalayan Tours organisation was handling the formal arrangements required to undertake any form of expedition in Nepal. He did not operate as an agent but merely as a facilitator to the rapidly growing groups of tourists visiting the country and over the next 50 years he made major contributions to develop Nepal’s tourism sector and became an icon of the diversification of Nepal’s tourism industry. </div>
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In the early 1970s he was a Founding President of many tourism related associations of Nepal including Nepal Association of Tour and Travel Agents, Trekking Agents Association of Nepal and the Himalaya Rescue Association. As being well versed in tourism he was involved in Nepal’s Tourism Master Plan. With a view of attracting the high end of the adventure tourism market Pokharel paid particular attention to developing high mountain luxury tourism and was closely associated with the Everest View Hotel in Sayangboche, at one time known as the highest luxury hotel in the world!</div>
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It is obvious through analysing the data available to recognise that although more travellers and adventure tourist were visiting Nepal the length of stay was remaining static. If Nepal was to capitalise on tourism then there would need to be a bit of fine tuning of the ‘adventure experience’.</div>
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All the early 1950 – 1957 mountaineering expeditions were undertaken in the true sense of the words ‘adventurous mountaineering tourism’, there were no paths, hotels or lodges, no domestic flights, maps or other technologies and services that we now take for granted weren’t even thought of. However international travel agents were not allowed to directly operate in Nepal, they were not familiar with developing trekking holidays nor did they understand Nepalese administration. With a new-found enthusiasm for adventurous travel there now developed an opportunity for a new business operation in Nepal, the Nepalese Trekking Agent and in 1974 TAAN was established.</div>
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For the next 20 years or so adventure tourism steadily developed in Nepal and as the numbers of adventure tourists increased so did the tourist facilities with the honey pot areas, specifically Annapurna and Everest not only taking the lion’s share of business but also leading the way in developing tourist infrastructure. Annapurna received particular attention when ACAP was formed under King Birendra.</div>
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By the early 1990s two companies, Mountain Madness and Adventure Consultants, started as a result of experienced mountaineers decided to become guides to lead people to reach the top of Everest. This provided the founders of these companies with not only a good opportunity to earn money, but also the chance to help people who wanted to summate Everest and to make their dreams come true. The first commercial expedition to Everest in 1992 was a raging success with Hall, Ball and Cotter reaching the summit with six of the clients and four Sherpas.</div>
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Hall and Ball had proved their ability to pull together a successful expedition with an attention to detail that was the envy of the other ‘start up’ guided expeditions that were beginning to stamp their mark at the same time. There were many firsts to the summit that day, first Israeli, first Belgian woman, first from Hong Kong.</div>
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Since the early 1990s there have been no limits on the numbers of expeditions attempting Everest each season. In place of the national teams of leading mountaineers that long dominated Himalayan climbing, commercial operators put together ad hoc groups of clients who now pay £25,000-£50,000 and in many cases more, each to ‘bag’ the world’s greatest trophy peak</div>
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the fathers of the Nepal tourism industry view the ‘developments’ of the
present generation?<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
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Although today ‘Adventure Tourism’ contributes around 7.5% to the national GDP its potential is far from beeing exhausted. The grass-root operators see the value of tourism as supporting their financial sustainability but in the vacuum created by a lack of direction from Government level they are taking things into their own hands. Development is taking place in the mountain regions that is not always conducive with the expectations of visitors and trekkers, buildings are being constructed that do not represent cultural traditions and design and new roads are becoming intrusive in the remote and so far untouched areas.</div>
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The Khumbu and the valley areas of Everest are now the direct flight paths for a new breed of high-end tourists and with many helicopter companies offering several fixed time departures a day the there is a constants buzz of noise from these air borne tourist flights. In line with policies outlined in the Constitution the Zonal Development has created a rift between local and national administration which again is causing a great deal of confusion for the trekker tourists. As ever politics play a major role in Nepal with just about every citizen holding strong political views and while this is a major element in establishing ‘inclusion’ it can also be seen as a disruptor to sustainable development. Although there are systems in place which were established during the early days of adventure tourism in Nepal to manage positive development a lack of transparent monitoring by some of the major players of today has also allowed some dubious practice to enter into the industry and in many areas this is having a negative impact on Nepal reaching its tourism potential.</div>
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Adventure tourism is based on the premise of ‘adventure’, ‘exploration’ and ‘travel’ that may also hold a ‘perceived or actual, risk’ potentially requiring specialized skills, physical exertion and possibly experienced leadership to help develop the specialised skill base required to meet certain assessed risks that might jeopardise the outcome (is. Not having the right technical skills to meet the challenge).</div>
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Adventure tourism has grown world-wide in recent decades, an estimated 65% from 2009 to 2012 – the most recent year for which data is available.<br />
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Tourists are seeking many different kinds of ‘adventure’ based experiences, but the measurement of market size and growth is hampered by the lack of a clear operational definition, especially here in Nepal.</div>
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In a country like Nepal there are so many unknowns but as a result of a modern time-constrained life-style and the imposition of so many restrictive regulations and permits, certain elements of ‘adventure’ have been removed from the travel packages offered in Nepal. Itineraries are planned to fit with flight schedules thus removing the element of the unknown time away from home experience and risk assessments are developed to avoid any element of possible danger and the failure of clients to meet their overall expectations of a trip to Nepal in the old-fashioned sense of the word ‘adventure’. Having said that every trekker, mountaineer or adventure tourist has his or her own threshold of what they perceive as adventure and comfort zones. According to the U.S.-based Adventure Travel Trade Association, adventure travel may be any tourist activity, including at least two of the following three components; physical activity, cultural exchange or interaction and engagement with nature.</div>
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It is estimated that four out of ten international travelers incorporate some adventure activities into their travel plans. With such rapid growth, greater numbers of businesses and guests are entering the marketplace, and the industry needs clear guidance with respect to adventure travel guide qualifications and performance.</div>
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It is interesting to note that the Mount Everest Foundation (UK) issued 26 financial grants for expeditions in 2017, however only six of those grants were for expeditions to Nepal the rest were for the Antarctic (1), Arctic (2), North America (1), South America (4), Pakistan (5), Nepal (6), Central Asia (3) and East Asia (1) Although Nepal had the single biggest number of MEF sponsored expeditions there was a lot of competition from expeditions going to other adventure tourism destinations around the world. Maybe if Nepal wants to retain the crown of the ‘Premier Adventure Tourist Destination’ then it needs to check out the competition!</div>
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<b><u><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The Adventure Tourist Guide<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
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Today the dynamics of the adventure tourism industry have radically changed from the perceptions and expectations of the bye-gone era. In those times a guide was a local community member with local knowledge of the paths, trails and valleys. Today all visitors without exception will have done some form of research before coming to Nepal and with so much information out there the work of the adventure guide is demanding and the expectations are very high.</div>
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Nepal has excellently qualified guides in many different disciplines with internationally recognised qualification and many with Nepali qualifications who are working towards their international qualification. Nepal is the mother of trekking, an adventure tourism activity copied by just about every other adventure tourism destination in the word. It is quoted that in Nepal the trekking industry has a short fall off approximately 1000 trekking guides at the present time and that does not take into account future demand through initiatives like the 2020 Tourism Year yet it’s been nearly 60 years since Jimmy Roberts arranged the first trek in Nepal and Nepal has only just started running training courses that touch on Intermediate Level training, let alone Advanced Level training for trekking guides.</div>
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It would greatly enhance the adventure industry in Nepal if the Tourism Ministry were to consider a policy to initiate a national training program for all Adventure Activities so that within, for example 5-years Nepal could boast that all Adventure Tourism Guides in all disciplines held a national qualification of intermediate level (a level and standard above the nationally recogni<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">sed entry level training and licensing
level that is now the legal requirement for trekking guides)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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A guide with a good general knowledge of a variety of skill competencies (i.e. skill based, leadership, eco-issues, first aid, cultural, interpretive and mountain knowledge etc) is essential to facilitate a group of guests through a variety of terrains, environments and locales in a safe, manageable and respectable manner. At the present time visitors do not know of the standard or experience of the guides leading them, whether they are qualified and attached to an agency or freelance or whether they are just students on vacation from College looking to make a bit of extra pocket money during their vacation.</div>
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For visitors adventure travel guides are at the crux of the adventure travel experience. They provide safety for trekkers, valuable and interesting information and stories about the landscapes, the culture and the way of life in the hill districts of Nepal and ensure the overall quality of the experience, and ultimately deliver and safeguard the adventure travel company and Nepal’s reputation. Still further, an excellent guide in one destination can raise the bar for the industry, while less competent administration in another can just as easily set the industry back decades.</div>
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Despite the recognised the value and importance of quality adventure tourism travel in Nepal the Tourism Ministry has so far not taken on the responsibility of raising quality standards and implementing a vigorous monitoring system. There is an international ISO for adventure tourism ISO 21101 and ISO/TR 21102, although this standard and quality assurance mark does not cover all the aspects necessary for excellent adventure travel guiding it does provide a starting point, a model upon which further policies can be built.</div>
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In an effort to support the adventure travel industry as it continues to expand and professionalize, the Adventure Travel Trade Association (ATTA) has initiated an Adventure Travel Guide Qualification and Performance Standard. The standard was developed between the months of November 2014 and July 2015, by a group of 17 sector professionals organized by the ATTA. Working group participants came from 15countries and included guides, business owners, and industry partners. Nepal has only one company registered with ATTA.</div>
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Adventure Travel is an extremely diverse sector within Nepal’s tourism market. Diverse in terms of geography, with adventure travel businesses specialising in specific locations and diverse in terms of activities, with a constantly evolving list of new activities and products for adventure travel guides to introduce to guests. If Nepal wants to keep attracting repeat visitors then it needs to develop new ‘adventure’ activities, after all if you are stuck in Kathmandu due to poor weather and flight delays you can only visit the temples so many times before tourists become bored. This developing diversity has resulted in a multitude of approaches for incorporating standards into training schemes. Government involvement, through laws and regulations, also impacts the enactment of standards. Despite this diversity, universal qualifications have emerged for Adventure Travel Guides (ATTA), regardless of the activity or destination, a national recognised or international recognised professional qualification is essential as an element of a hall mark standard that is internationally recognised and respected. The role of an adventure travel guide is generally deemed to encompass areas of due care and attention with the specific remit of meeting client expectations. Additionally, a guide is responsible for relationship management with both guests and local people, monitoring impacts on the environment, they must be able to communicate in the relevant local language(s) or through interpreters, and possess intercultural communication and interpersonal skills.</div>
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Guides must be trained with an emphasis on customer service. A core value of the Adventure Travel sector is sustainability, including environmental, economic and social sustainability. How guides interact with local partners, and share local cultures and history is central to ensuring the positive impact adventure tourism can have in communities is realized and to the delivery of an excellent guest experience. Guides contribute to sustainability by operating in such a way that environmental and cultural impacts are minimized and sustainability practices are focused on meeting client expectations.</div>
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As a result of the political instability at the turn of the century tourist numbers began to decrease dipping to as low as 275,468 in 2002. This had serious financial implications not only for the benefit of greater Nepal but right across the tourism spectrum affecting not only the agents but also the trekking staff right down to the grass-root level. In a bid to attract business many Nepalese operators were looking at a variety of ways to gain an advantage over the competition. Many of the methods employed left clients confused as to what was a ‘good deal’ and as a result of the under-cutting process by some agents and the lack of understanding on the clients’ part as to exactly what was involved in organising a trek many looked upon those agents charging as higher tariff as being out to ‘cheat’ clients of additional funds while in fact it was the reverse, those agents charging a lower tariff could be accused of under-paying their trek and expedition staff and of providing a lesser quality service to clients.</div>
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As the tourism industry developed the supply increased and there was an upsurge of ‘Agents’ in the developed world looking at engaging with potential clients with a certain amount of disposable income. They created itineraries and travel packages to meet their client needs and expectations and in turn looked to the Nepalese Agents with the skill and man-power to deliver them. At the same time the Nepalese Agents were developing their own products and looking to sell them to the foreign market. Both elements were considering client expectations with specific regard to fitting into the two week average time frame for a visit to Nepal. From the high-on-time-low-on-cost philosophy of the hippies to the high-on-cost-low-on-time philosophy of the middle-class adventure tourist itineraries had to be strictly managed and the risk of not meeting deadlines or goals was a critical issue resulting in - Arrive, have an adventure and Depart, on time. To this end the critical element of an adventure, that of an unknown outcome had to be managed, there was no room, or at least very little for the unexpected, outcomes had to be guaranteed and achieved. In mountaineering terms this went right across the board from short low-altitude treks to Everest summit attempts. For some an adventure is simply the flight to Lukla while for others it is a multi-day expedition on a challenging<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> steep and technically difficult 8000m mountain face with many
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The large commercial operators are not only crucial to today’s Everest economy but also the economy of Nepal. These companies employ a large local workforce that play a critical role, preparing the route and supporting clients of variable technical skill and experience. They put up fixed ropes and prepare the way for their clients, most of whom would be unable to climb the mountain without such help. Almost all use bottled oxygen for the final stages, which means they require even more manpower to get them up the mountain. Unsurprisingly, the commercial guiding companies do not want anyone to interfere with the smooth progress of their operations, and nor do their Nepalese employees.</div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">I</span>n general terms the costs for a major 8000m summit expedition would come in at least $30,000 but most people pay about $45,000 and some as high as $130,000! This all takes time to raise and at the end of the day some clients ‘demand’ a summit for those sums of money. Failure is not often an option. Similarly within the trekking industry clients expect to complete their trek successfully and on time, weather, domestic flights and other potential delays often cause stress for all concerned, clients and Nepalese staff and in some cases death. These unknowns are all part of the adventure but for some clients are just not acceptable, they want their ‘soft’ adventure in tightly packaged compartments.</div>
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Again in the context of adventure tourism in Nepal and in the Himalaya there is an inherent risk and clients need to accept personal responsibility and to take appropriate and due care.</div>
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However for various reasons Nepal and several adventure associated organisations seem to want to take all ‘adventure’ out of adventure tourism all in the name of ‘safety’, job creation or increasing income/profit margins. Mountain expeditions are one thing and I believe the majority of those wanting to climb Everest or any other of the 8000m peaks realise they could not do it with-out Nepalese help. But within the trekking arena many clients want to trek independently and without a guide yet there are forces at work trying to make taking a guide a legal requirement. In many cases the clients have a far broader mountain experience than the guide does and by imposing such policies often creates conflict. Surely, it is not up to Nepal to take responsibility for the safety of all visitors, providing the trekkers are made aware of their role in their own safety then it is up to individual choice, a guide or not? In my opinion Nepal should develop a national and professional adventure guide work force that is not only respected but deemed to be essential by the visitor as one element that will enhance their stay in Nepal. Nepal should not be looking at ways to make, by law, it a legal requirement to travel with a guide. This, in some instances takes away the very last elements of ‘adventure’ and turns potential visitor <span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">away, often to focus their attention on other destinations
with less restrictive practices.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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Although I have focused very much on the mountaineering and trekking forms of adventure tourism in this article there have been of course many other forms of adventure activities developing in Nepal over the last decade: mountain biking, trail running, paragliding, white water rafting and skiing and heli-skiing is now beginning to develop as a mountain sport.</div>
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However, the core principles of adventure tourism remain the key to a valued experience as perceived by the visitor and if Nepal wants to retain its crown as the Premier Adventure Destination then there should be a professional administration body, maybe under the Ministry, tasked with the remit of developing a robust adventure tourism plan that not only meets the expectations of the adventure tourist of today but is also transparent and able to monitor and maintain professional standards within the industry. Nepal needs to regain the confidence and trust from its foreign partners. </div>
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ianoffthewallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09893050670803576833noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4685057110957823513.post-21642430332705471932018-05-27T02:22:00.002-07:002018-05-27T02:45:52.718-07:00The Tale of two Hill Stations<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?rinli=1&pli=1&blogID=4685057110957823513" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">The Tale of two Hill Stations</span><b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><br />
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I took the afternoon train from Delhi, it was crowded and even in the dying hours of the day the temperature for a ‘Brit` was unbearably hot and humid. Despite arriving in Kalka and it being located at the base of the Himalaya, it seemed little or no cooler. I could only imagine what it must have been like back in the 1800s for all those British East India Company officials, soldiers and workers struggling to exist in the steamy humidity on the Indian plains with little chance of escape from the hot summer conditions. Kalka is the end of the main railway line going north and at one time this was also perceived as being the end of the apparent civilisation of the British realm, beyond which progress was difficult, arduous and often dangerous. At Kalka, along with my travelling companion, Panigrahi, I transferred to a taxi and it seemed an eternity before we began to gain altitude on the road to Shimla, the old British Hill Station, located in what is now known as Himachal Pradesh. Back in 1817 Shimla was described as "a middling-sized village where a fakir is situated to give water to the travellers". By the time we arrived it was considerably cooler than it had been on the plains and it was obvious why the accounts of the ‘Britain-like` climate soon spread to the steamy lowlands attracting several British officers and senior civil servants into the vicinity. From 1817 and over the course of the next few years, the town received regular visits from the Governor Generals and Commanders-in-Chief of British India all taking advantage of the more temperate climate. A number of young British officers started visiting the area to socialise with the upper classes and they were followed by ladies often looking for marriage alliances. Shimla gained the reputation as a hill station famous for balls, parties and other festivities and subsequently residential schools for pupils from upper-class families were established nearby.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqktVnPmbPREgdzWeW6eJm_x4Y1Tz0ZPgNN_sKFkV6oyujFtYg9bSDSUHZ89Y5d4GBhAJZ_xr5HmP__v183O3DedOj1LuHQsYPVzh4q3mGW10GW2bqo2YYHdiE340m52zLpaIcESTKZbU/s1600/1.jpg"><img border="0" height="512" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqktVnPmbPREgdzWeW6eJm_x4Y1Tz0ZPgNN_sKFkV6oyujFtYg9bSDSUHZ89Y5d4GBhAJZ_xr5HmP__v183O3DedOj1LuHQsYPVzh4q3mGW10GW2bqo2YYHdiE340m52zLpaIcESTKZbU/s640/1.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
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By the late 1830s, the town also became a centre for theatre and art exhibitions. As the population increased, a number of bungalows were built and a big bazaar was established with Indian businessmen arriving in the area, mainly from the indigenous communities, to cater to the needs of the growing European population. The foundations of Christ Church were laid at the centre of the European community and several roads were widened along with the construction of other facilities being completed. By 1881 the sparse settlement had grown to a community of 1,141 houses.<br />
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By the late 1830s, the town also became a centre for theatre and art exhibitions. As the population increased, a number of bungalows were built and a big bazaar was established with Indian businessmen arriving in the area, mainly from the indigenous communities, to cater to the needs of the growing European population. The foundations of Christ Church were laid at the centre of the European community and several roads were widened along with the construction of other facilities being completed. By 1881 the sparse settlement had grown to a community of 1,141 houses.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjXkD9eS0dF7Qq1oWW_MvaQ3bJ9_lrB0ND_o0e2l3SG88P9caILKSkI2UMOzEyTlFveHaY9JV8vq7aGOoS94-7urLOpQ7qg9L6qDXE8TyqAfMclEGGbDX244bQcR4Bo1MrZGTk20Ku0yM/s1600/P1070495v2.jpg"><img border="0" height="481" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjXkD9eS0dF7Qq1oWW_MvaQ3bJ9_lrB0ND_o0e2l3SG88P9caILKSkI2UMOzEyTlFveHaY9JV8vq7aGOoS94-7urLOpQ7qg9L6qDXE8TyqAfMclEGGbDX244bQcR4Bo1MrZGTk20Ku0yM/s640/P1070495v2.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
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In 1828 and to the north east of British India, in the region that was under the control of the Chogyal of Sikkim, two British officers from the East India Company stayed in Darjeeling for six days while on their way to the Nepal-Sikkim border to try to resolve an ongoing border conflict with Nepal. It was at that time that it was suggested that the region was suitable as a site for a sanatorium for British soldiers. The officers noted that "the old Goorka station called Dorjeling was populated by a 100 souls of Lepchas”, a local indigenous ethnic group. The East India Company followed up the suggestion and subsequently, in 1835, a lease was negotiated for the land with the Chogyal of Sikkim. As with Shimla the temperate climate led to Darjeeling’s development as a hill station for British residents seeking to escape the summer heat of the plains. The development of Darjeeling as a sanatorium and health resort proceeded briskly and the efforts to develop the station attracted many Nepalese immigrants to cultivate the slopes and stimulate trade. As a result there was a rapid hundredfold increase in the population of Darjeeling between 1835 and 1849. The first road connecting the town with the plains was constructed and in<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Darjeeling#cite_note-FOOTNOTEDasgupta199951-6"></a> 1848 and a military depot was set up for British soldiers. The commercial cultivation of tea in the district began in 1856 and induced a number of British planters to settle there. Schools and welfare centres for the British residents were then constructed, laying the foundation for Darjeeling's notability as a centre of education. Many Nepalese workers were recruited into senior positions on the plantations and they intern ‘invited’ others from Nepal to work on the plantations.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9dmmjP4Z5jgzO5yQ-UKul1jM5ne9rSIuFLcy14XIbnPB9eCngn-cVJ2hQrgB9Gr53fBSLAwHMKPY3nC7VkDZKcvNxjEAZq6Z98JgNpxgo7YerHPSV-hy_x_RJ3V4-OQ2yF46l6OVM-SI/s1600/2.jpg"><img border="0" height="518" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9dmmjP4Z5jgzO5yQ-UKul1jM5ne9rSIuFLcy14XIbnPB9eCngn-cVJ2hQrgB9Gr53fBSLAwHMKPY3nC7VkDZKcvNxjEAZq6Z98JgNpxgo7YerHPSV-hy_x_RJ3V4-OQ2yF46l6OVM-SI/s640/2.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
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Notoriously in 1849, the British East India Company director and the famous explorer and botanist, Joseph Dalton Hooker was imprisoned in the region by the Sikkim governor. A force was dispatched from the East India Company to free them, however friction continued between the Company and the Sikkim authorities that resulted in the annexation of the territory by the British in 1850 but by then Darjeeling had taken the shape and quaintness that it has retained until this day. <br />
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Meanwhile in Shimla a fire cleared much of the area known as the ‘Upper Bazaar’, an area where the native Indian population lived, nowadays this is known as the Ridge. This clearance allowed the planning of the eastern end of the Ridge to become the centre of the European community based around the church but this forced the local people to move down the hillside and to establish the Middle and Lower Bazaars on the terraces descending the steep slopes from the Ridge. The Upper Bazaar was levelled and the town hall was built along with many other facilities such as the library and theatre, as well as offices for the police, military volunteers and for the municipal administration.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-VMFLBugau2WT4kutsMjR9fEisOzU6s6QG9uJp2zkVzhdQqEj5ylwwz47mIShZxVoX8hb9uLGsXRBR-IXXQ_VdmcBFmamnATKaAiyZDfjvTCLBYRXihz_HUvproH-0WsQCMJUBGOCEUM/s1600/P8250074.JPG"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-VMFLBugau2WT4kutsMjR9fEisOzU6s6QG9uJp2zkVzhdQqEj5ylwwz47mIShZxVoX8hb9uLGsXRBR-IXXQ_VdmcBFmamnATKaAiyZDfjvTCLBYRXihz_HUvproH-0WsQCMJUBGOCEUM/s640/P8250074.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="480" /></a><br />
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During the "Hot Weather", Shimla became the District Headquarters, the summer capital of the regional Government. The arrival of many local government officers and members of the British community also brought with them many British wives and daughters of the men who remained on the plains, together these people formed the ‘Shimla Upper Class’ society. The fact that it had an ideal climate and was thus a desirable location in which to live together with it having limited accommodation made it a very expensive town to reside in. Each year, during the summer months, more British soldiers, merchants and civil servants moved there to escape from the heat in the Indo - Gangetic Plain. The presence of many bachelors and unattached men, as well as the many women passing the days of hot sultry weather gave Shimla a reputation for adultery, or at least gossip about adultery; as Rudyard Kipling describes; a place of "frivolity, gossip and intrigue".<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv6gW47UNKRjidiZi_3n-K_mO9NED_sn4XeEPTC3ZEhg9Uwc20kXqKpmRkm8hCt63chVkp92lggVLvl5K8pr6uC_J2rbAddBBO8PAmw2YQmtEV01vknYL7d8PEJxf2IQ4VRCgaOkpuqmg/s1600/1.jpg"><img border="0" height="464" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv6gW47UNKRjidiZi_3n-K_mO9NED_sn4XeEPTC3ZEhg9Uwc20kXqKpmRkm8hCt63chVkp92lggVLvl5K8pr6uC_J2rbAddBBO8PAmw2YQmtEV01vknYL7d8PEJxf2IQ4VRCgaOkpuqmg/s640/1.jpg" width="640" /></a><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?rinli=1&pli=1&blogID=4685057110957823513"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv6gW47UNKRjidiZi_3n-K_mO9NED_sn4XeEPTC3ZEhg9Uwc20kXqKpmRkm8hCt63chVkp92lggVLvl5K8pr6uC_J2rbAddBBO8PAmw2YQmtEV01vknYL7d8PEJxf2IQ4VRCgaOkpuqmg/s1600/1.jpg"></a></div>
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<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?rinli=1&pli=1&blogID=4685057110957823513" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><br />
The opening of the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway in 1881 preceded the Shimla railway by 22 years. An old cart road wound its way up the hills to Darjeeling from Siriguri and the main guage rail terminal down on the plains.<br />
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Under the British rule both Shimla and Darjeeling were to receive a further boost to their economic development in the form of the construction of two narrow gauge railways. This obviously made both towns more accessible and popular as ‘hot weather’ retreats not only for the British but also for the wealthy local people from the plains. Both communities still affectionately refer to their rail system as the ‘The Toy Train’.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgortuWIQB6JY4Pi-LPnyNqSeM1tg5hchnkp-v8tOYuBHVi1h08v_S2S-bZiKGo4hZl538KJH7YmN7opO-UWuvh1bzkTDLK9hbzLYQ7eHRYoJc9xbbOWHj0yAFtRRVIdX3Mx9Pjd3eSChY/s1600/P1070458.JPG"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgortuWIQB6JY4Pi-LPnyNqSeM1tg5hchnkp-v8tOYuBHVi1h08v_S2S-bZiKGo4hZl538KJH7YmN7opO-UWuvh1bzkTDLK9hbzLYQ7eHRYoJc9xbbOWHj0yAFtRRVIdX3Mx9Pjd3eSChY/s640/P1070458.JPG" width="640" /></a><br />
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Initially the alignment of the rail track followed `Hill Cart Road’ however in certain sections it became apparent that the steepness of the road was more than the locomotives could easily manage so four zigzags were constructed to ease the gradient in the overall eighty-eight kilometre length of the track. The most famous of these is the Batasia Loop where the train now stops for ten minutes. The track makes a loop, depending in which direction you are travelling it either passes under, or over its self forming a circle which now contains a wonderfully manicured garden within which stands a war memorial to the fallen Gorkha war heroes, the ten minute stop allows passengers to visit the garden and war memorial. Today the railway still very much follows the line of the old road, now a much improved and surfaced facility but it still comes as a surprise to the ill informed traveller to be moving in very close proximity to the little engine and carriages. <br />
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<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?rinli=1&pli=1&blogID=4685057110957823513" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW62qLhxnqkLzjB7BcpR6DeCXhOxUWG3spsQe-HlUEGsacK8qJveQbmH23Z_3mobQBTLT7q5D8ZVXB5pzF8egoFZJkQnP7t9l8OwThzJFwegaydrpx5DCs-AvVRWLqzHRyopxfGZd25-I/s1600/2.jpg"><img border="0" height="474" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW62qLhxnqkLzjB7BcpR6DeCXhOxUWG3spsQe-HlUEGsacK8qJveQbmH23Z_3mobQBTLT7q5D8ZVXB5pzF8egoFZJkQnP7t9l8OwThzJFwegaydrpx5DCs-AvVRWLqzHRyopxfGZd25-I/s640/2.jpg" width="640" /></a> <br />
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You can almost see what the passengers in the other mode of transport are reading you are so close. The view across Darjeeling to the snow peaks of Kangchenjunga is breath taking with Kangchenjunga, once thought to be the highest mountain in the world, shimmering on the distant horizon with, at sunrise, the summit ridge glowing golden yellow and seeming detached from earth like a spider’s web floating in the heavens. This mountain more than any other has attracted just about every well known practitioner from the artistic genres, from the Victorian artists, poets, writers and scholars right through to the present day. With the addition of the Darjeeling Toy Train the town possibly gave rise to the first Himalayan mountain mass tourism resort with many people arriving from many other areas and indeed parts of the world to gaze upon Kangchenjunga’s majestic lofty heights. Kangchenjunga was first climbed by two British mountaineers in 1955, the late George Band and Joe Brown and is the only 8,000m mountain to have had a truly British first ascent for although the successful Everest expedition was British the summit climbers were from Nepal and New Zealand. <br />
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During World War II, the Darjeeling railway played a vital role transporting military personnel and supplies to the numerous camps around the Ghum region. The railway was eventually declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1999.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGSKZkLp1jlcZ0cJhJGWpUj-2xJa1fcj-d2zp6NaKA2SO-BaW5i6dVHcz5fiQr_Jc8hwY6f3NDZpuWId-8l98D_SePBazeuYseln4xJ-fmxtJagyfqUFalin6e0LJ2lVlyg_ofa8GrMt4/s1600/article+10.jpg"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGSKZkLp1jlcZ0cJhJGWpUj-2xJa1fcj-d2zp6NaKA2SO-BaW5i6dVHcz5fiQr_Jc8hwY6f3NDZpuWId-8l98D_SePBazeuYseln4xJ-fmxtJagyfqUFalin6e0LJ2lVlyg_ofa8GrMt4/s640/article+10.jpg" width="600" /></a><br />
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The Kalka-Shimla narrow gauged railway, opened in 1903 and with more than 806 bridges, 103 tunnels and over ninety-six kilometres in length and came to be known as the "British Jewel of the Orient". Today nearly all the tunnels, viaducts and embankments are in as good a condition as they were the day they were built. <br />
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The single track weaves its way between the pine trees through which you often get glimpses of the forested ridges stretching down into the valleys. As the warm air rises patches of mist suddenly form and for a few seconds the temperature drops and the views are gone. The carriages have their doors locked back in the open position allowing the smells of the countryside and small communities to drift in, so hanging out and taking pictures is all part of the fun. The trains occasionally stop at various stations allowing passengers to hop on and off to pick up snacks and chai, it is all very casual until the train driver gives two sharp blasts on the whistle at which point <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1jT3KlUJjUbjrMCSsZibxjA_9_UIg_7FhrJk5ygmdng5xzUWT2YkXU15evRuCvqp7W1FJYTARwWL0rodqC3W_2GYvIXgIE_wnD-BBYk-hfW0NfAi8JwwfZEgKW81QLdOuz_IIUmsGHBM/s1600/article+9.jpg"><img border="0" height="482" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1jT3KlUJjUbjrMCSsZibxjA_9_UIg_7FhrJk5ygmdng5xzUWT2YkXU15evRuCvqp7W1FJYTARwWL0rodqC3W_2GYvIXgIE_wnD-BBYk-hfW0NfAi8JwwfZEgKW81QLdOuz_IIUmsGHBM/s640/article+9.jpg" width="640" /></a> <br />
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passengers scurry to the nearest door hoping it is the correct one to their carriage. Throughout the journey the train, moving at a slow speed, makes that now nostalgic ‘clickity-clack’ sound as it runs across the joints in the rails, there was never a dull moment with monkeys, live stock and people just wandering along the track. The seats are very upright and hard but with a bit of creative thinking you can arrange a bit of padding using a rucksack. Six hours after setting off from the quaint sleepy hill station the toy train pulled into bustling, hot and steamy Kalka to grind to a halt next to its big brother that, in my case, was going to take me the rest of the way to Delhi.<br />
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In 2008, the Shimla Toy train became part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site, Mountain Railways of India. <br />
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Today an evening stroll down The Mall in Darjeeling or along The Ridge in Shimla with the sun setting behind the distant hills is a stroll back in time, from Darjeeling on a clear day Kangchenjunga dominates the distant skyline while in Shimla it’s the mountains of Kullu. Both areas are pedestrian walk ways and with frequent signs referring to Kendal, Chislehurst, Windermere, Viceregal Lodge, Auckland House, together with the old red post boxes, the steep pitched roofs and the churches, Town Hall and Gaiety Theatre it’s hard to ignore the British ancestry and heritage of the two Hill Stations. Both town centres represent the ‘upper crust’ of their population while the local traders remain with their businesses located down side streets and the lower bazaars where bargains can still be found and bartered for, it all adds to the ambience and romance of the location. <br />
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<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?rinli=1&pli=1&blogID=4685057110957823513" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjLST0eshnjab1zObKb6-5_S-qndFKehqQzz9j5UhAkyOiKrjIwrzSJo2Q_ZormECHIN5MQVyEuhPvnTV9DpW1oh69mz7Pi-ZBDVH-UyCqIO6o1edND3h_iWu-RJvoxGJohg0AXMloo9Q/s1600/1.jpg"><img border="0" height="430" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjLST0eshnjab1zObKb6-5_S-qndFKehqQzz9j5UhAkyOiKrjIwrzSJo2Q_ZormECHIN5MQVyEuhPvnTV9DpW1oh69mz7Pi-ZBDVH-UyCqIO6o1edND3h_iWu-RJvoxGJohg0AXMloo9Q/s640/1.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
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Although the Darjeeling railway has fierce competition from a bus service the Shimla train provides a good alternative to a tiresome road journey. Stopping frequently at several stations along the route there is chance to jump off to stretch the legs and wander about, the infrastructure is still authentic Victorian Railway style and as functional as it was on the day it was installed nearly 114 years ago. However, once those two shrill whistle blasts are heard, hop aboard, although the train moves slowly running along the track trying to jump aboard is not to be recommended!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGVA8vCCudNSX2oNAZKfIkiGSdZ3X6NmgyHtozES62qHo86J7UtuC02ivGNUMafxivuWdcjuFynPxIQ5WlijyT2Qrp0IOUxvFVhyphenhyphenEpXmo5TDsTawTMtpmrv4cuLRFiAdmAl3A9DNX5VUc/s1600/Untitled.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGVA8vCCudNSX2oNAZKfIkiGSdZ3X6NmgyHtozES62qHo86J7UtuC02ivGNUMafxivuWdcjuFynPxIQ5WlijyT2Qrp0IOUxvFVhyphenhyphenEpXmo5TDsTawTMtpmrv4cuLRFiAdmAl3A9DNX5VUc/s320/Untitled.png" width="240" /></a></div>
With their old engines, carriages, technical rail apparatus and with modern day passengers still being served by the Victorian trolley transport it all adds to the experience. A visit to either Shimla or Darjeeling will provide a fascinating insight not only into the history of the British in these parts of India but also to the ardent railway enthusiasts as well. <br />
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It is always beneficial to have a Mr Fixit with you, plus if you get the right person you will learn so much more about the railways than you will from reading guide books of searching the internet. Mr Mr Fixit was Pani-Grahi an gentleman with a wealth of knowledge.<br />
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ianoffthewallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09893050670803576833noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4685057110957823513.post-86036631539079522512018-05-27T00:57:00.001-07:002018-05-27T01:46:45.022-07:00Newsletter April 2018<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgealKoiVu6PVdzx9r_ATnxNnC4cYh0TO9k6n8p9rvwcXT5BE0CJq_M65Xj4QJFDmGQFZ8wlabhRw_MtjV4Tkpxptwl3INdQroWS7mN_SCBM-BNg0WUqVPEo4iP5u_a1d2rG0bXDTQE9II/s1600/Untitled.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgealKoiVu6PVdzx9r_ATnxNnC4cYh0TO9k6n8p9rvwcXT5BE0CJq_M65Xj4QJFDmGQFZ8wlabhRw_MtjV4Tkpxptwl3INdQroWS7mN_SCBM-BNg0WUqVPEo4iP5u_a1d2rG0bXDTQE9II/s640/Untitled.jpg" /></a></div>
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April 2018 is the third anniversary of the 2015 Earthquake. Remembering all our friends lost on that day. A small chorten at Khanjin Gompa<br />
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Sometimes when everything seems to run smoothly, or at least when nothing untoward seems to be happening, the news is slow. We often get the drift of when there is a shortage of newsworthy stories when the big media organisations pad out their broadcasting slot with items that raise the question – ‘Why broadcast that?’ Rather like this opening paragraph!<br />
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Well things are slow here in Nepal at the moment, it’s really too early for anything to have taken place during the spring expedition season, politics are ‘settled’ and the exchange rate has bounced back to a US dollar at 104.59 NRs and the £1 is 150.04 NRs, the highest it’s been for nearly 3 years. <br />
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In a bye-gone era trekkers would expect, on a visit to Nepal, to experience pristine nature, crystal glittering mountains, and medieval Nepali villages, rich cultural, customs and festivals and be more than happy. <br />
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?rinli=1&pli=1&blogID=4685057110957823513"><br /></a>Back then within the trekking and mountaineering sect, foreign visitors were generally mountain lovers. They had trekking or mountain walking/climbing experience and had acquired the large armoury of skills and experience required to undertake a safe passage through a possibly hostile and technical mountain environment, they were adventure seekers with possibly a higher tolerance for the ‘less luxurious life style’ and possibly had more time to undertake their expeditions, flexibility up to a point was the name of the game. The ‘adventure’ being the unsure outcome and to a certain extent was also based on a lack of good risk assessment and/or weak planning as a result of a lack of detailed information. This was because there was none and out of ignorance of issues like altitude sickness which was also a major unknown factor at the time.</div>
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Equipment was heavy and unsophisticated and the tents with no sewn in groundsheets were cold and draughty and ‘campers’ needed a good ‘level of outdoor skills’ to exist for the duration of a trek in relative comfort. </div>
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Lodges did not exist, there were virtually no high mountain airstrips and most people started their adventures trekking from Kathmandu although a little later Pokhara developed as the second centre for tourism.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiD8QwyMLVcw85hKz-eSgs8RFUihrgiYFIvBZbfYrDaIp5HAdeCry64iVeyYx8SMYwx90PCuK1qCCiTqQ3UMxHUpO3DMlbIbT3bPI_6thqzNQLD2Pda_3LwamIo2Hoaxhuk_pc8F6k90Q/s1600/Untitled.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="281" data-original-width="277" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiD8QwyMLVcw85hKz-eSgs8RFUihrgiYFIvBZbfYrDaIp5HAdeCry64iVeyYx8SMYwx90PCuK1qCCiTqQ3UMxHUpO3DMlbIbT3bPI_6thqzNQLD2Pda_3LwamIo2Hoaxhuk_pc8F6k90Q/s1600/Untitled.jpg" /></a></div>
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At that time very little was known about Nepal other than the romantic image of the high white mountains, remote and ethnically diverse communities and pristine environments. There were no trekking agents, no trained mountain or trekking guides and no other form of ‘adventure tourism’ in Nepal other than that of just ‘travelling’ through the country. The journey to arrive in Nepal was long and expensive and an adventure in itself. The in-country road system was poor and vehicular movement was restricted not only by the shortage of vehicles but also due to the lack of motorable roads outside of the Valley. To gain knowledge about Nepal you had to read expedition reports or talk to someone who had been to Nepal, there were virtually no maps, no guide books and the trekking routes were along simple ‘local’ trails. And above all there was no internet! </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsoLaIxQwGUBptwOa7dhyphenhyphendZwOCaw5miwpTPwbcvcvXs0trmo9BThwNJqbtYXitU2qewyGPo_20nLk0v7tMLMbcFgk5fhezXuPzzwJA580-YwEjGbIVMNYBFXZyDQZMz5iE8jW2zrXDwM8/s1600/Untitled.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="376" data-original-width="601" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsoLaIxQwGUBptwOa7dhyphenhyphendZwOCaw5miwpTPwbcvcvXs0trmo9BThwNJqbtYXitU2qewyGPo_20nLk0v7tMLMbcFgk5fhezXuPzzwJA580-YwEjGbIVMNYBFXZyDQZMz5iE8jW2zrXDwM8/s640/Untitled.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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There were no trekking agents as such but there was an in country facilitator, Tek Pokhrel who ran a company called Trans Himalayan Tours which would help with Nepal logistics and generally handle all the administration required within Nepal at that time.<br />
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Up to 1990 Nepal progressed in much the same way as it had in the preceding 50 years, development was slow and confined mainly to the Kathmandu Valley. Then as a result of political pressure the political landscape changed and some would say that for a while the development of Nepal went into decline or at least stood still. Outside Nepal the world was also facing political and financial changes and then more recently new technology impacted on the expectations visitors had for their trek or expedition in Nepal.</div>
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By the mid-1970s Nepalese mountain workers associated with the Nepal Mountaineering Association had been trained in technical climbing so that they could continue to support foreign expeditions when their attention refocused on the large more technical faces of the Himalayan peaks.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWDKj4QLNF-agh6JrMz20cNXZp3WMHnOmD6fXO6Sl3y-LtfXmlbPGx1K9RObJIeiQP1yVRcUbHGyX5Nz3EJeUAIlM5QnzLgzShThh20TuvlZc7bALNT7CkmtLd8l5b2p53nwmdEYEu7x4/s1600/Untitled.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="246" data-original-width="277" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWDKj4QLNF-agh6JrMz20cNXZp3WMHnOmD6fXO6Sl3y-LtfXmlbPGx1K9RObJIeiQP1yVRcUbHGyX5Nz3EJeUAIlM5QnzLgzShThh20TuvlZc7bALNT7CkmtLd8l5b2p53nwmdEYEu7x4/s1600/Untitled.jpg" /></a></div>
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During 1992 the first commercial expeditions were introduced into the mix of adventure opportunities on offer. Some people increasingly had a certain amount of disposable income along with high ambitions. Advertising hit the media and there were no shortages of foreign organisations and local agents prepared to help those clients spend their hard earned cash to reach the Himalayan heights. </div>
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<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?rinli=1&pli=1&blogID=4685057110957823513" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a>New commercial expeditions while still offering opportunities to those people with money, time and a sense of adventure were basically changing the game. In the early stages of ‘adventure tourism in Nepal’ the mountaineers would work as a team with their Nepalese staff, route and rope fixing was a joint effort and all would share the good and bad experiences. Trekkers would accept what they were faced with while far away from Kathmandu, the expectation was for ‘enjoyment’ ‘adventure’ and ‘experience’. Today the term ‘customer-care’ is a significant element of life in Base Camp for the expedition leaders and senior staff.</div>
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The last 30 years have seen a proliferation of Nepal based expedition agents, many offering incredibly low cost expeditions, however it is very important to read the small print to see exactly what you are buying with your hard earned cash. Those cheaper options are also increasing the danger on Everest as it is becoming even more crowded as each season goes by. In 2018 Seven Summits Treks have advertised what they call the VVIP Everest Expedition, the cost 130,000 US $ per person, and they are selling it with four Chinese clients already signed up. But for 130,000 US $ you would expect a lot and failure to deliver would not enhance reputations!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXiZZOVUcFplDEAd6IgySQeH1nQmRDyb46PqJGuiE-WY6hvyq1cme1gDjRQoXZOnaYCAsS8a2FFcrNz9pLV2QP1Z0skDSEk3V3_weXARH-XS83mpY_97EIQvON1AmsR0B7invlmrPAreU/s1600/HS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="214" data-original-width="277" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXiZZOVUcFplDEAd6IgySQeH1nQmRDyb46PqJGuiE-WY6hvyq1cme1gDjRQoXZOnaYCAsS8a2FFcrNz9pLV2QP1Z0skDSEk3V3_weXARH-XS83mpY_97EIQvON1AmsR0B7invlmrPAreU/s1600/HS.jpg" /></a></div>
Although sadly there are situations at the moment in the adventure and tourism sector that result in Nepal being caught between a rock and a hard place. Nepal is to a certain extent still regarded by many travellers as being a ‘less expensive’ tourist destination, whereas we know Kathmandu is now rated, as I believe, the second most expensive city in SE Asia and that in 2016 Nepal experienced an inflation rate of 10.5%, a lot higher than many of our Himalayan neighbours. The unexpected cost of living means trekkers arrive in town stay one night then set off on trek and often in an ill-prepared and travel fatigued state.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm90i0_LHCcuA-KnaBuoTJjnD4fkIqhPQTfoL7tHrH08ilvUcaO5mKTrruaSV9YbBV6EdWXZZP8RxdTk8IooaZXU18A6xTTvXqsZgm0zC3cetobFAmhU30glDKSIUs_Dp9l11ZhdG1WX8/s1600/Untitled.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="263" data-original-width="400" height="419" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm90i0_LHCcuA-KnaBuoTJjnD4fkIqhPQTfoL7tHrH08ilvUcaO5mKTrruaSV9YbBV6EdWXZZP8RxdTk8IooaZXU18A6xTTvXqsZgm0zC3cetobFAmhU30glDKSIUs_Dp9l11ZhdG1WX8/s640/Untitled.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Also there is the reputation that all ‘tourist’ related commodities are to be bartered for, of no fixed price. There is a good reason why many shop-keepers in Thamel do not price their goods, although this situation is changing! This situation and the misconceptions held by many tourists are compounded by a lack of transparency. </div>
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Either in an effort to save money, reduce the overall costs of the ‘Nepal Experience’ or because people think they will be safe, and as is often the case they don’t know what they don’t know, they still trek in solo fashion unaware of their vulnerability if things go wrong.</div>
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History has a habit of repeating itself and despite all the warnings and advice Nepal still bears witness to trekkers disappearing while solo trekking. So far this season there have been seven trekkers reported as missing. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6GmWBmKL86nQxPzrwYJXwFRSEWqFmQJ07MmJj0rHr8IYITfujOy9phyLWtGwr7ABDBRvsAel3ns0ByFhNr2tbhrG5imAtACKUTfg59NMQpEIVZvwgGyYEsbXMgSzLwA44q7bZQ0QyXR0/s1600/hra.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="371" data-original-width="277" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6GmWBmKL86nQxPzrwYJXwFRSEWqFmQJ07MmJj0rHr8IYITfujOy9phyLWtGwr7ABDBRvsAel3ns0ByFhNr2tbhrG5imAtACKUTfg59NMQpEIVZvwgGyYEsbXMgSzLwA44q7bZQ0QyXR0/s400/hra.jpg" width="297" /></a></div>
I don’t agree with imposing a guide on all trekkers but people must take responsibility for their own safety, especially when there is no end of good advice on the internet.</div>
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Many trekking areas now boast first aid and health posts and those it the honeypot areas have medical posts specifically providing support for trekkers and run by the Himalayan Rescue Association (HRA). At Everest Base Camp, ’Everest ER’ the medical post had, by early April administered assistance to 21 patients but once the season gets really underway this number will increase multiple times.</div>
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The many publications, maps and guide books as well as the internet are now playing a huge role in not only informing prospective trekkers and mountaineers of their options but in providing a false sense of security. As well as providing technical knowledge on routes and lodge accommodation there are of course hundreds of Agencies based in Nepal all fighting for the same clients.</div>
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Now if wifi is not available trekkers will demand ‘move onto the next wifi connected lodge’. This has created a certain ‘dependency’. Already this season there have been occasions when the weather and other connectivity issues have prevented some trekkers reporting into their families back home and this lack of communication has raised un-necessary safety concerns and anxiety levels.</div>
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The options for people to come to Nepal and do a trek or climb a mountain are endless and providing they have the money it now seems they don’t necessarily need to have the experience. With many foreign expedition leaders spending most of their ‘mountain time’ trying to please and entertain their clients and at the same time telling them how good their operation is and how successful it’s been in getting people on ‘the summit’. These clients are of course the very people who keep the expeditions and companies functioning. But the expeditions would not function without the porters and other mountain staff and Nepalese guides. Now it increasingly appears to be a situation unfortunately of ‘us’ and ‘them’ the continental element of an expedition and the Nepali element, not in all cases but in many the joint ‘team approach’ is not what is used to be. </div>
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Over the last parliamentary session the Nepal Government introduced various new mountaineering policies and regulations, but by the end of March some of these were withdrawn under pressure from the mountaineering community, the main one being the banning of blind and less able climbers permitted to climb Everest, this was revoked before the beginning of this season but in many cases it was too late for previously made plans to be reinstated. The regulation concerning all climbing expeditions requiring a guide, no matter on what mountain, is still a legal requirement. The old system of an A and B trekking peak list has now been revised into one list with peaks of a certain altitude dropping into a specific permit bracket.</div>
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Not only have trekkers’ expectations changed but so have the expectations of the local people, guides and porters.</div>
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Once the highly adrenaline charged ‘mountaineer’ has escaped the un-plugged security x-ray machine at Arrival Terminal 1 (we only have one terminal.. but is sounds good, the ‘Arrival Terminal 1’) – I don’t understand why luggage upon arrival in Kathmandu has to go through a less than 100% functional security system when arriving from other countries who are at the top of the flight security game, such is Nepal. Once outside the full flavour of Nepal strikes home, chaos, bustling porters all offering assistance, taxi drivers offering to take you to your hotel, for a small charge, and of course there is the heat and pollution. Wow, for the first time visitor all senses are challenged!</div>
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Trekking guides will be on their toes as much as the trekkers, each quietly assessing the other. ‘Is our guide professional, is he organised, knowledgeable and fit for purpose’. ‘Are the clients experienced, trekking within their comfort zone and also fit for purpose?’ For groups of independent trekkers arriving from different parts of the world and for the guides first impressions will be stored in the mind for the duration of the trek and possibly for years to come. Many situations might well leave clients speechless but upon returning home they will become story tellers! Life over the next few weeks will become a complete contradiction to the normal life experienced by trekkers at home. Nepali time takes over and things only happen when they happen as opposed to when they should happen; life is relaxed but it can also be frustrating, in Nepal patience is not only a virtue but also a necessity and flexibility, a finely practiced art.</div>
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Nepal has been very pro-active in attracting visitors from our near neighbours; these nations have different expectations to those of a bye-gone period and other continental visitors. Add to this the rapidly expanding domestic market which again has different expectations and now the mountain related industry has a very diverse customer base.<br />
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="margin: 0px;">Everest is a brand like no other,
there is the expedition industry, the trekking industry, increasing the charity
fund raising industry and now add to that the ego centred-selfie industry.. get
to Everest Base Camp, take the selfie and then bail as fast as you can and onto
the next tick-box. </span></span>There are also the races events, the ‘Everest Marathon’, the ‘Skyline’ and now ‘Breathless’, the latter starts from the summit of Kala Pattar and is advertised as the highest altitude race in the world. </div>
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Between the trekking and climbing industry, it’s estimated ‘Everest’ brings in tens of millions of dollars to one of the world’s poorest economies, around 4% of the country’s GDP. The average income in Nepal hovers around 600 US $. Giving the guy at the airport a $5 dollar tip to help move your gear to a waiting micro bus or taxi reinforces why Nepal loves tourists! </div>
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<b>Nepal 2018 Permits</b></div>
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Recently the Nepal Ministry of Tourism gave an update on the permit numbers for this spring season, 2018. There are 649 permits issued for 22 different peaks throughout Nepal 336 for Everest including 20 Nepali climbers, these are Nepali mountaineers who want the recognitions of having climbed Everest.</div>
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Lhotse has 88, many of these are double expeditions – Everest/Lhotse. </div>
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There are over 1,000 Sherpas, who do not need or pay for permits, these are working staff.</div>
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In 2017, 729 permits were issued for 21 different mountains, so climbing numbers are down a bit on Everest. Other Peaks have also attracted attention, 192 climbers are involved in expeditions on:- </div>
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Kanchenjunga – 42, Makalu – 27, Dhaulagiri I – 26, Nuptse – 11, Manaslu – 8, Annapurna I – 1 Korean Climber.</div>
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Speaking of the “other” peaks, many of the expeditions have arrived at their respective base camps and are well into their climbing acclimatisation rotations, climb to a higher camp, spend time there before returning to base camp. In some cases expeditions are flying clients back into Kathmandu for a few days of relaxation before going back up again.</div>
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Apart from the expedition personnel there are all the trekkers heading for the Khumbu, no wonder Everest is regarded as the major tourist honey-pot of Nepal and the most popular trekking route in the world.</div>
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The technical support teams are steadily moving up the mountains establishing the route and higher camps. This season in Nepal after the problems of moving through the ice-fall experienced over previous seasons the route has been established more to the right of the centre line, out of reach of any rock or avalanche fall off the south western flanks of Everest. To bridge the many crevasses ladders are lashed together to form bridges, some consist of 3 sections of alloy ladders. Many potential Everest summiteers spend thousands of dollars and months of dedicated training only to be denied their attempt at the first hurdle. One such client fell while going to the loo in a lodge, her expedition was over before she ever reached base camp as a result of a severe knee injury. Another client was bitten by a dog, in Tingri and yet another broke his ankle in Namche Bazaar as a result of tripping over a rock. Despite the motives for wanting to climb Everest ‘failure’ under the above circumstance must be a very bitter pill to swallow.</div>
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It is reported that the route up the Western Cwm from the Ice-fall towards Camp 2 has become more hazardous with more and larger crevasses opening up. The question is already being raised in some quarters as to how long this route will continue to be feasible. Where could an alternative route go from the Nepal side? This is a question with serious implications, not only for the safety of future potential summiteers but also for the financial coffers of Nepal. Many of the trekking peaks, those below 6500m are now technically more difficult and dangerous as a result of glacial melt resulting in risky approach routes and rock fall due to the ice not forming lower down the mountain and gluing the newly exposed moraines together. It was reported on the 25th April that there had been a serac collapse during which two Sherpas were injured, one was evacuated to hospital in Kathmandu. The route was reopened by the ice-fall doctors within a few hours. Additionally there are three Nepali females working as guides on Everest this season.<br />
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There are the usual group of people trying to get into the record books, a Japanese woman climber Funahashi Eiko, 79 and Shivangi Pathak, 16, from Haryana, India, are the eldest and youngest climbers attempting to climb Mt Everest while Romanian climber Horia Colibanu and Slovak mountaineer Peter Hámor will attempt Everest from the West Face with a plan to traverse onto Lhotse. Kami Rita Sherpa will also be on the mountain trying to complete his 22nd ascent, this world be another record as will be the ascent by Lhakpa Sherpa, who if she succeeds will record her ninth ascent.</div>
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All the high mountain summits have been visited, most have been ascended by more serious and technical routes so what is left for those who want to make a mark on the mountaineering world or who want to give themselves a ‘first’ challenge. In Yosemite, America there is the iconic El Cap with super challenging climbing routes one of which is The Nose. The Nose was first climbed between July 1957 and November 1958 over a climbing period of 45 days, the second ascent took seven days, by 1975 the equipment and mind-set of climbers meant the route could be climbed in a day. In 2012 the climbing time was reduced to 2 hours, 23 minutes and 46 seconds. Most people take 3 - 4 days but now it’s just been repeated in 2 hours, 19 minutes and 44 four seconds! </div>
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Syangden Luckmeeis a young 20 year old, defying most what 20 year old girls would be doing at this age. She is attempting to climb Everest this year and is setting an example for most Tamang girls of her age. She is not on Everest for any record, the fastest, the coolest, no O2s or solo. But she is there for the whole journey and experience that will mould and shape her to become a better person. Even with very little financial support unlike many male counter-parts she is committed to her role of high altitude porter and has her vision squarely fixed on the job in hand, and the summit. </div>
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<span>(From left) Oswald Olz, Peter Habeler,
Reinhold Messner, Dietmar Löffler (ORF), Reini Huber (ORF), Hanns Schell, Marco
Polo (ORF), Robert Schauer, Helmut Hagner; (sitting) Wolfgang Nairz, Raimund
Margreiter. Dietmar Löffler, Reini Huber and Marco Polo are here to film a
documentary that will feature
the legendary mountaineers. Photo: Rajan Pokhrel/THT</span><span style="margin: 0px;"></span></div>
Everest, well it has had supplementary oxygen free ascents, the first by Reinhold Messener and Peter Habeler in 1978, it has also had winter ascents. In 1995 the British mountaineer Alison Hargreaves made a successful solo and supplementary oxygen free ascent, the first by a female mountaineer. Over the winter of 2017/2018 it was attempted by the Spanish climbers Carlos Rubio and Alex Txikon, in a supplementary oxygen free style. The expedition was on Everest from early January but despite being on the mountain for over three weeks Rubio suffered from the effects of altitude and had to be airlifted from Camp 2 at 6400m. Alex called off his attempt from Camp 4 at 7950m. The only other winter supplementary oxygen free ascent was achieved in 1987 by a Nepalese mountaineer. Talking of supplementary oxygen free ascents the surviving members of Messener’s expedition Wolfgang Nairz, Reinhold Messner, Peter Habeler, Helmut Hagner, Hanns Schell, Robert Schauer, Oswald Ölz and Raimund Margreiter that resulted in both him and Habeler reaching the summit without supplementary oxygen has just held a reunion in Kathmandu to celebrate the 40th Anniversary.</div>
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Kathmandu is still struggling to come to grips with the infrastructure required for the new Melamchi Water system. It is hoped this will be finally completed by the autumn season, but I’m not holding my breath! </div>
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The latest updates on major peak expeditions in Nepal from the 27th April 2018</div>
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Everest - Romanian climber Horia Colibasanu (41) and Slovakian Peter Hámor (53), are now on a project to traverse Everest - Lhotse without supplementary oxygen and no Sherpa support<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW9f2SoaZysf7ZMTSUynypoVptMrn9fi6MZ9vcGUL5AdppeVntDkU_DZxyqw8D7nJJRBhztlHEjk7EbMcM9p6Db02-Btd_nJa_guGyiebe_mfUNkgTRkZ4en76rO4BoIljIUArWa8jKjU/s1600/Untitled.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; clear: left; color: #0066cc; float: left; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 16px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 16px; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></a></div>
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They are now at Base Camp for acclimatization. They’ve already reached 6400m. They wish to move to higher camps on Saturday 28th.</div>
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Nepali climber Kami Rita Sherpa (48) is on his way to summit Everest for the 22nd time.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW9f2SoaZysf7ZMTSUynypoVptMrn9fi6MZ9vcGUL5AdppeVntDkU_DZxyqw8D7nJJRBhztlHEjk7EbMcM9p6Db02-Btd_nJa_guGyiebe_mfUNkgTRkZ4en76rO4BoIljIUArWa8jKjU/s1600/Untitled.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="212" data-original-width="283" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW9f2SoaZysf7ZMTSUynypoVptMrn9fi6MZ9vcGUL5AdppeVntDkU_DZxyqw8D7nJJRBhztlHEjk7EbMcM9p6Db02-Btd_nJa_guGyiebe_mfUNkgTRkZ4en76rO4BoIljIUArWa8jKjU/s1600/Untitled.jpg" /></a>British mountaineer Adrian Ballinger (42), who is famous for his "Everest No Filter" project with Cory Richards in 2016 and 2017 now plans climb Everest as a guide. If possible he may also try to summit Cho Oyu. </div>
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Japanese climber Nobukazu Kuriki, aims to summit Everest and Lhotse solo without supplemental oxygen. He arrived in Everest Base Camp (Nepal Side) on the 27th April.</div>
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Indonesian women, Fransiska Dimitri Inkiriwang (24) and Mathilda Dwi Lestari (24), are aiming to summit Everest as a part of their Seven Summit project.</div>
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British mountaineer Kenton Cool (44), who is yet again on another expedition on Everest, is on his way to Camp-2 from Camp-1 (26th April).<br />
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Australian mountaineer Steve Plain is aiming to summit Everest as a part of his Seven Summit project "Project 7in4". The purpose of the project is to complete Seven Summits within four months.</div>
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Lhotse - Canadian woman Caroline Jetté, is leading a 15 -member expedition to Lhotse. </div>
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Mingma G Sherpa, who is leading a team on Lhotse, has already made it to Camp-3 and may try to reach Camp-4 on the 28th</div>
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Cho Oyu - Bulgarian mountaineer Atanas Skatov, is planning to summit Cho Oyu and Everest this spring. He was on his way to Cho Oyu Base Camp for acclimatization on 18th April 2018.</div>
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Kangchenjunga - Mexican mountaineer David Liaño Gonzalez (38), has an ambitious project to climb 4 eight-thousand metre peak (Everest, K2, Kangchenjunga and Lhotse) within a few months to support "The Live Love Laugh Foundation" and to raise awareness of the problems of depression, he has previously established Camp-2 (6400m) and has already spent a night there.</div>
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Canadian speed climber Don Bowie (48), who is aiming to summit Kangchenjunga without supplemental oxygen hopes to move to Camp-2 on the 27th. He has already reached 7000m so far on this expedition.</div>
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Franco-Swiss climber Sophie Lavaud, the "56,000 lady", is on her 8th eight-thousand metre peak. She has so far acclimatised to Camp-2 (6400m).</div>
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Nepali climber Maya Sherpa, is on her way to summit Kangchenjunga as the first Nepali woman. </div>
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Indian mountaineer Arjun Vajpai (24), who is aiming to summit Kangchenjunga without supplemental oxygen, teamed up with Dutch climbers Wilco van Rooijen, Cas van de Gevel and Italian Alex d'Emilia. Previously they spent the night at Camp-2 (6400m).</div>
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Italian Alpinist Marco Confortola (46), is aiming to summit Kangchenjunga without supplemental oxygen. He is undergoing acclimatization and has reached 6500m so far. He is on his 11th eight-thousand metre peak expedition.</div>
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Dhaulagiri - Spanish mountaineer Carlos Soria (79), previously he reached up to Camp-2 (6450m) and spent nights at Camp-1 (5700m) on Dhaulagiri. He is on his 13th eight-thousand metre peak expedition.</div>
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Polish climber Pawel Michalski (45), is also on Dhaulagiri with Romanian Alex Gavan (35). Previously Camp-1 had been established and they have already spent a night there. Pawel and Alex are on their 5th and 7th eight-thousand metre peak respectively.</div>
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US climbers Nicholas Rice and Ryan Kushner teamed up with Canadian climber Christopher Ma<span style="font-family: inherit;">nning </span>to summit Dhaulagiri. Previously Nick and Ryan reached Camp-2 (6450m) and Christopher Camp-1. On 24th April 2018, Nick got injured due to a fall through a weak snow bridge over a large crevasse on his way down from Camp-2.</div>
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Indian mountaineer Debasish Biswas, had previously reached Camp 2.</div>
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<u><span style="font-family: inherit;">Acknowledgements to:- </span></u><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Dream Wanderlust and Andrian Ballinger, Horia Colibasabu, Kenton Cool, David Liano, Kuntal Joisher, Marco Confortola and Carlos Soria for their images in the 'up-dates' section.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">So another newsletter comes to an end – hope you all enjoy summer, wherever and however you wish to spend it!</span></div>
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Post script!</div>
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Lhotse was summited on the 29th April while sadly an Italian climber died in a freak accident on Dhaulagiri when his tent blew away in a storm.</div>
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1st May 2018</div>
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ianoffthewallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09893050670803576833noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4685057110957823513.post-70333852562834854492018-03-08T23:56:00.000-08:002018-03-09T00:05:36.241-08:00January 2018 Newsletter<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Last October OTWT went into Upper Mustang, a wonderful and very remote area of northern Nepal. However with all the local development taking place this area is rapidly engaging with the outside world and slowly but surely some of the mystique will disappear. My advice would be to go sooner rather than later if you want to witness the old Kingdom as it was. This image is of the last staging post, Tangge, before hitting the long and wild trekking days back down to Jomsom.<br />
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Well another year has come to an end. I hope you all enjoyed the last 12 months as much as we have here in Nepal. This season has been a busy one for us with 25 groups coming and going and enjoying their time here, completing treks from Everest in the east through to Mustang in the west.<br />
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<b>Mountain News Update</b>Autumn is not the big expedition season as most mountaineers try for their summits in the spring season however this has not stopped the Ministry from continuing to come up with yet more and discriminatory rules regarding Everest. It was reported in the Himalayan Times that there is now a total ban on people who are completely blind and double amputees, as well as those proven medically unfit for climbing. The Nepal Government has also announced that it now bans solo climbers from scaling its mountains, including Mount Everest, in a bid to reduce accidents. The fall-out is already happening on social media!<br />
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Nepal is also spending billions on trying to survey Everest to confirm the actually height. <br />
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Last season Pemba Dorje Sherpa allegedly climbed Everest in eight hours, ten minutes. However a joint bench of Justices; Cholendra Shumsher, JB Rana and Dambar Bahadur Shahi issued a statement overturning the government’s decision to recognise this achievement, saying Pemba Dorje Sherpa of Rolwaling, Dolakha, failed to produce substantial proof to authenticate his claim and as a result he will be stripped of his Guinness World Record. Many Sherpas have already gone on record as saying it is humanly impossible to climb Everest in that time. <br />
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For the first time the International Federation of Mountain Guides held their conference in Kathmandu. At least 65 participants from 24 member countries attended the assembly, with over 100 Asian delegates from Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, Iran, Malaysia, Mongolia and Pakistan also joining the conference. A great event!<br />
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The National Geographic Explorer Sung Taek Hong mounted an expedition to the South Face of Lhotse this Autumn season, however due to inclement ‘winter’ conditions and low temperatures he had to withdraw from the mountain on the 20th November. The legendary mountaineer Hans Kammerlander was also back in Nepal but he also had to abandon his bid to attempt to climb Manaslu. Tragically the well know Russian extreme sports personality, Valery Rozov was killed while attempting to wind-suit fly from the summit of Ama Dablam in November. <br />
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The remote Danphe Sail (in the foreground), Dolpa, but despite the appearance</div>
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the mountain is not straight forward as both easy looking ridges are in China!</div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">On a ‘closer to home note’ my old
friend Paulo Grobel from France led a 12 man expedition to Dolpa and
successfully climbed Danphe Sail, the mountain we tried in 2016. Well done
Paulo.. but now you’re off my Christmas Card list!! Another interesting
development late in 2017 revolves around the two Indian climbers who allegedly
climbed Everest and then falsified their summit photos using Photoshop. The
Ministry of Culture Tourism and Civil Aviation invested their claim and imposed
a climbing ban on the couple and also cancelled their certificates. The
Ministry has recently announced that it is to reopen the case for further
investigation. A smell of something funny here as it was that very same
Ministry<span style="background: white; color: #1d2129; margin: 0px;"> </span>who carried out
the investigation in the first place! </span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dawa Yangzum Sherpa, Nepal's only female IFMGA guide</td></tr>
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A team of Nepali guides succeeded in making the first winter ascent of Langdung in December. The peak was named Rpimutse in 1955 by the British Gaurishankar Massive Expedition Himalaya Survey team, but the peak is now known as Langdung 6357m. The team consisted of Dawa Yangzum Sherpa (27), Dawa Gyalje Sherpa (38) and Pasang Kidar Sherpa (35). Since then Dawa, the 27-year-old woman from the Rolwaling Valley has created history in the mountaineering world by becoming Nepal’s first female international mountain guide.<br />
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Meantime in the last few days of 2017 the Spanish mountaineer Alex Txikon (36) has returned to Nepal along with Muhammad Ali Sadpara to attempt Everest without supplemental oxygen this winter. This is his seventh winter expedition without supplemental oxygen. <br />
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<b>Tourism News</b><br />
It is officially reported that Nepal has received over 750,000 visitors this year that is an increase on last year. As I have mentioned in our previous newsletter Kathmandu can boast 4,000 new hotel rooms as part of the revitalising of the tourism program post earthquake but this ‘accommodation development’ is not being reflected in the trekking areas. <br />
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Manaslu has received the biggest boost for increased tourist numbers this year with over 22,000 permits having been issued, whereas it is said both the Annapurna and Everest trekker numbers are remaining constant. One very critical development is that to accommodate the increase in numbers several well known lodges have now erected ‘permanent’ camping ‘bed spaces’. While these are very comfortable and well equipped not every trekker who has booked for a ‘Lodge’ style trek will be happy with these arrangements. Nepal has always said it wants to hit the 1,000,000 tourists in 2018, and this now seems within reach, however, things will have to radically improve or we have the possibility of shooting ourselves in the foot. Having said all that there are still hundreds of really off the wall treks that can be undertaken where other trekkers will be hard to find!<br />
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<b>The ‘Main News’ this quarter – the General Election</b><br />
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In Nepal, as it is an unusual event everything comes to a grinding halt at election time. To be eligible to vote all Nepali citizens must return to the village of birth, they can’t vote in Kathmandu unless that is their registered ‘permanent’ address. As nearly all Nepalese have a political streak this basically means a mass exodus from the city, a couple of days to travel home, a day to vote and then another week, or more, to wait for the outcome and then either celebrations or commiserations. Only then will citizens think of returning back to Kathmandu. In short, hotels, shops and other large establishments are short staffed and all menus are cut down as the catering staff are away. To make matters worse in 2017 the government suddenly announced that a certain day was a national holiday, the announcement only happened the day before, thus throwing everything into chaos.<br />
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Many people raise questions about, ‘Why has it taken so long to hold an election? And ‘Why is it all so complicated?’ To clearly understand the state of the nation and the politics one must consider the ‘developmental’ starting point which in historical terms was not that long ago.<br />
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<b>The History of Nepal – in a Nutshell</b><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nepal as it was perceived pre 1700, the area on the Kathmandu Valley and its Kingdom</td></tr>
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Pre 1750, the mid eighteenth century, Nepal was a country known mainly as the area designated as what we now refer to as the Kathmandu Valley. However in reality the country consisted of over sixty ethnic groups and sub-groups all having their own languages, traditions, festivals, kingdoms and kings. From the mid eighteenth century the Gokha King, Prithvi Narayan Shah began his unification process and went about conquering and expanding into other ethnic realms. The ruling Malla dynasty in Kathmandu feared the growing power of the Gorkha army and sort support from the East India Company who sent 2400 soldiers to Nepal in 1767. However the British were not adapt at fighting in the hilly regions of south Nepal and suffered a humiliating defeat at the hands of only 120 Gorkha soldiers, during the battle most of the British contingent of arms and munitions were captured and later used in future Gorkha wars.<br />
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Eventually Prithvi Shah captured the Valley Kingdoms and with this ended the Malla Dynasty and from then began the reign of the Shah Dynasty. This was a time when, surrounded by India and its British task-masters to the west, south and east and with the Tibetans to the north Nepal flexed its muscles in an era of expansionism. <br />
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From 1780 under Gorkha leadership the Nepalese began to push their borders to the west and to the east. In doing so, in 1806, it encroached unacceptably on and invaded an area now known as Himachal Pradesh and also areas in Sikkim, part of the British East Indian Company territory and consequently part of the British Empire. Skirmishes were also taking place long other lengths of the Indian-Nepalese border resulting in the Nepalese eventually controlling an area that stretched from the Garhwal Kingdom in the west, including Shimla, through to the Teesta River in the east, the territory under the control of Sikkim which included the community of Darjeeling. This situation was not acceptable to the British and the two countries entered into the two-year Anglo–Nepalese War which began in 1814.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The extent to which the Nepalese borders were stretched by around 1805</td></tr>
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By December 1815 the two countries had signed the Treaty of Sugauli which was eventually ratified in March 1816 bring the war to an end. The treaty established the boundary line of Nepal and called for territorial concessions in which some of the territories controlled by Nepal would be given to British India. Under the treaty, about one-third of Nepalese controlled territory was lost including all the territories that the King of Nepal had won in wars during the previous 25 years including the Kumaon and Garhwal Kingdoms in the west and Sikkim in the east. <br />
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In general, life went on but the borders of Nepal were closed with the monarchy fearing invasion by the British. During the next 150 years the Nepalese Kings gained power and tightened their grip on the Nepal Kingdom.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The new seven zones on modern Nepal</td></tr>
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Between 1960 and 1990 there started the first move to establishing a democracy. Initially in the form of the Panchayat system of self-governance that was historically prevalent in other south Asian regions at the time. By 1990 ‘The People's Movement’ or Jana Andolan emerged as a multiparty movement and brought an end to the absolute monarchy and the thus the beginning of the constitutional process. The movement was marked by unity between the various political parties. Not only did various Communist parties group together in the United Left Front, but they also cooperated with parties such as Nepali Congress (the King’s Party). One result of this unity was the formation of the Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist-Leninist, the UML party).<br />
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In 2001 the Nepalese Royal Massacre occurred at a house on the grounds of the Narayanhity Royal Palace, the residency of the Nepalese monarchy. Ten members of the family were killed during a party, the monthly reunion dinner of the royal family in the house. The dead included King Birendra and Queen Aishwarya. Later, upon his father's death, Prince Dipendra became King of Nepal while still in a coma, however he died in the hospital three days after the massacre without ever recovering from his comma. At that point in time Birendra's brother Gyanendra became king after the massacre and the death of King Dipendra. His imposition of direct rule in 2005 provoked a protest movement unifying the Maoist insurgency and pro-democracy activists. He was eventually forced to restore Nepal's House of Representatives, which in 2007 adopted an interim constitution greatly restricting the powers of the Nepalese monarchy. Following a Constitutional election, the Nepalese Constituent Assembly formally abolished the kingdom in its first session on 28 May 2008, declaring the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal in its place.<br />
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Since 2007, when Nepal’s first Interim Constitutional Assembly announced it would abandon the Monarchy in 2008, Nepal held a second Constitutional Assembly election in 2013. There were subsequently many legal wrangles between the parties during which time many amendments were written into the Constitution. The main stumbling blocks were the key issues regarding the system of governance, judicial system and federation issues referring to the number, name and areas of the Federal States to be created within modern Nepal. The constitution could not be finalized and promulgated by the due date of the 22nd January 2015.<br />
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This virtually brings us up to date with the 2017 Legislative elections being held over two phases on the 26th November and 7th December 2017 to elect the 275 members of the fourth House of Representatives, the lower house of the Federal Parliament of Nepal. The election was held alongside the first provincial elections for the seven provincial assemblies. The new parliament will elect the Prime Minister, who must ordinarily command the support of an absolute majority of its members in order to form a new government.<br />
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The result of these elections place the UML as the biggest party with a strong majority to form the government followed in to second place by the Nepali Congress Party and then the Maoist Kendra. The UML have been in power in more recent times and with this result it is hoped that there will be more positive development as a result of continuity and also that the party system will now polarise as a three party system as opposed to a multi-party system.<br />
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It almost seems like reinventing the political wheel – in 1780 Nepal was unified, now in 2017 (onwards) it will be ‘federalised’ into seven zones!<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Rapid Development,
but is there planning?</span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Flying into Kathmandu these days
makes you wonder just when the city will stop expanding. From the air there
still seems plenty of tree covered hills and open spaces, however, once you get
on the ground you seem to have difficulty in finding such places.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">I
moved to Nepal in 2005 and in 2012 we started to build our house in Dhapasi. <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">In the valley below our house, green fields and few houses</td></tr>
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At that time the area we found was fairly un-developed and surrounded by fields, terraces and agricultural land. The thought of it ever being built on was difficult to imagine the land drops down from below our house and then disappeared off into a small valley below Shivapuri to the north.<br />
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At the head of the valley was a small tree covered ridge, with a small path that we use to take the dogs for a walk along. One day we noticed that the trees were being felled, then a JCB moved in and the ridge was flattened and used to infill the valley to the southern side.<br />
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Then a small road appeared resulting in what is locally referred to as ‘planning’ (for house construction), now there’s a misuse of the word if ever there was one! Still the agricultural land had not been touched. However, another year went by and agricultural buildings sprang up, then tracks to link those buildings to the main road in our area. Today 5-years on and the landscape has totally changed. It is difficult to look at some of the new buildings and to guess as to their use, but in the fullness of time all will no doubt be revealed.<br />
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Kathmandu is an old lake basin consequently the bed of the valley consists of sediment and fine glacial silt, not the best to build on but certainly the sandy hills provide excellent building material for which there is a great demand within the city.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Now no green fields and new houses with the wooded hillside rapidly disappearing </td></tr>
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The images above indicate the environmental change that has occurred within 5 years. In image 1 the tree-covered hill indicated by the tip prayer flag pole, is in image 3 the open caste sand quarry. The large grey building to the lower left of image 1 is the same building featured in the central left section of image 2. <br />
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Sadly this rapid development is not necessarily being planned or done with consideration for the environment or other residents or habitation.<br />
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A lot of building work is taking place outside the valley and in many cases the new constructions pay little attention to local or ethnic architectural norms. It’s all very sad, I have no objection to development but in some cases throwing the baby out with the bathwater is a bit too much and it’s only in the future that people will realise what they have lost.<br />
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At least being on the top of the hill the new development can’t take our sky-line views away from us.<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">A Vehicle free
Thamel</span></b><br />
After a few failed attempts the Thamel authorities seem to have eventually won this round. In October the first of the Traffic Police trucks rolled into Thamel loaded with `Vehicle Free Zone’ signs.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgg7HELH-ThDac2cjlISzqEdDrqfnpycMoWy4DnbooQ1jshRK7CHGwRFDe9Ur5-ykkbg_BSPr8X7r_PWKCIw51_4XUPhlk4eP59bcnkiMZZFHmjhF6rh6AOgW1uD6deAalVxWXDCrwQds/s1600/No-Vehicle-Zone-Thamel--2--22102017062641-1000x0.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="666" data-original-width="1000" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgg7HELH-ThDac2cjlISzqEdDrqfnpycMoWy4DnbooQ1jshRK7CHGwRFDe9Ur5-ykkbg_BSPr8X7r_PWKCIw51_4XUPhlk4eP59bcnkiMZZFHmjhF6rh6AOgW1uD6deAalVxWXDCrwQds/s400/No-Vehicle-Zone-Thamel--2--22102017062641-1000x0.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">T</span></span>hese were placed at strategic road junctions and the new rules were enforced by the traffic police themselves. Now the road from Thamel Chowk to the Kathmandu Guest House and up as far as Sam’s Bar is traffic free meaning that pedestrians can basically walk around the centre of Thamel without the fear of getting run over. People are stopping to look in shop windows, gathering for a chat and generally enjoying the ‘safe’ aspect of the area. Certainly the tourists give this new initiative the thumbs up and in general so do the shop keepers and hoteliers. Even though the main tourist season has now finished the police are maintaining the traffic free zones. Long may it last!</div>
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N<b>ew breed of trekking guides</b><br />
When trekking started back in the early-mid 1960s the trekking guides were hill people who had an eye to escape the poverty trap. Now in 2018 trek leading is a professional career move and there are many younger people undergoing training and assessment with the aim of developing their careers, staying in Nepal and supporting their families. Many of this new breed of guides are female. This last year we have used several female guides and porters and with great success. Now we are actually receiving requests from trekking groups asking for female leaders. <br />
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With the aim of providing more opportunities for female guides we are planning an all FEMALE expedition to Island Peak 6189m this autumn (2018). The group size will be a maximum of ten with five female guides. Among all the trekking peaks in Nepal, Island Peak is the most popular as it is suitable for all novice climbers and experienced trekkers. It offers an exhilarating climbing experience beyond simply ‘trekking’. This trip will include a hike to Everest base camp as part of the acclimatisation process. Island Peak is physically demanding but not technically challenging and is graded as Alpine PD+. The Peak is situated right under the south face of Lhotse, which seems so close that you could simply step across to the neighbouring 8000m peak which is the second peak along the Everest ridge.<br />
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We also specialise in running ‘private’ treks as opposed to open fixed departure treks so if you have any specific areas you wish to visit, whether using lodges or as camping treks then please contact us for advice, costs or assistance in planning your trip to Nepal. We’re always happy to provide advice.<br />
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<span style="background: rgb(251 , 251 , 251); color: #222222; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 115%; margin: 0px;">For further details please
contact us at either ian or sarita@offthewalltrekking.com</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsBKyBmtfqX24iNgThnUN6pJB-C0pQGhgHGT_Ff6xYWifcP535vHhs74ZAzpNxAO09D4XwDGCre_pNGBwFjIYUkyLarpw_5xyHCkyKOMQkg6BgrOw_4wvmsc7n2HQwau9L5g87Ks12314/s1600/Island-Peak-Climbing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="900" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsBKyBmtfqX24iNgThnUN6pJB-C0pQGhgHGT_Ff6xYWifcP535vHhs74ZAzpNxAO09D4XwDGCre_pNGBwFjIYUkyLarpw_5xyHCkyKOMQkg6BgrOw_4wvmsc7n2HQwau9L5g87Ks12314/s640/Island-Peak-Climbing.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Since October trekkers (foreigners) have been charged 2000 NRs by the Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality to enter the Khumbu region and it has so far collected 44 million NRs in tourist entry fees.</div>
The Municipality collected Rs 28.25 million from 14,100 tourists in October, Rs 13.35 million from 6,676 in November, and Rs 3.1 million from 1,554 tourists in December.<br />
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Although the tourist season is wrapping up, tourists are still entering the region at a constant rate, which hovers around 100 per day.<br />
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Despite local entrepreneurs’ strong opposition to the collection of the entry fee, the policy has continued. The Trekkers’ Information Management System (TIMS) card issued by the Department of Tourism (DoT) does not substitute for the entrance fee. <br />
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“The rural municipality has exercised its rights to collect and allocate tourist revenue as suggested in the constitution, as the funds collected previously were not used for tourism development of the region,” said Nim Dorje Sherpa, chairperson of Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality. Sherpa has said that the funds now collected will be used for tourism promotion of the region. The amount collected is set to be used to improve and construct the trail between Lukla and Everest Base Camp along with increasing other tourist infrastructure in the region.<br />
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I hope this is all done in the best possible taste or it will damage rather than improve the trekking and mountaineering industry! <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wishing all family, friends and colleagues a Happy, Healthy and Prosperous New Year.</td></tr>
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ianoffthewallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09893050670803576833noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4685057110957823513.post-18765724885658668042017-12-04T23:09:00.000-08:002017-12-04T23:27:42.141-08:00An Attempt on Danphe Sail, Dolpa 2016<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<b><u>There is Dolpa, Lower Dolpa
and Upper Dolpa..but then there is the real Dolpa<o:p></o:p></u></b></div>
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Much has been written about Dolpa and many
have trekked through the wild mountains and valleys but few have explored the
real heart of Dolpa and for no other reason other than it is wild and above all
very remote. Initial access is either by plane from Nepalgung or by road followed by a
long hard 14 hour walk to reach Dunai but soon this road will go all the way to
Dunai. However, no matter the means of entry to Nepal’s largest National Park
to really explore the wilderness beyond you need to allow at least 14 – 20 days
just for the walk in to the northern part of the district, then another week or
two for the walk out most of which is above 4500m. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGX8Ovr6_clcERtj47kENw9Q1b96SZDFdLst19BYarqbNc0QXQwUOho9KZzsw8QlN09FuMEIuNv26gkMYWUEsy4uMe7axkzJQOMWJiPhH4bHRS1pgloh8nzyOhjEvB0TOMq5klKhnbS-A/s1600/P1030704.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGX8Ovr6_clcERtj47kENw9Q1b96SZDFdLst19BYarqbNc0QXQwUOho9KZzsw8QlN09FuMEIuNv26gkMYWUEsy4uMe7axkzJQOMWJiPhH4bHRS1pgloh8nzyOhjEvB0TOMq5klKhnbS-A/s640/P1030704.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Dolpa provides a real wilderness experience for those who are seeking </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;">adventure in Nepal, </span><span style="font-size: small;">the trails are vague, villages far and few between </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;">and trekkers certainly require good mountain skills </span><i style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; line-height: 115%;">©Ian Wall </span></i></div>
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Nepal offers more than 100 unclimbed peaks
open for mountaineering expeditions but few offer the remoteness of the unclimbed
peaks as found in Dolpa. By many standards these mountains are not high but
they do offer some challenging lines and all are away from immediate assistance
or rescue, they are remote!</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikkoLnFqQfZ_d0SkACyKT70vLEBYGEvajUrTrzU-H42hJ73GE5zYEXlvV2dpOm83doHWPC_41HJUEcGJe0VrMCD3lB7zrBKmDLmeSSY3vy11DUPjhGd-NyyG3KbNPEC3c0PE0ow8pP-iE/s1600/P1030902.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikkoLnFqQfZ_d0SkACyKT70vLEBYGEvajUrTrzU-H42hJ73GE5zYEXlvV2dpOm83doHWPC_41HJUEcGJe0VrMCD3lB7zrBKmDLmeSSY3vy11DUPjhGd-NyyG3KbNPEC3c0PE0ow8pP-iE/s640/P1030902.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: small;">Danphe Sail as seen from the broad valley a little
below the south face, </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: small;">the sharp peak in the background is not Danphe Sail but as
the most </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: small;">striking summit it is often confused for the same. The border with
China</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: small;"> runs up the glacier on the left (west) across the dome of Danphe Sail, </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: small;">the
lower of the two peaks and then continues along the eastern ridge. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: small;">The obvious
line is up the loose and broken rock of the south face to </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: small;">the isolated boulder
in the ice above, from that point head up towards </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: small;">the summit. Alternatives are
capped by nasty terrain! </span><i><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: small;">©</span><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-size: small;">Ian Wall</span><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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Danphe Sail 6103m is one once such mountain that
has attracted limited attention. Set straddling the border between China and
Nepal Danphe Sail has a far more prominent neighbor that I would suggest had
initially attracted the attention of would be summateers but this neighbor is
well and truly in China and off limits.</div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguIeDQawkCQ95yqRj1mapnsyHXPDXo1lL1j9iPlYiCA2dfMwPoym_jEfrEi-1LCMc2c9KIFXXJTxkAisCdNYlcqKGotYP7boI_gAo2z5X8H7UBVATkG1Z4hgu-y7-ndUB5boQ52dmOYhg/s1600/P1030698.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguIeDQawkCQ95yqRj1mapnsyHXPDXo1lL1j9iPlYiCA2dfMwPoym_jEfrEi-1LCMc2c9KIFXXJTxkAisCdNYlcqKGotYP7boI_gAo2z5X8H7UBVATkG1Z4hgu-y7-ndUB5boQ52dmOYhg/s640/P1030698.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;">June still witnessed thew remnants of the spring snows with several</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"> passes providing difficult conditions for the ponies <i style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-GB"> </span></i><i style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-GB">©</span><span lang="EN-GB">Ian Wall</span></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<i><span lang="EN-GB"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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As far as I can establish up to 2016 there
had been only two attempts to climb Danphe Sail. The prolific
mountain explorer Tamotsu Ohnishi and four companions visited the region in
2009 when they planned to climb Danphe Sail but then abandoned their attempt. A
second attempt was planned but again Tamotsu Ohnishi, with a Japanese companion and
a Sherpa, headed for Danphe Sail. In May and June 2010 the three established
base camp below the south side of the mountain at 3,900m and Camp 1 at 4,200m.
Ohnishi became ill from insect bites on his feet that had become infected and
they abandoned the climb. Ohnishi’s were the first recorded “attempts” on the
mountain.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;">
Lindsat Griffin, Mountain INFO,
Elizabeth Hawley, AAC Honorary Member,
Nepal and Richard Salisbury The Himalayan Database 2012</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
I also understand that an Australian team approached Danphe Sail but
decided it was too technical so abandoned their attempt. It was likely that
they mistook the distant peak for Danphe Sail as both seen from a certain angle
could be mistaken for one of the same.<span style="background: black; border: 1pt none black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 0pt; line-height: 115%; padding: 0in;"> </span><span style="background: black; border: 1pt none black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 0pt; line-height: 115%; padding: 0in;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoXJxkSsO081DN4a7N0S_gBDGgQ_zvCNVykOsF9Vc0LJYgBOEHrX_g7kp75tizPutcouw99DG8PvIVgns8GgSnf-o1jClACOWxyCVl26rDqjNE7BU1HnJxCR9AOG5ckXXoWZRsSjinr4U/s1600/P1030857.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoXJxkSsO081DN4a7N0S_gBDGgQ_zvCNVykOsF9Vc0LJYgBOEHrX_g7kp75tizPutcouw99DG8PvIVgns8GgSnf-o1jClACOWxyCVl26rDqjNE7BU1HnJxCR9AOG5ckXXoWZRsSjinr4U/s640/P1030857.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-GB">Our 2016 Danphe Sail team, Michael Salmon, Alex Cramb, Bill Crozier </span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-GB">and
Alastair Lawrence and some of the locals from Ku </span><i><span lang="EN-GB">©</span></i><i><span lang="EN-GB"> Ian Wall</span></i></span><i><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: windowtext; font-size: 11pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
</div>
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In June 2016 I organised a small Anglo Australian expedition
comprising of Alex Cramb, Alastair Lawrence, Bill Crozier and Michael Salmon
along with two Nepali climbers, Chhering Bhote and Wonchu Sherpa with the
objective of making the first ascent of Danphe Sail.</div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
The trail from Duani to Bhijer is well documented as it links the route
to the north via Shey Gompa. Bhijer is
the local administrative district head-quarters and although it is situated on
the route of the Great Himalayan Trail it boasts little in the way of
amenities.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL0X4txY7_NEdgtHZpmtPnA-Y63WZpAfcsETUhxJ3oi7n_vyaw7xT6q_z0xDGJ8NaExIEO1ZX-OwOrQuWCY6P0I6XmAJN7O9fmaa477PC4SV9GlFZb5s7fCN08N9zSTKwFB6MGWX4kn7E/s1600/P1030806.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL0X4txY7_NEdgtHZpmtPnA-Y63WZpAfcsETUhxJ3oi7n_vyaw7xT6q_z0xDGJ8NaExIEO1ZX-OwOrQuWCY6P0I6XmAJN7O9fmaa477PC4SV9GlFZb5s7fCN08N9zSTKwFB6MGWX4kn7E/s640/P1030806.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Seen from the watershed between Yambur Danda and
Kyala Lek. Kugoan </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;">is situated in the obvious large east - west valley in the middle distance of</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"> this image, our objective Danphe Sail can be seen as snow dome below</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"> the highest mountain on the skyline mid image, another 6 days further on!</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"> <i><span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; line-height: 115%;">©Ian Wall </span></i></span></div>
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Leaving Bhijer our team headed east following the Yamchho Khola to
Phulak before turning north and ascending a long and undulating 1000m climb to
cross the main east-west watershed between the Yambur Danda and Kyala Lek. The
landscape was as expected, barren with virtually no respite from the grueling
climb, the sun was beating down and with no shade and no water all we could do was to bite
the bullet and get on with it. However the distant views provided plenty of
excuses for stopping and taking photographs. The early start turned into lunch
time and then evening began to draw in. Once on the watershed the indistinct
trail dropped down to a small kharka, another opportunity to sit and view our
surroundings when out of nowhere a young Nepalese man appeared. Pema joined us and
we all got involved in a short conversation. It turned out that this young man
was from Ku, he had set out a few hours previously with the intention of going
to Bhijer to collect medicines for a friend, a journey he said would only take
him four to five hours! I could have sat on that ridge watching the sun set for
the next couple of hours but that would not have gotten me anywhere nearer to
our destination in Kugoan.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1IU52PiAu4j_FljLxgI6pRfTrKR8U8tw_CaSURXlNNYJml51kFUx8cxkAliIU6AYmPX1x_qzEU79HVQllPfFfuJdPQ4_ifFH7lOx__egT_N5SPryF4QGntvMIPSzEM_wQHnQaVuWX92Q/s1600/P1030823.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1IU52PiAu4j_FljLxgI6pRfTrKR8U8tw_CaSURXlNNYJml51kFUx8cxkAliIU6AYmPX1x_qzEU79HVQllPfFfuJdPQ4_ifFH7lOx__egT_N5SPryF4QGntvMIPSzEM_wQHnQaVuWX92Q/s640/P1030823.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;">The long descent into Kugoan situated in the bend of the river </span><i><span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: small; line-height: 115%;">©Ian Wall</span><span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span></i></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
The team pressed on however despite there being little water we were forced
by a combination of tiredness and darkness to camp at the small kharka near the
Yaje Danda at 4742m. The kitchen staff, as committed as ever to the welfare of
the team, then set out on a two hour round trip to find water and fill a blue
expedition barrel which they then carried back to camp – an amazing effort
after such as hard day (for us!!).Traversing the hillside the following morning the
expedition eventually reached the end of the ridge at 4740m from where we were
presented with the magnificent views to the northern border mountains but more
essentially the impressive descent of 1100m to the village of Kugoan. The path
was not difficult but as if to beckon us on, the view and details of this remote
community got clearer and nearer with every step.<span style="color: red;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: red;"><br /></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs2fYxsN1S1DzTw3Rq78CiK_42b2rav2CfkiZjYl3x0UpoOxCCrvkPAagWlmWNoL0IuwfL3CSNzpoajK13tubmLTR-36_x4L5-N1pLVmziD7Qi6_G0WgiapxVL7w_oB729dtCbK_20nu8/s1600/P1030832.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs2fYxsN1S1DzTw3Rq78CiK_42b2rav2CfkiZjYl3x0UpoOxCCrvkPAagWlmWNoL0IuwfL3CSNzpoajK13tubmLTR-36_x4L5-N1pLVmziD7Qi6_G0WgiapxVL7w_oB729dtCbK_20nu8/s640/P1030832.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: justify;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-GB">Once down at the level of Kugoan the community appears to be well </span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-GB">organised, the houses are well maintained and many have walled off </span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-GB">courtyards.
The buildings are very obviously built in Tibetan style </span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-GB">with the walls tapered
as they rise. Inside the lower level is occupied</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-GB"> by the animals while people
live above. The soil after generations of </span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-GB">cultivation is richly improved with
the use of animal fertilizer. </span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><i><span lang="EN-GB">©</span></i><i><span lang="EN-GB">Ian Wall</span></i></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoCaption">
<i><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: windowtext; font-size: 11pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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Entering Kugoan was a step back into the middle ages yet there was a
certain uniformity in the way things were organized with the terraces being
newly ploughed and looking particularly fertile although the rich brown soil
faded into the neutral colours of the surrounding barren hillsides. The houses
were of a typical Tibetan style and the community was punctuated with lines of
chortens. The locals made us very welcome giving us a tour of their school
buildings and the monastery, accompanied by invitations into their homes for
a glass of ‘local wine’. After a day’s rest, reorganization and the storing of excess
gear in a local house time was spent answering many questions and explaining
how an ice axe might be used or what the shovel was used for from the inquisitive locals
who were adamant that we were the first foreigners to pass through their
village.</div>
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<br /></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKx5fDxr2xPytYuu9XJ2ZD8jvaF6Q1DHfKUYmSHtvPLDjFydDKalwNSHBf9sxky5dY9FFLLeh39vI1By11Ozlw8HCjBAXC87-Q495JDMzafPYSj4RFqzJSL6vEW7L-UIkk-7kp-Yib4uw/s1600/P1030868.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKx5fDxr2xPytYuu9XJ2ZD8jvaF6Q1DHfKUYmSHtvPLDjFydDKalwNSHBf9sxky5dY9FFLLeh39vI1By11Ozlw8HCjBAXC87-Q495JDMzafPYSj4RFqzJSL6vEW7L-UIkk-7kp-Yib4uw/s640/P1030868.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-GB">The local people were very interested in all
our equipment especially </span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-GB">the technical climbing gear, ice axes, rock gear and
the ropes </span></span><i style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-GB">©</span></i><i style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-GB">Ian Wall</span></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoCaption" style="text-align: justify;">
<i><span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 11pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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A fact I found hard to believe, however, judging by their
inquisitiveness it might well have been true. The village nestles in a shallow
bend in the river but to both the east and the west the terrain certainly did
not encourage travel in either direction there were two ways out on the valley,
going north to the border or south to habitation. On this expedition we had arrived
from the south but would exit to the north. </div>
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<br /></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh12JvQeCLm-6_CVdn-vn57ILXGOYdy_zaDDJE9yDpt0JSA1xPJmNuhDetilV6TcunO0uAXHfL5B2aKgJQT9HsOcBA8xfmG0RXkaSbL6jym6c6Uqp8wCzMFeV1pQ9XpsNpjAP8CTspj8yM/s1600/P1030873.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh12JvQeCLm-6_CVdn-vn57ILXGOYdy_zaDDJE9yDpt0JSA1xPJmNuhDetilV6TcunO0uAXHfL5B2aKgJQT9HsOcBA8xfmG0RXkaSbL6jym6c6Uqp8wCzMFeV1pQ9XpsNpjAP8CTspj8yM/s640/P1030873.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">The gorge was dark, intimidating and early in
the morning cold and </span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">dank. In places the sun’s rays clipped the more open
cliff, the way</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; line-height: 115%;"> ahead was inviting and the higher we got the more light we could</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; line-height: 115%;"> see at the end of the tunnel. </span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-style: italic; line-height: 115%;">©</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-style: italic; line-height: 115%;">Ian
Wall</span></span></div>
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The village holds the key to further progress, initially crossing the
Tora Khola by a small bridge and then entering the very narrow gorge of the
Jhyanblung Khola with its monolithic sided cliffs. The narrow canyon only a few
metres wide in places stretched for approximately 7kms with the indistinct
trail crossing and re-crossing the Khola many times before opening out at the
confluence with the Shang Khola. One could only guess at the stability of the
gorge walls, however not dwelling on the possibilities for too long we pressed
on at our own individual paces.</div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy54FG5xbH5Gh3qIlyrTYlhqEkDJCpMTuux41lyvC9wwDv_Eb5Cd5xg2NbZs3-eVI-YXU2z6YpRCUKVPF9RdO3Jddm3FkK6CJBI9FUOPnfAnVeharliOw5YCvZ_OFweHozhl6My8GiP4o/s1600/P1030888.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy54FG5xbH5Gh3qIlyrTYlhqEkDJCpMTuux41lyvC9wwDv_Eb5Cd5xg2NbZs3-eVI-YXU2z6YpRCUKVPF9RdO3Jddm3FkK6CJBI9FUOPnfAnVeharliOw5YCvZ_OFweHozhl6My8GiP4o/s640/P1030888.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Along the valley approaching the valley to our intended </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Base Camp, heading up towards the clouds!<i><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; line-height: 115%;">©</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; line-height: 115%;">Ian Wall</span></i></span></div>
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At this point our route took a sharp eastward bend and climbed onto a
higher shoulder above the river. A bit of time was taken checking out the route
from the shoulder and as in many mountain situations the right way looked the
less probably way and a further steep ascent onto a short ridge lead to a slow contouring descent. Within a further two kilometers we reached a
wonderful kharka and decided to call it a day, but to the north we could see
our objective however, now with some ominous dark clouds rolling down the
hillsides. </div>
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<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJetD9QuUjUSAY3NnVHBjB5MjxI5aji3RgjbeTHi_MPyPIGJRRtu2wI4wEMIYNY5MdmdHQxKzPHaEjeWe2yeAC3iwSn8UxLjswjjKdSBFonnsBGAwFQ7z4fBKV2uKUu054uUVS839HuRg/s1600/P1030898.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJetD9QuUjUSAY3NnVHBjB5MjxI5aji3RgjbeTHi_MPyPIGJRRtu2wI4wEMIYNY5MdmdHQxKzPHaEjeWe2yeAC3iwSn8UxLjswjjKdSBFonnsBGAwFQ7z4fBKV2uKUu054uUVS839HuRg/s640/P1030898.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Once in the valley leading to Base Camp careful navigation was </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;">required to find the best route for the mules Danphe Sail already</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"> in the clouds <i><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; line-height: 115%;">©</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; line-height: 115%;">Ian Wall</span></i></span></div>
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The following morning dawned clear and bright but the route up the broad valley leading to our base camp took some careful navigating to find a safe route through the boulder fields for the mules. Reaching the flat basin under the south face of Danphe Sail we quickly organized base camp. The mules were unloaded and then retreated to the previous kharka for the duration of our stay in Base Camp. We were in high spirits.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8AAxlDaJxLVbweuZM2n-WQQMLQtIDfIS5YKxbtIEaqG9nMYkSlPB3fYZzVp41YwKkVYBcRuycAbuU2lBLlUGoSH9b3xZFNPjOZt-MIdvTjN-F4pqpYU4pjY8LIMPQ_C7qNabzgjI8nE8/s1600/P1030907.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8AAxlDaJxLVbweuZM2n-WQQMLQtIDfIS5YKxbtIEaqG9nMYkSlPB3fYZzVp41YwKkVYBcRuycAbuU2lBLlUGoSH9b3xZFNPjOZt-MIdvTjN-F4pqpYU4pjY8LIMPQ_C7qNabzgjI8nE8/s640/P1030907.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="page-break-after: avoid; text-align: justify;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-GB">The joys of Base Camp, even
if a bit chilly! The direct approach </span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-GB">via the shallow snow filled gully can be
clearly seen in the middle </span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-GB">of the image leading up to the col</span><span lang="EN-GB">. </span><i><span lang="EN-GB">©</span><span lang="EN-GB">Ian Wall</span></i></span></div>
</div>
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Base Camp was ideally situated in a shallow basin just short of the
lake, there was a small but fresh and constantly flowing stream was close at hand and
plenty of flat ground covered in a light ground hugging shrub to make life
comfortable. During the afternoon of the day of our arrival we decided to do a
quick recce of the site for ABC. From Base Camp there were two ways to reach
the col, either to approach up a shallow gully hidden behind some lateral
moraine or to approach the col directly up a shallow snow filled gully. We looked at both but the direct option was the preferred route
taking only an hour to gain the col. The initial plan was to make the col the
jumping off point for the summit attempt. </div>
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<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9RlRu_TKTWcY_VpyERuQD5PNzh9X3kaShVhv6XahjPSYgiM9efQf4FAhclykB-kc_B8Cr7vGjgTM53tVGKWHj688BHdEb2w35wV-5NT45Z5k8jQTuQkyD9zYXqad9ZlJEvVRjUrdCNVI/s1600/P1030914.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9RlRu_TKTWcY_VpyERuQD5PNzh9X3kaShVhv6XahjPSYgiM9efQf4FAhclykB-kc_B8Cr7vGjgTM53tVGKWHj688BHdEb2w35wV-5NT45Z5k8jQTuQkyD9zYXqad9ZlJEvVRjUrdCNVI/s640/P1030914.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;">From what we though might provide Base Camp the col was</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"> obviously too rocky but the way ahead to the large </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;">exposed rock in the snow looked straightforward even if a little</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"> foreshortened <span lang="EN-GB" style="text-align: justify;">. </span><i style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-GB">©</span><span lang="EN-GB">Ian Wall</span></i></span></div>
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<div style="text-align: left;">
The first day in BC saw Chhering, Wonchu and myself head off to what
was possibly going to be the site of ABC but on arrival the small col was much
too rocky so while I descended back to BC Chhering and Wonchu headed up the
rock pitches to complete the recce to the foot of the snow field. Meantime the
‘boys’ enjoyed the ambiance and surroundings of BC.</div>
</div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_7OMaLkMzN7oKwcRuQSVe8-0oQP14efUQ6plgTDpcTxrS4OLe31wpK5-gntSmQCOjfjlvKWM_1WzkFusHnIJ9WEz-pCI3MXAN34R0Zsyqonu7d3s18ZI3cSb8soOM1_ccBBB0DBgHrlw/s1600/P1030928.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_7OMaLkMzN7oKwcRuQSVe8-0oQP14efUQ6plgTDpcTxrS4OLe31wpK5-gntSmQCOjfjlvKWM_1WzkFusHnIJ9WEz-pCI3MXAN34R0Zsyqonu7d3s18ZI3cSb8soOM1_ccBBB0DBgHrlw/s640/P1030928.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-GB">The snow fell, it melted at
Base Camp but then there was </span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-GB">another fall, </span></span></span><span style="font-size: small; text-align: justify;">which almost melted at Base Camp
before there </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small; text-align: justify;">was </span><span style="font-size: small; text-align: justify;">another fall, the </span><span style="font-size: small; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-GB">mountain did not look good! </span></span><i style="font-size: medium; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-GB">©</span><span lang="EN-GB">Ian Wall</span></i></div>
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Day two at base camp saw the weather change, occasional snow showers
accompanied by a brisk cold breeze.. it did not look good. However we amused
ourselves doing a bit of rope work and generally brushing up on our snow
skills.</div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaULEwafdKLOYziWlSQAHmP9jrCL3dRAP99IgDAx-D2oZ6kiyZ2IQfGQ2LauRGVp2k6nT2CGI__QQyM0uEn_3pQxHkEVKMtDi5pSX0qu-B7hI24eso29Pu3HN1uM2WhR-TvkOq2rmOM9Q/s1600/P1030934.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaULEwafdKLOYziWlSQAHmP9jrCL3dRAP99IgDAx-D2oZ6kiyZ2IQfGQ2LauRGVp2k6nT2CGI__QQyM0uEn_3pQxHkEVKMtDi5pSX0qu-B7hI24eso29Pu3HN1uM2WhR-TvkOq2rmOM9Q/s640/P1030934.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The weather did not look good <i><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; line-height: 115%;">©</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; line-height: 115%;">Ian Wall</span></i></span></td></tr>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Day three saw Chhering and Wonchu set off in the dark to try to get a
purchase on the snow field at the top of the rocky section but they returned
within a few hours saying that the snow was in fact hard blue ice that
shattered at the blow of each axe placement and with the wind and snow showers
frequent slurries of spindrift were making things difficult. They were back by
lunch time and we all headed into the cook tent for more tea and biscuits. <o:p></o:p></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqBvgVSkkF3Mt2IWsM1DxaktgtQbUvrrB5AH6Kkm_0jJCxgKQRNSKQ0xUU6qN0oBtOHI-tvL1WcjWcKqKOHKYKk3beEer3yZlY08XgitSH6QPcQsovtj_GpQdjBH4W3iQLW8fG7PECR8w/s1600/P1030933.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqBvgVSkkF3Mt2IWsM1DxaktgtQbUvrrB5AH6Kkm_0jJCxgKQRNSKQ0xUU6qN0oBtOHI-tvL1WcjWcKqKOHKYKk3beEer3yZlY08XgitSH6QPcQsovtj_GpQdjBH4W3iQLW8fG7PECR8w/s640/P1030933.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Then it got progressively worse <i><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; line-height: 115%;">©</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; line-height: 115%;">Ian Wall</span></i></span></td></tr>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Sadly, the next few days saw the same weather pattern develop with
deteriorating conditions. We discussed our options – to stay and see if things
changed or to head down immediately. We spent time ‘playing’, packing and re
packing gear, sorting the tents out, eating, drinking, reading and generally
participating in all the mundane activities normally pursued while awaiting the
weather in the mountains.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF5K1sBOZySDln7N4GLZHI1hORPJf1vPDKt7UswMWBS9nlWSqizrLWCKy_VuoJE3ecL5ODgP5ZnhLLf-DCMm087dDFnfXd0xXjPWg32_8TYPLYluUr8ayd9wpXFP9vZ_iKktnOxMlS6hg/s1600/P1030944.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF5K1sBOZySDln7N4GLZHI1hORPJf1vPDKt7UswMWBS9nlWSqizrLWCKy_VuoJE3ecL5ODgP5ZnhLLf-DCMm087dDFnfXd0xXjPWg32_8TYPLYluUr8ayd9wpXFP9vZ_iKktnOxMlS6hg/s640/P1030944.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Finally a decisions had to be made, the mules were called in and we </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">packed up <i><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; line-height: 115%;">©</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; line-height: 115%;">Ian Wall</span></i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
The team decided to give it as long as they could but after five days
we had exceeded our time and were faced with not having sufficient days left to
walk out. One of the kitchen boys ran off down the valley to call for the mules
to come up. They duly arrived and we struck camp and began to withdraw back
down the valley. We covered the two day ascending trek in to BC in a little over half a
day but decided to stop at the big kharka that the mules and their handlers had
occupied for the previous several days. From here it was going to be a long haul all
the way back down the gorge to Kugoan.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
It had been two weeks since we left Ku but within that time the fields
had turned green and the growing season was well underway. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAemtlpb7RkhqE5W7GwgC2D_GPQ682RlC63Phb4Bt2Re7xrLAGe9OCZ9ARwE1cGqJUpGu2DU13WHuOySlz8F5IPr5psZvqMRfthuOFmTtUgcuvCy_LsM8azR15xQ7mZ29rJnTWXe-M-3E/s1600/P1030974.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAemtlpb7RkhqE5W7GwgC2D_GPQ682RlC63Phb4Bt2Re7xrLAGe9OCZ9ARwE1cGqJUpGu2DU13WHuOySlz8F5IPr5psZvqMRfthuOFmTtUgcuvCy_LsM8azR15xQ7mZ29rJnTWXe-M-3E/s640/P1030974.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Our last camp site back in Kugoan and what seemed like a </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">completely different world <i><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; line-height: 115%;">©</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; line-height: 115%;">Ian Wall</span></i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB">We spent
our final night in camp on the bank of the </span>Tora Khola with our new friends from Ku. In the morning as planned we heard the helicopter and in fact saw it for
a fleeting moment, but then it disappeared. As if to highlight the remoteness
of the village the pilot failed to find the village<span style="text-align: left;">, despite the fact he must have been
within a kilometer of the community and with GPS. He returned to Bhijer to pick
up a local to act as an aerial guide, he returned and with two shuttles the
team were back in Dunai. However despite constant pressure from us and the
offer of, additional funds the pilot refused to give the local ‘aerial’ guide a
lift back to Bhijer.. he had to walk!</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Thanks Dolpa for another great trip and see you in 2018</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">.. when we'll be back </span><i><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: small; line-height: 115%;">©</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: small;">Ian Wall</span></span></i><br />
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<i><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span><br /><b><u><span style="font-size: small;">Other memories</span></u></b></span></i><i style="font-size: 12.8px;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.8667px;"></span></i><br />
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ianoffthewallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09893050670803576833noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4685057110957823513.post-90506510815494064082017-09-18T00:03:00.001-07:002017-09-18T00:18:33.209-07:00Newsletter August 2017<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheM6tlSoiUxsYYrcyfMUx8UX_8QmjRi0VBrZkubbmqro1Vh8-5XAIj9d7FOg7o87r_YJN2Bg-Dc89CpAbKbAoN3yU2_w1_vM2TRw5LuLMQz823xEkQzGE9dVUNesMUyDScbKhTu2YWIRQ/s1600/Untitled-1+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="338" data-original-width="1600" height="134" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheM6tlSoiUxsYYrcyfMUx8UX_8QmjRi0VBrZkubbmqro1Vh8-5XAIj9d7FOg7o87r_YJN2Bg-Dc89CpAbKbAoN3yU2_w1_vM2TRw5LuLMQz823xEkQzGE9dVUNesMUyDScbKhTu2YWIRQ/s640/Untitled-1+copy.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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The August edition of our newsletter always seems to contain two recurring topics – the Everest Season and the Monsoon Season, this edition sees little difference, albeit with a few additions!</div>
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With regard to Everest, the main event this past season was the tragic scenario that occurred almost<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ueli Steck Facebook</td></tr>
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before the season began and led to the demise of Ueli Steck the world famous speed climbing mountaineer. Steck was in the Western Cwm on Everest preparing and acclimatizing for his expedition to climb the West Ridge, descend the South East Ridge before completing the traverse across to climb Lhotse from which he would descend back to Base Camp. All this would be completed in his usual style, climbing solo and without protection. On the morning of the 30th April he set off for what was thought to be an acclimatization climb on Nuptse. Push the envelope far enough and long enough under these circumstances and the stakes rise almost meteorically, one slip and you won’t get a second chance. And so it was that Steck fell 800m.</div>
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Reinhold Messner had suggested that Steck may have had his eye on the Everest Horseshoe, ascending the West Ridge, descending the SE Ridge, traverse across to Lhotse summit before continuing along the ridge to Nuptse, an objective held in the minds of many a world class mountaineer, however, the challenge is still to be completed.<o:p></o:p></div>
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A young mountaineer, Vinayak Jay Malla had seen a climber high on Nuptse around 7100m early on the 30<sup>th </sup>April but then a little later he heard the sound of what he describes as ‘something falling’. Along with a colleague the pair went to investigate and discovered Ueli Steck’s body at around 6300m. It was reported that near to Steck’s body was a large rock covered in blood, one of his crampons was missing and Steck appeared to have been climbing without a harness. Later investigations showed that there was a pair of ice-axes in Steck’s tent along with a light rope and various other pieces of climbing equipment.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Steck was well known for his ‘axeless` climbing style, he would use trekking poles as opposed to his axes if he thought he could manage the difficulties in that style.<o:p></o:p></div>
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To this day there is no definitive conclusion as to what caused Steck to fall, as Vinayak is quoted as saying “Perhaps we should think of Steck as a Bharal (Blue Sheep) who although the master of their own terrain could fall for any number of unexpected reasons.<o:p></o:p></div>
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The second event to hit the headlines, although not directly associated with Everest in this instance was the announcement by Russell Brice that he was retiring as a commercial expedition organizer. Brice has spent several years organizing and running successful commercial expeditions to the big 8000m mountains.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Russell Brice Facebook</td></tr>
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Recently Brice has made a few decisions that he feels, in retrospect, showed bad judgment. As a commercial expedition organizer a main part of your role is to carry out risk assessment. You look for all the likely danger points and then plan accordingly to minimize them. This situation can result in you being hung if you do and hung if you don’t. Brice has over the last two or three years called expeditions off because he considered the risks were not acceptable, usually weather and snow condition related. However other expeditions persisted and their members often achieved their objectives. I guess Brice got a lot of flak from some members who felt they should have been allowed to push the envelope, however, if that had been a bridge too far then again Brice would have been in the firing line, a difficult place to be. Brice has done a sterling job and helped many people achieve their ambitions, and I guess has allowed many climbers to return to their families and live to climb another day.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Apart from these two instances Everest has had its usual share of hype.<o:p></o:p></div>
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South African Ryan Sean Davy tried to climb Everest without paying the 11,000 US $ permit fee, <o:p></o:p></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNioEiQoWdegZfoZpYFI4jVT4dgcVJ_QNouZ0xdcWtixE69TXeZSAuKKGOlOBUCyQPsBSIs4bB5GYGkVhRCq9jGnXAVqMv3IXluFE-RQO4qnktvPwwnJzlykQs11S44AFlcn6k2LBBXbI/s1600/4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="215" data-original-width="291" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNioEiQoWdegZfoZpYFI4jVT4dgcVJ_QNouZ0xdcWtixE69TXeZSAuKKGOlOBUCyQPsBSIs4bB5GYGkVhRCq9jGnXAVqMv3IXluFE-RQO4qnktvPwwnJzlykQs11S44AFlcn6k2LBBXbI/s1600/4.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">South African Ryan Davy Facebook</td></tr>
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without going through the appropriate channels and avoiding several other compulsory conditions, his excuse, he had no money, but on his own admission he had no real mountaineering experience and added that he was motivated to help those climbers who got into difficulty and were not assisted by others. He was eventually found hiding in a cave at 7,300m by officials, who undoubtedly saved his life. His passport was confiscated and he was ordered back to Kathmandu. He was fined, deported and banned for any form of mountaineering activities in Nepal for ten years.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJdpqsGhyphenhyphentinIjGmyXcYm6Ms6wOyL40cnUl8I5AI61xMlokoVYHIgy4R4ktDUXJourihyphenhyphenI5mPox5JutRDmHbg2BD2OK5q1fDJQvVI5N4kLPRS51_TkVt7hwLme3ay_2A_pxqN9UKQN9sk/s1600/5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="220" data-original-width="292" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJdpqsGhyphenhyphentinIjGmyXcYm6Ms6wOyL40cnUl8I5AI61xMlokoVYHIgy4R4ktDUXJourihyphenhyphenI5mPox5JutRDmHbg2BD2OK5q1fDJQvVI5N4kLPRS51_TkVt7hwLme3ay_2A_pxqN9UKQN9sk/s1600/5.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Janusz Adam Adamski's daughter wishing him luck before <br />
he left for Kathmandu. Facebook</td></tr>
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A second climber, a Polish citizen Janusz Adam Adamski completed the traverse of Everest ascending the North Col in Tibet and then descending the South Col route into Nepal. This is said to be only the 15th such traverse and the first to be completed by a Polish climber. </div>
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Although he had a permit for the North Col route he did not have entry permission from Tibet into Nepal via Everest summit and he also failed to obtain a Nepalese permit for Everest. According to Janusz, he believes there are no borders on the mountains. He said he was well aware of immigration and climbing rules in Nepal and Tibet. “As there is no provision for the issuing of traverse permits in both countries, I had to traverse illegally for fulfillment of my lifetime dream,” the Polish economist claimed. He was also fined, deported and banned from mountaineering in Nepal for the next ten years. This also resulted in China closing the ‘big’ mountains on the north side of the border for the autumn 2017 season. In a statement China claimed “His action have caused the industry related internal rules and regulations to be adjusted and improved.” However it did not mention anything about the placing of the Tibetan flag as well as photos of spiritual leader the Dalai Lama on top of Everest’s summit, images of which were widely circulated in social media during the spring climbing season.<br />
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Another situation that attracted a lot of media attention was whether or not the Hillary Step had collapsed as a result of the 2015 earthquake. <span lang="EN-GB">Several rumours</span> accompanied by photographic evidence suggested that it might have done but then this was contradicted by the Nepal Ministry of Tourism and the Nepal Mountaineering Association who insisted that because of the unusual snow fall and the fact that Everest had not been climbed since the earthquake the buildup of snow to the east had ‘buried’ the Step making it a lot easier.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Alpine Sange Sherpa in hospital in Kathmandu<br />
after his rescue Facebook</td></tr>
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Two very risky rescues were also carried out on Everest, although one was actually a recovery. In the first instance a young and relatively inexperienced Sherpa guide was leading his client towards the summit of Everest when the client experienced difficulties with his oxygen equipment and at the same time the weather started to deteriorate. The guide suggested they turn round, however the client insisted they continue. The result was that shortly afterward both collapsed in the snow above 8000m, the altitude that jets fly at! Ang Tshering Lama was completing his own expedition to the roof of the world when he came across the bodies in the snow, checking their life support systems Ang realized there was still life in the ‘bodies’.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sange Sherpa's badly frostbitten fingers</td></tr>
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Along with his two colleagues they roped the young guide and his client up and dragged them back down to a lower altitude where others were also able to assist before <span lang="EN-GB">Ang was able to </span>turn round to again ascend their route to the summit which they finally achieved a few days later.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ang Lama during the rescue of Sange from above the <br />
Balcony on Everest Ang Lama</td></tr>
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The second instance concerned the death of Indian climber Ravi Kumar. Kumar was reported missing from about 8400m, above the Balcony on Everest’s South Col route, his body was eventually located after a 36 hour search. However at that altitude it is generally accepted that the retrieval of an injured or dead mountaineer is extremely difficult and hazardous.<o:p></o:p></div>
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This was to be the most complex rescue ever to have been carried out on Everest. This rescue, putting the lives of the rescue team in serious danger was ‘ordered’ by the Department of Tourism (Nepal) as the result of instructions from the Indian External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj. It stated that the Indian government was providing all necessary support for the operation (apart from man-power) adding that the bereaved family wanted the body back home ‘at any cost’. Due to the risks involved in spending so much time at high altitude, many expeditions choose not to bring down the bodies of their members who die on Everest. Kumar had reached the summit with his guide. The Indian climber then collapsed during the descent at 8pm due to low energy and oxygen levels.</div>
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The client had forced his guide to push for the summit even though it was late in the day and getting benighted was a high probability, according to the expedition organiser. The guide left his client, Kumar, on the balcony making him comfortable and leaving auxiliary oxygen. The guide then descended to Camp IV to send back a rescue team as he himself was also suffering from frostbite and snow blindness could do little more to assist his client.</div>
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All Indian mountaineers (if in government service) received an enhance life style if they climb Everest, this pushes people to not only lie but to take extraordinary risk to secure promotion, enhanced pension, cars, houses or whatever the menu lists as appropriate. Obviously not every Indian mountaineer is subjected by ulterior motives, the majority enjoy ‘the games climbers play’. I think this situation needs doing away with, including the certification for all foreign summiteers. For the Nepalese staff this is a good addition to their professional bio-data so certification is right and proper but for Mr Mrs Average this means very little other than personal gratification, the individuals know the truth, why do they need a certificate, could it be anything to do with ego? Only those who climbed Everest before the days of the commercial expeditions have credit as true Everest mountaineers, and with a few modern day exceptions. We might get Everest back for the mountaineers then rather than to leave it in the hands of the gold diggers, how many times have we heard or read .. ‘I've climbed Everest, now I'm a motivational speaker, author!!!’</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">'I might be a bit late home tonight' Image TAAN</td></tr>
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The monsoon has been very active this season. Landslips are a natural part of living in a hilly monsoon affected country however in Nepal’s case the government has not adequately prepared itself to tackle possible disasters in terms of precautionary measures and emergency response and relief systems. There still remains a huge coordination gap among government, non-governmental, humanitarian, inter-governmental and development agencies as well as the private sector in relation to tackling natural disasters, including floods and landslides across the country, according to a senior government official.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Larcha Bridge over the Bhote Koshi RIver</td></tr>
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An average of 300 people die each year due to floods and landslides in Nepal, which is ranked the 30th most vulnerable country in the world to floods and landslides. The country also regularly suffers annual economic damage exceeding US$ 10 million as a result of the monsoon. At the end of July ten landslips hit the Chitwan to Mugling highway in a single night, several cars and lorries were buried and a coach was pushed into the river and has as yet to be located. Despite the loss of property there were no reported injuries or deaths, all passengers and drivers managed to escape from their vehicles before the mud and rocks buried them.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Larcha Bridge after the collapse</td></tr>
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In Sindhupalchowk, the Larcha Bridge over Bhote Koshi River was destroyed and washed away by a landslide and as a result the Tatopani area has been isolated from the rest of the country. The bridge, a part of the Araniko Highway, (to the Friendship Bridge) was destroyed as a result of incessant rain throughout the previous day and the night. The landslip had originated approximately 200 m further up the hill side.</div>
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<span style="position: relative; z-index: 15;"><span style="height: 45px; left: -124px; position: absolute; top: -767px; width: 291px;"></span></span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">As usual, and periodically, various NGOs hold their elections for new Board Members. The Nepal Mountaineering Association (NMA) has just gone through this process, which goes without saying had political connotations. There was an elected change of order this year so let’s hope things will move forward. One major issue for the new Committee is related to the new Federalism administration. The NMA was granted permission by the government in 1974 to collect peak royalties from foreigners for climbing Trekking Peaks. The original number of peaks open for this purpose was 18, this was then increased to 33 in later years. However, now the entire local administrative, ‘governments’, are insisting that they should keep the peak fees for local application. On the face of it if this money was to benefit the local people and resources then that would work fine, but the question is will it<span lang="EN-GB" style="background: white;"><span style="background-color: white;">? </span></span></span>Could this be a question of jumping out of the frying pan into the fire? Only time will tell.</div>
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<span style="text-align: justify;">Work on the long awaited new international airport in Pokhara began on the 2nd August 2017.This is more of an artistic impression than an architect’s actual drawing, however the authorities have high hopes of it meeting international standards not only in appearance but also in service. The aim is to open the west of Nepal up for tourism as well as to alleviate some of the pressure on Kathmandu. A lot of infrastructure is required before Pokhara, even as Nepal’s second city, will challenge Kathmandu for international arrivals. Completion date is provisionally set for 2021.</span><br />
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<b>Keeping Pokhara in mind</b><br />
It is reported that Fewa Lake shrank from 10 to 4.2 sq km in 46 years.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOiNDb3ZqJwS8-M69e7ZGihU0nVuT9D6CxGHofnm8hu-IvayJubaeS6uU2K_RJqXgl0sJH3NhnVmLD7IoSr2kc04z1FN9lfCXoKZIQuOxst47TV-a_nWrjfKc2SEU4z1qtTFkdiK_yTeg/s1600/14.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOiNDb3ZqJwS8-M69e7ZGihU0nVuT9D6CxGHofnm8hu-IvayJubaeS6uU2K_RJqXgl0sJH3NhnVmLD7IoSr2kc04z1FN9lfCXoKZIQuOxst47TV-a_nWrjfKc2SEU4z1qtTFkdiK_yTeg/s320/14.jpg" /></a>Locals show little concern or interest in the problem<br />
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It's been a few months since I last walked all the way along the lake front but recently I was surprised to see so many bars and the like built right up against the walkway. I was also surprised and worried to see so much rubbish getting blown onto the shore, obviously the issue is to solve the problem at source ‘Stop throwing rubbish into the lake’ but in the mean time why can't the powers that be scoop the rubbish up in a big net it’s not rocket science! Pokhara would lose so much of its attraction if the lake deteriorated into a murky pond and with the prospect of the Nepal's second airport, maybe this should be a considered priority by the Lakeside community, its authority and the NTB before all the new visitors see it and get a lasting first impression!</div>
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However, as long as the land owners are making money today, they don't care about tomorrow.... A fisherman reflects on how most locals don't care (lower image Jenny Caunt)<br />
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Meanwhile the Department of Immigration has released their forecast for arrival numbers for this year of 800,000 with an estimated 40,000 visiting from the USA. Tourist inflow to Nepal jumped by 46.8 per cent in the first six months of 2017, indicating signs of recovery in the tourism industry that was shattered by the devastating earthquake of April 25, 2015 and the subsequent trade disruptions. According to the Department of Immigration, the country received a total of 460,237 tourists in the first half of this year via air routes, against 313,512 in the corresponding period of the previous year. Tourist arrivals in the first half of this year surpassed the figure of 2014, before the earthquake struck when the country had only received 412,461 tourists who arrived in the first six months, traditionally the expedition and lower tourist arrival season. Certainly 2017 would appear, if things go to plan, to be our best Off The Wall Trekking season of the last five years<span style="background-color: white;">.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsoaxzC8ra4RsZ2-NQn6QIBgSeEjAuI0Mh4hCGTJPRfFfOsRMls5ECI4xARW-5mSnK79qCo2YHxHrdFDuiqk568a13tl8_EAaToPrLpCYv7yLvA8jK-NbB669d16IXNKHqnMgA7Zp484c/s1600/16.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: justify;"><img border="0" data-original-height="269" data-original-width="289" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsoaxzC8ra4RsZ2-NQn6QIBgSeEjAuI0Mh4hCGTJPRfFfOsRMls5ECI4xARW-5mSnK79qCo2YHxHrdFDuiqk568a13tl8_EAaToPrLpCYv7yLvA8jK-NbB669d16IXNKHqnMgA7Zp484c/s1600/16.jpg" /></a></div>
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The number of tourist visitors has also been projected well into the future. Since the earthquake both the public and private sectors have been proactive in selling Nepal and the private sector in particular in selling Nepal as a destination to invest in. This has all resulted in the estimated 1million visitor’s mark being crossed in 2022. This has resulted in an unprecedented boom in hotel construction that will add 4,000 star category rooms by 2020. However it has spread concern among the existing hoteliers who fear that the new entrants will eat into their markets.</div>
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There are obvious concerns over ‘sustainability’ and the fact that occupancy will depend very much on the continued political stability of the country, not to mention its geological stability and the development of other infrastructure to eliminate recognised bottlenecks.</div>
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As a result several genuine 5-star hotels have either been constructed and are now open for business or are under construction and are suppose to be ready for the next season. Pokhara has also two new 5-star hotels being built. The Fairfield Marriott, (open) the Sheraton (due to open June 2019), and the Aloft (open March 2018) already have a presence on the internet advertising their Thamel hotels. These are all developed on ‘brown field’ sites and I can only envisage that some of the other large construction sites are also ear-marked as hotels in the making.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVcx_VE_hYMa3A1D-mviAFJZBmOWutdJtodMJ-y-vsVvfxv7vXlRAl3uJXZEy2S65QHivwo5Rpg88A4lN2GRKdWrHKrvvR24DHalOyB1PYajfUK_z7UDEONvl3rvdKpP0cMCs8F5ZMi9M/s1600/18.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="190" data-original-width="293" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVcx_VE_hYMa3A1D-mviAFJZBmOWutdJtodMJ-y-vsVvfxv7vXlRAl3uJXZEy2S65QHivwo5Rpg88A4lN2GRKdWrHKrvvR24DHalOyB1PYajfUK_z7UDEONvl3rvdKpP0cMCs8F5ZMi9M/s1600/18.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A family menstruation shed often situated several hours <br />
from the family home</td></tr>
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<b>Nepal criminalises isolation of menstruating women</b></div>
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According to the new law, people forcing women to follow the Hindu practice of ‘chhaupadi’ may face a jail term as a result of the Nepal parliament criminalizing the ancient Hindu practice that banishes women from the home to a small and often isolated hut during menstruation and after childbirth. The new law which will come into effect in 2018 stipulates a three-month jail sentence or a 3,000 rupee fine ($30), or both, for anyone forcing a woman to follow this custom. As in many other instances in Nepal many feel the new law is unenforceable because it is related to deeply entrenched beliefs that are harder to change. Nepal's patriarchal society plays a large part in the problem, it's the women and female elders who make some of the younger women follow the chhaupadi system, and this causes some of the problems, these women are not all persecuted and banished by men. It will take time for this law to be voluntarily implemented and at least a generation for the root cause to be understood and myths dispelled. This medieval Hindu practice has resulted in many deaths over the years. Now the law must be enforced alongside a program of education.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">An income generating opportunity for all image Ian Wall</td></tr>
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Many of you will know my affection for Dolpa and its people. As with many other areas of Nepal the local communities want to become more connected and included in their national and local affairs. Dolpa is no different. A new road is being pushed into Duani the administrative heart of the region. This will undoubtedly change the way of life and along with it will come positive aspects as well as some negative aspects. It will be at least a couple of years before the road is anywhere near ready to provide vehicular access to the region but now is the time to visit the remote part of Nepal before it is irreversibly changed.<br />
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I last visited the Dolpa at the end of June 2017, Juphal airport was closed for renovation – the old stone runway is now replaced with a pitch one nearly 50 years after the airstrip was built. I travelled with Chandra a local and old friend and he told me about his early life. ``I had heard stories of the long and at times difficult journey but I was keen to see the ‘modern’ world. We would travel along with other folk and porters carrying baskets of food and other essential items for our ‘expedition”.<br />
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``The region was rich in agricultural produce so the porters would carry plenty of food, each night we would leave a food dump at the resting place and continue on with our journey. By the time we arrived in Nepalgunj our baskets would be empty and we could make our purchases and prepare for our return journey”.<br />
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``We would set off early and follow the same trails back into Dolpa, every evening we would arrive at the resting place and find the hidden food, all we needed to do was to build a fire and prepared and eat the food.”<br />
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There was a loud explosion and when the dust had settled a large cliff several hundreds of feet high appeared through the haze covered in white ghost like figures scurrying around with large crow-bars, there was a mass of mobile ‘yellow hard hats’ giving the impression of attention to risk assessment and safety but on closer inspection it could be seen that the health and safety policy ended there, foot wear consisted of the ubiquitous ‘flip-flop’ and no other protective clothing. Many feet above the trail there was a busy workforce prizing and shovelling the demolished cliff into the void below that was shared with the new trail which in turn was situated several tens of feet above the river. Exposed? Just a tad! Dangerous? Just a tad! The only passing nod to travellers’ safety was a ‘stop – go’ worker who would monitor the passage of locals passing under the cliff face, however, this ‘nod’ to safety did not extend to the guy with the pneumatic drill who continued happily banging away literally overhead.Extracts from my blog - 'The Road to Dolpa' to read the full story visit<br />
<a href="http://www.ianoffthewall.blogspot.com/">www.ianoffthewall.blogspot.com</a></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A family group all employed on the road works image Ian Wall</td></tr>
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The Exchange Rate is at the moment hovering around 132.95/- to the pound; 102.27/- to the dollar, this is the highest it’s been for several months now, normally it’s around 130/- to the pound.</div>
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Over the last few months the roads of Thamel have been in a particularly ‘poor’ state. Many have flooded due to bad planning and other issues related to official projects. However one major contributor to this situation is the work being carried out in anticipation of the imminent supply of water as a result of the Melamche Water Supply Project.</div>
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Kathmandu suffers from an acute water shortage, not only has the population more the quadrupled in the last ten years and all drawing ground water from the valley but the major building programs have paid little attention to the old water courses and channels, the result being flooding, shortage of fresh water and disruption due to parked water tankers. Now with the end of the 27.58km Melanchi Tunnel nearing completion all the roads in town were dug up to lay water pipes, the work did not go according to plan and several sections had to be dug up several times. Over 23km of 27km tunnel have already been completed. According to officials, 99 percent work of the water treatment plant in Sundarijal which has the capacity of holding 85 million litres of water is also completed. </div>
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This multi-million dollar project (c$464million) has been funded by multiple bilateral and multilateral donors as well as the Nepal government. It is hoped the project will supply clean drinking water for Kathmandu residents by the end of 2017. This is a 19 years old project which has yet to be completed due to the civil war, local agitation and several contractor changes at the hands of at least 19 different governments that have changed over the term of the work. </div>
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I hope you all enjoy the rest of the summer, I’m off to complete some work in Shimla for a couple of weeks, a new area for me to explore!</div>
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ianoffthewallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09893050670803576833noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4685057110957823513.post-33680965553444826932017-07-05T02:58:00.001-07:002017-07-08T23:18:13.840-07:00The Road to Dolpa<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Nepal has been an area defined on the world map for centuries however almost up to the end of the 18th Century is was regarded by many as only being the Kathmandu Valley.<br />
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The Treaty of Sugauli was drawn up between the British East India Company and the King of Nepal following the Anglo-Nepalese War of 1814 -1816 on 2 December 1815 but it was not ratified until the 4 March 1816. The Treaty established the new boundary line of Nepal post war, and called for territorial concessions in which some of the territories controlled by Nepal would be given to British India and also for the establishment of a British residency in Kathmandu, it also allowed Britain to recruit Gurkha soldiers for military service. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Anglo-Nepalese War 1814 - 1816</td></tr>
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Under the treaty, about one-third of the Nepalese controlled territory was lost including all the territories that the King of Nepal had won in wars during the previous 25 years or so, areas such as Sikkim in the east across to the Garhwal Kingdom in the west. Some of the Terai lands were also restored to Nepal in 1816 while more were restored again in 1860 to thank Nepal for helping the British to suppress the Indian Rebellion of 1857.</div>
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Old maps show the area then known as Nepal spreading well to the west of the present day boundary. The oldest written, and thus officially recognised as being fairly reliable chronicles of Nepal’s ancient history only date back to the 14th century. One of the first entries being an inscription associated with King Manadeva 1, who reigned from 465 to 505 AD and who was from the Licchavi Dynasty that ruled Nepal from the second to the ninth centuries. King Manadeva was the legendary builder of the Boudhanath Stupa near Kathmandu.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A map showing the extent of Nepal reaching far across Northern India</td></tr>
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In Nepal the Hindu princes eventually succumbed to the expanding power of the Gorkha King Prithvi Narayan Shah. Modern Nepal can, consequently trace its origins back to the Gorkha Empire. Many of the soldiers fighting for the Gorkha King Prithvi Narayan Shah, were the Gurung people and were rewarded for their efforts by being paid with the spoils of war hence the Gurung ethnic group is one of the most widely dispersed ethnic groups in Nepal.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The famous image of King Prithvi Narayan Shah</td></tr>
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For most of its history Nepal has been isolated from the north by the mighty Himalaya and from the south by the Ganges and from the rest of the world as a result of the seclusion imposed by the Kings of Nepal in fear of the British in India to the south. While the rest of the modern world developed Nepal lived in isolation. The British were exploring the high peaks of the Himalaya throughout their Indian empire and in Kashmir and Baltistan to the west, and Darjeeling and Sikkim in the east. They gained permission from the Tibetan government to approach Everest from the north, however, Nepal’s borders, containing some of the jewels of the Himalaya, remained firmly closed. </div>
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Dolpa, one of the most fascinating areas to the west of Mustang, consists of a maze of valleys and mountains. To the immediate north is Tibet and to the south the Dhaulagiri Himalaya. Communication in this region is difficult and travelers have to cross over several 5,000 metre passes to enable them to access neighbouring valleys. Consequently, the people from this region have been little affected by the outside world. Although these people were largely illiterate and appeared somewhat untidy they were at one time by no means poor. They grew barley, potatoes and wheat, and bred cattle and sheep, deriving a good income from selling their livestock. The people of Dolpa used to take their cattle north where the Tibetan Drokpa tribesmen used to graze them on good grassland in exchange for grain and a share of the animal products. </div>
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Until the end of the 18th century Dolpa was a territory of Tibet and was ruled by the powerful flanking Kingdom of Lo and princedom of Jumla Dolpa. Later Dolpa came under the province of Lo. After the union of Nepal at the start of the 19th century the coalition with Lo was ripped apart as the border between Nepal and Tibet was redrawn with Dolpa being located on the Nepal side of the line. For a long time the population of northern Dolpa consisted of an ethnic group called Bhotia with their Tibetan origins, but, after the occupation of Tibet and the uprising in Lhasa in 1959/60 Tibetan refugees moved further south into the areas of Lower Dolpa. The Dolpo-Bhotia and Tibetans lived mainly in the villages and subsist on agriculture, trade and animal husbandry. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dolpa is the largest national park in Nepal and is situated in the Far Western Region</td></tr>
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Dolpa was opened for the foreign tourists in 1951 which initiated changes in several regions of the district. Because of the allegations that the Tibetan Khampas (rebels fighting for a free Tibet) were taking shelter in the region, Dolpa was then closed to foreign tourists in 1974. The danger being that the Republic of China could claim its former territory justified the restriction during that time. In 1989 the southern regions of Dolpa, Lower Dolpa, Phoksundo, Tichurong and Dho Tarap were once again opened for the tourists but the upper region remained closed.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Residents of Upper Dolpa who originally came from Tibet, in fact these people do not speak Nepalese even in 2016<span style="font-size: 12.8px;">©</span><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">Ian Wall</span><br />
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The mass influx of the Tibetan people into Dolpa not only resulted in lost grazing facilities in Tibet, but also of an over-grazing of Dolpa’s own limited grassland which was then being used by the Tibetan stock coming south. As a result, the number of animals was greatly reduced and the once substantial agricultural and animal business is now in rapid economic decline. This has had a devastating effect on all the people living in this area and there are many communities who are now malnourished and existing just above starvation point.</div>
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By the early 1960s the airstrip at Juphal had been constructed but this had little real effect on the region as it was mainly used by government officials and businessmen, the local people could not afford to travel by air and there was, at the time, no air-freight services. Although Dolpa was self sufficient for food the local people had to travel to Nepalgunj for clothing, iron goods and cooking pots, a return journey lasting at least four weeks.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Juphal airstrip in the early days now in 2017 it is being 'black-topped' </td></tr>
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During my recent visit to Dolpa I too travelled the old route from Nepalgunj, although now this avoids the constant climbing and descending of the steep valley hill sides. These trails, in places, were only a few inches wide and would require the use of a rope to safeguard passage where a slip would result in a long fall over the river worn cliffs into the fast flowing Thuli Bweri Nadi below, often resulting in the death. </div>
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The route begins in Nepalgunj and basically follows the river systems north-east into the middle hills via Devisthan, Jajarkot and Jyamire before following the Thuli Bheri Nadi into Dunai.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our route basically follows the valleys running out of Nepalgunj in a NE direction towards Dunai</td></tr>
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The reason for my overland route to Dunai was due to the fact that in 2017 approximately 50 years after the airstrip was built it is only just getting tarmaced, or ‘black topped’, as the locals would say. Even when this modernization work has been completed Dolpa will still be very much at the beck and call of the weather as to whether the flights will actually operate to schedule, it is also an expensive option for locals and difficult when the flight operators give priority to dollar tickets. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chandra, manager of the Blue <br />
Sheep lodge<span style="font-size: 12.8px;">©</span><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">Ian Wall</span></td></tr>
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I traveled with Chandra who recounted his journeys along the original high valley route with his grandfather. ‘I had heard stories of the long and at times difficult journey but I was keen to see the ‘modern’ world. We would travel along with other village people and porters carrying baskets of food and other essential items for our ‘expedition’. At that time the region was rich in agricultural produce so the porters would carry plenty of food and each night we would leave a food dump at the resting place and continue on with our journey. By the time we arrived in Nepalgunj the baskets were empty and we could make our purchases and prepare for the return journey. We would set off early and follow the same trails back into Dolpa, every evening we would arrive at the resting place and find the hidden food, all we needed to do was to build a fire, prepared and eat the food. The whole trip would take us around four weeks.</div>
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As in many rural areas of Nepal new roads are being pushed into remote villages and valleys and Dolpa is no different. With foreign financial aid, local workers, civil engineers and the Nepal Army all are slowly carving a way through the narrow gorges and steep valley sides in an effort to provide alternative access to this very remote region.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This 'ledge' will eventually be carved out down to almost river level, but for the moment<br />
provides an exposed traverse line into the higher valley. The yellow square<span style="font-size: 12.8px;"> to the left of the</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12.8px;"> image is a compressor, the pipes run all the way up to the works of the ledge </span><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">©</span><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">Ian Wall</span><br />
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In June 2017 the road was motorable as far as Jyamire. However the bridges are not yet built so although you can travel by jeep the journey requires five changes of vehicle with the linking gaps having to be walked crossing the rivers via Nepali wire bridges. June of course is at the start of the monsoon season and Lower Dolpa is subjected to heavy rain causing the road to turn into a quagmire of slippery mud which often manages to turn forward momentum into downward momentum!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Heavy rain causing the road to turn into a quagmire of slippery mud which often manages to turn forward momentum into downward momentum! <span style="font-size: 12.8px;">©</span><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">Ian Wall</span></td></tr>
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After two days of travelling and with a definite lack of sleep, unreliable jeep links we finally reached the end of the last jeep section at Jyamire where a bed can be found in very local accommodation but don’t expect too many hours of ‘shut-eye’. Despite the bouncing and banging, pushing and shoving of the previous two days the following day is the definite high point and crux of the journey. The first five or six hours consist of typical Nepali trekking, good trails, occasional tea houses, plenty of locals to chat to and all completed in the gentle rolling foot hills. However, before long things take a dramatic change. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Workers above, walkers below, the guy standing near the edge of the worker group is still using his pneumatic drill<br />
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We were soon made aware of ‘what was around the next bend’ when we heard a loud explosion followed by an enormous dust cloud that seemed to hang over the valley for an eternity. We were heading up the trail accompanied my many fellow travelers who had been with us during our previous days jeep exploits. Many of these people had previously walked out of Dolpa via this route and were eager to advise us that ‘this way very, very dangerous!’ I have often heard the words ‘dangerous’ and ‘difficult’ being confused but in this case both were used in the appropriate way. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Workers perched in precarious situations with little in the way of safety gear, but that is also<br />
the trail for the local people to follow.. and trekkers at this time of year ©<span style="font-size: 12.8px;">Ian Wall</span><br />
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When the dust had settled a large cliff several hundreds of feet high appeared through the haze covered in white ghost like figures scurrying around with large crow-bars, there was a mass of mobile ‘yellow hard hats’ giving the impression of attention to risk assessment and safety but on closer inspection it could be seen that the health and safety policy ended there, foot wear consisted of the ubiquitous ‘flip-flop’, no other protective clothing. Many feet above the trail there was a busy workforce prizing and shoveling the demolished cliff into the void below that was shared with the new trail which in turn was situated several tens of feet above the river. Exposed? Just a tad! Dangerous? Just a tad! The only passing nod to travelers’ safety was a ‘stop – go’ worker who would monitor the passage of locals passing under the cliff face, however, this ‘nod’ to safety did not extend to the guy with the pneumatic drill who continued happily banging away literally overhead. Many of the new cliff traversing paths were of a temporary nature, they were narrow often outward sloping and always covered in deep rock dust making it difficult to judge foot placements and almost impossible to see as every foot placement caused a small dust storm of its own, the whole situation was compounded by the frightened mules who naturally would stay in the danger zone for as little time as possible, speed, was for them, more important than personal safety.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A young guy in charge of the pneumatic drill.. with no safety clothing ©<span style="font-size: 12.8px;">Ian Wall</span><br />
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And so it continued for the next six or seven hours, ascending, traversing and descending narrow paths, dodging falling rocks, avoiding fast moving mules, always with a wary eye on the exposed drop to one side or the other and blatantly aware of the strong gusts of wind that would spring up from nowhere and cause immediate loss of vision, dust storms and dislodge rocks. Resting was not an option. One of the mule boys admitted that the constant movement of animals was not for any commercial reason it was just so the mules could get use to the environment and learn the correct route through the treacherous landscape.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Work - a family affair ©<span style="font-size: 12.8px;">Ian Wall</span></td></tr>
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The civilian work force would start the initial uncovering and demolition of the river side cliffs, the army would then move in with their detonators and explosives, immediately the denotations were complete the civilians would return and start to reduce the piles of fallen rock. This process would be repeated several times until the cliff was far enough removed from the river to allow a road width of ‘flat’ rock terrace eventually allowing vehicular access up the next few kilometers of valley. I was surprised at the amount of heavy machinery that had all been air-lifted onto site, tens of compressors, kilometers of compressor pipes, pneumatic drills, JCB diggers, tractors and jeeps.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This woman was perched over 100 feet above the river prizing loose rock of a recently<br />
blown section of the cliff ©<span style="font-size: 12.8px;">Ian Wall</span></td></tr>
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The new road will of course bring changes to this once remote destination and in my opinion one of the most unique regions of Nepal. Immediate benefit is that nearly all of the civilian work force is recruited from local people and of course they will be earning money.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A Welcome haven for many a Dolpa traveller <span style="font-size: 12.8px;">©</span><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">Ian Wall</span></td></tr>
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My only hope is that the powers that be take a long hard look at other developed tourist regions in Nepal and learn from their mistakes and only adopt the best of practices with a specific focus on protecting the environment, cultures and traditions, the very fabric of tourist attractions in Nepal and Dolpa in particular.<br />
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To conclude, the Blue Sheep Inn is undergoing a big refurbishment system under the watchful eye or the original owner's son and daughter, a new kitchen, dining room, additional bedrooms, several fitted with attached bathroom facilities are all expected to come on-line within the next few months.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUkirRppG_-vnTlBlbb1IixXBWZt4KPewsU15OZUS8NaKNBEKcozY2zts-Ovb5Cn2ABpo6hxph0i8zs-3ktKJ7hC49tDRZsxrjyYeTTbGOjx_QZy50FDNIl_dQOVWnkHQq9eCQLuPeIT8/s1600/P6270106.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUkirRppG_-vnTlBlbb1IixXBWZt4KPewsU15OZUS8NaKNBEKcozY2zts-Ovb5Cn2ABpo6hxph0i8zs-3ktKJ7hC49tDRZsxrjyYeTTbGOjx_QZy50FDNIl_dQOVWnkHQq9eCQLuPeIT8/s640/P6270106.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A young man showing his girl a good time! ©<span style="font-size: 12.8px;">Ian Wall</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjapnE34ats2f1LVAd7LDZonV6Lwuzas6HUz8PPXoR4PVfI9pARyS9dOscKxGUna8DpYLUugExcgKyjsBlSWgIHXiBqc5Yv68kLB69cmmA1nvUeTvRf_hF47u2pII6glBXk1-JFqUdrBMU/s1600/P6270122.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjapnE34ats2f1LVAd7LDZonV6Lwuzas6HUz8PPXoR4PVfI9pARyS9dOscKxGUna8DpYLUugExcgKyjsBlSWgIHXiBqc5Yv68kLB69cmmA1nvUeTvRf_hF47u2pII6glBXk1-JFqUdrBMU/s640/P6270122.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At times it was difficult to breath.©<span style="font-size: 12.8px;">Ian Wall</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggkiHOHUVQZzQq5IOVOEgLURwqnOD2Vkza3ckYWS-cVwnJOScz1KhO63w2rrZrP1DjvEUzhWiif6cfI4NxDDW2waoirf6NqWOk93o6XxtY31ByFXGYN5QLbmeTw8fr7fukPzp7Dff-IeM/s1600/P6270123.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggkiHOHUVQZzQq5IOVOEgLURwqnOD2Vkza3ckYWS-cVwnJOScz1KhO63w2rrZrP1DjvEUzhWiif6cfI4NxDDW2waoirf6NqWOk93o6XxtY31ByFXGYN5QLbmeTw8fr7fukPzp7Dff-IeM/s640/P6270123.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And even more difficult to see! ©<span style="font-size: 12.8px;">Ian Wall</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0CaYO1aDcAX-ZUCOgf9HavhfqcDXjP52DZDMkGO_HhTdGZhwBFDcLulO3Qw2DN99D_TWHDgzys_DiG6TVe3ELgMO9OgD1M-_5YJYb13eikh7H-ed3904mjnuxCOwkc3_ZrbbCG-RgJUQ/s1600/P6290238.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0CaYO1aDcAX-ZUCOgf9HavhfqcDXjP52DZDMkGO_HhTdGZhwBFDcLulO3Qw2DN99D_TWHDgzys_DiG6TVe3ELgMO9OgD1M-_5YJYb13eikh7H-ed3904mjnuxCOwkc3_ZrbbCG-RgJUQ/s640/P6290238.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dunai nestling in the bend of the Bheria Nadi ©<span style="font-size: 12.8px;">Ian Wall</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghKW4JAmhiXSwE3L6-uR1O_2sDo-kfSycKTcpbV3Rx0jWU6wVT9WR2SDCtpUH-7LRh66a0buf6s1eGYzh6XNfjrEzkRbQmgoT5R7wUVdSvLgRqzlDjhCYAmRlcd3pSs5OsNvOBb4M3kC0/s1600/P6260082.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghKW4JAmhiXSwE3L6-uR1O_2sDo-kfSycKTcpbV3Rx0jWU6wVT9WR2SDCtpUH-7LRh66a0buf6s1eGYzh6XNfjrEzkRbQmgoT5R7wUVdSvLgRqzlDjhCYAmRlcd3pSs5OsNvOBb4M3kC0/s640/P6260082.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The start of the final 5 hour jeep journey, we had the dubious honour of being allowed to travel<br />
during the hours of darkness, something normally not permitted ©<span style="font-size: 12.8px;">Ian Wall</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbgjOawDtYbbhpHsXzvn98aBREAMGyK3xbegmCxJc9znO7k28loqOEQLHWfsI_mC-Yh38Ubb6BAj0uQ8QV-MVgUh8IG80dSAFWCmAyZfc97gK3vi-e9ByER7nVOp3rWZiXhTrSF4rTam0/s1600/P6270152.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbgjOawDtYbbhpHsXzvn98aBREAMGyK3xbegmCxJc9znO7k28loqOEQLHWfsI_mC-Yh38Ubb6BAj0uQ8QV-MVgUh8IG80dSAFWCmAyZfc97gK3vi-e9ByER7nVOp3rWZiXhTrSF4rTam0/s640/P6270152.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The last raise of the setting sun kissing the tops of the Mukuteshwar Himal ©<span style="font-size: 12.8px;">Ian Wall</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsbzplBik15aH6Nad4wv7bd3N1FdmkXkqRODWHDORcO4OM6SvjExhEoBlikbzkLyJNUT3b9IaGLloA-sfcoWLUwVRijKebbCbUNkMr5mTwfvbzxdquHgPrZLe-NS1XHbqrBGeNHISi_Is/s1600/P6270134.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsbzplBik15aH6Nad4wv7bd3N1FdmkXkqRODWHDORcO4OM6SvjExhEoBlikbzkLyJNUT3b9IaGLloA-sfcoWLUwVRijKebbCbUNkMr5mTwfvbzxdquHgPrZLe-NS1XHbqrBGeNHISi_Is/s640/P6270134.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The older generation view the new developments with mixed feelings. ©<span style="font-size: 12.8px;">Ian Wall</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAzLCicyc9qmE7vNQTMZIcJUsoxN5BV0Q8sat_NosfHR-ogZuZEHy0cPWV9V3wSCpPgbcgG9FWoc3jIlfw0pkIWkWacsXfZ0o8C1-o9eCuy7R_0xQOHnEAnOJDBBh-cdVj2nXWdW4540Y/s1600/P6270116.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAzLCicyc9qmE7vNQTMZIcJUsoxN5BV0Q8sat_NosfHR-ogZuZEHy0cPWV9V3wSCpPgbcgG9FWoc3jIlfw0pkIWkWacsXfZ0o8C1-o9eCuy7R_0xQOHnEAnOJDBBh-cdVj2nXWdW4540Y/s640/P6270116.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of the many local lodges found along the way ©<span style="font-size: 12.8px;">Ian Wall</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYXVB8mr9iA-xnyrp0sK74kSn-b6nm9WlAM0fzhg5_o9dR8AgLGOnW_UBmp8_SKdIp1OQHXRyUx7EQ4-Nb4hyjnh9HqpoM4M0FVkpFlxtoIpHxShD7v2u_Yyc-Z7xOJGF1dS1t_vsnTxI/s1600/P6270137.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYXVB8mr9iA-xnyrp0sK74kSn-b6nm9WlAM0fzhg5_o9dR8AgLGOnW_UBmp8_SKdIp1OQHXRyUx7EQ4-Nb4hyjnh9HqpoM4M0FVkpFlxtoIpHxShD7v2u_Yyc-Z7xOJGF1dS1t_vsnTxI/s640/P6270137.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The lead mule is always revered by the rest of the mule train and he is decorated accordingly<br />
©<span style="font-size: 12.8px;">Ian Wall</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglfIboHQV5WjxrBNYktBqQDa_O5SnL3woMSTxCq08chtWG566x2yCZX7kj8ItFsC-pb7LuFqFi9PjNbhFEoCaxoqldtCzdm8j7FvF59akTcyLbHQ7e0yhZATMnP2V9GntAGxpHkNwSsSQ/s1600/P6280164.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglfIboHQV5WjxrBNYktBqQDa_O5SnL3woMSTxCq08chtWG566x2yCZX7kj8ItFsC-pb7LuFqFi9PjNbhFEoCaxoqldtCzdm8j7FvF59akTcyLbHQ7e0yhZATMnP2V9GntAGxpHkNwSsSQ/s640/P6280164.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I always enjoy my time in Dolpa!©<span style="font-size: 12.8px;">Ian Wall</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiji1zFQQSPn7BhwzZQJlGYkkW65j9_cCyLeX9qVc9625Wkf3RJ3O-sgxCr0r2q-IIVE-cuMkwthqytRzpbLV0oEW4IsDRtPYqIgaoqssegEdsgOGuuWyacPRqf2rlaIJbXj454xwnsWMM/s1600/Untitled-10+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1193" data-original-width="1600" height="476" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiji1zFQQSPn7BhwzZQJlGYkkW65j9_cCyLeX9qVc9625Wkf3RJ3O-sgxCr0r2q-IIVE-cuMkwthqytRzpbLV0oEW4IsDRtPYqIgaoqssegEdsgOGuuWyacPRqf2rlaIJbXj454xwnsWMM/s640/Untitled-10+copy.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The 'Team'.. next time Dolpa! ©<span style="font-size: 12.8px;">Ian Wall</span></td></tr>
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ianoffthewallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09893050670803576833noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4685057110957823513.post-41511104023553045862017-05-29T22:09:00.000-07:002017-05-29T22:50:55.727-07:00My Ramblings (taken from my Facebook posts May 2017)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">29 May 2017</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">May 28 2017</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><u>Rite of Passage</u></b> </span></div>
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It seems over the last few years people have generally split (unfairly) the ‘mountaineering world’ into basically two groups..those that sign up to commercial expeditions and those who climb independently and there are obviously huge skill differentials within both sectors.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzPmQc7aio7xC86RrHQDfVOQ7jB2Y8edk5vul4TfR1Er-a20s_-zmIGw0Elcy_rcnCOSNcoAXZNaS2vQaNI6kzJ4z5EcOT-7y1_rLhkZXqTMFSReLFOWoEq1UVdmIfqYZqBWTLgsZbsMg/s1600/18700430_675530272631740_4236148895156008297_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1187" data-original-width="1600" height="474" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzPmQc7aio7xC86RrHQDfVOQ7jB2Y8edk5vul4TfR1Er-a20s_-zmIGw0Elcy_rcnCOSNcoAXZNaS2vQaNI6kzJ4z5EcOT-7y1_rLhkZXqTMFSReLFOWoEq1UVdmIfqYZqBWTLgsZbsMg/s640/18700430_675530272631740_4236148895156008297_o.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Makalu image Ian Wall</td></tr>
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Despite the recent crop of inaccurate information, distorted facts and out-right fabrication of unsubstantiated events several important issues have been raised and discussed in social media. I hope those ‘in charge’ of all things mountaineering will try to deal with them in a clear and professional way for the benefit and safety of all concerned, including the mountains themselves.</div>
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A few years ago a famous mountaineer was aggressively accused of reaching the top of several mountains in the wake of others who would open the route and fix ropes while the mountaineer allegedly did not contribute to the process but achieved summit success. True or not I don’t know I wasn’t there but I did read the reports and I did speak with that mountaineer. It’s all a matter of trust ~ who do you believe ~ and that is a choice that seems very hard to make in some instances.</div>
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Today there is definitely a third section of the mountaineering community that specifically forms the ‘following others’ group. Which for me raises several other questions, these people are not on ‘commercial expeditions’ but are in fact, independent climbers, groups or expeditions.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNNRxzqJT00iu3AkreRjpxK3W5RHx5Nb5MSxJz6eVt4qFHKNNfo92vgQQjL8QR5bLGF5QCUCFz_1ZJXda0s2EKZRNUqNI3YIQ1q7L-5p6h_dqPBUdBq2NGIs6Dd_r4W0hnyP6IKYCv11Y/s1600/18813548_675530115965089_7832625129765664921_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="591" data-original-width="787" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNNRxzqJT00iu3AkreRjpxK3W5RHx5Nb5MSxJz6eVt4qFHKNNfo92vgQQjL8QR5bLGF5QCUCFz_1ZJXda0s2EKZRNUqNI3YIQ1q7L-5p6h_dqPBUdBq2NGIs6Dd_r4W0hnyP6IKYCv11Y/s640/18813548_675530115965089_7832625129765664921_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Manaslu <span style="font-size: 12.8px;">image Ian Wall</span></td></tr>
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As the 2017 spring season draws to an end teams are returning to Kathmandu some are flying high with success others not so boisterous. One of these independent climbers spoke to me the other day admitting that they narrowly missed the summit due to a variety of issues.. one being: -</div>
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“Tried hard but failed because the leading Sherpa was not strong enough to fix the ropes’ which indicates to me the mountaineers concerned did not have either the strength or the skill to climb without the use of fixed ropes.</div>
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In, I think, 2013 Ama Dablam was not climbed until late November because despite many expeditions being on the peak.. the ropes were not fixed to the summit and neither climbers or guides had the skills to climb without fixed ropes.</div>
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If well known mountaineers today can only reach a summit because of the fixed ropes.. then who fixes the rope..the answer is obvious..but does that person (or group of people) receive due thanks, praise or credit… but the successful ‘mountaineers’ pulling up on those ropes will be in the media!</div>
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Are these mountaineers despite not being on a truly commercial expedition falling into that category..the route is being prepared for them by others in exactly the same way as on a commercial trip?</div>
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I guess an ethical issue and does it really matter as long as the truth is out there?<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB7f1WM8otO7kKQi4bB43fZVVTIp2uwbTnMKNtXzW2hVyJR1pBZi6kOUamGQiiPU6yFzjfZg6t5l2SgGtSDOGZcvF4rPXJR7Y2tHNUQAThcHsUZP5RpUW4fvQgnHcXx5MvqiYvwn5rfq4/s1600/18739908_675531012631666_3948712684090511637_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="709" data-original-width="531" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB7f1WM8otO7kKQi4bB43fZVVTIp2uwbTnMKNtXzW2hVyJR1pBZi6kOUamGQiiPU6yFzjfZg6t5l2SgGtSDOGZcvF4rPXJR7Y2tHNUQAThcHsUZP5RpUW4fvQgnHcXx5MvqiYvwn5rfq4/s640/18739908_675531012631666_3948712684090511637_n.jpg" width="478" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Khangsar Kang <span style="font-size: 12.8px;">image Ian Wall</span></td></tr>
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28 May 2017</div>
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<b><u>The Dark Side of Climbing Everest</u></b></div>
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Should I continue to post articles appertaining to events reported as happening on Everest? A rhetorical question from someone playing Devil’s Advocate who has not climbed Everest and does not want to upset anyone!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsWW7RBDwlS4GCogA1yqqIK_DrlvI7ZB2Bf8YP9E5cSOkt50V9HADuf-3UNrCp91pfW-irne64Hvzd8SylperVDYjgLlC3U_tHQ_IC-X6T4mICRtZruVBjm0jIOJtwlvW9qzwoEPZPE-A/s640/18699837_675065119344922_3528579015549264465_n.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Everest from Thonak Tsho <span style="font-size: 12.8px;">image Ian Wall</span></td></tr>
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Between 1953 and 1991 Everest was climbed by expeditions acting as a ‘team’ all would join in to complete the various mountaineering tasks enabling the expedition to place mountaineering members both Nepalese and foreigners, with experience, on the summit. To reach the summit during those years was a notably achievement in the history of mountaineering.</div>
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Since then with a few exceptions those reaching the summit (apart from the guides/leaders) have in the main been commercially led with clients having various degrees of mountaineering ability, skill and experience.</div>
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It seems to me that in recent times everyone wants a piece of Everest, it would appear that more commercially led climbers have posted their achievement on the anniversary of their own ascent, no doubt a great ‘personal’ achievement, but does the rest of the world want to know? Do these ascents add to the history of Everest?<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitg-JV8R0iQNBdxNWTI9G8pl_ruTI4Ab0Ujm9qc2uvFMsyzL3PutEbtgs1P-2dsQuaW1CzYPenjNZtKPx4WoeIj7Tp61qm0_45UqKXQMmxLitXAQdMq8n2ejRUAN6kw8zeE8b_FmxfXVU/s1600/18699650_675065586011542_2080109860959049737_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="927" data-original-width="1236" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitg-JV8R0iQNBdxNWTI9G8pl_ruTI4Ab0Ujm9qc2uvFMsyzL3PutEbtgs1P-2dsQuaW1CzYPenjNZtKPx4WoeIj7Tp61qm0_45UqKXQMmxLitXAQdMq8n2ejRUAN6kw8zeE8b_FmxfXVU/s640/18699650_675065586011542_2080109860959049737_o.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Upper section of thew SW Face of Everest <span style="font-size: 12.8px;">image Ian Wall</span></td></tr>
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The 'news' seems to have been raised several notches this year with the climbing staff getting in on the act with several reports that Trump might claim as being' fake news! As I said in a previous post the majority of reporters and bloggers try to get their facts clear, accurate and use reputable sources. But recently even well respected bloggers have been caught up in fake news.</div>
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With the aid of modern communication systems mobile phone pictures spontaneous comments are frequently hitting the social media headlines being directly sent from the location on the mountain.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyZ_-tq4ckajomX4XLUP_0qde2MpWFznQwlAMHkXE_V9ib7yrWu8LczMne9YmqV63uXrWrc59xm8BdXZ_X00nfOwdZhBSZnowyPqSZtK3WR_BUEI_gFFQ1L26eK3oT4wLT7ClkQ2AiqsI/s1600/18766366_675065019344932_3017293913728128577_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyZ_-tq4ckajomX4XLUP_0qde2MpWFznQwlAMHkXE_V9ib7yrWu8LczMne9YmqV63uXrWrc59xm8BdXZ_X00nfOwdZhBSZnowyPqSZtK3WR_BUEI_gFFQ1L26eK3oT4wLT7ClkQ2AiqsI/s640/18766366_675065019344932_3017293913728128577_o.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Everest behind Nuptse northern flank <span style="font-size: 12.8px;">image Ian Wall</span></td></tr>
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I have no problem with this providing these reports are accurate and not prefabricated or enhanced in any way to deliberately mislead the reader for the self gratification on the part of the participants.</div>
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I feel that some of this season’s comments that have appeared on social media are in fact not enhancing the reputation of the Nepalese guides and mountaineering staff, this not only damages the very good reputation the majority of the Nepalese staff have but it also damages the image of Nepal for many who do not know the country or mountaineering history when they then read that ‘as previously reported.. more recent updates suggest that information was incorrect…’</div>
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I know the season is virtually over but I think I will now resist posting on social media comments on Everest related issues until the dust settles at the close of the season and the truth comes out.</div>
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26 May 2017</div>
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<b><u>Everest..in the News...Again!</u></b></div>
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Typically Everest hogs the news headlines as far as the rest of the world sees ‘Mountaineering in Nepal’ and it now appears that people are also highly motivated to get information into the public arena as quickly as possible, even via communication systems taken on the route. Some of these stories are later disputed or updated with changes to some of the original ‘facts’. All information is, I believe, posted in good faith, although it might be mountain bias it is based on perceived reliable sources. The two most recent topics under review are those concerning the Hillary Step and the mysterious tent containing ‘four bodies’ found on the South Col. I guess I also fall into the category of trusting reliable sources in a bid to keep people fully informed with the ‘latest’ situations.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRYvJnUGZTrOUOT_4R50mLzEiww0M-iNEekOXwCYM-rHtygq7sbfY2unIjPn1wK0iTZXHDMrSM4qJ2vbdvN-34JamjCi_oier2sImg1tGEHaF0jGExmbvoiKqvpdNhSEiNttHbgIicdP0/s1600/18623461_674174702767297_8260760188554682224_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1206" data-original-width="1600" height="482" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRYvJnUGZTrOUOT_4R50mLzEiww0M-iNEekOXwCYM-rHtygq7sbfY2unIjPn1wK0iTZXHDMrSM4qJ2vbdvN-34JamjCi_oier2sImg1tGEHaF0jGExmbvoiKqvpdNhSEiNttHbgIicdP0/s640/18623461_674174702767297_8260760188554682224_o.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kangchenjunga</td></tr>
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There are of course other stories unfolding on other mountains in Nepal. </div>
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I have mentioned the girls, Maya Sherpa, Dawa Yangsum Sherpa and Pasang Ihamu Sherpa Akita on Kangchengunga before. A sterling effort in less than favorable conditions but they kept their heads, made the right decision at the time and place and returned from the mountain safe and sound and without suffering any serious effects from their ordeals. This news source was from the team itself.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHkviI5KXjvYGCDklxRL66ACyZ_ApFnfI7e0AnkPyLMOjNI3jh8UACZmgLKPalLnQJ10C0Bi63kjtxu0QrsHk1KEahUdX5LMMaddZss9NahzKiENiyhESKuUrOhrh3b4nET8eyW3jJ9SY/s1600/18620351_674174419433992_6956223795788727064_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="531" data-original-width="709" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHkviI5KXjvYGCDklxRL66ACyZ_ApFnfI7e0AnkPyLMOjNI3jh8UACZmgLKPalLnQJ10C0Bi63kjtxu0QrsHk1KEahUdX5LMMaddZss9NahzKiENiyhESKuUrOhrh3b4nET8eyW3jJ9SY/s640/18620351_674174419433992_6956223795788727064_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The summit of Annapurna 1 in the distance just getting the early morning sun <span style="font-size: 12.8px;">image Ian Wall</span></td></tr>
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Dhaulagiri has also seen a lot of activity this season. The Indian Air Force successfully summited the mountain but then tragically the guide Angnima Sherpa went missing from Base Camp, a search has been launched. Adventure Consultants got their team to the summit on the 22 May 2017 and they are now all safely back in Base Camp and Adele Pennington also made a safe summit round trip.</div>
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Unfortunately these other summits don’t receive the same attention as Everest. Maybe with a broader,but less ‘Everest’ bias spectrum for the reporting of mountaineering events there would be a greater public awareness of other exploits being undertaken on some of Nepal’s other great mountains.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCZSU1WAGvtVuqyNYOcL_GnO2Rb2fXMyDRNz7GKnGodwUXdkWmEHu_g9tUCpMUOny6qrnr88J5I7jf1AS9IkK6DOo5dJ1wgixRxHSL987bkTFejo1Oj1PYu6ihfJNQDJISj-ZDQkraFSA/s1600/18671071_674174479433986_2665422356643798284_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCZSU1WAGvtVuqyNYOcL_GnO2Rb2fXMyDRNz7GKnGodwUXdkWmEHu_g9tUCpMUOny6qrnr88J5I7jf1AS9IkK6DOo5dJ1wgixRxHSL987bkTFejo1Oj1PYu6ihfJNQDJISj-ZDQkraFSA/s640/18671071_674174479433986_2665422356643798284_n.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dhaulagiri <span style="font-size: 12.8px;">image Ian Wall</span></td></tr>
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24 May 2017</div>
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<b><u>Four found dead in a tent on the South Col</u></b></div>
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It is now being suggested that this was an item of ...false news.. lets wait and see what happens in the fullness of time..but the questions still remain the same!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYfXlorrHkd8ZNDU7LbvkK-jUJP5tKp2KLAYPYGmq2XAPbE-vK4Y4VcDD-b2AhTTFSIN5qgJvSk5SgvTKiuwx0GIjhl0XT-F4D-j03__hE2A7ZQ3F0mXr_ah4v5zdX5Ijfh_0r8S-ZNvM/s1600/Untitled-1+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="569" data-original-width="543" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYfXlorrHkd8ZNDU7LbvkK-jUJP5tKp2KLAYPYGmq2XAPbE-vK4Y4VcDD-b2AhTTFSIN5qgJvSk5SgvTKiuwx0GIjhl0XT-F4D-j03__hE2A7ZQ3F0mXr_ah4v5zdX5Ijfh_0r8S-ZNvM/s640/Untitled-1+copy.jpg" width="610" /></a></div>
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'Death may have been caused by suffocation inside the tent', the rescuers reported... although the names of the deceased have not yet been released some of the facts should make us ask questions.</div>
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1) the 4 in one tent were said to be 2 clients and 2 'guides'..and the situation 'possible suffocation'.. maybe as on the Thorong La in 2014 the occupants used a stove in an enclosed space to cook/keep warm, became drowsy and ultimately fell asleep never to wake up again.. Either way surely every 11 year old boy scout knows to keep a tent ventilated..even in extreme conditions a clear air passage can surely be arranged</div>
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2) the expedition providers were reported as being a 'new company'. If you are breaking into the expedition arena with no success history you might be temped to cut corners on costs to attract clients.... were these 'guides' actually guides?.. I know the major players use IFGMA guides or at least Nepalese climbers with experience.. did these guys have experience were they IFGMA members? </div>
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3) why did these clients not check out credentials of the company/guides..was money the main factor.</div>
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There are responsible ways that are transparent and fair to all operators and clients that could be implemented to reduce risk as a result of lack of knowledge.. these have often been discussed but never implemented</div>
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Bottom line.. if you get offered a cheap expedition to anywhere in the world consider why the offer is CHEAP.. read the small print and ask questions.. take responsibility for your own safety at lower altitudes because you'll possibly need to rely on others in your team at higher altitudes.</div>
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ianoffthewallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09893050670803576833noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4685057110957823513.post-12964183700880249852017-05-16T01:56:00.000-07:002017-05-16T02:06:13.290-07:00Remembering Pemba Doma on the Anniversary of her tragic accident on Lhotse 22nd May 2007<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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When I first came to Nepal I was privileged to have shared a house with Pemba Doma, Tsirani Lhemi and Raj. This original article was written based on various ‘chats’ I had with Pemba over those years, I can clearly recall our last conversation in 'Hot Breads' Durbar Marg, Kathmandu before she headed off to Khumbu little knowing of the events that would shortly unfold on Lhotse.</div>
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The Post Script was kindly provided by Mike Blakemore as an extract from his up-coming book on Pemba Doma. All images are included with permission of the Climb High collection</div>
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<u>She did it her way – Twice!</u></div>
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Pemba Doma Sherpa - the first Nepalese woman to have climbed Everest from the Tibetan side and the second to have climbed Everest from both the north and south side.</div>
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Pemba Doma was born in 1970 and is one of three daughters born to a lodge owner living in Namche Bazaar. Her mother died when Pemba was only 2 years old but her father remarried and continues to live in Namche and runs the same lodge to this day, but, for a while Pemba lived with her grandparents. Along with many other local children Pemba attended the Ed Hilary supported school in Khumjung where she passed all her high school grades. On her way up and down the steep hillside to school she would play among the juniper bushes and she can recall scrambling on many of the large boulders that are scattered around the area. </div>
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Since 1970 the Khumbu region has seen many expeditions visit the high Himalaya, all of these pass through the small community of Namche Bazaar. Pemba would watch with great interest as the procession of yaks, porters, climbers and hangers on would trail through the narrow streets. By a twist of fate Pemba had a friend who was working as an Au Pair in Paris. One day while on a return visit to Namche she mentioned to Pemba that she was home sick and really didn’t want to return to France. Pemba saw an opportunity and suggested that they swapped places and so in 1987 Pemba left for her first visit to Europe. While living in France she learnt French and completed a course studying Computer Science. Pemba’s sister married a trekker and moved to Germany and as a result Pemba also learnt German; she also speaks Italian, Spanish, Hindi, English and Nepali, which is different to the native Sherpa tongue. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6Uo8L5metiJkiL0gjED20gsjMeIFrU7C3OkvQsDPIv9Z5c9epVUiK9KEuNgq0FP5ekeSDpy7X3o6Cs8zyTsN92X9G3OkXyMl6ePwTAoxbjbmFa-0SzIA58Ll6-IvMrMLyxu1ys5BWhX4/s1600/DSC03977.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6Uo8L5metiJkiL0gjED20gsjMeIFrU7C3OkvQsDPIv9Z5c9epVUiK9KEuNgq0FP5ekeSDpy7X3o6Cs8zyTsN92X9G3OkXyMl6ePwTAoxbjbmFa-0SzIA58Ll6-IvMrMLyxu1ys5BWhX4/s640/DSC03977.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Namche Bazaar</td></tr>
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By the time Pemba returned to Namche Bazaar in 1989 she had already developed the travel bug. Over the next few years she worked in the family lodge to earn, and save, as much as she could to pay for her return trips to Europe. Over the next few years she travelled abroad loaded with an extensive range of Nepalese craft-work that she sold to generate additional finance. This became a regular source of income for Pemba who returned to Nepal every three or four months to restock her supplies.</div>
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Pemba never lost her love of the mountains and while she was in Europe she made many ascents in the Alps, including that of Mt Blanc and in the Grand Paradiso and she also developed her rock climbing skills in the company of friends. By 1989 Pemba had accumulated a fair amount of technical mountaineering skill and on her return home she completed ascents of many of the trekking peaks in the Khumbu, including Lobuche East, Island Peak, and Mera Peak. </div>
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While she was on her European travels Pemba promoted Nepal through the sale of her goods and also through talks and presentations. One of the things that would annoy her more than anything was the constant reference to the fact that with the name ‘Sherpa’ she must find it hard work carrying heavy loads and that her climbing success on all the trekking peaks must have been at the good nature and the resources of foreign aid because the Nepalese could never afford to undertake that sort of activity themselves! </div>
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Pemba was now beginning to develop a desire to climb an 8000 m peak and prove that all the stereo type perceptions of the Nepalese people and in particular, the Sherpani, were not true and that they were just as capable of organising and achieving 8000 meters as any male, Nepalese or not. Over the next 10 years Pemba lived frugally saving everything she possibly could in preparation for achieving her dream, although as yet she had no specific plans.</div>
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In 1999 Kari Kobler, who was planning a Swiss expedition to Everest from Tibet, happened to be staying at Pemba’s family lodge in Namche Bazaar. During the course of conversation it was mentioned that there were three Swiss women on the expedition and one woman from New Zealand. Pemba was drawn more and more into the idea of setting her sights on Everest when eventually she had a conversation that she perceived to be a virtual invitation to join Kobler’s team. As she had no sponsorship or financial support Pemba set about working as many hours as she could to save enough money to purchase all her own equipment and pay for a place as a member of the Swiss 2000 Everest Expedition. </div>
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The expedition finally arrived in Tibet in April 2000 and Pemba joined them at Base Camp later that month having made her own way from Namche Bazaar. The expedition of 12 members and three climbing Sherpas pulled together and were working well as far as ABC from where the team members were beginning to experience the effects of altitude. By the time Pemba had joined the main body of the expedition at ABC she found that Kobler, one expedition member and the three Sherpas had already set off for the summit. The remaining expedition members were trying to complete their own acclimatisation programs but the general feeling was that with the leader, one expedition member and climbing Sherpas already en route for the top it was unlikely that a second attempt would be made. Pemba discussed the situation at base Camp with other team members and with climbing Sherpa friends attached to other expeditions also on the mountain. She came to the conclusion that as she had paid a lot of money to join the expedition she was not going to simply turn her back on the chance to, at least, have a ‘good crack’ at the summit. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ-K_oXWdNhYJdDYy9xouWkJDLxNhH5FU8N4MsT_4DAmhlfjSA7OrOFihQiVIdBfc890Eb2KVwOuCeTUUi23equh5btyW2a32Cqcy7VCSFHvfe7RVBzFTphz97LCZgqNGg6f_lHxxYt8k/s1600/pemba+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="454" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ-K_oXWdNhYJdDYy9xouWkJDLxNhH5FU8N4MsT_4DAmhlfjSA7OrOFihQiVIdBfc890Eb2KVwOuCeTUUi23equh5btyW2a32Cqcy7VCSFHvfe7RVBzFTphz97LCZgqNGg6f_lHxxYt8k/s640/pemba+1.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pemba Doma on the summit of Everest 19th May 2000</td></tr>
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Sagarmatha is a sacred summit for the Nepalese and before setting out Pemba sat and with the smell of burning juniper filling the air spoke quietly and calmly to the mountain asking for pardon, as she was about to climb up her sacred slopes. Setting out from Base Camp Pemba had to be completely self contained, all her expedition Sherpas were already high on the mountain and unless she could afford to pay for the use of a porter from another expedition she had no choice. Each evening she arrived at the next camp, most were unmanned, and she would complete the solitary rituals of melting snow, making food and preparing for the night ahead before climbing into her sleeping bag. <i>‘Even with the sounds of a big mountain and despite being alone in the camp every night I was never frightened’</i>, said Pemba, <i>‘I had spoken with Sagarmatha and felt she had understood my situation’</i>. The weather was good and using the fixed ropes and oxygen from Camp 3 she slowly gained height. On the final day she left, with a few sweets and her camera, from the top camp and climbing alone she reached the summit at 9am (China time) on the 19th May 2000 and so became the first Sherparni to reach the summit of Everest from the Tibetan side. When Pemba stripped her equipment down to the bare essentials she took her camera out of her inner duvet pocket and placed it in her sack, in the sub-zero temperatures it froze and became unless but, fortunately, she reached the summit alongside a Japanese climber and he secured those important pictures as evidence of her achievement. During her descent Pemba had a ‘moment’ when she noticed a rock sticking out of the snow, on getting closer she realised that it wasn’t a rock but the body of female climber; this caused her to reflect on her own situation and on what it must have been like for that other climber in her last few hours, later, on her descent Pemba slipped what she thinks was about four metres, but, she says that she wasn’t frighten because <i>‘Sagarmatha had already allowed me to summit her and now she would allow me to descend’.</i></div>
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2001 gave Pemba a chance to consolidate her mountaineering position, she rekindled a relationship with Rajen Thapa who she first met while he was leading a trek in 1998; she continued with her European trips but this time she included a slide presentation on her ascent of Everest. Towards the end of 2001 Pemba applied for a solo permit to ascend Everest from the Nepalese side. Nima Nuru, her brother who runs his own trekking company, ‘Cho Oyu Trekking’ was at that time supporting an Italian Everest Expedition, he provided Pemba with a kitchen and Base Camp crew. One of the Sherpas employed by ‘Cho Oyu Trekking’ on the Italian Expedition was young and a relatively inexperienced Everest climber who during the planning for the Italian summit bid was left out of the final team selection. Pemba came across him above Advanced Base Camp and she quickly offered him a chance to reach the summit as her climbing partner. The summit of Everest on any Sherpa’s CV would enhance his future career prospects enormously. Climbing together the pair reached the South Col on the 14th May but the weather was deteriorating as they settled into their camp routine. The planned summit day of the 15th dawned to the sound of continued bad weather so the pair spent another day sitting out the storm at the South Col before finally setting out at around 9pm and reaching the summit on the 16th May 2002 at 8.45am (Nepalese time).</div>
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As 2002 drew to a close Pemba and Raj were married and together they restructured Raj’s trekking company to form their jointly owned Climb High Trekking Company. The last few years have been hard work for Pemba and Raj, little Tsirani Lhemi was born on the 27th February 2003 and now as well as running a trekking company, travelling to America and Europe to give lectures and leading treks for their own company Pemba is a mother, a wife, a businesswoman, founder of a charity and a speaker of nine languages. She started climbing again after having her first child and on the 28th September 05 she climbed Cho Oyu reaching the summit with four clients at 7am (China time) as leader of a 7 person Climb High ‘Cho Oyu Expedition’. At one stage she felt that as she was not using oxygen she might be holding the ascent rate of her clients back so she elected to use it. But after only one hour she realised that it was making no difference to the expeditions’ rate of progress so she discarded it before the summit. Pemba and Raj are both involved in their climbing and trekking business because they love it. Pemba reflects ‘<i>I still climb because I enjoy climbing. I also understand the risk of Himalayan climbing and why many female climbers stop Himalayan climbing after having children. Maybe a time will come for me too when I would want to spend more time with my family’. </i></div>
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Climb High is now a successful trekking company running many expeditions to technical trekking and mountaineering peaks as well as to 8000mts summits. Expeditions for 2006 include; Mount Everest (8,850 m), Lhotse (8,501 m), Kangchenjunga (8,586 m), Dhaulagiri (8,463 m), Annapurna (8,091 m), Manasalu (8,156 m), Makalu (8,475 m), Nuptse Pumori (7,161 m), Langtang Lirung (7,246 m), and Ama Dablam (6,856 m). </div>
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In 2000 Pemba founded "Save the Himalayan Kingdom" a non-profit making organisation with the objectives:- </div>
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<li>To implement programs concerning environment conservation, health, mountaineering, trekking and literacy in the mountainous and Himalayan regions. </li>
<li>To enlighten the local members of the community on environmental, health, mountaineering, trekking and literacy issues with a view to bring about positive changes in the lives of the local population. </li>
<li>To impress upon the members of the local community that degradation of the environment, unhygienic health habits, lack of professionalism in mountaineering and trekking fields and illiteracy are holding the local population down. The overall aim will be to educate people. </li>
<li>To bring about awareness in a section of society where the most common view is that life is shaped by destiny. </li>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwyZhqEmayvwIJI6bsGCwKdcxxnJwD_wCpEHXDJC-p4yxwutI7Ety35zcUIcGzCefHZ8ftUCzciHDyNB8scjWmrgK0LwtK47EJl_dCg4SjU_EzI3CeBwtDx43sw4CnVy1l-7SSMcFkYVk/s1600/Lhemi+Pemba+and+Raj+.tif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="412" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwyZhqEmayvwIJI6bsGCwKdcxxnJwD_wCpEHXDJC-p4yxwutI7Ety35zcUIcGzCefHZ8ftUCzciHDyNB8scjWmrgK0LwtK47EJl_dCg4SjU_EzI3CeBwtDx43sw4CnVy1l-7SSMcFkYVk/s640/Lhemi+Pemba+and+Raj+.tif" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tsirani <span style="font-size: 12.8px;">Lhemi, Pamba Doma Sherpa and Rajen Thapa 2005 Kathmandu image Ian Wall</span></td></tr>
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At present both Pemba and Raj are running their organisation from their home in Kathmandu and all the funds come from lecture tours and sponsoring events go into their charity.</div>
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"Save the Himalayan Kingdom" is a small charity and their most recent project has been to support the Nunnery at Thangboche where they have re-roofed the living quarters and rebuilt the kitchen. All the work they supervise themselves with additional support from anybody who wished to help. The Nunnery was established in 1925, and is the oldest nunnery in Solu Khumbu and one of the oldest in Nepal. In 2005, Save the Himalayan Kingdom renovated 8 houses and re-built a new kitchen and dining room for the nuns. The project took 8 months to finish, all the work was finally completed in November 2005. </div>
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Pemba would now like to involve herself more in social project and help preserve the Nepalese culture, mountains and the environment.</div>
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<u>How does Pemba see her future? </u></div>
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Like everybody else Pemba wants to make a success of the business Climb High Himalaya. Raj is a very supportive husband, father and business partner and this allows Pemba a certain amount of freedom to travel to promote their organisation and charity while Raj looks after Tsirani Lhemi who has just started school.</div>
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Pemba hopes that in time the company will provide a more regular funding stream for their charity work with the aim of promoting Nepal and its cultural heritage for not only future Nepalese generations but for the benefit of her country and its tourism industry. A newly formed Nepalese clothing and equipment manufacturer working out of America has developed a new range of products that are associated with the famous Nepalese climbing Sherpa personalities and Pemba has been asked to give her name to the range of specifically female designed clothing. </div>
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She would also like to start a women’s mountaineering club where she could support and train other female climbers and help them aspire to climbing other 8000 m peaks. She says ‘<i>There are other 8000 m peaks that are still unclimbed by Nepalese women climbers and I guess that the whole climbing community would be excited to see this happening one day creating history. I have proved that Nepalese women are also hard working and can take risk and are capable of reaching the summit of 8000 m peaks. It is still difficult for any Nepali, especially women to get onto expeditions; it is expensive both in time and money. The government and mountaineering associations should start organising women expeditions to other mountains. I think this will encourage other aspirant young female mountaineers’.</i></div>
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So the future looks bright but of course that all depends on the political stability in Nepal and the advice given to tourists by national governments. </div>
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Pemba feels that the Political situation in Nepal all happened because of poverty, illiteracy, mismanagement, poor leadership and bad politics. She says, ‘<i>we need to build our infrastructure first; like schools, hospitals and road. Corruption needs to be completely eradicated. Nepali people still love foreigners and still respect them. I know people are afraid to travel, but in these 10 years of battle not a single tourist has been killed. This in itself proves that Nepal is still a safe place to travel and we welcome all foreigners in the country. At the moment the rural areas are suffering but those travellers determined to visit Nepal are still arriving but they are only going to places like the Solu Khumbu where the situation is secure’.</i></div>
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Pemba takes every opportunity to send out the message asking the rest of the world not to give up on Nepal.</div>
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<u>Post Script<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmdwSgGUJFxKF8RFnFcctaennVI-EflVZa0S0jNLsVTy0hAv_UCh1MMGUtfYdCuHBh3y68KHvE-2THlF8mh8dmrbAFe60cjzm-saNWoSxeHbGS4VGg0wgvCjzAsunT29zXilGI_bnf4qo/s1600/Pemba+last+visit+to+Kathmandu2+5-2-07.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmdwSgGUJFxKF8RFnFcctaennVI-EflVZa0S0jNLsVTy0hAv_UCh1MMGUtfYdCuHBh3y68KHvE-2THlF8mh8dmrbAFe60cjzm-saNWoSxeHbGS4VGg0wgvCjzAsunT29zXilGI_bnf4qo/s640/Pemba+last+visit+to+Kathmandu2+5-2-07.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">On Pemba's last visit to Bouddhhanath 2007</td></tr>
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In 2007 Pemba set off to climb Lhotse. The route had been partly fixed with the ropes reaching to just 200 meters from the summit leaving the last section of rock covered in hard, blue ice. Pemba Doma dismissed warnings that the climb was too dangerous, telling her sherpa: “We are strong, we are Sherpas. We can do this!”</div>
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Pemba Doma’s face was filled with joy as she unfurled a Nepalese flag on the summit of the world’s fourth highest mountain but her triumph would be short-lived. She had only just begun her descent when several of those on Everest happened to glance towards Lhotse, through crystal-clear mountain air. Among them were friends of Pemba Doma who had climbed with her only days earlier, they watched in horror as a figure in a bright red down suit fell from the mountain. They hoped against hope that she had survived but Pemba Doma, had tumbled down the great central couloir, ice and snow. She didn’t stop falling for 1,000 metres. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Guard of Honour at Pemba's funeral, Thangboche 2007</td></tr>
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Pemba’s funeral held at Tengboche Monastery, the first for any woman, was a sign of the respect and affection that the nation held for this woman, whose life had begun so simply in Namche Bazaar 37 years earlier. Ten years on, her legacy is clear.</div>
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At the time of Pemba’s death in 2007 only seven Nepalese women had ever reached the summit of Everest. But that year also saw the coming together of a team of Nepalese women who a year later, inspired by Pemba’s achievements, would soon exceed that number in a single day, several of the ten women later going on to climb the Seven Summits, the highest summit on each continent, in 2014. Also in 2008, three other Nepalese women inspired by Pemba Doma decided that they would climb K2, the world’s second highest mountain, and did so in 2014. </div>
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Pemba would have been proud of all them.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM9WySXrS0WQw1g1K1l_-pCh78P-ZHngYhwI-XZUgoKaqRVOt9rfr9a-7hfBlBjPQkZM4nG3wrWd8aszliM5Ym1dZinPbeHhxDrXKPoFriOCV6voc-Vep5RxVuY4oDECtsts6Pt9HKJ4k/s1600/Nepal+2010+Pemba+Doma+Sherpa+stamp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="305" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM9WySXrS0WQw1g1K1l_-pCh78P-ZHngYhwI-XZUgoKaqRVOt9rfr9a-7hfBlBjPQkZM4nG3wrWd8aszliM5Ym1dZinPbeHhxDrXKPoFriOCV6voc-Vep5RxVuY4oDECtsts6Pt9HKJ4k/s400/Nepal+2010+Pemba+Doma+Sherpa+stamp.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Commemorative postage stamp in honour of Pemba</td></tr>
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ianoffthewallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09893050670803576833noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4685057110957823513.post-88875256985583723742017-05-09T23:14:00.002-07:002017-05-09T23:27:27.041-07:002017 May Newsletter <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Our cover image this month ’The Dawn of a New Day’. With the local elections looming Nepal is looking forward to a bright future. <br />
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I apologize for the late posting of our April Newsletter, there is no excuse.. it’s just that we’ve had a really busy season! In fact there is a rumour going round that this is possibly one of the best seasons for Nepal Tourism in a couple of years. I hope the momentum continues. <br />
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<b>The Status of Tourism in Nepal 2017 </b><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">An Off the Wall trekking group - Roger, Big John, Little John, Hugh, Ian, Mary-Ann and Kate together with Ongchhu Sherpa and Pemba Sherpa image Ian Wall</td></tr>
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Although recently we’ve had a period of unsettled weather with above average snow at higher altitudes and heavy rain lower down trekking has, in the main, not been disrupted with many of the popular routes seeing a good number of visitors. There are an estimated 376 people from 41 expeditions originating from 14 different countries all heading for the summit of Everest with 729 permits being granted to ‘mountaineers’ this season, or as Messner says ‘Mountain Tourists’! Add to that number all the support climbers and other staff and Everest is going to again be a crowded mountain. Numbers are also reported high for those ascending from the north side. No doubt there will be queues on critical sections and no doubt at the end of the day there will be many cases of frost bite as a result of people waiting in line to pass through certain areas and high altitude temperatures are being reported as being as low as -40° this season (without wind chill effects). As always Everest commands the headlines in the related media and several notable mountaineers have added their voice to the discussion over a possible way forward, not only in alleviating the bottle necks but also in terms of reducing the environmental impact of so many people crammed into designated camp sites from Base Camp right through to the summit and back down again. One notable opinion is presented by Reinhold Messner in the Diplomat, an interesting point of view. Check out</div>
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<a href="http://thediplomat.com/2017/04/reinhold-messner-on-the-future-of-climbing-mount-everest/">http://thediplomat.com/2017/04/reinhold-messner-on-the-future-of-climbing-mount-everest/</a> </div>
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With the Everest Ice Fall being ‘fixed’ early on supplies have been steadily heading up to higher camps. Sadly a sherpa guide was hit by a block of falling ice in the ice fall resulting in injury and further up a few porters were caught on their way to Camp 2 when a serac collapsed resulting in one guide being seriously injured.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking into the Khumbu Ice-Fall image Ian Wall</td></tr>
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Lhakpa Sherpa, now living in the USA, and who has already climbed Everest seven times, wants to make this year summit success number eight, however, she will be climbing from the Tibetan side. Without having any formal training on mountain climbing, Lhakpa, who grew up with 11 siblings, first climbed Mt Everest from the Nepal side in 2000. </div>
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<b>The Aftermath of the Earthquake two years on </b></div>
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April 25th 2017 marked the second anniversary of the 7.8 earthquake that brought damage and death to Nepal in 2015. As a result of the earthquake more than US $4 billion dollars poured into the country in the form of foreign aid. Up to then the government had been struggling to form a majority in order to implement the new constitution. However, it was soon realized that post earthquake there was no provision by which the foreign aid could be pulled down, the constitution was hastily passed and this ultimately resulted in civil unrest in the southern Terai region. Unfortunately this all held up the distribution of aid to those communities hit by the earthquake. Sadly the ineptitude of the government since then has resulted in little advancement in the situation for many families who had their homes and lives destroyed. </div>
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Today, two years on and many are still suffering, with less than 1% of those affected having received more than the first tranche of compensation from the government of $475 and only 3.5% of damaged or destroyed homes have been rebuilt. For more information read</div>
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<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2017/apr/19">http://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2017/apr/19</a> </div>
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While travelling in Langtang the other day I met up with a Scientific Expedition from Michigan University who were in the region to study earthquake triggered landslides. To my amazement they said that they had initially recorded through satellite surveys over 25,000 landslides that they knew were earthquake triggered, their task now is to visit those sites on the ground! </div>
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All told, the economic impact from the earthquake’s damage was estimated at around $7 billion. Following the earthquake, Nepali women faced many challenges. Many had lost their identification cards during the quake, which were required for receiving assistance, and had difficulty accessing humanitarian relief. Women were especially likely to lack proof of citizenship or proof of ownership of property, making it difficult for them to receive aid and regain access to their homes. In spite of this, women continue to contribute to the slow effort of rebuilding the nation and have begun to assume new roles.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Woman are fast becoming the backbone of the workforce rebuilding Nepal post earthquake image Ian Wall</td></tr>
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As communities have moved from needing immediate aid to requiring long-term recovery assistance, women are taking the lead on rebuilding their communities and preparing them for future crises. Some women are being trained as masons to help repair and reconstruct the houses, infrastructure, and cultural sites damaged by the earthquake. Many of these mason trainings focus on building structures that will stand up to future earthquakes. Women are also providing training and knowledge about how to mitigate the effects of a future disaster, spreading the word about how to earthquake-proof homes and conduct first aid in times of crisis. </div>
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In order for Nepal to continue to rebuild and reconstruct, women’s perspectives and abilities must be supported, listened to, valued and utilized. </div>
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<b>Langtang </b></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgBrSVey1MfinkcAY-71e9msTESiCUwcf2LHTSkN-GPhw2A8Dqfvhj14jzxVH_INHFE0OHLpGt5sYvrUrPQTpql7I2Djwumpdaz4ZXUfd_7587oYWwbDnTTdI7WqXS9JR1qLEpMcvrQHQ/s1600/Langtang+Marathon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="388" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgBrSVey1MfinkcAY-71e9msTESiCUwcf2LHTSkN-GPhw2A8Dqfvhj14jzxVH_INHFE0OHLpGt5sYvrUrPQTpql7I2Djwumpdaz4ZXUfd_7587oYWwbDnTTdI7WqXS9JR1qLEpMcvrQHQ/s640/Langtang+Marathon.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Competitors undertaking the grueling Langtang Marathon image TAAN</td></tr>
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Both as a memorial to those who lost their live in Langtang during the earthquake and to show that Langtang is now fully open for business the Trekking Agents Association of Nepal along with the Langtang Committee have just successfully concluded the Langtang Marathon, the female winner was Sarita Negi and male winner Hom Bahadur Shirestha.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mira Rai image Llyod Belchet</td></tr>
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Nepal is building a strong reputation in the ultra-trail running world. Trail Running Nepal was established only recently when people like Richard Bull and Rob Cousins realised the potential of some of the Nepali athletes. One young lady in particular Mira Rai is now sponsored by Salomon and has entered events around the world, including in the UK, watch her film ‘Mira’ which won first prize at the Kathmandu International Film Festival 2016, the trailer can be found on ‘youtube’.</div>
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<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2PkoYwnSoFU&feature=youtu.be">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2PkoYwnSoFU&feature=youtu.be</a> Mira has recently been in Trento as part of their Mountain Festival. </div>
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<b>Mountaineering Laws of Nepal </b></div>
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In 1974 Nepal started to officially open a large number of its mountains to foreign climbers and expeditions, it goes without saying that the peaks and peak fees are Nepal’s ‘oil’ and as such mountain tourism contributes nearly 4% to the country’s GDP. Nepal has long had a set of laws and policies governing mountaineering activities within the country. Sadly there has always been an element of the mountaineering fraternity that believes that the ‘right to roam’ (free) policy as operated in other countries applies in Nepal. This is definitely not the case in Nepal, many people may not either believe in, or abide by, these laws and to be fair Nepal is not good at monitoring them, but these are the laws, if we don’t like them then we should work together to bring change, the laws should not be deliberately flaunted for personal gain, this sort of behaviour would not be tolerated in the more developed countries where mountaineering activities are more carefully and thoroughly scrutinised.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nepal Peak - for full details on climbing peaks in Nepal check the above mentioned websites</td></tr>
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In the autumn of 2016 two expeditions had legal action brought against them for deliberately bye-passing the system and heavy fines were imposed. In spring 2016 two young and inexperienced English mountaineers tried to make an illegal ascent of not only a ‘closed’ mountain but they also tried to do it on the quiet, no permits and no authorisation. Although they escaped the wroth of the official system the local people took the law into their own hands when they were turned back by local police in Simikot from their initial objective. They then had an expensive flight to a second location only to find that upon returning from a short day walk their tent and climbing gear had been removed ostensibly bringing their ‘illegal’ exploits to an abrupt end. Although two wrongs don’t make a right, Nepal is still a developing country and in the remote areas, often inhabited by uneducated people, it’s often a case of an eye for an eye. Operate by the laws, work to change the laws, or go somewhere else but don’t break the laws!</div>
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<b><b>Missing Trekkers</b> (<a href="http://www.missingtrekkers.com/">www.missingtrekkers.com</a>) </b></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: #93c47d;">The first international database of missing trekkers in Nepal </span></span></div>
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Every season solo trekkers go missing, and often on the well trodden routes and each year the same topics are discussed here..’All foreign visitors must take a Nepali guide’. Obviously there is a large element of the trekking community who would not take kindly to having a guide imposed upon them. However, all the time stupid accidents occur Nepal feels responsible and is obviously very much aware that some associations are likely to point fingers and make accusations of ‘unsafe’.</div>
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On the 12th January 2017 a Pakistani girl was reported missing, last seen at the Kathmandu International Airport and went missing almost immediately, she has not been found. On the 3rd March two Taiwanees trekkers, went missing. Fifty – three days later they were lucky to be found in the Ruby Valley region near the Narchet Khola. Local people lead by Dawa Tamang Ganesh and members of the Himal Tourism Development Committee reported that one trekker was trapped on a cliff but survived although unfortunately his partner had fallen down about 200 meters to the Narchet River from the cliff and lost her life. In Langtang a Danish trekker has been missing since the 6th March, he was last seen heading to Tserko Ri but has not been seen or heard of since. It is feared he tried to take a short cut back to Gyanjin Gompa and fell, he has not been seen since. From 2016 there is still a Frenchman missing in the Kumbu region, it is reported he fell into the Imaja Khola river near Deboche, although the authorities carried out an extensive search his body was not recovered, an Israeli is still missing from the Mardi Base Camp region on the Mardi Himal trek, another Dutchman went missing on the descent from Dhaulagiri Base Camp to the Italian Base Camp and a Russian is still missing in the Tilicho Lake region, he was with a trekking group completing a variation on the Annapurna Circuit trek, his rucksack has been found but there is no trace of him, a Romanian girl who was missing was later found dead in the Chomrung having been caught in a land slip. </div>
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<b>The FITs (Foreign Individual Travellers) </b></div>
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This shouldn’t need putting into words, however, from what we see and regularly hear during the trekking season here in Nepal… I guess it does need spelling out. </div>
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Every season in Nepal sadly trekkers disappear without trace, I have just written two short pieces giving guidance, and my opinion, on how Foreign Individual Travellers (FITs) could go about choosing a guide and/or a trekking agency if that is the way they want to go. Interestingly those trekkers who distain the use of a porter I bet make use of the loads the commercial porters carry up!</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Commercial porters often carry ‘overweight’ often choosing chose to carry double or treble loads as illustrated below ©Ian Wall </td></tr>
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However, there are many who don’t want to employ either an agent or guide. In practice employing a guide and/or a porter directly is the best way to financially support the hill people of the country and their extended families. </div>
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Some would say..’Carry your own load’ but it must be remembered that, historically, there were very few roads in the hill districts and since time began these hill dwellers have had no other method of transporting goods into and out of their villages other than by carrying them themselves. Being a porter is their livelihood and the way they earn an income to keep body, soul and family together.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This image was not taken on a trekking route but on just a local trail between two communities. If there is a market then local porters will carry it in..and carry it out image Ian Wall</td></tr>
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<span style="text-align: justify;">Employing someone to carry your load and guide you along the way will certainly add to the Nepal experience. The only issues that could be applied to a situation of taking advantage is to expect the porter to carry too much and to pay them too little .. and to not provide those benefits that we would expect in our own lives.. food, accommodation, protective clothing, personal accident insurance etc. All these points I have covered in the previous postings that appear on my blo<span style="text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: justify;">g.</span></span></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Once the risks have been identified then intuitively the appropriate action should be implemented image Ian Wall</td></tr>
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But FITs must take individual responsibility for their actions, they must be physically up to the challenges they set themselves and technically prepared for the conditions and situations that the mountains and their route might throw at them. It is all about the ‘What if?’ question and risk assessment.</div>
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Doing your own risk assessment might seem challenging but it can easily be broken down into manageable chunks especially now with all the information available on the internet.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIh47uOLJRnhQ829EwPrqpcJyX7NEQJImzTXUEWqQyWi_M0ASgFDUF-aDo6eRIFCwVQb5_OR5xlUP7HL3kBmNw2KzroipvJAIESfzMCDRyn03gWtNlIR6kYUZqLtfwS4eeQLtRdI1esCs/s1600/PA250083.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIh47uOLJRnhQ829EwPrqpcJyX7NEQJImzTXUEWqQyWi_M0ASgFDUF-aDo6eRIFCwVQb5_OR5xlUP7HL3kBmNw2KzroipvJAIESfzMCDRyn03gWtNlIR6kYUZqLtfwS4eeQLtRdI1esCs/s640/PA250083.jpg" width="478" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The challenge has been identified now do you have the skills required to safelt negotiate the obstacle image Ian Wall</td></tr>
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So what is a RISK ASSESSMENT? Everyone has expectations as to what they want out of life.. and a trek is no different. Completing a RISK ASSESSMENT is actually looking at those expectations and working out what could happen or go wrong that would prevent them being achieved.</div>
<span style="text-align: justify;"><u>Chunk 1</u> – study the route in detail and identify where the technical, high, long, exposed sections might be. </span><br />
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C<u>hunk 2 </u>– study the route’s locality, what is the adjacent landscape like. Are there risks of stone fall, avalanche, losing the trail, flooded rivers, river-crossings, broken or missing bridges or even a lack of accommodation if you are undertaking a lodge based trek </div>
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<u>Chunk 3</u> – Study the prevailing weather patterns, in these times of climate change the weather is very un-predictable, heavy rains, snow, extended strong sunny periods, strong winds.. all could bring your trek to an early conclusion </div>
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<u>Chunk 4</u> – study your own physical condition and health status </div>
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<u>Chunk 5</u> – do a proper check of your equipment and source what you are likely to need before going on trek. </div>
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<u>Chunk 6</u> – and this is the crunch issue… WHAT IF? What if something unexpected occurred, how would you deal with it, do you have the skills and equipment to deal with it and could you manage an emergency situation. What would be the worst case scenario? Identifying a problem before it becomes a problem and thinking strategies through would very much enhance the chance of survival in an emergency. </div>
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No one will ever be 100% safe in the mountain environment and as a famous explorer once said ‘a good adventure is the outcome of a bad risk assessment’. We all have our own comfort zones, for some it might be in the hardest or highest peaks in the world for others it might just be out of sight of habitation, crossing that thin red line could make or break an expectation in a big way. </div>
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<b><b>Nepal Elections 14th May 2017</b> </b></div>
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Local elections are scheduled to be held on 14th May 2017 in 4 metropolitan cities, 13 sub-metropolitan cities, 246 municipalities and 481 village councils. They are the first local elections for 20 years and the first to be held since the promulgation of the 2015 constitution. </div>
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Local elections were held in 56 municipalities in February 2006 under King Gyanendra but were boycotted by the major political parties and saw low voter turnout. Prior to 2006, the previous elections were held in 1997 with a mandate of five years. Elections were supposed to be held in 2002 but were delayed due to the then ongoing Nepal Civil War. With the promulgation of the new constitution in 2015, a three-tier governance system was introduced, with national, provincial and local levels of governance. A Local Body Restructuring Commission was established as required by the constitution under the chairmanship of Balananda Paudel. The commission proposed 719 local structures a number later revised up to 744 by the government. The new local levels were formed by changing the existing cities and village development councils and came into existence on 10 March 2017.</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: justify;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOjhrhAUcxYZvFUzkUDnYsTT10EYOQ3NzavAf4hJKBwyj0Q8H9Y2pjXZHe9epif84xJsXMjf0pk8RgQYUhVf2H_1PXP6QG58JmWNTBSt8lkPOpyjli91tcb6iAq7I7jFnw9HFrmsFbf70/s1600/voters.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOjhrhAUcxYZvFUzkUDnYsTT10EYOQ3NzavAf4hJKBwyj0Q8H9Y2pjXZHe9epif84xJsXMjf0pk8RgQYUhVf2H_1PXP6QG58JmWNTBSt8lkPOpyjli91tcb6iAq7I7jFnw9HFrmsFbf70/s640/voters.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Everyone in Nepal has a political view point and providing everything remains calm there is likely to be an enthusistic turnout</td></tr>
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So far the leading up to the May 14th has been peaceful although the election is going ahead without the consent of the ethnic groups from Nepal’s southern plains, the Madhesis, who protested their under-representation in the Constitution and government with a six-month border blockade in 2015 and 2016. </div>
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Dr. George Varughese, the Nepal Country Representative for the Asia Foundation said “These elections are historic because they have the real potential to reduce political marginalization for the first time in Nepal and to return government to its entire people.”<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6vOzKyTD6_xkK8zLmX1IwAhknS94iJCFpAlT3cchzpaKqwVp81XRUrqqfTRxKd3awyA7kjfJihVaeKydEy0DV41_qolJThvvEtyoz7Z3LRDfW1Maw6E5jkokK6dLOkkeYQnp22iz7CfU/s1600/elections.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="171" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6vOzKyTD6_xkK8zLmX1IwAhknS94iJCFpAlT3cchzpaKqwVp81XRUrqqfTRxKd3awyA7kjfJihVaeKydEy0DV41_qolJThvvEtyoz7Z3LRDfW1Maw6E5jkokK6dLOkkeYQnp22iz7CfU/s320/elections.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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The Madhesis’ violent struggle for regional autonomy and political representation began when Nepal’s civil war ended. As the transition process began, Madhesis came to see federalism as the only way to ensure they would not be dominated by “hill, upper-caste elites.” </div>
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Many Madhesis speak languages other than Nepali and share close cultural ties with Uttar Pradesh and Bihar in northern India. They have long been excluded from Nepali civil society, which is centred in Kathmandu. In the Interim Constitution of 2007, their demands for better representation and federalism were excluded, leading to protests and riots across the southern plains, known as the Terai. Over 40 people were killed in clashes with police. On April 12th 2007, parliament amended the Interim Constitution to guarantee a ‘democratic, federal system.’ </div>
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In the aftermath of the 2015 earthquakes, the Constitutional Assembly fast-tracked the ratification of the Constitution, creating a federalist system with seven provinces that merged plains districts with hills districts. </div>
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The ensuing 2015 protests and blockade threatened to plunge the country back into widespread violence. Politicians in Kathmandu blamed India for orchestrating the blockade and then-Prime Minister Khadga Prasad Sharma Oli of the Communist Party of Nepal – Unified Marxist-Leninist (UML) pivoted to trade with China for help. Although India didn’t manufacture the blockade, they were complicit in allowing the Madhesis to block border crossings.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifrPKaqwrnF6fuu0gbUPXzBx8-iAwJ6Gf7_rOsMvng_SxwuzOoTHTCdgHo97csowiU0Vfg6GC3Wp4TEa-26B1Ecgy7PlOVotgi5cB1xJ9BznPwibuhDqu2u8ma53bZeMOUB6UOlmN_WCc/s1600/Madhesis+people.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifrPKaqwrnF6fuu0gbUPXzBx8-iAwJ6Gf7_rOsMvng_SxwuzOoTHTCdgHo97csowiU0Vfg6GC3Wp4TEa-26B1Ecgy7PlOVotgi5cB1xJ9BznPwibuhDqu2u8ma53bZeMOUB6UOlmN_WCc/s640/Madhesis+people.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Madeshi people closely linked to the ethnic groups of Northern India</td></tr>
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The Nepali parliament passed a Constitutional amendment that appointed seats in the lower house based on population over geography and gave the Madhesi districts greater representation. However, Madheshi demands for two federal provinces exclusively in the Terai were not met and they vowed to continue protests.</div>
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<b><b>Exchange Rate </b></b></div>
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Needless to say with the entire world in election buzz mode the sterling pound has taken a hammering along with the dollar. The pound now stands at around 130/- Nrs while the dollar is 100 /- these figures fluctuate daily but only by a few paisa. </div>
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Interesting facts on the Nepalese monetary system </div>
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The rupee was only introduced in 1932, replacing the silver ‘<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nepalese_mohar">mohar</a>’ at a rate of 2 mohar = 1 rupee. At first, the rupee was called the mohru in Nepali. Its value was pegged to the Indian rupee in 1993 at a rate of 1.6 Nepalese rupees = 1 Indian rupee. </div>
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From 1945 to 1955 the early banknotes issued during the rule of King <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tribhuvan">Tribhuvan</a> were not put into circulation by the Central Bank because it did not exist at that time. The issuing authority was the treasury which had the name Sadar Muluki Khana. Therefore, the notes of King Tribhuvan were not signed by a bank governor, but by a Kajanchi (head of the treasury) who was a high Hindu priest at that time. Nepal’s early paper currency probably includes the only bank notes in the world which were signed by a high priest. These early notes were printed by the Indian Security Press in Nashik and did not have any security features, except for the water marks and the special paper on which they are printed.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: justify;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhQZnadOFkrrpQkxXzki-63grIGcShg-luBTLfH46kTM9mRNWK7rTWySglDoOeVUgB-0k0YG88iZgco_k55gMMbRL5MuV3gZIC1WKT3FINO9a_Q30J81RBR1f2HLC6XEyudBasYIkEOTk/s1600/100+rupee.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="596" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhQZnadOFkrrpQkxXzki-63grIGcShg-luBTLfH46kTM9mRNWK7rTWySglDoOeVUgB-0k0YG88iZgco_k55gMMbRL5MuV3gZIC1WKT3FINO9a_Q30J81RBR1f2HLC6XEyudBasYIkEOTk/s640/100+rupee.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A 100/- note with Everest on one side and the rhino on the reverse</td></tr>
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Between 1955 and 1972 King Mahendra who succeeded his father, King Tribhuvan oversaw the issuing of banknotes by the Nepal Rastra Bank (Nepal National Bank) which was founded in April 1956. From this period on the Governor of the National Bank had his signature printed on the banknotes. Under King Mahendra the Nepalese Government became “His Majesty’s Government” (expressed by "shri 5 ko sarakar" which literally means “the government of the five times honoured”) and it remained this way during the rule of King Birendra and King Gyanendra. </div>
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Two series of banknotes were issued during the rule of King Mahendra, the first series shows the king in civilian clothes wearing the Nepalese “topi” (hat) while on the notes of the second series the king is shown in military uniform. The second series comprised for the first time notes of the higher value of 500 and 1000 rupees.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: justify;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvMS5gnvwXZIZcXqC5Cm8eo3EkWeGlORI6F9hBqWtZvuYUEKOhNJntH8zwz6nooj2yeC9H58x4xP8UfD3j4mUMCTPl_gzCyRs0FI3W6RfZfUWHnyVuTgXJHoD5OtlMaHEUWQDV2y_WwI0/s1600/1000.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="260" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvMS5gnvwXZIZcXqC5Cm8eo3EkWeGlORI6F9hBqWtZvuYUEKOhNJntH8zwz6nooj2yeC9H58x4xP8UfD3j4mUMCTPl_gzCyRs0FI3W6RfZfUWHnyVuTgXJHoD5OtlMaHEUWQDV2y_WwI0/s640/1000.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A 1000/- note with Everest so dated post 2008</td></tr>
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1972 to 2001 during King <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Birendra">Birendra</a>’s rule you can also distinguish between two major series of banknotes. The first series features the king wearing military uniform while on the notes of the second series the king is wearing the traditional Nepalese crown adorned with feathers of the bird of paradise. During this period regular banknotes of 2* and 20 rupees and special banknotes of 25* and 250* rupees were issued for the first time, (*these have subsequently been withdrawn). The legends found on the last issues of King Gyanendra reverted to the Nepal sarakar (“Nepalese Government”), thus omitting the reference to the king.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnbtbrrPS9oe1HVlywjyAOY4KU9T6cruSP74VXFiLmlZoK13rHdtYgNnf4b8HGljxtfzaFM426FuJWFd_PavNiNdIkIBdvRgZ1Lp2dlP7794WQ3OG8rYIZpAuTgnoehVrOLmo7EO2lMU4/s1600/10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="330" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnbtbrrPS9oe1HVlywjyAOY4KU9T6cruSP74VXFiLmlZoK13rHdtYgNnf4b8HGljxtfzaFM426FuJWFd_PavNiNdIkIBdvRgZ1Lp2dlP7794WQ3OG8rYIZpAuTgnoehVrOLmo7EO2lMU4/s640/10.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A 10/- note at the moment printed on plastic</td></tr>
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In October 2007, a 500 rupee note was issued on which the king’s portrait was replaced by Mt. Everest. This reflects the historic change from a ‘Kingdom’ to a ‘Republic’ which took place in May 2008. Further notes of 5, 10, 20, 50, 100 and 1000 rupees with images of Mt. Everest but without reference to the king in their legends followed in 2008. The first issues of the 500 and 1000 rupee notes were printed on paper which still had the king's crowned portrait as watermark in the "window" on the right part of the face of the notes. It was decided to print a red Rhododendron flower (Nepal's national flower) on top of the watermark. In 2009 notes of these denominations are printed on paper which has a Rhododendron flower as watermark instead of the royal portrait and were therefore released without the additional overprint in red. </div>
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The amazing thing about Nepal is that we all regard it as a ‘living museum’ but in reality there is so much that has only been developed in recent years. Look at any ‘old’ photo’ of say Bouddhath and sigh, ‘I wish I had seen it then’ then when you look at the date... 1975! </div>
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<b>Other news </b></div>
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As a result of this edition of our newsletter coming out around four weeks later than normal I can report on events as they are unfolding on Everest. </div>
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Sadly the first death on the mountain this season is that of the world class climber Ueli Steck. Steck gained fame for his audacious fast and solo ascents of some of the hardest routes in the Alps and the greater ranges of the world. Steck was in the Khumbu region to try to complete a traverse of Everest starting up the West Ridge from Camp 2, crossing the summit, descending the normal South Col route and then traversing across to gain the summit of Lhotse via the Great Couloir, finally descending back to Camp 2. All elements had been climbed before but never as one single route in a single push. It is unclear exactly what happened but Steck fell a 1000m over some very steep and unforgiving ground. Our thoughts are with his family and close friends. He was a good friend to Nepal.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfCk38Wnsdwg-6B4S9chTYEm243lDPPHkWvjowqFLAate16EQ9KncN6IXP-B-qlij2lyf3CXBZgjr604i8KdFq44FnDiVcClbFj7EWeG-jYxbi52RlTr7e8bMWcdydzoGPCKyTtzjXf7o/s1600/U+S.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfCk38Wnsdwg-6B4S9chTYEm243lDPPHkWvjowqFLAate16EQ9KncN6IXP-B-qlij2lyf3CXBZgjr604i8KdFq44FnDiVcClbFj7EWeG-jYxbi52RlTr7e8bMWcdydzoGPCKyTtzjXf7o/s640/U+S.jpg" width="591" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ueli Steck 4th October 1976 - 30th April 2017</td></tr>
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The Man who led the way ‘Quick day from Basecamp up to 7000m and back. I love it its such a great place here. I still believe in active aclimatisation. This is way more effective then spending Nights up in the Altitude!’ He will be greatly missed, he made a huge impact in the climbing world and his spirit will live on.</div>
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A couple of seasons back there was a situation regarding the issuing of summit certificates. This morning it was reported that many of the Sherpas on Everest this season are lobbying the Government in an effort to get their summit achievements officially recorded through the issuing of Summit Certificates. While I question the appropriateness of these certificated for participants on present day commercial expeditions there is a case to support Nepalese staff receiving them. The weight of an Everest Certificate adds grain value to their climbing bio data and employment opportunities. </div>
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On Kangchenjunga! </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8PYtK4u4RNSVb-njr6GoL4nWdqwXsgn_nW9TQ2PcPSA9_gHLnNkwgrx4z7HLKjma2Reo_GICKuDmWrSORXfBZuNVyEqGJyShmJsASjDcKyzzU6MnBv2nDdULNb4BUwZmSkKhyphenhyphenvXHq4SU/s1600/Kangch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="558" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8PYtK4u4RNSVb-njr6GoL4nWdqwXsgn_nW9TQ2PcPSA9_gHLnNkwgrx4z7HLKjma2Reo_GICKuDmWrSORXfBZuNVyEqGJyShmJsASjDcKyzzU6MnBv2nDdULNb4BUwZmSkKhyphenhyphenvXHq4SU/s640/Kangch.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dawa Sherpa, Pasang Akita Sherpa and Maya Sherpa heading towards the summit of Kangchenjunga</td></tr>
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The girls are going strong.. onwards and upwards. Strong winds and snow have again forced them to descend to Base Camp from Camp 3. As yet there is no news as to when they will continue their ascent but they are all in fine spirits. Good luck ladies. </div>
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As a final entry for this newsletter information is coming through from Everest Base Camp that Min Bahadur Sherchan, who was trying to reclaim the record for being the oldest person to climb Everest has died at Base Camp of what is thought to be a heart attack. While many might critise him as being foolish he at least died doing what he loved as opposed to sitting in front of the TV.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Min Bahadur Sherchan died doing what he loved</td></tr>
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Last but not least.. last year we completed a challenging trek through northern Dolpo, to say it’s remote is an understatement. Our final destination was a small unclimbed peak, which despite sitting out several days of bad weather at base camp, we ultimately failed on. However the last community that we passed through was situated at the bottom of a deep valley surrounded on all sides by steep and barren hills. But the valley floor was fertile as the result of many hundreds of years of attentive land management by the local community. </div>
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On the way into the village and about 3000 m above it we meet a young guy who was travelling in the opposite direction, a three day journey for us A to B, to collect medicine for a friend of his in the village. By the time we eventually got down to village level the young man had already returned with the medicine and was ready to complete a day’s teaching in his school, he was 22 years old and the ‘head’ teacher. Our team were so inspired by this guy and his vision for his village that they decided they wanted to support in some way without creating ‘donor’ dependency. </div>
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To this end they agreed to support the school annually with school’s the stationary materials that it required and at the same time and when the funds became available to help construct another two class-rooms. In the mean time sufficient funds were raised to supply a stove from the range of stoves provided by the Himalayan Stove Project. The teacher not only did his ‘teaching’ duties but he also spent time (probably more) running in and out of the kitchen preparing meals at lunch time for the children. We have now roped the Mothers’ Group in to do the cooking on a state of the art Envirofit stove. Once they saw the new stove a few weeks back there were more volunteer cooks than children! </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tsewang Rinzin Choekhortshang , head teacher </td></tr>
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A big ‘thanks’ to the HSP.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">80 kg of Himalayan Stove about to start its journey to Dolpo</td></tr>
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Enjoy summer and more towards the beginning of next season.</div>
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May 2017</div>
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ianoffthewallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09893050670803576833noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4685057110957823513.post-91371100055766658972017-05-01T23:21:00.000-07:002017-05-03T05:29:17.849-07:00Are you a 'FIT'? (Foreign Individual Traveler). Points to consider when trekking in Nepal<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<b><u><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">FITs and Guides</span></u></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Points to be considered when hiring a freelance trekking guide to ensure you are getting a good and experienced guide as opposed to maybe a person not qualified to operate as a guide...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The recent events of missing trekkers in Nepal has again raised the question of 'compulsory' guides. I for one would be horrified if this situation (threat) became a reality but solo or unaccompanied trekkers must have the experience and ability to read big mountain situations, if not they are likely to come unstuck if things go wrong. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Trekkers legally require TIMS permits for certain areas and Park/Conservation permits. So.if a trekking agency issues these then that trekking agency is deemed liable and responsible for those foreign trekkers, How can a trekking agency be responsible if it does not have a representative (guide) with those 'clients? This is another discussion maybe for later.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Some pointers for hiring a freelance trekking guide</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQRY91wYOmdjUOh375R0KU5NCUmDcG5hTdw1r_aZcjrUw72BmFj-togZD1scSppCoDBzZcV4s4b2cD90WssLg1cnKzsJ9jlBmVglA-h9GbDUOJ7f_nMCZcKsTsmY8wq8Pwi502H0lzT-g/s1600/PB080517.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQRY91wYOmdjUOh375R0KU5NCUmDcG5hTdw1r_aZcjrUw72BmFj-togZD1scSppCoDBzZcV4s4b2cD90WssLg1cnKzsJ9jlBmVglA-h9GbDUOJ7f_nMCZcKsTsmY8wq8Pwi502H0lzT-g/s640/PB080517.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">1 - All trekking guides are legally bound to hold a trekking guide licence issued by NATHM- Does your guide have one, ask to see it</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">2 - Check on the guide's experience, maybe check out references with agencies he/she has worked for, contacts should be provided if you request them</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">3 - Has your guide kept his/her qualifications up to date with refresher courses in First Aid, Navigation, leadership skills, language skills (English, French Japanese..all courses are available)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">4 - Has your guide enhanced their basic qualifications with the Nepal Mountaineering Association, Mountain Academy, Kathmandu Environmental Education Project courses, Rock Climbing, First Aid course etc - Ask them for details</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">5 - Does your guide have regular employment, what treks has he/she guided over the previous 12 months</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">6 - Has your guide worked in the area you propose trekking in - although a good guide should have the trekking guide skills and ability to enable him/her to make sound decisions in new areas to them a previous visit and clear knowledge of the area will only enhance your, the clients, experience</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">7 - Experience and quality does not come cheap be prepared to pay for a good guide, and be prepared to offer a good tip at the end of the trek if you consider you have indeed had value for money... if you pay only a low rate you will get at best mediocre service</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">8 - You must insure your guide, a regulated trekking agency will have their guides insured for every trek they undertake</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">9 - Don't over load your staff ..typically a porter will carry for two people providing the individual cargo weight is around 10 kg..of course if you are taking a domestic flight that is the cargo allowance (plus 5 kg for hand luggage) </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">10 - Finally guides despite being Nepali are still only human - you must ensure they have the right equipment for the trek you want them to lead, also it's your responsibility to ensure they have food and accommodation along the way.They too may get sick or suffer from the cold...you look after them and they will look after you!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Remember if you get ill it will be your guide who will have to sort things out for you..make sure you can understand each other!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">If a guide is not working..he is not earning to provide for his family.</span></div>
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<b><u><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The FITs and Agents</span></u></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Every year hundreds if not thousands of FITs descend on Kathmandu either as part of a round the world package, seeking travel adventures or just spending time out from what for many would otherwise be a mundane way of life. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Once in Thamel, the tourist heart land of Kathmandu these FITs are persistently pestered by street traders enquiring as to whether ‘You want to go trekking?’ (Representing ‘genuine’ agencies or not) </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The aim of this short piece is to offer guidance along with the previous posting on choosing a freelance trekking guide to help people (FITs) recognize what they might be taking on.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">If you type Everest Base Camp Trek into any search engine you will get hundreds of sites and accompanying email address offering services, in a largely unregulated industry how do you know what sort of standard or legal status these ‘outfits’ are operating to. Over the last decade or so things have tightening up and individuals and groups are getting caught out by the law. However, this does not stop the sharp trader from seeking out an opportunity to make a fast buck ... or several. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">As I mentioned above the trekking industry is largely unregulated and lacks robust monitoring. Not all trekking agencies are required to be registered with the national association, the Trekking Agents Association of Nepal, not all Nepalese staff, porters and guides are insured and paid according to Union rates, but guides must have a trekking guide license to operate as guides within the industry. Not all trekking areas require TIMS depending on the trek location, however all National Parks or Conservation Areas require permits and in some cases Restricted Area permits. Trekking Peaks also have associated policies for allowing foreign climbers to climb these mountains. Some peaks are exempt Permit Fees (ie they are free) but that does not mean to say a permit is not required to climb them, you just might not need to pay for it. Not all perks are open for climbing expeditions</span>.</div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">So in general the whole scenario is rather complicated. But as responsible trekkers you should ensure that you meet the appropriate legal administration requirements for your trek and that the agency you choose is committed to guide and porter welfare and fare pay and working conditions. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">When intending to book up for a trek or trekking peak with an agent always: -</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">1. Ask to visit the office, by law all the relevant certificates should be clearly displayed, if they are not ask to see them </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">2. Check that you will be supplied with all the relevant permits, also make independent checks as to which permits you will be required to have </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">3. Check that your Nepalese staff have the appropriate qualifications and licenses </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">4. Check to see if your Nepalese staff are appropriately paid and have insurance </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">5. Check to see if the agency will provide the staff with accommodation and food during your trek, will you have to provide it or will the staff have to cover the cost out of their wages. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">6. In certain high-profile areas basic Nepalese food is very expensive for the staff and could make a huge whole in their wages – take care that they are eating sufficiently. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">7. Check that your Nepalese staff will have appropriate shell/warm clothing and foot wear. If not this can be hired from KEEP </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">8. Check that the cost of transport to the start of the trek and return will be covered for the staff, do they have an allowance for the journey? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">9. Check social media for any information related to your intended agency </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">10. Check on credentials with either the Trekking Agents Association of Nepal and/or Kathmandu Environmental Education Project as to the standard operated by your chosen agency if you are at all concerned. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Finally be sure to choose a trekking agency that respects the local culture and communities, follows eco tourism guidelines and conservation ethics and is committed to the development of sustainable tourism. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Although the agency you decide to go for might well be offering you a trek at what you consider to be a rate far less than otherwise quoted ask how and where the agent makes these savings. Most FITs feel that some agents are over-charging clients BUT it might just be that they are under paying staff!!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /><br /><b><u>Something for FITs to keep in mind</u></b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This shouldn’t need putting into words, however, from what we see and regularly hear during the trekking season here in Nepal… I guess it does need spelling out.<br /><br />Every season in Nepal sadly trekkers disappear without trace, I have just written two short pieces giving guidance, and my opinion, on how Foreign Individual Travelers (FITs) could go about choosing a guide and/or a trekking agency if that is the way they want to go. <br /><br />However, there are many who don’t want to employ either an agent or guide. In practice employing a guide and/or a porter directly is the best way to financially support the hill people of the country and their extended families.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Some would say..’Carry your own load’ but it must be remembered that, historically, there were very few roads in the hill districts and since time began these hill dwellers have had no other method of transporting goods into and out of their villages other than by carrying them themselves. Being a porter is their livelihood and the way they earn an income to keep body, soul and family together.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Employing someone to carry your load and guide you along the way will certainly add to the Nepal experience. The only issues that could be applied to a situation of taking advantage is to expect the porter to carry too much and to pay them too little .. and to not provide those benefits that we would expect in our own lives.. food, accommodation, protective clothing, personal accident insurance etc. All these points I have covered in the previous postings.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">But FITs must take individual responsibility for their actions, they must be physically up to the challenges they set themselves and technically prepared for the conditions and situations that the mountains and their route might throw at them. It is all about the ‘What if’ question and risk assessment.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Doing your own risk assessment might seem challenging but it can easily be broken down into manageable chunks especially now with all the information available on the internet.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">So what is a <b>RISK ASSESSMENT</b>? Everyone has expectations as to what they want out of life.. and a trek is no different. Completing a <b>RISK ASSESSMENT</b> is actually looking at those expectations and working out what could happen or go wrong that would prevent them being achieved.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Chunk 1 – study the route in detail and identify where the technical, high, long, exposed sections might be. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Chunk 2 – study the route’s locality, what is the adjacent landscape like. Are there risks of stone fall, avalanche, losing the trail, flooded rivers, river-crossings, broken or missing bridges or even a lack of accommodation if you are undertaking a lodge based trek</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Chunk 3 – Study the prevailing weather patterns, in these times of climate change the weather is very un-predictable, heavy rains, snow, extended strong sunny periods, strong winds.. all could bring your trek to an early conclusion</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Chunk 4 – study your own physical condition and health status</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Chunk 5 – do a proper check of your equipment and source what you are likely to need before going on trek.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Chunk 6 – and this is the crunch issue… WHAT IF? What if something unexpected occurred, how would you deal with it, do you have the skills and equipment to deal with it and could you manage an emergency situation. What would be the worst case scenario? Identifying a problem before it becomes a problem and thinking strategies through would very much enhance the chance of survival in an emergency.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">No one will ever be 100% safe in the mountain environment and as a famous explorer once said ‘a good adventure is the outcome of a bad risk assessment’. We all have our own comfort zones, for some it might be in the hardest or highest peaks in the world for others it might just be out of sight of habitation, crossing that thin red line could make or break an expectation in a big way.</span></div>
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ianoffthewallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09893050670803576833noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4685057110957823513.post-43572127947251721962016-09-24T03:23:00.001-07:002017-04-29T23:23:47.617-07:00A Walk on the Bara Shigri Glacier in the shadow of Robert Pettigrew<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<b><u><span lang="EN-GB">A Walk on the Bara Shigri Glacier in the shadow of Robert Pettigrew</span></u></b></div>
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In
2014 I received an unexpected invitation from the Indian Mountaineering
Foundation (IMF) to visit the Bara Shigri Glacier region in the Himachal
Pradesh to review and offer advice on the IMF Expedition Leadership program
known as ‘Climbathon’. Having little idea as to what challenges the area might
provide my first objective was to search out a good map, a task not easily
accomplished even in 2014. However persistence resulted in the said map being
located in a small shop in Manali. As with most of the Indian Himalaya Maps
there are always historical and trekking notes on the reverse side and during a
quick ‘scan’ my eyes were immediately drawn to a familiar name – Robert
Pettigrew. I first met Bob in the mid nineteen sixties when our paths crossed
on the sandstone outcrops in the south of England, time drifted on during the
course of which our universes occasionally collided through the field of
mountain training. In more recent times we enjoyed a trek together in Nepal. So
now I had another interest in the Kullu region, what exactly had my old friend Bob
been up to in his younger years?</div>
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<span lang=EN-GB style='color:windowtext;font-weight:
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</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-GB">Due to various visa delays I was not
able to join the IMF training program from the outset, so playing</span></div>
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<span style="text-align: left;">a game of
catch-up my fast track journey took me from Kathmandu to Base Camp at 3800m in
a matter of 36 hours. The next stage, to be completed in the following 24 hours,
was a climb of another 1100m over 18 km up the Bara Shigri Glacier to Advanced
Base Camp. In the lower section this is one of the most gnarly glacial moraines
I have ever had the pleasure to traverse, large boulders, small rocks, deep
holes, gravel and crevasses, not to mention difficult route finding, all
sliding about on a bed of clear blue ice. I clearly recognised the challenges
ahead but these were only compounded when I was introduced to my companion who
would accompany me up to Advance Base Camp. Jayant Sharma, a lean fit young man
eager to engage in conversation and obviously not carrying an ounce of spare
fat anywhere on his body. Setting off early the next morning it quickly became
obvious that while gasping for breath between trying to respond to Jayant’s
continuous conversational topics and keeping up with his pace, I was unlikely
to see much of him over the next 24 hours never mind being able to hold a
conversation with him, especially with him being at least 45 years my junior!</span></div>
<o:p></o:p><br />
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<span style="text-align: left;">The Kullu area is one of the finest and most accessible Himalayan-Alpine regions in the Indian Himalaya. The true left wall on the Bara Shigri Glacier forms the watershed and great divide between Kullu-Lahul-Spiti and is the long ridge that keeps the monsoon precipitation to the west while to the east the mountains remain dry being in the rain shadow area. Despite ease of access and excellent mountaineering opportunities I have yet to encounter any other teams of mountaineers in the locality.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">In 1912 Gen. C.G. Bruce, the first
mountaineer to explore this region, his chief guide, Heinrich Fuhrer together
with a Gurkha soldier, Lal Bahadur Gurung made the first ascent of Hanuman
Tibba 5,928m (Soldang Weisshorn) and then went on to explore both the
Indrasan and Deo Tibba mountains. Jimmy Roberts led an exploratory expedition
into the region in 1939 again in an attempt to climb Indrasan and Deo Tibba.
In 1941 Roberts returned and succeeded on Dharamsura, now known by its more
popular name White Sail 6,446m. R.C. Evans tried Indrasan and Deo Tibba
albeit unsuccessfully in 1952, however, success on Deo Tibba finally went to
the Dutchman Van Graaf later in 1952. A few other expeditions followed into
the region between the 1950 and 1960. A British Air Force expedition
successfully climbed Shikar Beh 6,200m in 1955 while in 1962 a Japanese
expedition visited the area and successfully summated the elusive Indrasan. In
1957-58 Major Geoffrey Douglas, accompanied by Hamish McInnes undertook a
Yeti hunting expedition in the Kullu region. But the persistent and regular activist
in the area for over the next decade was Robert Pettigrew, now Robert
Pettigrew MBE.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">In
1958, Robert G Pettigrew, Bob, was staying at a guest-house in Manali owned
by Major Henry Banon where he developed the idea of an attempt on the then
unclimbed Indrasan 6221m. Other invited guests in the house included climbers
in transit to and from various parts of the world. Bob was at the time
working for the Outward Bound Trust (OBT) and was on his way back to the UK
from a working visit to Malaya. He had been mulling over the idea of an
expedition with friends as a result of receiving information via a letter on
the 28<sup>th</sup> February 1958 from TS Blakeney (AC Secretary) in response
to his request for suggestions for a suitable expedition region in the
Himalaya. Blakeney responded by saying ‘<i>You
might make a trip from Tos over to Indrasan, an unclimbed peak and probably
harder than Deo Tibba’</i>. Blakeney went on to point out the advantages of
Kullu as a venue for a light-weight expedition. By the beginning of May 1958
Bob had completed his research on possible objectives; he had recruited
expedition members and had embarked on several exploration trips into the
high valleys of the region. With the help of a local cobbler in Manali adjustments
were made to footwear, tents were modified and sleeping bags sourced, the
technical equipment comprised of items suitable for British winter climbing
with the addition of crampons (10-points) and a few rock pegs, the stage was
set. The expedition finally set off from Manali on the 7<sup>th</sup> May
1958 forging a route up the Duhangan Nala (river) towards the Chandra Tal.
After three weeks of difficult route finding and being buffeted by storms the
expedition decided to return to Manali to take stock. Feeling refreshed they
set out again on the 8<sup>th</sup> June and retraced their steps in quick
time back to their high camp. Due to time limitations the expedition decided
that Indrasan would live to fight another day and instead they turned their
attention to Deo Tibba with the secondary aim of reconnoitring the approach
route to Indrasan. However Deo Tibba also remained elusive and with the monsoon
weather clouds hovering ominously over head the expedition headed back down
towards Manali but not without a foray onto a small 5334m summit directly
south of Peak 5229m in the close proximity to Duhangan Col. The expedition consisted
of Bob Pettigrew, Mike Thomson, Basil Poff, Pat Morrison and Ron Mowll, but
by now Bob’s imagination and love for the region had been ignited.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">In
1961 The Derbyshire Himalayan Expedition began to take shape after received
support from the Duke of Devonshire, as Patron, the Mount Everest Foundation
and other notable Derbyshire residents and companies, however, a third of the
expedition costs of £4,500 had to be met by the members themselves, J.
Ashcroft, D. Burgess, D. Gray, R. Handley, T Panther, R Pettigrew, S. Read and
N Symthe. The expedition’s objectives were to `<i>make a useful contribution to the map of the Kullu/Bara Shigri
Divide, to ascend what is now called Gunther’s Col from the Kullu side and
finally to complete a recce of Ali Ratni Tibba, a splendid granite obelisk,
approached from the Parbati tributary known as the Malana Nala’</i>, a job
previously undertaken by Jimmy Roberts. This area is approximately 10 miles
to the east of Manali and approached via the Malana Nala and glacier. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">Initially the expedition believed it
would be left to its own devices, however, two days before arriving in Bombay
by boat a letter arrived informing the expedition that Cpt. Balgit Singh
would be joining the expedition as the LO, a complication and cost that had
not been envisaged during the expedition’s planning stage. In 1961 the
vehicular road along the Beas Valley terminated at Nagar, south of Manali,
and from the crossing of the Beas River progress was only possible on foot or
with ponies and mules. The expedition from this point made good use of 57
ponies, 11 muleteers and Ladakhi porters to move the 12 miles onto Manali and
then went on to succeed in making the fifth ascent of Deo Tibba on the 20<sup>th</sup>
June (Pettigrew, Read, Handley along with Jimet and Zangbo, the local staff).
This was the fulfilment of Bob’s three year ambition. Unfortunately, again,
there was no success on Indrasan where Burgess and Gray reported that in
their opinion the only possible route from the south was via a diagonal line
that was continually swept by avalanches. By the 9<sup>th</sup> July the
party had recharged their batteries at Base Camp and were ready for phase two
of their expedition – to complete a plane-table survey and a climb of the
Bara Shigri / Kullu Divide via a Col seen by Gunther in 1954 from the
north-eastern side, and to complete a recce of Ali Ratni Tibba.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">Ashcroft
and Burgess along with Bob and the Ladakhis, Jigmet and Ang Chook, ascended
the Malana Glacier. Eventually this team found a manageable crossing linking
the Malana and Tos Nalas and thus completed the first crossing of what they
then called and is identified on modern maps as Animals Pass 4580m; the name
comes from the animal shaped rocks that stretch across the col. This passage
now represents a modern three day trek from Manali directly into the upper
Tos Nala. In 1941 Roberts wrote `<i>the lower four miles of the Tos Glacier
constitutes just about the most boulder-strewn, dirtiest stretches of glacier
I have ever seen’</i>, in my opinion this could be said about many of the
glaciers in this region! Even Bob described the East Tos Glacier as being `<i>arduous and ugly terrain unrecognisable as
ice’</i> however, the higher you climb the more traditional and photographic
these glaciers become. The head of the East Tos Glacier provided an excellent
camp site from which the small team completed the first crossing of the col
referred to as point 5410m on the present day map linking the East Tos and
the Tichu Glaciers. On the 13<sup>th</sup> July the expedition made a short
descent into the upper Tichu Glacial basin and headed towards a dip in the
northern retaining wall of the glacier believing this to be the potential crossing
point of the Divide leading down onto the Bara Shigri Glacier, the col first
identified by Dr Gunther in 1953 from the Bara Shigri side. Locating the key
passage up a hidden couloir to the skyline, Bob along with Burgess, became
the first people to look down into the Bara Shigri Glacier from the pass. Bob
describes the view down into Concordia as having `<i>a text book appearance with lateral moraines being straight from the
drawing board!’</i> This ‘text book’ appearance is still as much in evidence
today as it was back in 1961. Pettigrew and Burgess completed the day’s
activities by building a cairn right on the Col before retiring to their camp
just west of Col 5410m on the East Tos Glacier. However, during the return
journey down into the East Tos Glacier the team decided to stretch out their meagre
rations so as to facilitate an attempt on White Sail 6446m, the peak climbed
in 1941 by Jimmy Roberts and also situated on the Kullu-Kahul-Spiti Divide.
Having now become reunited with the survey team Pettigrew, Ashcroft and
Burgess set off for the Col south of White Sail leaving their tent at 3.45am
on the 16<sup>th</sup> July. Within eight and a half hours the rope of three
had surmounted steep ice requiring, in those days, step cutting, ascended
exposed rock and in diminishing visibility and weather conditions reached the
summit of White Sail (Dharamsura) 6446m, the second ascent of the mountain had
been accomplished.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Returning
to Base Camp the whole expedition met up again to exchange stories, the other
team consisting of Handley and Gray along with Wangyal and Zangbo had
succeeded in making two first ascents of peaks known as the Manikaren Spires on
the east ridge of Ali Ratni Tibba, but had failed to find a route to the latter
before the monsoon arrived and forced them to retreat.</div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">At
the time there was some confusion as to the correct location of ‘the Col’ as
there are two possibilities on the main watershed but both present
difficulties. As the original sighting by Gunther was from the north-east and
Bob’s expedition was approaching from the south-west joining up the dots was
always going to prove problematical, one crossing, it was reported, presented
serious difficulties to the eastern side while the other difficulties to the
western side. In the end one Col was given the inscription Gunther’s Col
while the other DHE (Derbyshire Himalayan Expedition) Ice Col the latter to
the east of the former named col. However on the Indian Himalaya Map in use
today Gunther’s Col is shown as being at 5399m and is located as the first
point of weakness to the west of Cathedral Peak 6250m, the Ice Col does not
appear on the map by name.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">During
1962 and 1963 Bob visited Manali on family holidays but never wishing to miss
an opportunity took a few days out to continue his exploration of the greater
area. He trekked into the Solang Nala, to the north of Manali, and then back
into the Malana Nala valley to the east, but in general, his forays were
beaten by the inclement weather and frequent snow falls. From May 27<sup>th</sup>
to the 31<sup>st</sup> Bob and party crossed the Chandrakhanni Pass in
wintery condition and then the following day made an ascent of Peak 4426m,
the last major peak on the long southern spur of Indrasan, to the north of the
Chandrakhanni Pass. During the second world war the Kangra Valley was used to
house Italian POWs and on the ascent of Peak 4426m a carved stone with the
inscription JEL 10 1944 was found just below the summit, yet possibly further
evidence of the excursions of Italian imprisoned climbers during their stay
in the region?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style='font-size:9.0pt;mso-ansi-language:
EN-US'>From Concordia – Kullu Pumori<span
style='mso-spacerun:yes'> </span>Kullu Makalu<span
style='mso-spacerun:yes'> </span>Jeldi<span
style='mso-spacerun:yes'>
</span>Cathedral<span style='mso-spacerun:yes'> </span>Gunther’s Col <span
style='mso-spacerun:yes'> </span>Peak<span style='mso-spacerun:yes'>
</span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNoSpacing>
<span style='font-size:9.0pt;mso-ansi-language:
EN-US'><span style='mso-spacerun:yes'> </span><span
style='mso-spacerun:yes'> </span>4900m<span
style='mso-spacerun:yes'> </span>6553m<span
style='mso-spacerun:yes'> </span>6349m<span
style='mso-spacerun:yes'> </span>5548m<span
style='mso-spacerun:yes'> </span>6100m<span
style='mso-spacerun:yes'> </span>5399m<span
style='mso-spacerun:yes'> </span><span
style='mso-spacerun:yes'> </span>5035m<span
style='mso-spacerun:yes'> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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height:87pt;flip:y;z-index:30' o:connectortype="straight"/><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><span style="mso-ignore: vglayout; position: relative; z-index: 20;"><span style="height: 168px; left: 0px; left: 3px; position: absolute; top: -118px; width: 619px;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"> </span> </div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">As
a result of Bob’s family holidays and his exploratory trips into the Solang
valley in 1962 he was fired up and ready for more adventures. An opportunity
presented itself in the autumn of 1963 when Bob Menzies, a friend of Bob’s
was visiting India on business and suggested that he could spare a few weeks
climbing in the Kullu. The stage was set and after the usual preparations and
packing sessions based in the Banon’s guest house in Manali the team set off
in the direction of the Solang Valley. The following two weeks saw exploration
of the upper Solang Valley and after several nights with recorded 20° F
temperatures Bob along with Wangyal completed the first ascent of Ladakhi
Peak 5341m. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">The
Sara Umgla La had long been used as an old trading route when the conditions
were right. The Rajput warrior chieftains of the 17<sup>th</sup> century
brought an end to the Tibetan occupation of Kullu, however, enforcing
vigorously levied taxes forced the local traders to find ways round the
customs houses. The old route, and Custom House, crossing the Rothang La was
now an expensive option so a new route across the Kullu-Lahul-Spiti watershed
was urgently required; the Sara Umgla La was open for trade! Bob’s next
expedition was to locate and cross this pass. The expedition set out from
Manali heading for the now familiar Malana Nala. Bob intended to use this expedition
in a bid to complete a reconnaissance of Papsura 6451m. The approach was long
and arduous but coincided with the twelfth anniversary of the first ascent of
Everest and so it was decided that a first ascent of a virgin peak would
serve as an appropriate celebration. An objective was located that met all
the requirement and on the 29<sup>th</sup>
May 1965 Bob along with Langford, and the trusted Ladakhi staff Wangyal and
Zangbo completed the first ascent of Ramchukor Peak 5189m situated
immediately south of Animals Pass in the east retaining wall of the Ali Ratni
Tibba Glacier, now referred to as the Dudhon Glacier. Relocating Camp 1 on
the Pass of the Animals the expedition was easily able to identify the Sara
Umgla La. By the 3<sup>rd</sup> June the expedition was again in forward
motion. Aiming diagonally across the Tos Glacier they made for an obvious couloir
and steep rock rib that would give access to the pass and eventually connects
the Tos and East Tos Glaciers to the Chandra River valley immediately to the
west of the outfall of the Bara</span> Shigri Glacier. Once on the La the
expedition was subjected to gale force winds that at their height split one
of the tents down the side seam. The resourceful Ladakhi crew then proceeded
to mend the split while battling to hold the canvas together so it could be
sewn. On the 8<sup>th</sup> June the expedition, now a light weight
reconnaissance team, set off for a closer inspection of Papsura 6451m from
the south and western aspects. The north west ridge, the west face and the
south ridge of Papsura were all carefully scrutinised but the team failed to
identify a safe and feasible route through the difficulties to the summit. The
expedition concluded their reconnaissance of the region by including the circumnavigating
Ali Ratni Tibba via its east and west glaciers and then making the first
crossing of the Pass of the Oblisk 4876m before heading down into the Parbati
Valley at Jara on the 17<sup>th</sup> June.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhX5KwWOl5jDUddRfIUyVNkPtFXqODSLIn_SVgtFFBltCjG8MnrN35Fl1SnI-OAwQC9fL8O6VCSsNRU4wjzf3iSLo94bNIY2F4tfDpPcpFKQMTHLK79Zb5lHiR6lS-VZ9yRNuYkEM-xkw/s1600/P1010807.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhX5KwWOl5jDUddRfIUyVNkPtFXqODSLIn_SVgtFFBltCjG8MnrN35Fl1SnI-OAwQC9fL8O6VCSsNRU4wjzf3iSLo94bNIY2F4tfDpPcpFKQMTHLK79Zb5lHiR6lS-VZ9yRNuYkEM-xkw/s640/P1010807.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">In the spring of 1966 Bob was back
in Manali leading an Indo-British expedition to Hanuman Tibba organised by
the Bombay Climbers’ Club. The approach route was laborious traversing steep
hill sides of thick birch forests and steep and exposed sections of rock
cliffs. To avoid the difficulties of the lower Manalsu Nala the expedition
climbed high on the flanks of Khanapara traversing above the nala before
descending back into the mid nala basin. The route chosen by the recce team
took the expedition across the upper slopes of the eastern ridge before
heading diagonally westwards and up the south face of Hanuman Tibba towards
the summit. It was just as the lead climbers were approximately 160m below
the summit that the ‘CRACK’ was heard accompanied by a dull roar and the
breaking away of a big slab-avalanche. The climbers were engulfed and carried
160m down the slope to where they eventually slowed to a halt just above one
of the many lower ice cliffs over which the main flow of snow and ice was
passing. Shaken but otherwise unhurt the party reassessed their choice of route
in consideration of the 160m of avalanche prone slope that still remained, so
far intact, above the break-off point. Crossing the debris the climbers
retraced their steps back to the East Ridge where they then pitched the
remaining shoulder to the summit acutely aware of the poor snow conditions
and the unstable cornice overhanging the precipitous north face and the lack
of adherence of snow on the south face. After six hours from leaving BC the
team reached the summit, first stood upon by General Bruce and his Swiss
guide Heinrich Fuhrer from Meiringen. They had ascended initially from the
north and the Salong valley before crossing Bruce’s Col, now called the
Solang La and traversing the west face and then finally climbing the South
Ridge to the summit. Bob’s party descended through the ice cliffs and finally
glissaded back into Camp 2 by 1530hrs. While the main expedition was on
Hanuman Tibba two of the base camp staff Nadkarni and Chering Namgyal
completed the first ascent of Peak 5303m via the South East Ridge immediately
due west of Seri to the south of the Manali Pass. Finally on the 5<sup>th</sup>
June Bob together with Warhurst and Chering Namgyal made the first ascent of
Shakuntla Tibba 4954m. And so the season drew to a close with expedition
members gathering in the Banon’s guest house on the 7<sup>th</sup> June
before finally departing the Kullu.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Looking
into the Chhola in the <span lang="EN-GB">1967
season got off to a rocky start during an attempt on Papsura 6451m, the Peak
of Evil, and ‘twin’ peak of Dharmsura (White Sail). On the 1<sup>st</sup>
June Colin Pritchard, Mike Payne and Bob took a 500m fall down Avalanche
Couloir, Hill and Payne escaped relatively un-harmed while Bob suffered a
dislocated hip. Papasura is the third highest peak in the Kullu/Lahul divide.
The expedition started on the 4<sup>th</sup> May from the Parbati River, BC
was established near the snout of the Malana Glacier, a site previously used
by Bob and his trusted staff. The next two weeks were taken up ferrying loads
across the Pass of the Animals the expedition was beset by bad weather. Camp
1 was eventually established in the cwm to the west of Papsura on the 22<sup>nd</sup>
May but only after Pritchard had taken a fall into a large crevasse when a
bridge collapsed. The team was then bogged down by a severe snow storm that
deposited enough snow over the next six days to bury the tents. A 160m rope
was fixed to the foot of Avalanche Couloir the chosen route for the ascent.
On the 31<sup>st</sup> May, nearing the top of the couloir it became obvious
that the way was blocked by a big boss of ice, the only option left was to
descend, always easier said than done. No sooner had the team started their
retreat than they were struck by a small side avalanche that quickly gathered
speed and strength pulling all three roped climbers off their feet. Their
downward momentum came abruptly to a halt at the bergshund. Mike Payne had
‘flown’ across the shund but had in the process twisted his arm, Bob came to
rest straddling the lower lip of the shund with his legs bound together in
the climbing rope and Colin Pritchard, well Colin might well have acted as a
sea anchor and could have been the reason why the party fell no further, he
was in the depths of the bergshund being strangled by his rucksack straps and
acting as the ‘team anchor’! It turned out that Bob had dislocated his hip
and had to be evacuated the next day to a safe location. Half the party
descended to let wives and family know the situation and at the same time to
arrange for a rescue party to ascend to Camp 1.</span></div>
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Mean while back at Camp 1 the
remaining ‘fit’ team members elected to have one last attempt at the peak
with Hill and Pritchard going for a New Zealand style dash. Their proposed
route was up the main South Face Couloir that had previously been discarded
because of the objective danger from the large amount of snow and ice
suspended higher on the face. This danger was ultimately reduced as a result
of following a mixed snow and rock rib situated to one side of the couloir
and out of the main fall line. Leaving camp at 3.15am the pair climbed
quickly reaching the top of the western couloir of the south face by 10am.
Whilst preparing to cross the heavily corniced couloir the rucksacks were
tied into the rope to be lowered into an icy basin, unfortunately the knot
slipped and the sacks with all spare clothing, food and cameras fell nearly 1,000m
down to the base of the face. Both climbers agreed to push on, although the
climbing was straight forward it required a bit of ‘grunt’ with strenuous
moves on the rock band and the summit snow ridge. By 14.30 hours the pair
were on the top. During the descent Hill slipped twice while cutting steps on
the steep hard ice in the rapidly deteriorating weather and heavily falling
snow. By the time they had reached the less steep part of the lower couloir
the snow was waist deep. The pair returned to Bob, still awaiting rescue in
Camp 1, nearly 21 hours after departing camp that morning.</div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">Once the rescue team had arrived the
return trip to BC, with a laden stretch, took four days crossing the Animals
Pass and the Tos Glacier before climbing over the Chandar Khanni Pass and
down into the Kullu Valley using fixed ropes in the icefall. Expedition was
made up of John Ashburner, Charles Henty, Geoff Hill, Mike Payne, Bob
Pettigrew (leader), Colin Pritchard, supported by the high altitude porters,
Sonam Wangyal and Pasang Lakpha, local boys came from Malana and Manali to
help with logistics and the rescue stretcher team.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">This
little epic brought a golden decade of exploration of the Kullu region to a
close for Bob. But that is not the end of his story, for the next thirteen
years he focused on alpinism, instructing, and serving in the RAF Mountain
Rescue Team where he went onto completing first ascents in Arctic Norway.
Later he decided to further his education and secured a place at Loughborough
University as a student, eventually following in John Disley’s footsteps as
President of the Loughborough University Mountaineering Club. However, the
wilds of Kullu eventually got back into his system and in 1980 he returned to
Manali where he has consistently over the subsequent three and a half decades
continued with his forays into the hills and valleys of Himachal Pradesh.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">Back
to my, by now, solitary wanderings up the Bara Shigri moraines, trying to
pick out the newly erected cairns carefully camouflaged amongst the glacial
rubble and at the same time trying to spot the blurred silhouette of Jayant
breaking the skyline many hundreds of metres in front of me. The ascent
seemed never ending and I took frequent stops to catch my breath under the
guise of taking photographs. It had been suggested that I might manage the
journey within the day but that was not to be the case. Thankfully Jayant
realised that I was neither his age nor at his level of fitness and, within
an hour of my thinking that this was all a bad idea, I crested a moraine
ridge to be greeted by my grinning minder who suggested we bivied on the relatively
flat grassy plateau in amongst the boulders that I had just arrived at. The
food that I had set out with was still festering in the top of my rucksack,
which would do for the evening meal and stretched out a bit, for breakfast as
well. After a few hours rest the dawn seemed to come quickly, the warmth of
the sun much later. Although the second part of the moraine journey starts to
lose its steepness the moraines continue on for another 4 kilometres before
it is possible to descend onto the flattish ice normally associated with
glacial travel. In the distance the collection of tents indicating the end of
that part of my journey and my first introduction to the Kullu – Lahul
mountains much loved and traversed by Bob.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">I
have now completed this moraine trek four times and it never gets any easier
either in ascent or descent. However the mountains at the end of the trudge
are worth every aching moment and every word uttered under the breath. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">And
as a post-script – Bob spent October 2016 in, where else, Manali.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">Bob,
you have another convert!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"><u>Illustration captions</u></span></div>
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</div>
<ol>
<li>Bob
Pettigrew Nepal 2014 <span lang="EN-GB" style="color: windowtext;">©</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: windowtext;"> Ian Wall</span></li>
<li>Jayant Sharma Bara Shigri Glacier 2015 <span lang="EN-GB" style="color: windowtext;">©</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: windowtext;"> Ian Wall</span></li>
<li>Tiger’s
Tooth 5943 m and Snow Dome 5947 m<span lang="EN-GB" style="text-align: center;"> </span><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: windowtext; text-align: center;">©</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: windowtext; text-align: center;"> Ian Wall</span></li>
<li>Shigri
Parbat 6526 m<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: windowtext; text-align: center;">©</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: windowtext; text-align: center;"> Ian Wall</span></li>
<li>Kullu
Pumori 6553m <span lang="EN-GB" style="color: windowtext; text-align: center;">©</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: windowtext; text-align: center;"> Ian Wall </span></li>
<li>Looking across Concordia towards Gunther's Col from
the Bara Shigri Glacier; Peak 5947 m to the right of the Col, Cathedral Peak
centre and Peak 6259 m to the left<span lang="EN-GB"> </span><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: windowtext;">©</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: windowtext;"> Ian Wall </span></li>
<li>Concordia
and the Upper Bara Shigri Glacier <span lang="EN-GB" style="color: windowtext; text-align: center;">©</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: windowtext; text-align: center;"> Ian Wall</span></li>
<li>Concordia with peak identification © Ian Wall </li>
<li>Ascending
towards Gunther's Col from Concordia<span lang="EN-GB" style="text-align: center;"> </span><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: windowtext; text-align: center;">©</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: windowtext; text-align: center;"> Ian Wall </span></li>
<li>Looking
into the Chhola Shigri Glacier with Lalana 6265m on the left <span lang="EN-GB" style="color: windowtext; text-align: center;">©</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: windowtext; text-align: center;"> Ian Wall</span></li>
<li>Heading
up toward Concordia on the Bara Shigri Glacier with Shigri Parbat 6526m at the
head of the valley <span lang="EN-GB" style="color: windowtext;">©</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: windowtext;"> Ian Wall</span></li>
<li>The
region much traversed and loved by Bob Pettigrew <span lang="EN-GB" style="color: windowtext; text-align: center;">©</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: windowtext; text-align: center;"> Ian Wall</span></li>
</ol>
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ianoffthewallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09893050670803576833noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4685057110957823513.post-40394390353460093982016-09-24T02:13:00.000-07:002016-09-24T02:18:25.817-07:002016 Off the Wall Newsletter August 11<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmxCUjwPfZv_4uGcTHrmz0p9ei2AMT1WQOFYs97nfZqnzmeZIMc6YxV4u-K0VI2LIW81_7GCPNE70v22d9gyr-uU5dhLk8ADnc5HirMwis99T4ppaRvfFKbyFsUP6YS7ka27G8PyA9fRw/s1600/header.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="190" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmxCUjwPfZv_4uGcTHrmz0p9ei2AMT1WQOFYs97nfZqnzmeZIMc6YxV4u-K0VI2LIW81_7GCPNE70v22d9gyr-uU5dhLk8ADnc5HirMwis99T4ppaRvfFKbyFsUP6YS7ka27G8PyA9fRw/s640/header.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-GB">The headline image for this edition is of crossing the Mendokrin Lek
before descending to the west of Crystal Mountain and then down to Shey, Dolpo.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">Over the last
three years there have been various well publicised events that not only
shocked the mountaineering world but also Nepal as a nation, the fight on
Everest, the avalanche and then the earthquake.
All of this was followed by a political dispute with India who then
imposed economic sanctions on Nepal. The world offered support both financial
and practical but a government without a vision failed to respond positively
and apart from the Sherpa people who set about immediately rebuilding their communities
most of the other affected areas of Nepal struggled on.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A tented camp is still occupied near the Hyatt Hotel Boudha</td></tr>
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<span lang=EN-GB
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lang=EN-GB> </span><span lang=EN-GB style='color:windowtext;font-weight:
normal;mso-bidi-font-weight:bold'>tented camp is still occupied near the
Hyatt Hotel, Boudha</span><span lang=EN-GB style='mso-no-proof:yes'><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-GB">Sixteen months after the earthquake and many people, especially
those from the remoter and poorer areas are still waiting for the promised
government financial support. But this lack of compassion is also evident in
Kathmandu, there is very little sign of domestic accommodation development,
however, new hotels are springing up like weeds in the monsoon. There are of
course all sorts of reasons publicised by the government as to why this relief
process is not running efficiently.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"><b><u><span lang="EN-GB"><br /></span></u></b></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"><b><u><span lang="EN-GB">Nepal’s Budget</span></u></b></span></div>
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</span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-GB">In May the Finance Minister Bishnu
Poudel presented the budget of 1,048,920,000,000 NRs (approx £7,089,213,300) for
the fiscal year 2016/17 to Parliament. This represents a 28% increase on the
current fiscal year with a focus on the implementation of the constitution,
acceleration of development work and the reduction of poverty. The Government
also allocated 140 billion NRs for post-quake reconstruction and rehabilitation
work, pledging that earthquake-affected families will also receive an additional
NRs 300k each, approximately £20,000. Civil servants’ salaries were
increased by 25 percent while social security allowance and allowances provided
to the disabled, single woman and endangered communities have also been
doubled.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">The
government also announced the policy to produce electricity by levying five
percent tax on petroleum products with a commitment to end load shedding by
2018 by producing 10,000 megawatts of hydroelectricity. NRs 26.5 billion have
been allocated for the School Sector Development Program.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">In general the Nepalese
population believe that this was a good budget and it looks like Prime Minister
Oli has strengthened his hold on the role of PM for the foreseeable future. I
hope this will now lead to a period of political stability, a renewed
confidence in Nepal’s future and a concerted effort to attend to the future
security of those families affected by the earthquake.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b><span lang="EN-GB">And
then?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b>‘Maoists quit government’<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Tuesday, July
12th, 2016 Nepali Times<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;">
The CPN (Maoist-Centre), the ruling UML’s main
coalition partner, has decided to withdraw its support of the KP Oli
government. After a meeting with top Maoist leaders at his own residence in
Lazimpat on Tuesday, the CPN (Maoist-Centre) Chair Pushpa Kamal Dahal sent a
letter to Prime Minister KP Oli saying his party is no longer in the
government.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;">
Now, if PM Oli fails to persuade Dahal to withdraw his
decision – which he succeeded in doing two months ago – his government
will collapse. The Maoists are likely to forge a coalition with the main
opposition NC and form a new government. In the letter to PM Oli, Dahal justified
his party’s decision by blaming the ruling UML for failing to
implement the nine-point agreement signed between the two sides in May.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;">
In the first week of May, the Maoists were all set to separate
themselves from the Oli government and form a new coalition with the NC.
However, hours before the Maoists and the NC were to sign a pact, Oli persuaded
Dahal to stay in the government by signing the nine-point agreement.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span lang="EN-GB">Expeditions<br />
</span></b><span lang="EN-GB">Spring is now the ‘normal’ season for expeditions
to Everest. Initially the number of expeditions requesting climbing permits
this year was low, however, at the last minute, the Ministry of Tourism
honoured their pledge to accept those expeditions who had permits for the 2015
season but cancelled due to the earthquake and announced they would be accepted
them for both the 2016 and 2017 seasons. At the same time it was also announced
that the permits issued in 2014 but were not used due to the avalanche would also
be honoured for the next five years, through to 2019. <b><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="page-break-after: avoid; text-align: justify;">
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<div class="MsoCaption" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdoNxrcr2zPaeaP8Kg1TfVWSKAP2xsF6_F0Ny5MLcWEDUaIdvsqYt4ock_V-ouCPwIlprcaaCuHFAgsxvz5kB325vl9ls0C4PZj3Ajiyob9vCnfkmv5O32ltgyktzFPooLxG35uvOn9do/s1600/P1040071.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdoNxrcr2zPaeaP8Kg1TfVWSKAP2xsF6_F0Ny5MLcWEDUaIdvsqYt4ock_V-ouCPwIlprcaaCuHFAgsxvz5kB325vl9ls0C4PZj3Ajiyob9vCnfkmv5O32ltgyktzFPooLxG35uvOn9do/s320/P1040071.jpg" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">An expedition permit must be obtained by every <br />
expedition planning to climb a peak in Nepal <br />
image Ian Wall</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoCaption" style="text-align: justify;">
Various foreign organisations
offer incentives to their members who summit Everest, the Indian armed services
acknowledge summating Everest with instance promotion, which obviously includes
a wage and pension increase, the stakes are high. At the end of the Everest
2016 season a story emerged that two police officers from the Pune Police Force
(Bengal) allegedly manipulated photographs to prove that they summated Everest.
These were submitted to the Nepal Department of Tourism as proof of their
success which was duly acknowledged. However,
a possible fraud was recognised by other expedition members who verified that
the husband and wife team had throughout the expedition been wearing red and
black down suits, in the summit photos they appeared to be wearing yellow and
black suits, their boots had also changed and a complaint was filed at the Maharashtra
Police Commissioner’s office (Bengal). In July the Nepal Tourism Department
recommended that the Ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviation take a formal
decision to impose a 10-year ban on Dinesh Chandrakant Rathod and his wife
Tarkeshwari Chandrakant Bhelerao from visiting Nepal for mountaineering
expeditions, to cancel their summit certificates and to charge them with
forgery and fraud.</div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtRBOCJTqNVY5lxwlUySqv8kMcChBwN9HTZO5QSr70_zXB9NkiZxFSUXXArC7gN6eXEjLsXbHFHm-enaI6LI4veysAbpYHSCYkwZ-tVOGkOl8AQTeCfZm46VQW19HIm1-C_0XhzeI5yfM/s1600/7570196-3x2-940x627.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtRBOCJTqNVY5lxwlUySqv8kMcChBwN9HTZO5QSr70_zXB9NkiZxFSUXXArC7gN6eXEjLsXbHFHm-enaI6LI4veysAbpYHSCYkwZ-tVOGkOl8AQTeCfZm46VQW19HIm1-C_0XhzeI5yfM/s320/7570196-3x2-940x627.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The top two images are the orriginals while the lower ones<br />
have been manipulated Images THT</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB">This scandalous situation gave rise to an investigation into the
part played by the Liaison Officers (LO) in the expedition industry. LOs are
allocated to all expeditions attempting mountains over 6500m their role is to
assist the expedition and to help resolve local issues and they must also provide
evidence of summit bids and successes post expedition. According to the Tourism
Law they should stay at Base Camp for the duration of the expedition, a job for
which on Everest they receive nearly 3000 US $. During the Spring Everest
season 2016 it has been discovered that nearly 50 per cent of the liaison
officers never reached Everest base camp and thus did not carry out their paid
duties representing the 33 expedition teams. The majority of LOs who trekked to
the height of 5,300 metres, Base Camp, on the other hand, `<i>vanished within minutes after taking a few images for their keepsake
and social media bragging</i>.’ The Himalayan Times quote</span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhitFofIfz0J77qXYr7nGShwZ4NFO4OsXmIgUSV3P5FJOt_Hb3Dp2IPL4iV7Otae75SbpzT6ClvgHv9IZb5_vLWWbPJGP3VHvsUwWO4fS-Tn7KcqUo9znsz3cV-cg1Olk6oheavlGLEU7E/s1600/long+line+evac.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhitFofIfz0J77qXYr7nGShwZ4NFO4OsXmIgUSV3P5FJOt_Hb3Dp2IPL4iV7Otae75SbpzT6ClvgHv9IZb5_vLWWbPJGP3VHvsUwWO4fS-Tn7KcqUo9znsz3cV-cg1Olk6oheavlGLEU7E/s320/long+line+evac.jpg" width="236" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A long line helicopter evacuation</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoCaption" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: windowtext;">Long-line
evacuation by helicopter<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB">Aside from that
instance bringing Everest back into media attention the weather conditions also
had a serious impact on some other expeditions. Two German nationals along with
their 18 Nepalese staff were stranded in the Saribung Himal following a strong
snowstorm on Friday 13<sup>th</sup> May and had to be rescued using helicopters
and ‘long line’ techniques. Everest saw the death of five climbers including
three from India and one from Australia, all above the higher camps. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB">Over the last
few days of May areas of the Himalaya experienced very unsettled weather with
strong winds and rapidly dropping temperatures which caused several other
expeditions to pull back off their objectives.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span lang="EN-GB"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span lang="EN-GB"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span lang="EN-GB"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span lang="EN-GB">Dolpo, our trek and small expedition</span></b><b><span lang="EN-GB"> </span></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-KMJY1DDOnCh77nICrtkuTKoxMTrFxRaolzVRach6GmSQBFuNCuX_UCakkBdSLwvEqLUc96aNrabL0Id7tYBj7r8dckcBAadoclHR8cJU_6opR4WXmSrGmJa8rnvDtMw80alHQPYLtQ4/s1600/P1030747.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-KMJY1DDOnCh77nICrtkuTKoxMTrFxRaolzVRach6GmSQBFuNCuX_UCakkBdSLwvEqLUc96aNrabL0Id7tYBj7r8dckcBAadoclHR8cJU_6opR4WXmSrGmJa8rnvDtMw80alHQPYLtQ4/s1600/P1030747.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span lang="EN-GB"><br /></span></b></div>
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<div class="MsoCaption" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-size: x-small;">This
could almost be a scene from the film Himalaya. Trekkers watching a group of
yaks traversing a typical </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoCaption" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: windowtext;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB">In May I took to
the hills with friends from Australia and Nepal, an extended trip to the
farthest reaches of northern Dolpo, in fact to within half a kilometre of the
border with Tibet/China. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB">This region
never ceases to amaze me with its pure remote and wild beauty. In terms of Nepali
trekking numbers not many people visit this area and if they do they tend to go
to Shey before heading east and eventually leaving either via Juphal or Jomsom.
We wanted to go into the district 4 days to the north of Shey for an attempt on
a small but unclimbed peak, a long and hard extension and one that ideally
requires at least four to five weeks to complete. Although the Great Himalayan
Trail goes through this area even that fails to enter the northern most
sanctuary. Passing through the small community of Kuwgaon the local residents
said they could not remember the last time foreigners had passed through if
ever, and there were one or two elder people in the community! Although Dolpo
is not known for its lofty snowy peaks it does provide serious high altitude
tough trekking, most of the routes to the north of Shey are above 3800m with
many passes over 5000m. If you are looking for a real ‘off the wall’ experience
then northern most Dolpo can certainly provide all the right ingredients. Oh!
And the expedition, well we spent five days in Base Camp with the weather
slowly deteriorating, in the end we sadly ran out of time and good days. Our
Nepali friends had a good crack at the route getting to within 200 - 250mts of
the summit but the weather and conditions on the route were .. well it’ll be
there next year!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><br /></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha5E8jUQTA9Aws6qdbx7eY5O5xH6C953SeOetbHLWPIaXzSPFihvB7yqmprQUuHWvP3oARBvTuTbYX2MqVSGJdy4qWJ2IfjkgfgLHuNTmdLPtkV8DmrVJye3TMWo-HbnKYwa8HsgJItLc/s1600/P1030907.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha5E8jUQTA9Aws6qdbx7eY5O5xH6C953SeOetbHLWPIaXzSPFihvB7yqmprQUuHWvP3oARBvTuTbYX2MqVSGJdy4qWJ2IfjkgfgLHuNTmdLPtkV8DmrVJye3TMWo-HbnKYwa8HsgJItLc/s320/P1030907.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The team, literally chilling, out at our Base Camp <br />
Image Ian Wall</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b style="text-align: left;"><span lang="EN-GB">Post earthquake Megre
School</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2sfevaxBwy0vyj8XkgBS1FtMsY7dlbg_4LWrM7sUVVvpdnA31cp1UjzBzvDn94EMm-NgRGNXiAWFs1N8so4Xlb6xH3qJK6oYxDIti55coopf6oSvvNnuELKToFsHbgwBvUndSRLpJTnk/s1600/Untitled-2+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2sfevaxBwy0vyj8XkgBS1FtMsY7dlbg_4LWrM7sUVVvpdnA31cp1UjzBzvDn94EMm-NgRGNXiAWFs1N8so4Xlb6xH3qJK6oYxDIti55coopf6oSvvNnuELKToFsHbgwBvUndSRLpJTnk/s1600/Untitled-2+copy.jpg" /></a><span lang="EN-GB">Many of you
kindly supported our efforts with the reconstruction of the school in Megre
post earthquake. This project is nearly completed and will be occupied for teaching
as usual post monsoon when there will be an official opening. The project
included the construction of 4 class-rooms and a toilet block for boys and a
separate one for girls. Originally we planned to build six class-rooms but the new
government policy called </span>for an increased in size of an individual room which meant we could
only go for a four room structure. The outside of the building will be cement
rendered and then painted. Earthquake resistant technology was also included in
the design.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLtYN6kbxMk7Yr0R2XdVShlX4gUbBpfEisosQtKYQAWUR0hm6JubRUMaJqP-9-MIJm5d1yqw38p25uQp1ke55msANUnARGyA7Cua4QPcU87JJsTrBY_ZpOP0b1Paqv9p296jj-axKS60c/s1600/Untitled-1+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLtYN6kbxMk7Yr0R2XdVShlX4gUbBpfEisosQtKYQAWUR0hm6JubRUMaJqP-9-MIJm5d1yqw38p25uQp1ke55msANUnARGyA7Cua4QPcU87JJsTrBY_ZpOP0b1Paqv9p296jj-axKS60c/s1600/Untitled-1+copy.jpg" /></a><b><span lang="EN-GB"> </span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b><span lang="EN-GB"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b><span lang="EN-GB"><br /></span></b></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-GB"><br /></span></b></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-GB"><br /></span></b></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-GB"><br /></span></b></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-GB"><br /></span></b></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-GB"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b><span lang="EN-GB"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b><span lang="EN-GB"><br /></span></b></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-GB"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b><span lang="EN-GB"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
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type="#_x0000_t75" alt="P1040049.jpg" style='position:absolute;margin-left:1.5pt;
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</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><!--[endif]--><b><span lang="EN-GB">Sherpas on Top<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape id="Picture_x0020_15"
o:spid="_x0000_s1052" type="#_x0000_t75" alt="Chobutse.jpg" style='position:absolute;
left:0;text-align:left;margin-left:250.4pt;margin-top:-402.05pt;width:210.85pt;
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o:title="Chobutse" cropbottom="12017f"/>
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</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-GB">Sherpas have always been the back bone and work force of many
successful expeditions. Over the more recent years many foreign groups have
successfully climbed routes in good Alpine-style. Now the Sherpa (ethnic group)
as well as climbers from other ethnic groups are climbing and running their own
expeditions for their own pleasure and enjoyment. During the autumn 2015 season
Chobutse 6,686m, West Face, the Dorjee Sherpa Route, was climbed by Mingma
Gyalje Sherpa. This 1,200m route starts in the Rolwaling Valley immediately
below Chobutse. Initially ascending the west ridge before descending 60m to the
foot of the main face from here the route continues up the steep snow face. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><br /></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=4685057110957823513" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=4685057110957823513" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfQ0iCkV5XtIvahehs4DDXwy8mwyBY_9-qWRjYPhgCL3AbCHpXc6n4TX9qMUcAsap8_bKxywgqjeJ4FQ6BV5n4oTmj6EFm4ha5zdVuSs7F58PG9GkXEa3kvZQGVtBZlODkBEB26mlrRII/s1600/Rolwaling.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfQ0iCkV5XtIvahehs4DDXwy8mwyBY_9-qWRjYPhgCL3AbCHpXc6n4TX9qMUcAsap8_bKxywgqjeJ4FQ6BV5n4oTmj6EFm4ha5zdVuSs7F58PG9GkXEa3kvZQGVtBZlODkBEB26mlrRII/s1600/Rolwaling.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chobutse with the line taken by Mingma Gyalje Sherpa<br />
on his solo ascent Image Ian Wall</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="color: windowtext; text-align: left;">Chobutse with the line taken by
Mingma Gyalje Sherpa on his solo ascent </span><span style="color: windowtext; text-align: left;">©</span><span style="color: windowtext; text-align: left;"> Ian Wall</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
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<p class=MsoCaption style='text-align:justify'>
<span lang=EN-GB
style='color:windowtext;font-weight:normal;mso-bidi-font-weight:bold'>The
classrooms now complete with the new roof, new window and door frames. Both
interior and exterior wall surfaces will be cement rendered </span><span
lang=EN-GB style='mso-bidi-font-family:Calibri;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin;
color:windowtext;font-weight:normal;mso-bidi-font-weight:bold'>©</span><span
lang=EN-GB style='color:windowtext;font-weight:normal;mso-bidi-font-weight:
bold'> Ian Wall<span style='mso-no-proof:yes'><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
</div>
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</tr>
</table>
<![endif]></v:textbox>
<w:wrap type="tight"/>
</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-GB">Mingma climbed solo but
after being stranded for two days and nights on the summit without food or
shelter he was evacuated by helicopter.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB">Also in the
Rolwaling Valley Thakar-Go East 6,152m, Langdak 6,220m, and Raungsiyar 6,224m were
all climbed as part of the same expedition by three fellow Sherpas, Tashi
Sherpa, Dawa Gyalie Sherpa and Nima Tenji Sherpa. The team climbed three new
routes up previously unclimbed mountains in the same area. </span>Now at the time
of writing news is coming through that Tashi Sherpa, Nima Tenji Sherpa accompanied
by Tenzeng Sherpa successfully climbed the West Rib of Mt Denali – it is
reported that eight Nepalese climbers made it to the summit of Denali this
spring season. The boys are coming of age .. well done lads!</div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"><br /></span></div>
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<div class="MsoCaption">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsrsLYMzmd2ZFz77wWme9xINVfBkuMT3tuOYRJ3Cg4jcHgXK8CsgihhCxPSxN0aFKyiDDaamEEj_BWjZMGr7gb7xzZF9BmdqZ-tvgXJ5Imhz9J4ROeUrqXoHDOR4IQFOQzXMlGmd4PXkI/s1600/denali.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsrsLYMzmd2ZFz77wWme9xINVfBkuMT3tuOYRJ3Cg4jcHgXK8CsgihhCxPSxN0aFKyiDDaamEEj_BWjZMGr7gb7xzZF9BmdqZ-tvgXJ5Imhz9J4ROeUrqXoHDOR4IQFOQzXMlGmd4PXkI/s1600/denali.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Sherpa summit team on Denali having completed<br />
the West Rib image Nima Sherpa</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b><span lang="EN-GB">Dalai
Lama’s birthday<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEium3Hpp7OvM2zGzOrRSFSXpB9S3w9-zh7AtpOPeSobSfjwwXIhM7Fkl8P8uBId6i-ULHRfCqhgVX6WPxHbC_1bvKYC7Yrwfj5yURX4hB69uBW3IUWsClN5_sqkuQme-xf8FVW8TCFjIE0/s1600/Photo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="178" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEium3Hpp7OvM2zGzOrRSFSXpB9S3w9-zh7AtpOPeSobSfjwwXIhM7Fkl8P8uBId6i-ULHRfCqhgVX6WPxHbC_1bvKYC7Yrwfj5yURX4hB69uBW3IUWsClN5_sqkuQme-xf8FVW8TCFjIE0/s320/Photo.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Zealous policing at Boudhanath Image Kathmandu Post</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span lang="EN-GB">On a less
cheerful note, in July the Buddhist world celebrated the Dalai Lama’s birthday.
Being squeezed between India and China Nepal has signed up to a non-political neutral
partnership protocol with both India and China, Nepal will not take a stand
that upsets either our northern or southern neighbours, (except when it suits
them as in the standoff during the blockade that started nearly a year ago). In
Kathmandu Boudhanath is the Tibetan enclave where many Tibetan monasteries and
schools of Tibetan teaching are situated. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><br /></span></div>
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<div class="MsoCaption" style="text-align: justify;">
The Songtsen Brikuti School in Boudhanath was
where the Tibetan community was scheduled to celebrate the 81st birthday of the
Dalai Lama. However, on the 6<sup>th</sup> July the area was overrun by
Nepalese police who disrupted the celebrations and detained approximately 30
Tibetans including the Tibetan Settlement Officer despite the fact that the
proper permission had been granted by the Nepalese authorities for the function. The celebratory event was cancelled.
Interesting to note the heavy-handed police officer on the right of the picture
is female.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span lang="EN-GB">Weather and the Monsoon<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB">I guess many of
you will have read and heard about the serious flooding in northern India, well
Nepal hasn’t escaped the wet weather either. There have been torrential
downpours, which I have to say were much needed, but along with that there has
been the usual devastating landslides. The road south into India was blocked
for several days and again this prevented supplies from reaching Kathmandu,
petrol stations were again closed and long queues formed. In other areas much
more serious incidents have been reported. As a result of indiscriminate
development and a lack of monitoring the heavy rains seriously eroded the Bhote
Koshi banks in the Sindapalchowk district which collapsed taking over 200
houses from Tatopani VDC's Larcha to Liping into the water. </span><br />
<span lang="EN-GB"><br /></span>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj1YSFWXDJRji2mXcfOx2mPXUHn2Na7qDSlU1GMJ73PlMfDY8mqSeOP4FOkIAPtCBX88gNlaDEKa4IGEd0QqMpfkb5olI1OFfRyY5SHbZRVCNJlSn5IbmoKtVqZUIO-yIbYHxcNVuxWKY/s1600/13600236_1394128737269187_4338527519493555779_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj1YSFWXDJRji2mXcfOx2mPXUHn2Na7qDSlU1GMJ73PlMfDY8mqSeOP4FOkIAPtCBX88gNlaDEKa4IGEd0QqMpfkb5olI1OFfRyY5SHbZRVCNJlSn5IbmoKtVqZUIO-yIbYHxcNVuxWKY/s320/13600236_1394128737269187_4338527519493555779_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12px; text-align: justify;">Indiscriminate building, no planning and even less monitoring <br />leads to more tragedy in Sindupalchowk</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b><span lang="EN-GB">Is Nepal on another planet?</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB">The
International Astronomical Union has now named a 9.8km (six mile) wide crater
on Mars ‘Langtang’. Dr de Haas, who studies Mars's physical geography at
Utrecht University in the Netherlands, told the BBC that he chose Langtang
because his colleague had worked there while studying Himalayan glaciers.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
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<div>
<p class=MsoCaption>
<span lang=EN-GB style='color:windowtext;font-weight:
normal;mso-bidi-font-weight:bold'>The Langtang Crater on Mars image NASA<span
style='mso-no-proof:yes'><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
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</tr>
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o:title="_90012234_langtangkrater"/>
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</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-GB">Dr de Haas went onto to say "It was his base camp for a long
period, so we said maybe it's a nice tribute to call [the crater]
Langtang". Langtang is a "scientifically important" crater,
"the marks on the top of the crater wall were probably water flows, and
below them you can see ridges - the remains of former glaciers."</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><br /></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu1w-fkfDNjvDVSGSDS_nEuNNzdV-gf3jq7AZ_Y2t34UZ84sP9OSJ8ubFnSCROYpJOOUml0Vr-zViTm97jjF1ejxdZ9FC6CP2CM-ZXmwylhQz0vZp5j8QRSw7jFxvarJStxERQlepv5Zo/s1600/_90012234_langtangkrater.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu1w-fkfDNjvDVSGSDS_nEuNNzdV-gf3jq7AZ_Y2t34UZ84sP9OSJ8ubFnSCROYpJOOUml0Vr-zViTm97jjF1ejxdZ9FC6CP2CM-ZXmwylhQz0vZp5j8QRSw7jFxvarJStxERQlepv5Zo/s320/_90012234_langtangkrater.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Langtang Crater on Mars Image NASA</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span lang="EN-GB">Another ‘Everest’ story</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="page-break-after: avoid; text-align: justify;">
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<div>
<p class=MsoCaption style='text-align:justify'>
<span lang=EN-GB
style='color:windowtext;font-weight:normal;mso-bidi-font-weight:bold'>They're
off! Everest marathon runners descend from Everest Base Camp at the start
of the race. Image The Himalayan Times.<span style='mso-no-proof:yes'><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
</div>
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</tr>
</table>
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<div class="MsoCaption" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: windowtext;">Lhakpa
Sherpa exhibiting her seventh Everest Summit Certificate<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB">In the spring
season 2016 Lhakpa Sherpa, summated Everest for the seventh time, breaking her
own world record for the number of ascents by a woman. Lhakpa is 43 and a
mother of three. She was born in the shadow of Makalu, Nepal but has travelled
repeatedly to the Himalaya from her home in the USA, where she works as a
housekeeper. Lhakpa first climbed Everest in 2000 as part of the Nepali Women
Millennium Expedition. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><br /></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq_yJ3Sc4Q3dZb7ZkVJs15LwwDggBC8t1yEx-NjK8T8d4PMKHvRIrsOlYi-yFFL0vYTQg8zdZ8optkvVcPwqhNX_BKe6n7B47Q-uAG_V4vOUvl9GkIt4nQpIYuSO_se1u-E5I5xw8Fknc/s1600/_89831966_hi033165957.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq_yJ3Sc4Q3dZb7ZkVJs15LwwDggBC8t1yEx-NjK8T8d4PMKHvRIrsOlYi-yFFL0vYTQg8zdZ8optkvVcPwqhNX_BKe6n7B47Q-uAG_V4vOUvl9GkIt4nQpIYuSO_se1u-E5I5xw8Fknc/s320/_89831966_hi033165957.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lhakpa Sherpa exhibiting her seventh Everest Summit<br />
Certificate</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
At a gathering of mountaineers in Kathmandu, post
expedition Lhakpa met US-based Romanian-born climber George Dijmarescu, who she
went on to marry. But during the 2004 Connecticut Everest Expedition, she and
Djimarescu had a violent altercation that left her seriously hurt, and sparked
a small media sensation in the mountaineering world. The couple divorced in
2015, after a lengthy court battle.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB">Lhakpa intends
to try to make the summit of Everest 10 times, in October 2016 she is returning
to Nepal in an attempt to climb Cho Oyu,
she has also got K2 in her sights, having been beaten by bad weather on her
first attempt in 2010. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span lang="EN-GB">The World’s highest marathon, yes ‘on Everest’<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA-uBpJH7uUcy2I3xoHtUU96pRYNin9K2MZ_DfNDVv6KdcfdklddUb8IDoLkUvTafjlexz7JZyiWNdhCSRiJVatBCGtx69BoYha4qNfD1pDizLm3BkRLjEBa3gwDgK-jbl6UmZopSyiNw/s1600/_89831783_3fa8a652-4ada-44ea-876f-5b5455634f2d.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA-uBpJH7uUcy2I3xoHtUU96pRYNin9K2MZ_DfNDVv6KdcfdklddUb8IDoLkUvTafjlexz7JZyiWNdhCSRiJVatBCGtx69BoYha4qNfD1pDizLm3BkRLjEBa3gwDgK-jbl6UmZopSyiNw/s320/_89831783_3fa8a652-4ada-44ea-876f-5b5455634f2d.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">They're off! Everest marathon runners descend from Everest <br />
Base Camp at the start of the race. Image THT</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB">This annual
event marks the anniversary of the first ascent by Tenzing Norgay and Edmund
Hillary in 1953. This year a Nepali soldier won the Everest marathon, Bed
Bahadur Sunuwar was one of more than 150 local and foreign runners in the race,
which began at Everest base camp. </span><span lang="EN-GB">The winner completed the
race, which ended about 2,000 metres further down the valley in Namche Bazaar,
in four hours and 10 seconds.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span lang="EN-GB"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span lang="EN-GB">Problems in Upper Mustang for mountaineering
expedition<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB">During the first
week of July an expedition comprising of two foreign mountaineers was prevented
from entering Upper Mustang by the local people. The expedition to Arniko Chuli
6039m, SW of Lo Manthang, was told that they could not progress through Upper
Mustang during the ‘growing season’ because this is considered to bring bad
omens into the area, anything from hailstorms to cyclones, causing the crops to
fail. Despite paying all the taxes and obtaining the required permissions for
mountaineering in Kathmandu before setting off the local people elected to
impose the ban on foreigners entering the area from the Tiji festival in April up
to September. The local Upper Mustang residents can fine foreigners, under
local traditions, who breach this law. After receiving a complaint from the
climbers, the Department of Tourism’s director Laxman Sharma told the
expedition members that the department took this situation very seriously and
would look into the case. Upper Mustang of course relies heavily on the revenue
generated by tourism.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span lang="EN-GB">Mountain Rescue – Nepal<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBP1iFBqcux9Rrd_u7uPcOONZOLCfoEvZPH3qEACPU-4tYSXVTSbeY1IWolepD5-8e4v_C0jlJfUxlix7AeeWOLNbvNWYvVAFnpMV0f0V9sZQMjYs1pKfAdrWJQx7jVgQoVhukloDFsYI/s1600/Phunjo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBP1iFBqcux9Rrd_u7uPcOONZOLCfoEvZPH3qEACPU-4tYSXVTSbeY1IWolepD5-8e4v_C0jlJfUxlix7AeeWOLNbvNWYvVAFnpMV0f0V9sZQMjYs1pKfAdrWJQx7jVgQoVhukloDFsYI/s320/Phunjo.jpg" width="286" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ms Phunjo Lama</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-GB">By 1973 the Himalayan Rescue Association (HRA) had been established
with the uncompromising mission ‘to reduce casualties in the Nepal Himalaya’.
Since then things have moved on, and sadly not always in the right direction
with many issues related to an abuse of the insurance system becoming well
known. However, you can’t tar everyone with the same brush. Several years ago
the Swiss took Nepal literally under their wing and supported the helicopter
rescue training of experienced Nepalese helicopter pilots and mountaineers come
rescuers. </span><br />
<span lang="EN-GB"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB">Recently Ms.
Phunjo Lama became the first female from Nepal to train as a long-line rescuer
(Aerial Rescue) which she completed in Switzerland. The technique is often
referred to a "Long Line" or "Short Haul", and is similar
to other helicopter long line systems in use throughout the world.</span><br />
<span lang="EN-GB"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB">HFRS (Helicopter
Flight Rescue System) involves the lowering of a crew member, sometimes by
several metres to beneath the landing gear of the helicopter, this allows the pilot
to hover clear of physical danger while the crew member is lowered to the
casualty on the mountain. The evacuation is often completed when the crew
member clips the casualty into the long line then both are flown, hanging
beneath the helicopter, to an area more conducive to landing and providing
medical treatment. Congratulations Phunjo.</span><br />
<span lang="EN-GB"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b><span lang="EN-GB">Glacial
Melt</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6cNyhMaei0rZVGT8bJ9MCkVu1mace_zIIRlYnQKRzFhUvYJEBMUQZ9gkAf9hkgK82wYoniPQZ_DopeSWcM4bwCAlctl2b-GDzC6zVAA-qgHBx53TOn8oEpm88BI6fUOY5Rkqqz0uhfFI/s1600/overflow.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6cNyhMaei0rZVGT8bJ9MCkVu1mace_zIIRlYnQKRzFhUvYJEBMUQZ9gkAf9hkgK82wYoniPQZ_DopeSWcM4bwCAlctl2b-GDzC6zVAA-qgHBx53TOn8oEpm88BI6fUOY5Rkqqz0uhfFI/s1600/overflow.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The overflow system installed in Rolwaling at Tsho Rolpa<br />
Image Ian Wall</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span lang="EN-GB">There is growing
concern over the rising water levels of Himalayan lakes due to climate change,
melting glaciers and melting semi-permanent snow fields, additional concern has
been raised as a result of the 2015 earthquake which scientists believe
weakened the natural moraine dam structure. </span><br />
<span lang="EN-GB"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
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<span lang=EN-GB style='color:windowtext;font-weight:
normal;mso-bidi-font-weight:bold'>Ms Phunjo Lama<span style='mso-no-proof:
yes'><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
</div>
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</tr>
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<![endif]></v:textbox>
<w:wrap type="tight"/>
</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-GB">In June 2016 approximately 40 Nepal Army personnel supported by
members of the high altitude communities of the Khumbu (Everest region) began
work to drain some of the water out of Imja Lake, 5000m near Island Peak. With
financial assistance from the UN the army constructed an outlet system to
gradually release the water over a period of 45 days and to reduce the water level
by three metres. The outlet will be similar in design to that constructed in
2000 to address concerns over the water levels in Tsho Rolpa, Rolwaling. At
this time of year the weather is bad with monsoon precipitation falling as snow
accompanied by seasonal low cloud. The army also lifted heavy earth moving
equipment to help the personnel on the ground. </span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8fj0c81Qau-EfHv37BYupe0i6wM9gNHalrSRMvBhuPBxsiul7rGXzqnUXOfqIHvq9k8ae_1qTqOTk6DVxuYylrvKmsQcXN0TJQFp5eaGH3F2XwS0T2n3ke5W6UM1Tln5hd8nxqqUjlRE/s1600/iml%253Ba+lake.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="356" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8fj0c81Qau-EfHv37BYupe0i6wM9gNHalrSRMvBhuPBxsiul7rGXzqnUXOfqIHvq9k8ae_1qTqOTk6DVxuYylrvKmsQcXN0TJQFp5eaGH3F2XwS0T2n3ke5W6UM1Tln5hd8nxqqUjlRE/s640/iml%253Ba+lake.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Heavy earth moving equipment at Imja Lake and the line of the new overflow channelAdd caption</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Despite two failed rounds calling for international bidding for the
contract the army was called in as the situation was declared as a matter of
urgency. It is reported that this is the highest altitude disaster risk
mitigation work ever carried out by an army team in the world. One can only
imagine the catastrophic disaster that would be inflicted on those communities
and the environment situated lower downstream in the event of the glacial lake
outburst.<span lang="EN-GB"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
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<p class=MsoCaption>
<span lang=EN-GB style='color:windowtext;font-weight:
normal;mso-bidi-font-weight:bold'>Heavy earth moving equipment at Imja Lake
and the line of the new overflow channel<span style='mso-no-proof:yes'><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
</div>
<![if !mso]></td>
</tr>
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<w:wrap type="tight"/>
</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><!--[endif]--><b><span lang="EN-GB">Helicopters in Nepal<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLk7vntXtvj5K6kUIa19HFARXqWHXQ6yhqzpui31OaQ7yBxtTAjW4i9YydVBEBkLiYtFce-gZnAxWxRRGsC7dWv2kUvqzrOZHBg1NCOjjW1_YQAaoMLT7S9orlH0xJTpaT1C8iPiWW2zI/s1600/13592805_1620811461580715_4119470946928508257_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLk7vntXtvj5K6kUIa19HFARXqWHXQ6yhqzpui31OaQ7yBxtTAjW4i9YydVBEBkLiYtFce-gZnAxWxRRGsC7dWv2kUvqzrOZHBg1NCOjjW1_YQAaoMLT7S9orlH0xJTpaT1C8iPiWW2zI/s320/13592805_1620811461580715_4119470946928508257_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Dragon being assembled in the workshops at the International <br />
Airport Image Fishtail</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span lang=EN-GB style='color:windowtext;font-weight:
normal;mso-bidi-font-weight:bold'>The Dragon being assembled in the workshops
at the International Airport Image Fishtail Air<span style='mso-no-proof:
yes'><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
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</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><!--[endif]--><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape id="Picture_x0020_31"
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</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-GB">Nepal has recently acquired several new (nearly new!) helicopters.
Fishtail Air has a Heli Linth B3e (H125) helicopter called Dragon as it is
painted with a big animated dragon in its livery. The Dragon aircraft was
dismantled into pieces, the fuselage, tail boom and rotors and was then transported
in a container through the road system from Calcutta, India to Kathmandu,
Nepal. The dismantled parts in the container passed customs at Birgunj in Nepal
and have now been reassembled in Tribhuwan International Airport by a team of
engineers. The `Dragon’ aircraft will get a new livery in Fishtail Air colours.
In 2015 t<a href="http://thehimalayantimes.com/kathmandu/two-new-mi-17-choppers-to-boost-nas-air-mobility/"><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">wo brand new
Mi-17V-5 helicopters</span></a> were delivered to the Nepal Army from Russia
and Simirik Air purchased a new Bell Helicopter, the 407 GXP and an AS350B3
(first registered 2005).</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span lang="EN-GB">Helicopters and Everest<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-D2LHiRBm3Axrn8tLJZbBdAm48dWCLxwbOTo8jgsum9ay_0H4oiXQqbE1n5_MHaWT0OUKv6eLvvS0KXylcRCTj4CJfymivTDimhWqocYbq5bD_HC5GI-kxotQrPZ9C9mqfDNHkcVINLM/s1600/12+-+inside-the-sleeping-tent-at-base-camp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-D2LHiRBm3Axrn8tLJZbBdAm48dWCLxwbOTo8jgsum9ay_0H4oiXQqbE1n5_MHaWT0OUKv6eLvvS0KXylcRCTj4CJfymivTDimhWqocYbq5bD_HC5GI-kxotQrPZ9C9mqfDNHkcVINLM/s320/12+-+inside-the-sleeping-tent-at-base-camp.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Three images of 'luxuries' at Everest Base Camp</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span lang="EN-GB">After years of
denied requests from both international guides and local mountain workers,
Nepal’s Ministry of Tourism finally in 2016, granted permission to use a
helicopter to transport rope-fixing gear from Base Camp to Camp 1 on Everest’s
South Col route, bypassing the treacherous Khumbu Icefall and thereby sparing
the mountain workers some of their time exposed to the deadly zone this season.</span><br />
<span lang="EN-GB"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB">On April 23,
2016 a helicopter made six trips to Camp 1 (6,035 meters, or 19,800 feet) in
the Western Cwm to deliver ropes, anchors, and oxygen for the
Nepali workers—a total of </span></div>
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</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><!--[endif]--><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF8jVgXeu-1Xiwzl1JemvGr8URConiVZN7_qFQDFReU_aF8PRLB4FuvKL1KcbSrDNMEWxx0KImP6hSe9Gk5oWxOf1fEri1s44qDkLtYOC3P9D1IUJVecVnWHEswpyr2fFi9gUjTr9lmkI/s1600/14-06-joanne-and-ed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="215" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF8jVgXeu-1Xiwzl1JemvGr8URConiVZN7_qFQDFReU_aF8PRLB4FuvKL1KcbSrDNMEWxx0KImP6hSe9Gk5oWxOf1fEri1s44qDkLtYOC3P9D1IUJVecVnWHEswpyr2fFi9gUjTr9lmkI/s320/14-06-joanne-and-ed.jpg" width="320" /></a><span lang="EN-GB">roughly 2,866 pounds of
equipment.</span><br />
<span lang="EN-GB">The helicopters saved only approximately 84 loads out of a thousand
or more that are estimated to traverse the ice fall every season. It is
estimated that they could cut another 50 percent or more of the loads
using a mix of helicopters, storing gear at Camp 2, and restricting all the
luxuries and ridiculous other clutter that is perceived as being required at
Camp 2 by clients and agents fighting for the client’s business (like
carpeting, chairs, tables, huge kitchens and kitchen staff, and solar panels).
What would Mallory have thought?</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizlrEHalwtOGT3Cin_sG2TdBlMklG3XpfuYdq6mRM6K3phCgkezhGGtBSOJIFYyp9GzjxIm7SdnUlITyutuAolxMY70U5jR88yS8fIM2PLJuJKIZA336zMUBD8sIOydDqZJSoCbNDKpPg/s1600/bc-dining-tent.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizlrEHalwtOGT3Cin_sG2TdBlMklG3XpfuYdq6mRM6K3phCgkezhGGtBSOJIFYyp9GzjxIm7SdnUlITyutuAolxMY70U5jR88yS8fIM2PLJuJKIZA336zMUBD8sIOydDqZJSoCbNDKpPg/s320/bc-dining-tent.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<span lang="EN-GB"> Some images of life in camp on Everest –
admittedly not all goes beyond Base Camp but some luxuries certainly do, either
way it all needs transporting to the foot of the mountain and back again.</span><br />
<span lang="EN-GB"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b><span lang="EN-GB">The
effect of the UK – EU spat?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB">Sadly the
shock waves are rippling round the world. As has been widely announced the </span><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape
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<span lang=EN-GB style='color:windowtext;font-weight:
normal;mso-bidi-font-weight:bold'>Guess if you're going to spend a lot of
time in here you need a comfortable 'seat'!<span style='mso-no-proof:yes'><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
</div>
<![if !mso]></td>
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<w:wrap type="tight"/>
</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-GB">pound has come in for a
hammering and today 27<sup>th</sup> July it has slipped to 137/- NRs with the
dollar at 105/- NRs this is a reduction from 160/- NRs and 108/- only a few
weeks back. However the exchange rate always moves pre-monsoon, the real test
is to see if it recovers in September.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB">As I finish
the last of this newsletter information is coming in of a restructured policy
for climbing mountains in Nepal, changes include:-</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "symbol"; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-GB">Climbers MUST be accompanied by
a guide</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "symbol"; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-GB">Restricted helicopter used for
personnel above base camp</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "symbol"; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-GB">Nepalese mountain workers to
receive ‘Summit Certificates’</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "symbol"; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-GB">Upper age restriction of
75years and double amputees, visually impaired climbers to be banned </span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "symbol"; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-GB">A pre-requisite of a 7000m
summit is required to enable an Everest permit to be issued</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB">I’m sure this
issue will run and run and already one point has risen to the surface.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span lang="EN-GB">A difficult situation and decisions to be made<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
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</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-GB">One of the new issues to be considered by the Department of Tourism
is whether to implement the policy of requiring every climber to be accompanied
by a Nepalese guide. This is a similar situation to the one raised concerning solo
trekkers a few years ago. While one of the real attractions of being in the
mountains is that there are no real laws only common sense it does create a
problem in Nepal where so many climbers and trekkers go missing. <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_edyGeQd8rKtDXjVJ-ofzlVz5AwjRo_x6hhgqlAu9OPSirMnCKO7uDb_0LIYHjawYC8aMCoMKEo0Lux_Mhijlhe4o6qApgfIZ_lUVqs75YqpWINiWt72Li1y4eALUBeV2y5poK9YRwqo/s1600/Dhaulagiri.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="579" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_edyGeQd8rKtDXjVJ-ofzlVz5AwjRo_x6hhgqlAu9OPSirMnCKO7uDb_0LIYHjawYC8aMCoMKEo0Lux_Mhijlhe4o6qApgfIZ_lUVqs75YqpWINiWt72Li1y4eALUBeV2y5poK9YRwqo/s640/Dhaulagiri.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dhaulagiri 81767 m the worlds' seventh highest summit and Nepal's sixth highest mountain was the last 8000 m peak to be climbed</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
At the
beginning of May Dutchman, Christian Wilson went missing from Dhaulagiri base
camp when he failed to reach the lower Italian base camp. He had retreated from
his solo attempt to climb the world’s seventh highest mountain, after reaching
Camp 2. He gave up as he was (reportedly) a ‘free individual trekker’ on a climbing
permit. Despite searches being conducted in the area there are still no answers
to the question as to what has happened to Christian. Another trekker, </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN7rn203viWlWRY3q347ECTlRFZvGHm-HAFl2LspYryG3hneKlEm8pPJA_4YsXfSvcezd5m9a9nz4fVsQwBtl8Jyeojjo3n-LJCEL6MDLSquQMse_Jq7PV-b4QZGJj9huEYqDvzUn_b0Q/s1600/naya+pul.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="278" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN7rn203viWlWRY3q347ECTlRFZvGHm-HAFl2LspYryG3hneKlEm8pPJA_4YsXfSvcezd5m9a9nz4fVsQwBtl8Jyeojjo3n-LJCEL6MDLSquQMse_Jq7PV-b4QZGJj9huEYqDvzUn_b0Q/s400/naya+pul.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div>
<span lang="EN-GB">Romanian
Popescu Adina Monica, an experienced orienteer and trekker died in a landslip
on the Annapurna Sanctuary trek. Her body was found in the Shivay River,
Ghandruk on the route back to Naya Pul, only a few kilometres from the road
head and route back to Pokhara.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
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<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span lang="EN-GB">Who says the Nepali Government is not doing its job?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB">Since 11<sup>th</sup>
October 2015 the Government has met over 40 times and taken over 800 decisions.
Approval was given for 183 foreign trips, 106 appointments, 79 regarding
financial support 75 for promotions and transfers and 370 undisclosed
approvals. So far very few decisions have been passed that would address some
of the other pressing issues in Nepal.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span lang="EN-GB">Does Pakistan have a reason?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
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<p class=MsoCaption>
<span lang=EN-GB style='color:windowtext;font-weight:
normal;mso-bidi-font-weight:bold'>Dhaulagiri 8167m the world’s seventh
highest summit and Nepal’s sixth highest mountain and the last 8000m peak
to be climbed in Nepal<span style='mso-no-proof:yes'><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
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</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-GB">While our three Nepali
‘Himalayan Queens’ successfully climbed K2 last year there is a growing
speculation amongst the Nepalese climbing fraternity that Pakistan wants to
limit the role of Sherpas on expeditions to the Karakoram. Lakpa Sherpa has
already climbed K2 twice, this season he arrived with all the required permits
with the plan to accompany Ruban Payan, an American climber on his K2
expedition. Lakpa was told on arrival by an immigration officer that he had to
return to Kathmandu, no reasons were given. When he reclaimed his passport in
Kathmandu he found he had been blacklisted. Lakpa is not the only one, many
other climbers have been prevented from entering Pakistan this season. An
Australian-New Zealander, Chris Burke was refused entry despite having all the
required permits, she believed it was because she had a Nepalese climber in her
team.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b><span lang="EN-GB">Sometimes
‘Nepali Time’ is faster than time in the rest of the world – especially in
politics!<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB">Prime
Minister KP Oli resigned on Sunday 24<sup>th</sup> July, nine months after getting
into power and only minutes before parliament was to vote on a ‘no confidence’
motion that he was likely to lose.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB">Oli was
forced to resign after allies of his multi-party coalition deserted the
government accusing him of not honouring power sharing deals that had helped
install him as prime minister in October last year. There had previously been ‘behind
the scenes negotiations’ between the leaders of the various parties but
ultimately these had all fallen off the rails.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB">Nepali
politics is never simple to understand especially for foreigners interested in
Nepal. Oli had shunned India’s advice and their expressed concerns. This new
move will mark India’s return to Nepal’s political landscape. The blockade was
part of India’s move to demonstrate discontent with Oli’s leadership after
being unable to shape political outcomes in Nepal over the past year. This move
will also demonstrate to China the difficulties of micro-managing a diverse,
plural democratic landscape in South Asia.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB">Nepali
leaders, almost exclusively from hill castes, were keen to preserve their
dominance. They saw the border Madhesi issues as an Indian conspiracy to
increase its control. They disregarded both Indian advice and Madhesi protests
and pushed the constitution forward in September, 2015. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB">Beyond these political
games, the test will be to see if the next Nepal government brings back
inclusive democracy and the country’s relationship with Delhi back on track.
For Delhi, another nightmare in Nepal ends. It will now have to build back
bilateral ties, while discreetly pushing for political inclusiveness. And as
for Beijing, well there is a lesson. Unlike one-party systems, democracy can be
messy with many political permutations resulting in change. China has some way
to go before it can compete with India’s natural advantages in the Himalayan
states.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span lang="EN-GB">That’s it! <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB">And with that
folks I’ll leave you with a view of our own little ‘jungle’ created by the
monsoon weather; remember all the flowers in the last issue, now replaced by
lush green foliage and snakes. Yes snakes, Sarita found a large skin in the
bushes the other day..but I think he was just passing through..hope so anyway!</span><br />
<span lang="EN-GB"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZdwGMQ_iMfoK84IlOxBKQa_15riHRWsM270BU025Ihf5a1jj7PsYeArgZ3NOG0Unz3sPsAd6SDm_QuN6vDjy3Cr47OmP5nj04ThagRa0nNRxCmuqCTkslzFrkwP6fWRsWV1pY6mSzuN8/s1600/P1040059.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZdwGMQ_iMfoK84IlOxBKQa_15riHRWsM270BU025Ihf5a1jj7PsYeArgZ3NOG0Unz3sPsAd6SDm_QuN6vDjy3Cr47OmP5nj04ThagRa0nNRxCmuqCTkslzFrkwP6fWRsWV1pY6mSzuN8/s640/P1040059.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<span lang="EN-GB"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
Enjoy summer!</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoUaIn2FXbrPu3aWWt8jBedsl9e3f15S1BXn2Ow21ZSigzIJodglGeH2mDv3zx3dDNTyOkTCX8HFJwKuWHCTj2QcMKUFUWLKqbWtvTCEszodQJfPsqpVKW1KPsT0P88rkEcFGrfGJhHhw/s1600/Ian+%2526+Sarita.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoUaIn2FXbrPu3aWWt8jBedsl9e3f15S1BXn2Ow21ZSigzIJodglGeH2mDv3zx3dDNTyOkTCX8HFJwKuWHCTj2QcMKUFUWLKqbWtvTCEszodQJfPsqpVKW1KPsT0P88rkEcFGrfGJhHhw/s1600/Ian+%2526+Sarita.jpg" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB">July 2016</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
</div>
ianoffthewallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09893050670803576833noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4685057110957823513.post-11513086192314318412016-04-16T02:13:00.002-07:002016-09-24T02:18:13.862-07:002016 Off the Wall Newsletter April 10<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBrgWZQAeNtwjdjzjTcoOIBLfCM-BurZCndv6nfNETtOddxPV3SoSiPFwIGK37qJ0e1Rm6h9nX4unxxAV2YLGU1jo8wV2tjtmFvlrZZjGKzVlMfmTuNllTmJobpOMgJ6BHigoP0SStOIA/s1600/P1020937.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="252" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBrgWZQAeNtwjdjzjTcoOIBLfCM-BurZCndv6nfNETtOddxPV3SoSiPFwIGK37qJ0e1Rm6h9nX4unxxAV2YLGU1jo8wV2tjtmFvlrZZjGKzVlMfmTuNllTmJobpOMgJ6BHigoP0SStOIA/s640/P1020937.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">This might seem
a step removed from our usual banner image. There is more than one way to
report the news and current affairs but sadly reporting the way the BBC, CNN
and other major media institutions did caused more damage and hardship to Nepal
than the earthquake ever did, not to mention the FO travel advise.</span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJJBcfKeukkGaHBZEdy7gxOM39TtYWmPRmdP5ovcIaJcv-H8qbzpc_FQtPH4-OrTu6Fq3-Oj_9TDHtVBQHIjcFysjmb-jxmp4B7OwS1duqDsgbTK5OlmEolN_LpwP4wAYQGHOR8rSfrSs/s1600/Petrol.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="127" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJJBcfKeukkGaHBZEdy7gxOM39TtYWmPRmdP5ovcIaJcv-H8qbzpc_FQtPH4-OrTu6Fq3-Oj_9TDHtVBQHIjcFysjmb-jxmp4B7OwS1duqDsgbTK5OlmEolN_LpwP4wAYQGHOR8rSfrSs/s400/Petrol.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A regular sight around the KAthmandu Valley during the time of the Black Market</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span lang="EN-GB">As a result of
the alleged Indian ‘blockade’ this bus was carrying 30 blue plastic barrels
each containing 60 litres of petrol above possibly 26+ passengers driving the
roads between the capital and the India border. And there were hundreds of
these busses making multiple daily journeys, but hundreds more working normally
and life was going on as normal in the rest of Nepal - that was never
mentioned.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB">On February 6<sup>th</sup>
2016, trucks crossed the Birgunj-Raxaul border both from Nepal into India and
from India into Nepal. That was the first time for more than five months that
essential supplies had begun to move between the two countries. Blockades and
disruption in the Terai are not new, in 1990 the last big blockade lasted for
18 months but never has a blockade been
imposed at such a critical time for Nepal as this one just when Nepal was
trying to recover from the 2015 earthquakes and of course way back in 1990
things were very different. Petrol, diesel, and liquid petroleum gas (LPG)
began to reach distribution depots inside of Nepal, yet and only now, at the
beginning of April, is Mr. Average only just seeing any improvement in supply.
Is this the state of things to come? </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB">I have just returned to
Nepal after spending March in the UK. While in Ambleside, just before Easter I
was speaking with staff in a local climbing equipment shop. They had the same
complaint, the press had, in its reporting capacity given out ‘misleading’
information that led to many potential Easter Lakeland visitors assuming that
the whole of the Lake District was under water and making alternative plans. Tourist
numbers were expected to be down.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3Au3nLuy6M9YiJRWQ2jpYvK3yLFIaxFMRfrTuww-gnmlpM5xacA1PFiOrQmxgdSrK9_4t3HKsYMGi7Nw4sQ4UzzBKX3pqUYYjWvjpIWqb9pcaqL-gyPFd4skBUqV_epi2f2w3EjTFa0g/s1600/6a00d8341df99053ef01b8d17ee6cd970c-700wi.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3Au3nLuy6M9YiJRWQ2jpYvK3yLFIaxFMRfrTuww-gnmlpM5xacA1PFiOrQmxgdSrK9_4t3HKsYMGi7Nw4sQ4UzzBKX3pqUYYjWvjpIWqb9pcaqL-gyPFd4skBUqV_epi2f2w3EjTFa0g/s320/6a00d8341df99053ef01b8d17ee6cd970c-700wi.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Many people took the opportunity to cash in</td></tr>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span lang="EN-GB">The Smuggler Army</span></u></b><span lang="EN-GB">,
a band of mostly unemployed poorly educated people living in the Terai were running
the gauntlet for the more powerful, wealthy and unscrupulous men further north.
The sale of bicycles went up as tens of thousands of men, women and children
cycled into India to fill up plastic ‘jerry cans’ at filling stations only to
cycle back into Nepal and onto Bardibas, a small town on the Nepal side of the
border. Here the fuel was loaded onto busses, along with passengers and
transported into Kathmandu, usually in the middle of the night, but as the
black market took hold this ‘smuggling’ became less ‘under-cover’ and you could
regularly see busses piled high with containers of petrol passing through the
main routes of Nepal and the Kathmandu Valley. </span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">In mid-January,
the National Human Rights Commission estimated about 150,000 litres of fuel, almost
a fifth of Nepal’s daily demand in petrol flowed into Nepal daily through the
village of Thori, in Parsa, alone.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">The smuggling
was blatantly obvious to all. The Terai zone police office (Rajendra Regmi
spokesman) agedly made a statement acknowledging the police’s blind-eye to the
situation `If the government can’t fulfil its responsibility [of providing
fuel], we don’t want to make people’s lives harder’; just being public spirited
or was there money involved? Now the blockade is over and tankers are again
crossing the border the black market crashed. Yet there was still no fuel in
Kathmandu, why?</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRBIRcf0byfHwtjF75ipocKWrzv1yH_oEH14AiFFVmojXCgqA7LB1XoKNoVmk_W8TWK_5JH5aPGqkRs2rwzF3xiLesLhsuSSvfOLAVpVOgVVymVkStaApuFONtZ7_GwvosefM8OcAZAYY/s1600/Untitled-1+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRBIRcf0byfHwtjF75ipocKWrzv1yH_oEH14AiFFVmojXCgqA7LB1XoKNoVmk_W8TWK_5JH5aPGqkRs2rwzF3xiLesLhsuSSvfOLAVpVOgVVymVkStaApuFONtZ7_GwvosefM8OcAZAYY/s1600/Untitled-1+copy.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The supply chain starts here</td></tr>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span lang="EN-GB">Nepal’s thirst for petroleum products</span></u></b><span lang="EN-GB"> is increasing at an alarming rate. In the fiscal year 2004–5, the
Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC) imported 76,097 kiloliters of petrol. Ten years
later, this had risen more than threefold, to 287,473 kiloliters. Worth
approximately USD 2.76 billion, the petrol market alone accounts for 14 percent
of the national economy. The import of diesel and liquid petroleum gas tells a
similar story of rapidly rising consumption. This huge market is dominated
by the state-owned NOC, which has a monopoly on the import and distribution of
all petroleum products, which it obtains from the Indian Oil Corporation.
End-users obtain petrol and diesel from a network of approximately 850 petrol
pumps and dealers, both private and state-owned, including those belonging to
security agencies, which fall under the NOC’s regulatory authority.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB">After the
beginning of the blockade, traffic in Kathmandu, which consumes 50 percent of
all petrol, was initially drastically reduced. But a month into the blockade
and Kathmandu’s familiar traffic jams were back, it was hard to believe that
there was any scarcity in the capital. But smuggled petrol only represented
part of the story. Despite attempts from the ‘Morcha’ to completely halt supplies
through Biratnagar and other entry points, they succeeded only in Birgunj. The
blockade was thus never total, and imports were sufficient to fulfil about a
third of the total petrol demand. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span lang="EN-GB">So if the petrol was arriving in Nepal and the
capital where was it all going?</span></u></b><span lang="EN-GB"> </span><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Some of the
officially imported petrol went to the public through a rationing system.
Private vehicles periodically received petrol and diesel at the official rate,
cars were allowed 15 litres, motorcycles 4 litres. For most people, this
involved collecting tokens early in the morning and then queuing at petrol
stations for long hours, often the entire day. But not everyone had to wait.
Individuals with <i>sifaris </i><span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">(</span>letters
of recommendations from “higher up,” typically from a ministry) were allowed to
jump the queue.</span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5lNexas8jQLdHI9eA7S-RW1IcirBqj-iDrF2itBMqpJoxeHM0Nmn9yU8k6J5nDLel36up9So_paFbn_sopS7v4EaB1hxLCC8qjE9HNewmKXpUaPXeC4NCtSDFc_mPAP1-BIkQd3-q9gU/s1600/Nov_12th_kerung_tankers_on_one-lane_road.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="177" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5lNexas8jQLdHI9eA7S-RW1IcirBqj-iDrF2itBMqpJoxeHM0Nmn9yU8k6J5nDLel36up9So_paFbn_sopS7v4EaB1hxLCC8qjE9HNewmKXpUaPXeC4NCtSDFc_mPAP1-BIkQd3-q9gU/s320/Nov_12th_kerung_tankers_on_one-lane_road.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fuel coming in via the Shabrubesi road via Kerung</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">At a police-run petrol
station in Kathmandu, on January 29, the distribution of petrol to 300 queuing
vehicles took over nine hours because additional cars and motorcycles kept
cutting into the first 20 meters of the queue pushing everybody further back
from the pumps.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Tempers frayed but the policeman
in charge simply shrugged his shoulders. “There are so many ministers, as well
as their brothers, sisters, nieces, and nephews. Don’t bother complaining to
the <i>akhtiyar</i> [the Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of
Authority]—I can show you a list with hundreds of names of their staff, as well
as their relatives.” </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">While NOC officially provided
regular fuel to ministers, influential people (under a “VIP quota”), and
schools and hospitals, unofficially, it also supplied aides of the prime
minister, and ministers’ personal secretaries, family and friends. On January
25<sup>th</sup>, over the course of an hour at NOC headquarters, more than
forty individuals entered the office of the chief of supply and distribution,
and emerged with <i>sifaris </i>letters.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">A share of the NOC’s petrol
also found its way into the black market, although it is hard to specify how</span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxDPykCKwi56i81gvdYNF8o0YIshG6TKi5DWMe3R6XuQ_KEmtmOa0c-yOShC1xevymCAO3qOdjKnGCz7lvZZqF5y5GNrySOu41W_G7cmmNZW-0GDe8I8PvQGwdP4TzcKbUBeoXKje7kqQ/s1600/Nov_6th_airplanes.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="178" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxDPykCKwi56i81gvdYNF8o0YIshG6TKi5DWMe3R6XuQ_KEmtmOa0c-yOShC1xevymCAO3qOdjKnGCz7lvZZqF5y5GNrySOu41W_G7cmmNZW-0GDe8I8PvQGwdP4TzcKbUBeoXKje7kqQ/s320/Nov_6th_airplanes.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Domestic flights restricted in Kathmandu</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
much but millions of dollars were made by some people from this situation.
Those with NOC ties were able to channel whatever fuel entered Nepal to their
preferred petrol pumps, which then found its way to the black market. In
November, ten stations in Kathmandu were closed on charges of illegally
distributing NOC provided fuel. The chief district officer responsible for the
crackdown, Ek Narayan Aryal, who had previously been awarded by the government
for his integrity, was transferred in early December, allegedly for trying to
rein in the black market. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-no-proof: yes;"></span><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div>
<div class="MsoCaption" style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div class="MsoCaption" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“It expanded like organized
crime,” Aryal said at a briefing with CIAA officials in November. He reported
that seven petrol pumps had been closed on charges of supplying the black
market, and 82 people were arrested in the Kathmandu district alone.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNePrq6Nm_BPu-tXg7MfKpUH1cXTyw3KXZidNWwFYtOzZJC7cWMzudqbdL7maQosS6vSgW1VhjY5w6Yb5jWs-ql0uuB51-CWtQRXXhyphenhyphen5rXhaL9nWwafK2YdPWdytbbGzxVGe8Y3ueleII/s1600/2120.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNePrq6Nm_BPu-tXg7MfKpUH1cXTyw3KXZidNWwFYtOzZJC7cWMzudqbdL7maQosS6vSgW1VhjY5w6Yb5jWs-ql0uuB51-CWtQRXXhyphenhyphen5rXhaL9nWwafK2YdPWdytbbGzxVGe8Y3ueleII/s320/2120.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The supply of gas was no easier with long queues</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">A small scale black-market
trader in Kathmandu, interviewed in early February, said she received her stock
from a petrol pump in Bardibas. Taxi drivers and rental vehicle operators said
they bought petrol from government agencies, including the police and army. The
managers of large hotels paid an additional, informal, charge on the consignments
they received for their generators. A recent news article </span><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">claims the NOC’s
distribution list published since the end of the blockage includes petrol pumps
that have been out of operation for years. The refusal of the NOC, a
state-owned monopoly, to share details on how it distributed petrol, diesel,
and cooking gas over the past months of scarcity is a scandal. So is the
apparent inability of the government to take it to task.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-no-proof: yes;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Having said all of that there
are good publically spirited filling station owners. The other day I was
driving home on the last fumes of my ‘black’ petrol when my local filling
station owner jumped out in front of me and ushered me through locked gates
onto his forecourt. Five minutes later a tanker arrived and emptied 40,000lt of
petrol into the storage tanks, ‘So back to normal’ I asked. Sadly no ‘Within
two hours our tanks will be dry’ he said. What fuel is arriving in the public sector
is simply not sufficient to quench the thirst of the petroleum thirsty
citizens. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">By the time I returned to Kathmandu from my UK visit many of
the fuel supply problems had been addressed and the filling stations were
operating as normal.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMgFV5oEkEsfDnEvQw1Z2iRbeEtd75zcJgYgtYQBvSbjLsDhVAcXCc9Ga10XsGNW1F9IrVEyKYEhRFylv_6nbCoH5H6jWhQ6J-26G_CePHnDNg04Ju3-Z0u9t8PYe0WHRWlFj-BKBriQE/s1600/12400670_10207023216472389_5254092626734723308_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="206" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMgFV5oEkEsfDnEvQw1Z2iRbeEtd75zcJgYgtYQBvSbjLsDhVAcXCc9Ga10XsGNW1F9IrVEyKYEhRFylv_6nbCoH5H6jWhQ6J-26G_CePHnDNg04Ju3-Z0u9t8PYe0WHRWlFj-BKBriQE/s320/12400670_10207023216472389_5254092626734723308_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The large menacing black cloud over Kathmandu on the 28th March </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span lang="EN-GB">And now for something totally different – the
weather</span></u><span lang="EN-GB"> </span></b><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Nepal is well into Spring now, the first
cuckoos have arrived and the flowers are out in the garden, a selection appear
throughout this newsletter and the Magnolia has bloomed. The monsoon seems like
it isn’t that far away judging by yesterday’s weather. Over the last few days
the weather has been particularly gloomy and heavy with just about all the
domestic flights being cancelled, due to low clouds obliterating the view of even
the northern valley hills normally visible from my office and that is a little
over 4km away. But yesterday, the skies literally turned black, and the wind
produced a dust storm akin to something seen in the Sahara. Trees were
uprooted, plant pots were tossed around, poly-tunnels got ripped and
pedestrians were in danger of getting decapitated by flying corrugated tin
sheets. Then within the hour all was normal again.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">No
reporting on Nepal would be complete without mention of Everest.</span></u></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></b><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtVEjBZTDIU0Cx_-NNuGRn38ltwXW1l9gCJbT6yavF3mNEeH27X0D5MvD0Vd-BbQh-T7-nk19-77fOqTXk8zLj44PR216ib8Z-5CsUhdxulHA1HOezrKyzre6IkaMgr_ddae73ZV_-bhw/s1600/nn_05ren_everest_140418.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtVEjBZTDIU0Cx_-NNuGRn38ltwXW1l9gCJbT6yavF3mNEeH27X0D5MvD0Vd-BbQh-T7-nk19-77fOqTXk8zLj44PR216ib8Z-5CsUhdxulHA1HOezrKyzre6IkaMgr_ddae73ZV_-bhw/s640/nn_05ren_everest_140418.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Helicopters involver in the recovery operation in 2014 Everest - nbcnews.com</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></b><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The last few seasons have</span>given Everest a rest although
sadly for all the wrong reasons, now the 2016 season is beginning to build up. </span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrzcu4Da7GMsuj2cyJGNBLUj_9gwjGH_VcNpxViK0qgs7SE1-xjUex0erkgoeGoPD0ff0RI7ye8juUWkFKk5OmyeTHHi80BdZjQikEf88rxF73lvFYVpRVPwQAweTrADwLeXMRPpK0850/s1600/P1020775.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrzcu4Da7GMsuj2cyJGNBLUj_9gwjGH_VcNpxViK0qgs7SE1-xjUex0erkgoeGoPD0ff0RI7ye8juUWkFKk5OmyeTHHi80BdZjQikEf88rxF73lvFYVpRVPwQAweTrADwLeXMRPpK0850/s320/P1020775.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">All the ladders used in the icefall have to be carried in by porters</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Before the expeditions even
reach Base Camp the Nepalese mountain workers are busy with their various
roles, one of the main areas of responsibility is that of fixing the ice fall.
This year the ‘Icefall Doctors’ as they are known have reported that the new
line to the right of the icefall is subjected to new ‘cracks’ and ‘holes’ that
have appeared since the earthquake last season. The boys are facing
difficulties installing the equipment required to make life easier for those
traversing through this difficult and dangerous section of the route. As a
result of the changing conditions on the glacier over the last year more aluminium
ladders are required. More than 40 ladders have already been installed and it
is estimated that this figure could rise to as many as 200 by the time the
route is fixed. A new initiative for this year is to establish a two-way
traffic system, a route for ascent and one for descent. This is to avoid the
hold-ups and to lessen the time spent in the danger zone from congestion, a
lesson learnt from the Avalanche disaster of 2014. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-no-proof: yes;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB">At the time of
the Avalanche disaster in 2014 and the fallout from the mountaineering industry
in Nepal there was a statement issued by the government indicating that those
expedition members who had been denied the opportunity to ascend Everest might
have their permits extended by 5 years to allow them to use their already
committed financial outlay. Consequently nearly 334 expedition members have had
their permits extended to 2019. However, on February 20<sup>th</sup> 2016, a
day before the Spring Season was due to commence the Finance Ministry also confirmed
that the Tourism Ministry’s proposal to extend the climbing permits for hundreds
more mountaineers who had been forced to abandon their expeditions in 2015<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> </i>due to the April 25<sup>th</sup>
earthquake not only on Everest but also on other peaks in Nepal would have
their permits extended by two years, this included 801 individuals 265 of them
were Everest permits. At present the Department of Tourism has fixed the
Everest permit at 11,000 US $ while other permits vary accordingly. Of course
there are many other costs involved in climbing any of the mountains in Nepal.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-no-proof: yes;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB">So far, as of
the time of writing March 26<sup>th</sup>, three expeditions have already left
Kathmandu for Everest Base Camp and their acclimatization while another is
about to depart for Lhotse. Up to the date of writing, the Department of
Tourism has received applications from 24 expeditions comprising 206
mountaineers seeking permits for Everest this season. This includes a 14-member
NCC Girls Indian Everest Expedition and more than 60 army personnel from
different countries. One of the largest Nepalese operators Seven Summits
Trekking has 12 expeditions this season, five to Everest while others will
attempt Makalu, Lhotse, Nuptse, Annapurna and Dhaulagiri. This season the
Sagarmatha Pollution Control Committee has placed 76 waste bins along the
Everest trail and Tara Air is accepting the responsibility to ferry the
collected waste from the Khumbu free of charge.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGo9GVEkV3LEuJPGu2hzVW8jOTiWpTYY8N52sVTwqNQvzigGejsRKHtuNjGtpR3YatMV9FjgIBP7WETilpmoINCZpEWH7wAnPMjKVpMGncW4xDHyhUJzD17WqixmTEpLvdiuk_ytDszho/s1600/P1030293.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGo9GVEkV3LEuJPGu2hzVW8jOTiWpTYY8N52sVTwqNQvzigGejsRKHtuNjGtpR3YatMV9FjgIBP7WETilpmoINCZpEWH7wAnPMjKVpMGncW4xDHyhUJzD17WqixmTEpLvdiuk_ytDszho/s400/P1030293.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our garden 'springing' into life</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB">Again the D of T
has said it will have a presence at EBC this season ‘to facilitate world
climbers and to monitor the activities of liaison officers!’</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-no-proof: yes;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB">Just in case you
have been on the Moon recently and missed the fact that <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u>Prince Harry</u></b> has visited Nepal. His official visit, to
celebrate the bicentennial anniversary of the diplomatic relationship between
Nepal and Britain lasted five days during which time he completed his well
documented official duties. He then announced that he would stay on an
additional six days to help the charity Team Rubicon, a charity matching
military veterans and first responders to rebuild an earthquake destroyed
school in Lapu VDC-3, Gorkha District, a Western District of Nepal. The Nepalese
are bowled over by the Prince and many are hoping that his presence will kick
start the tourism industry after the recent devastating events. He has
certainly been very vocal in his calls for people to return to Nepal, but only
time will tell if they take his message on board.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicRDYyI7VMM97gJ4RTUOneSZHiu7w4aFeMS8YD_GXxVXXYlmVgVAj2hZ60AgboAFxaMtbTIZl1XfRMqQsr-IceSBAznsgwyY-qlMLg-yLFuw_5itRta9yjCHNdWbn1OhZDeINEZ31ws8M/s1600/images.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicRDYyI7VMM97gJ4RTUOneSZHiu7w4aFeMS8YD_GXxVXXYlmVgVAj2hZ60AgboAFxaMtbTIZl1XfRMqQsr-IceSBAznsgwyY-qlMLg-yLFuw_5itRta9yjCHNdWbn1OhZDeINEZ31ws8M/s1600/images.png" /></a></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span lang="EN-GB">A ‘Truth and Reconciliation Commission’</span></u></b><span lang="EN-GB"> The Peoples’ War’ covered the years February 1996 to November 2006.
However, progress to determine the truth and to make progress in other areas is
slow despite the fact that the Commission was established on the 10<sup>th</sup>
February 2015 with four objectives. </span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">1. To find and
punish those associated with the grave violation of human rights, 2. To create
an environment for sustainable the peace and reconciliation process to develop.
3. To enable the repatriation of displaced victims. 4. To make recommendations
for legal action against those who were involved in serious offences during the
conflict. </span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span lang="EN-GB">Reconstruction post Earthquake</span></u><span lang="EN-GB"> </span></b><span lang="EN-GB">Many people have raised the question
‘What has the Nepalese Government done post earthquake in line with its
commitment to address the state of those made homeless as a result of the April
2015 disaster?’ It was reported on the 29<sup>th</sup> March by
Southasia.com.au that a delegation of German parliamentarians had held meetings
in Nepal with Nepalese stakeholders and as a result had made the most direct
criticism so far of the lack of progress to attend to the needs of the nation.
The German delegation completed a five-day tour of those areas worst hit to
assess reconstruction and rehabilitation activities. Germany had pledged 30million
Euros in grant assistance to Nepal. An Australian parliamentarian had also
raised similar issues.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">It is understood that the German delegation also met with
the National Reconstruction Authority but only to</span></div>
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find out that the body
is still busy formulating rules and regulations rather than doing the actual
reconstruction and rehabilitation work it was created to do.<br />
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<span lang="EN-GB">Even the Nepali
Times published a satirical comment on the state of Nepali politics on the 24<sup>th</sup>
March – ‘<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">It seems Nepal’s enduring time
warp, once rather charming and quaint has endured far too long, nurtured by an
elite that’s neither willing nor able to change with the times. Worse still,
after so many years of abysmal governance this appears almost normal.<br />
Readers don’t need the Hand of any other alien meddler to tell them Nepal has
been hijacked by a coterie of highly incompetent individuals who, for all their
self-importance and elevated stature locally, would be laughed off the
political stage elsewhere. The dysfunction that’s become the local norm here is
considered totally unacceptable in most other places.</i></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDvX0HbJYyM04-qnOKI1PeP985lynnhjpWF739IHKdAfzSKyBkEi2vSLOshSblTXP37tCaCCzlrEBkbFAINgCQqKOp7xiJWPFZWnPj40Kfqc8E5lyXcD6o_kI2dKTd6n3nN98MBsZpX3I/s1600/P1030302.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDvX0HbJYyM04-qnOKI1PeP985lynnhjpWF739IHKdAfzSKyBkEi2vSLOshSblTXP37tCaCCzlrEBkbFAINgCQqKOp7xiJWPFZWnPj40Kfqc8E5lyXcD6o_kI2dKTd6n3nN98MBsZpX3I/s320/P1030302.jpg" width="239" /></a></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">Relief agencies and major donors are also getting impatient with the
excuses and delays put forward by the National Reconstruction Authority (NRA).
They are surprised that instead of concentrating on speedy implementation, the
Authority wants to convene another donor conference and work on a 5-year
reconstruction plan. Of the 4.1billion US $ pledged at the International
Conference of Nepal’s Reconstruction last June, 860million US $ is committed,
but none of that money has been spent. There was a great deal of optimism when
the new CEO was appointed because of his reputation of being an ‘achiever’. But
one of his first actions after taking over was to announce a competition for
the Authority’s logo. This month it was reported that employees would in retrospect,
receive double their current allowances. Being a political appointee, the CEO
is facing opposition from the bureaucracy, as many competent civil servants
have refused to join the Authority because he is their junior. It is estimated
that the office needs at least 208 staff, but has hired only 60 so far.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFdl8-iyjQQuhPhKwpS0Vv_vDxIABe4qpZzAgIyAn7N-_TSo6f4rshFOqZahFxmUJCfG0SnO6N8UD_ZpsNMsObXf6iMyZRn22zJ-07J4Fd9UwqBZ9CePPPE_uvnBJlTohWT8C8qVj6feg/s1600/P1030298.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFdl8-iyjQQuhPhKwpS0Vv_vDxIABe4qpZzAgIyAn7N-_TSo6f4rshFOqZahFxmUJCfG0SnO6N8UD_ZpsNMsObXf6iMyZRn22zJ-07J4Fd9UwqBZ9CePPPE_uvnBJlTohWT8C8qVj6feg/s320/P1030298.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">To add to
the woes of many the </span><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Deputy
Prime Minister and Minister for Women Children and Social Welfare has
unilaterally decided to block the bank accounts of the National Disabled Fund
(NDF) and has also stopped all the services provided to the people who were
rendered physically disabled by the earthquake and the decade-long armed
conflict. Nitesh Kumar Gupta, chairman of the NDF, has also blocked the
salaries of the staff. (11<sup>th</sup> March 2016 Kathmandu Post).</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">On March 8th, 2016 it was reported
that the National Reconstruction Authority (NRA) stated that the reconstruction
of earthquake-ravaged houses would not be completed before the monsoon 2016
(the earthquake occurred on 25<sup>th</sup> April 2015). </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR13qqBk72jIyOZVgbW3Y6Wh3eMu4VUuy_cgjke5csbX4p481jmdRHHmsYDSUzvnRyk1cUkwd_C9y3HbvO_5ZTgFuW38LNA8T-gqXxPvi8T0YcFcKMXtqhm98ZZIzZCsQiUslcKAsBTeQ/s1600/P1030297.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR13qqBk72jIyOZVgbW3Y6Wh3eMu4VUuy_cgjke5csbX4p481jmdRHHmsYDSUzvnRyk1cUkwd_C9y3HbvO_5ZTgFuW38LNA8T-gqXxPvi8T0YcFcKMXtqhm98ZZIzZCsQiUslcKAsBTeQ/s320/P1030297.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Stating that ‘<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">post-earthquake reconstruction is a time
taking process’</i>, the authority’s CEO said, ‘<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">It may sound unpleasant but the reality is that it is not possible to
complete reconstruction of houses before the monsoon</i>.’ He identified the
delay in staff recruitment at the NRA and reassessment to finalise “genuine”
earthquake victims were major reasons. The NRA chief stressed the need to
continue build temporary shelters to keep people safe in the monsoon. (Kathmandu
Post) However, Prime Minister<span lang="EN-GB"> KP Sharma</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> Oli has also stated that he is
disappointed with the inefficiency of the NRA – the organisation that he
himself is Chairman of! So if the head of the government and the nation
complains, but does nothing, about the agencies he oversees has Nepal got the
right man for the job? To whom do Nepal and its people turn to now? The
Government are simply not up to the job. However, many of the monuments
destroyed in the earthquake are slowly rising from the dust.</span><br />
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<br /></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Does the Nepali Leadership have its
Priorities Right?</span></u></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">
</span></b><span lang="EN-GB">Despite Nepal’s financial situation on March 21<sup>st</sup>,
2016, and ignoring suggestions from various quarters including the Prime
Minister’s Office and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Prime Minister KP Sharma
Oli left for China on Sunday, leading a 98-member delegation of Nepalese ministers,
secretaries, lawmakers, businessmen and journalists. The Chinese side had said
it would extend hospitality to 11 officials however the PM did not listen to either
the Chinese, or his political advisors. Many officials such as ministers, MPs
and Chief Secretary Somlal Subedi, who do not contribute substantially to the
visit’s success, were included in the team. </span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">The visit will
cost Nepal Rs150 million rupees, approximately 1,500,000 US $. What could that
achieve in Nepal’s present situation?</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span lang="EN-GB">Monitoring and
Accountability</span></u><span lang="EN-GB"> </span></b><span lang="EN-GB">Thomas
Bell recently wrote a piece for Al Jazeera questioning the way in which INGOs
were delivering their services but maybe not following up on monitoring the
outcomes. Many INGO/NGOs exist with the goal to alleviate poverty, human
suffering, improving education and health but in the face of statistics showing
mixed outcomes, is this, their very existence, in fact, the most important
question an International NGO should be asking of themselves? Many
organisations have restructured to try to partially address the issue and the
backlash from home and abroad. Oxfam International is moving its headquarters
to Nairobi. ActionAid moved to Johannesburg and Amnesty International is
decentralising as well, however none have gone so far as to ask the question
‘Do we have the right to exist’. Since the recent ratification of the Nepal Constitution
and even before that there is a rising tide of resentment against the big NGOs,
it is felt these organisations are the source of much of the ‘corruption
money’, they are seen as the milk cow and consequently can be abused with
little fear of repercussions. In the light of the previously mentioned issues
of lack of positive Government action are the INGOs being used to actually
cover some of the duties that are actually government responsibilities while
the Government in fact use their funds for inappropriate activities? </span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">Will the Nepali
government ever take full responsibility when so much foreign aid and action is
delivered into the country by these very INGOs?</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWrAYCeGCc_-JJFwtYYdd1LpYL5nzz5HnIbu4CL-YTqG7k5C9F063bc7WS30h7aXq78YFJKEGw2ZQ7SoBD8nZ93dT_GvxFgxpJzV0U4dDMx0mXqH0R61152QkZ-gRiDtME-ZyTVqSndG4/s1600/Sarita+and+V+P.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="296" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWrAYCeGCc_-JJFwtYYdd1LpYL5nzz5HnIbu4CL-YTqG7k5C9F063bc7WS30h7aXq78YFJKEGw2ZQ7SoBD8nZ93dT_GvxFgxpJzV0U4dDMx0mXqH0R61152QkZ-gRiDtME-ZyTVqSndG4/s320/Sarita+and+V+P.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sarita standing with Nepal's Vive President to her left</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span lang="EN-GB">The Trekking Agents Association of Nepal (TAAN)</span></u><span lang="EN-GB"> </span></b><span lang="EN-GB">The<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">
</b></span><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Trekking Agencies' Association
of Nepal (TAAN) is an umbrella association for the trekking agencies. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">It was established in 1979 by a handful of
trekking agent operators who felt it was time to devise sound business
principles within the trekking industry as well as to regulate the sector which
was growing by leaps and bounds with every passing year. It was also felt that
there was a need to develop a strong advisory group that could assist the
government in promotion Nepali tourism and to develop tourism as a sustainable
revenue generating industry. The association frequently communicates with
different government agencies and other stakeholders to simplify working
procedures and resolve problems related to the trekking sector. The executive
committee, which is elected every two years, has eight office-bearers, nine
executive committee members, four nominated executive members, one immediate
past president and one representative from TAAN Regional Association Pokhara. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj92Zj5faemWqQIDWf127QSnO5dyF7wlzkNg8uzOQowoRkQs5-TWhOWBEjwb32R8r0x0PIbiFhuB7xZRgvcj2NVDLevGzp2C0P1P6S5dcywdQhpu5Y25cSKYa8tz9i2NOcvTFebkKx8STA/s1600/12821370_1212289258801057_157217960162903728_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="254" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj92Zj5faemWqQIDWf127QSnO5dyF7wlzkNg8uzOQowoRkQs5-TWhOWBEjwb32R8r0x0PIbiFhuB7xZRgvcj2NVDLevGzp2C0P1P6S5dcywdQhpu5Y25cSKYa8tz9i2NOcvTFebkKx8STA/s320/12821370_1212289258801057_157217960162903728_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The President of TAAN with Sarita and Binita</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The
association organizes different training sessions and workshops on a regular
basis to enhance the professionalism of its member agencies and their
workforce. It organizes a number of events; TAAN Lhosar Festival (February 17),
International Sagarmatha Day and TAAN Day (May 29), World Environment Day (June
5), and World Tourism Day (September 27), among others events. Other programs
include developing tree plantation, trekking trails and river clean-up campaigns,
it also works to promote agro-tourism and good community sanitation schemes.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">At the last AGM held in 2015 Sarita was nominated for a position on the
Board which she secured with a large majorly. Her areas of responsibility now
include being the coordinator for internal relationships. </span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><br /></span></u></b></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_xiMcz0nQudarlYuFsrkA6kiEPhSQ3s8DxF20_Elf4pCiFkAHh8YgYJzJ8B00C4ccPIliNCM_nRFL5mfRjVF9ArDJow3cQAWSJXDryNIGepqs3-gFIs-Y9JtDKolZBkGBQ-n3Tr01GQk/s1600/P1030090.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_xiMcz0nQudarlYuFsrkA6kiEPhSQ3s8DxF20_Elf4pCiFkAHh8YgYJzJ8B00C4ccPIliNCM_nRFL5mfRjVF9ArDJow3cQAWSJXDryNIGepqs3-gFIs-Y9JtDKolZBkGBQ-n3Tr01GQk/s320/P1030090.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Temporry class-room at Megre School</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Mergre School Support</span></u></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></b><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Many of you have supported our small program to
help the Megre community, Ramachhap District post earthquake. With the funds
raised the community decided that it would be more appropriate for us to
provide financial support for a project that would benefit all, not just a few
families, so with this in mind we set out a few weeks ago to visit the
community to assess the school and to understand the work involved in trying to
support the community post earthquake. The agreement was that the community
would liaise with the local education office to clear all the administration
involved in the rebuild and then they would clear the site ready for the new
building. The school was certainly in a dangerous condition however the
community had constructed two new bamboo blocks of twin class-rooms as a
temporary measure. It is hoped the work will be finished before this year’s
monsoon.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">It is anticipated that the construction will
provide six new class-rooms as well as a new toilet facility.<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi655h0Mgmunp0PB5m18Ah-39KP74NHHB9-UaLmKLxAOV8JDqlgZkC7lRnr20bYVtSznCw0WhILch8q6haYvQ1yOeG0ohLVxCmj277bpvgwKteLzfAixRihtKG-c9Uyw4FStRfqVXdBBsY/s1600/P1030111.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi655h0Mgmunp0PB5m18Ah-39KP74NHHB9-UaLmKLxAOV8JDqlgZkC7lRnr20bYVtSznCw0WhILch8q6haYvQ1yOeG0ohLVxCmj277bpvgwKteLzfAixRihtKG-c9Uyw4FStRfqVXdBBsY/s400/P1030111.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Mergre School Committee meeting</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB">The school is a
government school but built on public land and provides education to a total of
360 pupils, 190 girls and 170 boys. This is an average breakdown in line with
Nepali culture as the boys, perceived as being more ‘valuable’ to a family, get
sent to what the parents believe are better schools in Kathmandu. There are at
the moment 23 students working towards their School Leaving Certificate (SLC)
this is I guess equivalent to our GCSE level, a compulsory pass is required if
the student wants to go onto </span><span lang="EN-GB">higher education.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">At the time of writing this newsletter the community have completed all
the paper work, they have cleared the site and the foundation work for the new
rooms has begun. Funding is provided retrospectively, or as appropriate and once
a certain stage of the reconstruction has been reached, providing it meets the
agreed standard then the bills are cleared ready for the next stage. So far so
good! But….!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDhbY7jNWzi7IutOKtsrWnF4i5CbUd3f7rqupdDUGjWj0hA8cFkz7u4DV6Bj0pqo363UuXqu_X5C08ASGJFWhfxWrtuVMPYnKErd7pjJG4T0sT-P2z3_DXuFUryJRj6E5Gc2BqHd0o_8Q/s1600/07032016083256deabu-1000x0.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="144" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDhbY7jNWzi7IutOKtsrWnF4i5CbUd3f7rqupdDUGjWj0hA8cFkz7u4DV6Bj0pqo363UuXqu_X5C08ASGJFWhfxWrtuVMPYnKErd7pjJG4T0sT-P2z3_DXuFUryJRj6E5Gc2BqHd0o_8Q/s320/07032016083256deabu-1000x0.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sher Bahadur the newly appointed leader on Nepal's Congress Party</td></tr>
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<span lang="EN-GB">On March 7<sup>th</sup>
the Nepali Congress Party held their Presidential elections the outcome of
which saw Sher Bahadur Deuba voted into the Presidential position. Deuba has
also acted as Nepal’s Prime Minister on three separate previous occasions.
Whether the Terai people feel that Deuba is seen more of a ‘friend’, than KP
Sharma Oli the existing Prime Minister is, is debatable or whether the Madeshi
see this as another opportunity to see their Constitutional issues addressed
(See our previous Newsletter) by toppling PM Oli. However, whatever the reason
the petrol filling stations have again closed their gates and petrol has been
rationed since around the 27<sup>th</sup> March. As yet there is no border
dispute and I guess the garages are playing save just in case the supply dries
up or maybe anticipating another ‘black market’ situation. Never-the-less
vehicle owners are beginning to keep an eye of their fuel consumption just in
case .. I know I am and the line of taxis at the pumps are growing by the day.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCz8DBHWIssXtI8Ew66WRc3kJwa3PgiJCPUKuvjsoajmWaR7WbknxVrSnrEkpEFcD_nXFiPAPciagIau0-NWmNp7FmurB4i6A4cidVu9p59I8Iw_Wwygpgo0z1URE6oWX6_wlWhqOkJJo/s1600/P1030117.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCz8DBHWIssXtI8Ew66WRc3kJwa3PgiJCPUKuvjsoajmWaR7WbknxVrSnrEkpEFcD_nXFiPAPciagIau0-NWmNp7FmurB4i6A4cidVu9p59I8Iw_Wwygpgo0z1URE6oWX6_wlWhqOkJJo/s640/P1030117.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lessons in the tempory class-room at Megre School - life goes on</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span lang="EN-GB">So after all is said and done life goes on, the Nepalese people take
it all in their stride and go about their daily business as normal, what else
can they do? Rebuilding work continues and communities are getting back on
their feet. And for the tourists and other visitors, nothing seems to be amiss.
Nepal is as it always was – a </span><span lang="EN-GB">happy go-luck place to be! </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">Enjoy summer folks.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR_qI6-psx4l4TR83n18RUz5ivROypz6FEQiqCAvwQ26bHVMJ9HdcB0uR549u4D__fMAVa11Xd53J6aqGJ3jeaHIRIwNca_pPzEIZwhJ6NGxm12CwllaYuWSc-OKrd3n9OCoLm7hCHn_o/s1600/Ian+%2526+Sarita.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR_qI6-psx4l4TR83n18RUz5ivROypz6FEQiqCAvwQ26bHVMJ9HdcB0uR549u4D__fMAVa11Xd53J6aqGJ3jeaHIRIwNca_pPzEIZwhJ6NGxm12CwllaYuWSc-OKrd3n9OCoLm7hCHn_o/s1600/Ian+%2526+Sarita.jpg" /></a></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR_qI6-psx4l4TR83n18RUz5ivROypz6FEQiqCAvwQ26bHVMJ9HdcB0uR549u4D__fMAVa11Xd53J6aqGJ3jeaHIRIwNca_pPzEIZwhJ6NGxm12CwllaYuWSc-OKrd3n9OCoLm7hCHn_o/s1600/Ian+%2526+Sarita.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></span></div>
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</div>
ianoffthewallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09893050670803576833noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4685057110957823513.post-76565890721470515092016-04-13T08:39:00.001-07:002016-04-13T08:39:16.672-07:00Manaslu's Ascents<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: windowtext; font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Manaslu towering over Samagaon and the </span><span style="color: windowtext; font-weight: normal; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Pung-gyen Monastery photo Ian Wall</span><u><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: windowtext; font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-no-proof: yes;"></span></u></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u></u></b></div>
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Man</span></u></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">aslu,
the Mountain of Spirit</span></u></b><br />
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<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Manaslu 8163m, also known as Kutang is the eighth highest mountain in
the world and the seventh highest in Nepal.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">In the 21<sup>st</sup> century it is sometimes difficult to imagine the
Manaslu district, 66 years ago. A time before many of the small hill villages
of the area were developed or before the well established trails and the
network of roads and bridges made access a lot easier.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgamhcjWJFx-daQWYKVgmK-vHuvwViXbGyHi8H80vW1nmVD92yo2aOAmFNT85tA0sZLuQkv37gjLzvxQqQmbOekXMQofAEZmc0YfmLEWD-hQuZS9_E_4xVDyq0htVYaj1qPo7hbQ6icp-A/s1600/P1018283.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgamhcjWJFx-daQWYKVgmK-vHuvwViXbGyHi8H80vW1nmVD92yo2aOAmFNT85tA0sZLuQkv37gjLzvxQqQmbOekXMQofAEZmc0YfmLEWD-hQuZS9_E_4xVDyq0htVYaj1qPo7hbQ6icp-A/s320/P1018283.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Manaslu's mighty northwest face photo Ian Wall</td></tr>
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<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">In 1950 with the borders of Nepal open and foreigners welcome the famous
British explorer H.W. Tilman arrived with the intention of leading a small
expedition into the Annapurna Massif. In those days the only approach was by
foot from Kathmandu, a trek of over a week. Their expedition used Manang as the
base from which they pushed into the valleys and mountains of the surrounding
area. It was while on an exploratory trek up the Dudh Khola to Bimtang that Tilman
saw the giant peak of Manaslu, however this was not their priority. They
returned to Manang and focused on Annapurna IV, eventually, after three months
of climbing the expedition aborted. Looking for an alternative project Tilman
along with Jimmy Roberts returned to Bimtang and Roberts went on to cross the
Lakya La and then descended toward Samagaon. It was from here that he reported
that there was a possible direct route to the summit of Manaslu via </span><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">the great plateau ‘<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">which we discussed with the dispassionate calm of men who have no
intention of trying it</i>’ Tilman later commented. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The Japanese then took an interest in Manaslu and in 1952 sent a
reconnaissance expedition in the post monsoon season to explore the possibilities
of summating via either the north or east faces.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In 1953 the Japanese return with an
expedition lead by Y. Mita, they established base camp in Samagaon, however
their attempt on the east face failed at around 7750m. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis9MV1w8iWR1ox9Y-_Yj0KzuSdTbmMM1Vcd2A-NVNqgbjfDOMYc_3fSNOSbkvrE44MFbwG0BEeyEjHw6pTlTCe97iwa6B8jyAv5p3JFCTdJCjbyehbiDRz5x7ZfJrAclV2Ikkt4qecSjI/s1600/P1018243.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis9MV1w8iWR1ox9Y-_Yj0KzuSdTbmMM1Vcd2A-NVNqgbjfDOMYc_3fSNOSbkvrE44MFbwG0BEeyEjHw6pTlTCe97iwa6B8jyAv5p3JFCTdJCjbyehbiDRz5x7ZfJrAclV2Ikkt4qecSjI/s320/P1018243.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Approaching the Larka La photograph Ian Wall</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">In 1954 another Japanese expedition approached Manaslu, this time via
the Buri Gandaki. However, once they reached Samagaon they were met by a group
of hostile villagers who blamed the Japanese for upsetting their gods during
the 1952 expedition that eventually resulted in the gods sending down a large
avalanche that destroyed the Pung-gyen Monastery killing eighteen people. The
expedition had no alternative other than to withdraw from the area and so
descended to Ganesh Himal. In an attempt to appease the local community the
Japanese made a large donation to rebuild the Monastery.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In 1956 the Japanese again returned to
Manaslu and despite an ongoing mistrust from the locals they succeeded on the 9<sup>th</sup>
May when Gyaltsen Norbu and Toshio Imanishi, members of the team lead by Yuko
Maki, also known as Aritsune Maki, summated. They were followed on the 11<sup>th</sup>
by K. Kato and M. Higeta. The Japanese did not return to Manaslu until 1971.
Their route is now the established normal line of ascent.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">David Snellgrove, a well known scholar spent
seven months exploring mid-west and central Nepal in 1956. He visited the
Manaslu area via the Buri Gandaki River, he then followed it northward
eventually crossing the Larka La and descending down into the Marsyangi Valley
via Bimtang.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="height: 512px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center; width: 652px;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0LKDkLUE5MWAHx8VAA-cmt2iH-hlVsiQUi3RjZXLlqpgQrkUEtZVo3j4WLI4o6s2Ba77VPuE05Gqb6pkbPeG53kVZYJ1YcZWqiJapHQL7bfdKzrX75tSCdVljVmdbYbjviPCaPjcpD1A/s1600/man.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0LKDkLUE5MWAHx8VAA-cmt2iH-hlVsiQUi3RjZXLlqpgQrkUEtZVo3j4WLI4o6s2Ba77VPuE05Gqb6pkbPeG53kVZYJ1YcZWqiJapHQL7bfdKzrX75tSCdVljVmdbYbjviPCaPjcpD1A/s640/man.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The two summits of Manaslu seen in the early morning sun photograph Ian Wall<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span><br />
<br />
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><br /></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Manaslu received little attention between 1954 and 1971 when the
Japanese returned this time under the leadership of A. Takahashi. On the 17<sup>th</sup>
May K. Kohara and Motoki succeeded in making the third ascent and via a hard
new route on the Northwest Spur. A Korean expedition also attempted the
Northeast Face led by Kim Ho-Sup, tragically Kim Ki-Sup fell to his death. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW9atW8t-Q-ZVEV6R1lQZ988pRfva_GVOyyOqLmQ7btaIGZuQ4J1LgHR58QLl41TKXRHqKlkga5vS9SO_FbRye1aiXjKsiWr4PRjmY_fq_W_SpPuNEsMl4Ca8MWGXWx8ggs3s9jem7ocY/s1600/IMG_4251.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW9atW8t-Q-ZVEV6R1lQZ988pRfva_GVOyyOqLmQ7btaIGZuQ4J1LgHR58QLl41TKXRHqKlkga5vS9SO_FbRye1aiXjKsiWr4PRjmY_fq_W_SpPuNEsMl4Ca8MWGXWx8ggs3s9jem7ocY/s320/IMG_4251.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Camp 3 photograph Billi Brieling</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The pace of expeditions visiting Manaslu began
to gain momentum and in 1972 a Tyrolean expedition led by W. Nairz placed R. Messner
on the summit via a route on the South Face. His climbing partner F. Jager had
decided to retreat below the summit. Messner pushed on, summated but during the
descent he got lost in a storm but eventually found his tent. This he expected
to be occupied by Jager, but no, it was A. Schlick and Horst Fankhauser who had
arrived from Camp 3. Immediately the three climbers realized that Jager was
still out on the mountain. Schlick and Fankhauser went out into the night’s
storm to try to find Jager who they could hear crying for help. Sadly many
hours later only Fankhauser returned Schlick and Jager died in a blizzard
unable to find their way to the tents at Camp 4. On a South Korean expedition
attempting the Northeast Face four Koreans including the leader Kim Ho-Sup, a
Japanese climber, Kazunari Yasuhisa and ten Sherpas were killed by an avalanche
on the 10<sup>th</sup> April. A Spanish expedition lead by Jaume Garcia Orts
aborted their attempt at 6100m.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">In 1973 the original route was successfully
repeated by a German expedition, G Schmatz, S. Hupfaurer and Sherpa Urkien
Tshering. The Japanese returned in 1974 when a Women’s expedition led by Kyoko
Sato attempted the East Ridge but having failed to summit they turned their
attention to the original line on the north-east face where N. Nakaseko, M.
Uchida, M. Mori and Sherpa Janbu summated on the 4<sup>th</sup> May, sadly one
team member died as a result of a fall on the descent between Camps 4 and 5.
This was the first successful climb of an 8000m peak to be made by women. In
1976 a joint Persian-Japanese group lead by Brig Gen M Khakbiz successfully
climbed the normal route.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMfNIq53nfOmKJDpAPW1LPlRBQDvoDrxT6nK8tiCmL291K44nfAI5h32gZzeG5UCLTzvhjCitnUImwccNBZM85hcOnlCkzng051XDUvrV-BTCuCgtnongMIUI4nr5mgyBK1IhVGSQIEh0/s1600/IMG_4220.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMfNIq53nfOmKJDpAPW1LPlRBQDvoDrxT6nK8tiCmL291K44nfAI5h32gZzeG5UCLTzvhjCitnUImwccNBZM85hcOnlCkzng051XDUvrV-BTCuCgtnongMIUI4nr5mgyBK1IhVGSQIEh0/s320/IMG_4220.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Climbing above Camp 3 photograph Billi Brieling</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">By now several expeditions were aware of the
potentials offered on Manaslu and the 1980s saw many of those realized. A South
Korean expedition led by Li In Jung reached the summit via the original route.
In 1981 a 13-man Swiss expedition reached the summit via the normal route, in
the autumn the French climbed a new route as a variation to the West Face
route. The Japanese were again successful on the normal route led by Y Kato. In
1983 two Yugoslavian climbers were tragically killed in an avalanche while a
Korean team succeeded on the original route and a German expedition
successfully followed the 1972 Tyrolean Route in the autumn season. The first
winter ascent was achieved by a Polish team led by L Korniszewski over the
winter of 1983-4 following the Tyrolean Route. During the spring of 1984 a
great friend to the Nepal Mountaineering Association, Alex Kunaver climbed the
South Face while in the autumn season the Poles succeeded on the South Ridge
and Southeast Face. Maciej Berbeka and Ryszard Gajewski climbed the normal
route in winter summating on the 12<sup>th</sup> January 1984. Jerz Kukuczka,
Artur Hajzer and Carlos Carsolio made the first ascent of the east summit of
Manaslu before Jerz Kukuczka, Artur Hajzer went onto summit Manaslu via a new
route, Alpine style and without supplementary oxygen on the 10<sup>th</sup>
November 1986, this may well have been along the east ridge, they descended the
Northeast Face. On 12<sup>th</sup> May 1989 Alan Hinkes (UK) became the first
Briton to climb Manaslu</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoCaption" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: windowtext; font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">In 1993 an Austrian expedition led by Arthur Haid placed Sepp Brunner,
Gerhard Flobmann, Sepp Hinding and Dr Michale Leuprecht on the summit via the
normal route, they then descended to Base Camp on skis from 7000m. On December
8<sup>th</sup> 1995 The Second Kazakhstan Himalayan Expedition summated with
Anatoli Boukreev.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In 1996 Carlos and
Alfredo Carsolio reached the summit and for Carlos it was his fourteenth 8000m,
summit thus becoming the fourth person to achieve this objective. The first
American, Charli Mace reached the top in 1997.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">By now Nepal was witnessing an explosion of commercial expeditions. If
for any reason there were issues around the Khumbu peaks Manaslu was considered
the obvious option and often as the first choice of anyone wanting to reach an
8000m summit in preparation for one of the larger and more difficult peaks. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgat_mlWKN4lNSFCQLnVgtThBEONztrP0a-3SAdXfIUghQhy-qhJjK8IQudo-IB6ClTZvXrx7o1gI2NmVPwhx-i4GZrL6ryEmJGQUDNsxF5MKVuxtlqGYS93gi3yly3RpQ9gJ1f_9hI1U4/s1600/larke+la.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgat_mlWKN4lNSFCQLnVgtThBEONztrP0a-3SAdXfIUghQhy-qhJjK8IQudo-IB6ClTZvXrx7o1gI2NmVPwhx-i4GZrL6ryEmJGQUDNsxF5MKVuxtlqGYS93gi3yly3RpQ9gJ1f_9hI1U4/s640/larke+la.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Larka Peak forms the northern most point of Manaslu's Northwest Ridge photograph Ian Wall</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">During the spring of 2000 Manaslu was the home to four expeditions, o</span><span lang="EN-GB">ne was on the east face, the 'Japan 2000 Expedition' led by Yoshio
Maruyama, then there three expeditions on the north-east ridge; the ETB 2000
Expedition from Spain led by Felix Maria I. Iriate; the 2000 Korean Manaslu
Expedition led by Han Wang Yong, and the Manaslu 2000 Expedition from Italy led
by Franco Brunello. In May 2001 Serguiy Kovalov, Vadim Leontiev and Vladislav
Terzyul, the Ukraine Himalayan Expedition 2001 successfully summated Manaslu
via the challenging south-east face; all climbed without supplementary oxygen. The
autumn of 2001 saw three members and a sherpa from the Japan Workers Alpine
Federation summating the peak via the north-east face on October 9<sup>th</sup>.
The Americans returned in May 2002, when Tom Fitzsimmons, Jerome Delvin,
Michael McGuffin, Dan Percival and Brian Sato and two Sherpas reached the
summit on the 13<sup>th</sup>. Piotr Pustelnik, on his twelfth 8000m summit and
Krzysztof Tarasewicz climbed Manaslu on May 17<sup>th</sup>, 2003. However,
Dariusz Zaluski, Anna Czerwinska and Barbara Drousek, who started the climb
after Piotr and Krzysztof, had to turn back due to strong winds and bad weather.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sadly the Australian Sue Fear died as a
result of falling into a crevasse after her successful summit bid on May 29<sup>th</sup>
2006 while on the 5<sup>th</sup> October 2008 Valerie Parkinson became the
first British woman to climb Manaslu.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXrg01-Ooc1cZ6NGDmamwaA-Bd4PRvvfvtaaK3NtF0-Jz0qjxB56baOxe7aIhnsViDLX_caIRKvl1VHqxjfyeGvukMrDIThjpHQ7Xc7Kwk8nMcmZI4j0lxLzQd1mKg79HG60Ic91ffFGo/s1600/IMG_4241.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXrg01-Ooc1cZ6NGDmamwaA-Bd4PRvvfvtaaK3NtF0-Jz0qjxB56baOxe7aIhnsViDLX_caIRKvl1VHqxjfyeGvukMrDIThjpHQ7Xc7Kwk8nMcmZI4j0lxLzQd1mKg79HG60Ic91ffFGo/s320/IMG_4241.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Descending towards Camp 3 photograph Billi Brieling</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span lang="EN-GB">In 2011 on the 4<sup>th</sup>
October Billi Bierling became the first German woman, and up to 2016, the only
German woman to have climbed Manaslu.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> Arjun Vaipa i</span>a young Indian mountaineer summated Manaslu on the 5<sup>th</sup>
October 2011 and thus became the youngest climber to have summated at the age
of 18years. Eleven climbers were killed in an avalanche on September 23<sup>rd</sup>
2012. On September 25<sup>th</sup> 2014 a Polish ski-mountaineer Andrzej Bargiel set a record time climbing from base camp to the summit in
14 hours 5 minutes, he also set a record time for the round journey base-peak-base
of 21 hours 14 minutes.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB">In 2015 just
after the April 25<sup>th</sup> earthquake </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Pavel Pavel Bem from the Czech Republic and Daniel De Gabai from
France summated Manaslu on the 8<sup>th</sup> May.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4q4bA9WVmqU6iC7Tp3lRgHs_rvrPJuj0dgFlto3_TE9eTutkBj0bDMCwDVRkxEgTF1Xzb18qti8g6Af3XasS25lpJceWHUFbRAzA9tgAoZQ8fD0qy4uxS2w98_xvHSLrQlxcdaJS1QqY/s1600/IMG_4260.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4q4bA9WVmqU6iC7Tp3lRgHs_rvrPJuj0dgFlto3_TE9eTutkBj0bDMCwDVRkxEgTF1Xzb18qti8g6Af3XasS25lpJceWHUFbRAzA9tgAoZQ8fD0qy4uxS2w98_xvHSLrQlxcdaJS1QqY/s320/IMG_4260.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Manaslu's summit photograph Billi Brieling</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span lang="EN-GB">Nepalese
climbers have reached the summit of Makalu on 403 separate occasions.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB">Since the ascent
of Manaslu by the Ukrainian expedition in 2001 when Sergi Kovalev, Vadim
Leontiev and Vladislav Terzyul reached the summit via the Southeast Face all
other 949 ascents have been via the Northeast Face original route and of these
949 ascents 377 have been by Nepalese mountaineers.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB">Mansalu is
notorious for accumulating snow pack setting off avalanches and wind slab
avalanches, unfortunately these conditions catch many mountaineers out
resulting in the mountain gaining the reputation of being one of the most
dangerous to climb, second only behind Annapurna in Nepal.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<u><span lang="EN-GB">Reference</span></u></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span lang="EN-GB">Manaslu; K Reynolds, Cicerone Press,
2000</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span lang="EN-GB">All 14 Eight-Thousanders; R Messner,
Crowood Press, 1988</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span lang="EN-GB">Internet research 2016</span><br />
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ianoffthewallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09893050670803576833noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4685057110957823513.post-38671955472766754312016-04-12T23:53:00.002-07:002016-04-23T19:14:09.558-07:00The ascents of Lhotse<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9cRU3wWJvonL8Fcd8QVlrA6HXk2d7ktKAZamRLwKWHKNcqmadAvv9ITzHkGHejR2BrhzwPJhqfaWqsTvKxYnIKnhKNpCpeGVY-jVE40ESdkys0wQiSqHSJ9qUNoJw1iWZTO739Shg6oA/s1600/IMG_3172_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
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<![endif]--><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Lhotse 8851m</span></u></b><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipSSmkKPlFJ90hgTkQtcL50dQURY0lu3OFYOL1c8y_YFTV_gBa5Y-iTPmukklWR0XmB4IpNLk0XFRtTAp42Lhpcm5p7DK3FOfFZgs2VPlJo_hUAU5LPvKGu3ENwvHCHF8u83jzqF-YFT0/s1600/Lhotse-South-Face-from-Thengboche.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipSSmkKPlFJ90hgTkQtcL50dQURY0lu3OFYOL1c8y_YFTV_gBa5Y-iTPmukklWR0XmB4IpNLk0XFRtTAp42Lhpcm5p7DK3FOfFZgs2VPlJo_hUAU5LPvKGu3ENwvHCHF8u83jzqF-YFT0/s640/Lhotse-South-Face-from-Thengboche.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The mighty upper section of the South Face of Lhotse photo Ian Wall</td></tr>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Lhotse,</span><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> the immediate </span><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">neighbour</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> </span><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">to Everest and joined to the latter via
the South Col, is the fourth highest mountain in the world at 8516m. Lhotse has
two lesser peaks within its own group, Lhotse East 8414m and Lhotse Shar 8383m.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Approaching Camp 3 on Lhotse photo Billi Brieling </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">With such a
significant neighbor Lhotse did not receive serious attention as it was
considered the south peak </span></span></div>
<br />
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">of Everest, however in 1955 an expedition lead by
Norman Dyhrenfurth mounted an early attempt. Initially the expedition was to
climb from the southern side, but, upon closer inspection it was conceded that
it was too dangerous and they turned their attention to the northwest face
approaching from the Western Cwm. The weather was not in their favour that
season and the expedition was beaten back by sub-zero temperatures and strong
winds at 8100m, however the expedition did not leave empty handed, they climbed
several smaller peaks in the area and made several short cultural films. They
also completed the first detailed map of the region under expedition member and
cartographer Erwin Schneider, this map, the ‘Schneider Map’ is still in use
today.</span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">
The Swiss had
been very active in the area having made an attempt on Everest in 1952 and it
was they who then made the first ascent of Lhotse on May 8<sup>th</sup> 1956. The
significant point of this summit climb is that Fritz Luchsinger, a member of
the summit team along with Ernst Reiss, suffered from severe appendicitis during
the march in and had to rest and recuperate in a room provided by the Lama of
Tengboche Monastery. It was not until the 12<sup>th</sup> May 1970 that Sepp
Mayerl and Rolf Walter made the first ascent of Lhotse Shar. </span><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">In 2012 Sepp
Mayerl who made the first ascent of Lhotse Shar in 1970 was tragically killed
while ascending a climb in the Dolomites.</span></div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6x-Z4grdDUvsoy8MSxv0PBil5OT1s2S42ULjVy30Kp5wMmvFXVuagEuSUUy34Tt1zKo2a1EJ50SgT7B3MBukBf9hlC8ScKFbuxeEJexeuGa1GJQCBlwql2bsmpORgIeu94s89Ei5Nc-c/s1600/On+the+path+to+Pangboche.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="296" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6x-Z4grdDUvsoy8MSxv0PBil5OT1s2S42ULjVy30Kp5wMmvFXVuagEuSUUy34Tt1zKo2a1EJ50SgT7B3MBukBf9hlC8ScKFbuxeEJexeuGa1GJQCBlwql2bsmpORgIeu94s89Ei5Nc-c/s400/On+the+path+to+Pangboche.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The summit of Everest behind the impressive south face of Lhotse photo Ian Wall</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">In 1965 a Japanese
expedition reached 8100m before they were forced to retreat. In 1973 the Japanese sent an
expedition to the south face but they were also unsuccessful. A German
expedition lead by Dr G Schmatz made the second ascent of the main summit in
1977. In 1979 the Polish climber Jerzy Kukuczka made the first ascent without
supplementary oxygen. In 1981 Alex Kunaver, an old friend of the Nepal
Mountaineering Association completed an ascent of the South Face along with
Vanja Matijevec and Francek Knez, however they did not actually summit Lhotse.</span></div>
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<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The third
ascent of Lhotse was accomplished on 30<sup>th</sup> April 1981 by Hristo
Prodanov from Bulgaria who summated solo and without supplementary oxygen. On
the 16<sup>th</sup> October Colin Molines from Switzerland made the second
ascent of Lhotse Shar. The South Face of Lhotse Shar was climbed by a
Czechoslovak expedition lead by Ivan Galfy over May 21<sup>st</sup> and 22<sup>nd
</sup>May 1984. Reinhold Messner completed his fourteen 8000 metre peak project
with an ascent of Lhotse in 1986 and in so doing became the first mountaineer
to climb all of the 8000m mountains. In 1987 the first Brazilian, Otto W
Gerstenberger Junior along with Haans Singera from Switzerland complete a
successful summit bid. On the 31<sup>st</sup> </span><span lang="EN-GB">December 1988
Krzysztof Wielicki, a Polish climber, completed the first winter ascent of
Lhotse.</span><br />
<br /></div>
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<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0DfQfmrVX8x3w1Igl1tiKMoMRzVl3d-YWs0rpRpzAH_4AiXVqjbacr0AMpvu9zWJHA05bTSD7pbkitOblWVk4u55zv-hqs77fTrlDEf5ZVnN7LSov_RJYXu1sqpeCTf6pH96i4AHiDo0/s1600/IMG_3179.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0DfQfmrVX8x3w1Igl1tiKMoMRzVl3d-YWs0rpRpzAH_4AiXVqjbacr0AMpvu9zWJHA05bTSD7pbkitOblWVk4u55zv-hqs77fTrlDEf5ZVnN7LSov_RJYXu1sqpeCTf6pH96i4AHiDo0/s320/IMG_3179.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking up the Lhotse Couloir photo Billi Brieling</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<span lang="EN-GB">On October 24<sup>th</sup>
1989 Jerzy Kukuczka died attempting to climb the unclimbed South Face of Lhotse.
According to Ryszard Pawlowski<span style="color: black;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ryszard_Paw%C5%82owski" title="Ryszard Pawłowski"><span style="color: windowtext;"></span></a></span>,
Kukuczka's climbing partner on the day, Jerzy was leading a pitch at an
altitude of about 8,200 meters on a 6 mm second-hand rope that he had
picked up in a market in Kathmandu, the main single rope used by the team was
too jammed to be used and the climbers decided to use this hauling rope instead,
the rope was either cut or snapped as a result of the fall, plunging Kukuczka
to his death.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB">On April 24<sup>th</sup>
1990 Tomo </span><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Č</span><span lang="EN-GB">esen from Slovina
made the first solo ascent of the South Face of Lhotse. He also claimed a
number of other notable mountaineering achievements, but some of his claimed ascents
have often met with scepticism from others in the mountaineering community,
including the USSR Himalayan expedition who claimed his Lhotse climb was
impossible. However, on the 16<sup>th</sup> October 1990 the first ascent of
South Face was made by the USSR Himalayan expedition members Sergey Bershov and
Gennadiy Karataev. </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTEhvW1w4qoXAgWPOCKidt2TlaXBaMASrDvTlWDKdJ4pDlgpjifA4IV6goqMnVT16AvIeT2zvn0W-U3od8Agz8c-7ubUzqA02KWelDWXZFI7H06z15jaCeeaALzuNR3AzRcdrBIjS4-Vc/s1600/IMG_3180.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTEhvW1w4qoXAgWPOCKidt2TlaXBaMASrDvTlWDKdJ4pDlgpjifA4IV6goqMnVT16AvIeT2zvn0W-U3od8Agz8c-7ubUzqA02KWelDWXZFI7H06z15jaCeeaALzuNR3AzRcdrBIjS4-Vc/s320/IMG_3180.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Beginning the descent of the Lhotse Couloir photo Billi Brieling</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span lang="EN-GB">By 1994 records
were being claimed and on the 13<sup>th</sup> May Carlos Carsolio claimed a
record time of 23hours 50minutes for the ascent and descent of Lhotse Base Camp
to Base Camp. Chantal Mauduit became the first woman to reach the summit in
1994. Finally in 2001 Lhotse Middle Peak was climbed by a Russian expedition.
It is regarded as the last of the 8000m peaks to be climbed and the most
difficult. The summit teams were on May 23<sup>rd</sup> the first group
comprised of Alexey Bolotov, Sergey Timofeev, Evgeny Vinogradsky, Petr
Kuznetsov, on the 24<sup>th</sup> May, Nikolay Zilin, Gleb Sokolov (the first
person to have climbed all the Lhotse peaks), Yuri Koshelenko and on the 27<sup>th</sup>
May Vladimir Yanochkin, Viktor Volodin.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD4VQc_Mo2OHUNpyKY-UZhSWlDxOq0hk8tMKhhI1rI8W2uTxeNmkhjophxF0HfBowOnLpS9c5gKZEB3gTvEE9WJne_0YIUFgt2ECzGyD06_LI6zmil90PfN0E5tqaJ-hsjtYB98Bpp6aA/s1600/Everest-sunset-from-Everest-lodge%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD4VQc_Mo2OHUNpyKY-UZhSWlDxOq0hk8tMKhhI1rI8W2uTxeNmkhjophxF0HfBowOnLpS9c5gKZEB3gTvEE9WJne_0YIUFgt2ECzGyD06_LI6zmil90PfN0E5tqaJ-hsjtYB98Bpp6aA/s640/Everest-sunset-from-Everest-lodge%25281%2529.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The south face of the 'Everest Horseshoe', Everest and Lhotse at sunset photo Ian Wall</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span lang="EN-GB">In 2007 Pemba
Doma Sherpa, Nepali mountaineer and two-time summiteer of Everest, fell to her
death</span><br />
<div style="text-align: right;">
</div>
<span lang="EN-GB"> from Lhotse at 8000m. Pemba was regarded as a national heroine and was
accorded full honours at her funeral. <span class="5yl5">Pemba had reached the
summit and was descending the ‘Lhotse Couloir’, Sange Sherpa her climbing
partner was descending in front and Pemba dropped back, Sange thought she
wanted a rest stop so continued slightly lower. He heard her cry then she fell
on top of him and they both fell down the couloir. </span></span><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh50i84tQuT0Z2HJWfZV-nBvH__J8uDeP19NV6sawp9JrPjb3IkddF4ENeJGKVxBTWgFMl2i_3i9yQLhAKjOmdkSrNf20cEoHe8aVF8i4I2eN2Z-Eo9lvnuPkeguc4eTBPWRBVJKJr2XQs/s1600/pemba+lhotse+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh50i84tQuT0Z2HJWfZV-nBvH__J8uDeP19NV6sawp9JrPjb3IkddF4ENeJGKVxBTWgFMl2i_3i9yQLhAKjOmdkSrNf20cEoHe8aVF8i4I2eN2Z-Eo9lvnuPkeguc4eTBPWRBVJKJr2XQs/s400/pemba+lhotse+1.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pemba Dolma on the summit of Lhotse image Blair Falahey</td></tr>
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<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Sange hit two
discarded oxygen bottles frozen into the ice near to where Blair Falahey and
his sherpa Palden Namgay where descending after their successful summit
bid.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Falahey and Namgay managed to grab
Sange and prevented him falling any further but sadly Pemba continued to her
death.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">The American guide
Michael Horst summated both Everest and Lhotse without descending below the South
Col camp and with less than 21hours between both summits on the 14<sup>th</sup>
– 15<sup>th</sup> May 2011. Also on May 20<sup>th</sup> 2011 Arjun Vajpal
became the youngest mountaineer to summit aged 17years 11mounths and 16days.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">Since its first
ascent Lhotse has had 604 ascents of which 167 were made by Nepalese
mountaineers.</span><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"></span></div>
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ianoffthewallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09893050670803576833noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4685057110957823513.post-23284886752528634032016-04-12T23:31:00.000-07:002016-04-12T23:31:01.127-07:00The Cost of Celebrations<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Why do we put so much emphasis on celebration
auspicious mountaineering events?</span></u></b></div>
<br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Nepal is the home of
the most formidable mountain range in the world with nearly a third of the
country laying at an elevation of over 3500metres. Not only does the highest
peak on earth, Everest, fall within the Nepalese territory but so do
Kanchenjunga, Lhotse, Makalu, Cho Oyu, Dhaulagiri, Manaslu and Annapurna, eight
of the fourteen 8000metre peaks of the world. These are the mountain jewels in
Nepal’s crown.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Nepal has an extensive
history of mountaineering with the early explorers being lured into the deep
valleys and lofty peaks by the challenges of untrodden summits. Nepal is known
around the world for the mountaineering opportunities that it offers, and has
always offered those with an adventurous spirit. But undertaking a
mountaineering expedition back then was a totally different experience to that of
undertaking an expedition today.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Celebrating the first ascents
of these lofty summits is as much about recognizing and celebrating the
endeavours of the men who first stood on the peaks as it is about the mountains
themselves. At the time mountaineers did not fully understand the effects that
gaining altitude has on the human body, neither did they know what
mountaineering challenges lay ahead of them, nobody had been there before,
these early pioneers were literally going into the unknown. By today’s
standards the equipment they used and the style that they adopted to reach the
summits were rudimentary, however, they believed they had the best that was
available at the time. Many men made the ultimate sacrifice in the pursuance of
their dream and at the time many nations committed large sums of money in
support of the adventure.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">So why is it important
in the 21<sup>st</sup> century to celebrate these achievements? Apart from
recognizing the contributions that these men made to the history of
mountaineering, they also put Nepal on the map and for the first time in
history Nepal became a household name. Not only is it important to celebrate
the event but these expeditions are also part of Nepal’s modern history. Being
the home to the Himalaya the young people and mountaineers of not only today
but also in the future need to understand, remember and value these auspicious
events and recognise that they have had a significant impact on the world and also on the
Nepalese nation. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">By holding such
significant celebrations when important personalities are invited to Nepal the
Nepal Mountaineering Association attracts media attention and is thus promoting
Nepal, as a mountaineering destination. It is reminding the young mountaineers
of their roots and the history of not only their sport but of their mountains. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Should we continue to
hold these celebrations of first major mountaineering ascents? </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Definitely!</span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmDx6-P5VR6mF7v8ieepSpTMxUEeDBO6spEFD2lrpYqaRveq1cOejvfkv3ngPU_b4xPiTpK3lQ8LGWcw18IOrtgWG5YyK1SnTs7O6Ej2tDtFe-c9PccVesytrcX2x2EmiCqNhDiBLW94g/s1600/Annapurna+First+Ascent+-+Maurice+Herzog+On+Annapurna+Summit+June+3%252C+1950.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmDx6-P5VR6mF7v8ieepSpTMxUEeDBO6spEFD2lrpYqaRveq1cOejvfkv3ngPU_b4xPiTpK3lQ8LGWcw18IOrtgWG5YyK1SnTs7O6Ej2tDtFe-c9PccVesytrcX2x2EmiCqNhDiBLW94g/s640/Annapurna+First+Ascent+-+Maurice+Herzog+On+Annapurna+Summit+June+3%252C+1950.jpg" width="490" /></a></td></tr>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: windowtext; font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Cho Oyu 19 October 1954 Josepg Joechler, Pasang Dawa
Lama nad Herbert Tichy Austrian expedition </span></div>
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GXZzU329NgipGOjSNXlP+FpaJd8oWrlC8UKrS+P/7eAahPKIk1WMmervTLF/mF1qGpYRObKHyxZAjurxIyGKNNTucm/T78t+wGNVVJlIqQXhV6Z//A0jUaDSi1rtzR6NbQVFRVMfljrhq0g8adVyT5uEhKdZArssCYhcVhEVsq+ooqvTHnzlTIcz7SJJJtexCqqs/JWMqJbxdga/gsipHLIBqEAE06LvXDBqElrY1JgELNgpAM3ivKt9LQa+41hlQ5ZL4bNqtwyx1KxBNSB1YIhqwZXqJiIpDwEUmWdRjEPUx40KIVMq31ea7VXuySBIsyqYGy1LwFZLBaZTVpE1V0at8V+JKVRGaeo6qx8tSrj4uh15An441IFlE1vsJeaeR95Dt+qBAq9GG0jvQJTLGY7HKDKIc2AVk2joqOjMaGWw44kutKtsXHJEVTMQuYJjp/iDpymYHWoLJFD0dropQkD+wFh4/kWoX9JykpQGVNUPLlDzk+KK3kTzU4vBrbpRIFdRafhEqRHZfTViUmOTIdYu9WLTScUK+TEsqgnC3/qyg+gRVJLGV32fRX7IPWna3J0yKp2QZvKCEpoiWW+GFNONk6H7Eit+Xv4SrLDIyj14M7yLxB+SRRkrJVBR/ok2pxKBaT5yizWJDaDSIIRa6XywOo6o6bkyXqlAkgs5Tg3WdfrQI0qLy9nUivVV0lfaYL0S4wuRrHhn8gARmfO2Ckpruw9ZiX9RTSl1dJvW+3Hu0hTtgoFkYEcfshmXzjiq0kp+Ej8JLQypkhiLPNRmZ/o7At83KRjIFqS+6gw1ojpvPzIsRNI0RHQdjCApry8nOyJ0MqYJ/u12V6gMNurTjRciatFJKySyqomfxJ1uaOSCUmGzSKVktCqrJP9hv3JpiTBqv4nA4eKNps70tdIZeW+0V66otunhzfZCxdABd2FqqFGmZZO2qyxL9SrigTsAR1DyyEW+NsczM2mkQkDOy87tYriS1cs46gKCRkp2e6OPtMmyqsWoWBY7JVLegLpEqSV8zh6sCPbJ7TSA6kANipskVyXSMurVC1gEQmxUZEb88TCCdKxU42SmSuRljMGYL6cQtLBKAtWfmi7clCSDGZoHcny9WKGE4+zg9OSLCINtYksWcJsEtkUOZHqIxWzZW+z2ic5kkDxhnTF+UqZskNoTYL5m8S8bJP9rHAZjAAtT5D2TYCN9itsSL9Ks2P4BFuWMoVGGcQqR0gx+cF07A5GWaiSH6ZAdJ6yKS0i51NJMEZluq1R5Dy81movPvAtm88sZAR2c7NIYGRHMQqdllHQKLIswim7pvTMZpHSyBCrOm6yT/bYg2XElVbLM3WioMuPJLQU+nX2qylolXn1ecogVpJnrVLFo7nzrdZxzk9sbOywYcOQ/1CKYtDNF8Mh2MoyqFgcMnr2X6OS/jPaqazNbJ8vEg+iK8+X1i99qSpA4CP4W4sy/5p2Q2uWfUX2IbN9wsYuq9Vq+adkIJQYS6eNS1QpL82dIVNmtJIeSx1RBl0eV6kcPE1dHhgxYgSgVQ1CRhGbnV3lCWUINIkKJZ2zyT6dsIjxcugfxBWXyK9g68tYIEOmhMckSkwAwyZKRtINSI5mFpmudOYSVykfMtDqlAq5NFl2d6LLC+mxDfYrnkjeCxPE+Toxkkb2Hum3eYSfdiA0xsXFDRs2DNMviSut1iqqb7JxzaKQTnQlrvI/07wsQkZmhGPPoBZhFuxJRaPklzpyHH4RL1GRMn6RDAq8FR0Ab8uIQ3Rpgqp214k5mdKNszfolGWa5IUq+9OJYp9WSFHMaFX5kl6ZhI+mzlMNMQeNQileFgaoHluUAUQEmL3baL+8iGxrtohe0ZN5oU3RmKQ/NxqNtCeLmM0urVNu0nma7aUl2R3ZSxydsOpkk5LmyqAo+RHNDjsapZyuCrQMSSalhKeKuDplTROt/RA4lXeVwMvRyFLG0itqBr6ig1hbWVlZWlqKSV1y2o8q87EoG40GjcIfzRN09pMSpc0x/9ELPYukjDeXTkJ+tQpdi9D6pdO22M8o5PlWpaJgtRcjzfaaoklUJA2KpIodQiWtSiZC7Bkmh8FTOChTVSlQ0LJp1lpl7ASzWMRjjbKqGXsDCZeaIUurLVQWfCsQwwplcJXxj7+eYcasaOL0RSb7lNGqlGkl86L5mgV7sohknyga7eumZlHJUQFvdSjk0bKJpVkwBouYmobLHUEyCTWKYU+VC5lFcZcBm8yZ0KpYMXMbjcOAKVbgmQvJb2fnQFdQV34gWWAMDaCV9NgmKnGO7o62K/elZ5btTpOVPpzuWmVe2FQhmcfN9usoGIVmJA1Xdk3pdc2CCbOjmEQ+bXGocbET07bgCaUfZi+X6MoUUa9IjFplNAz7h/S98qAcNKOxn6knc2Kd43QuQsuFNzmSxirkeJn7s41kc6gcpsqwpCGSoJpFsFSdLM1L1egSVH4q3Sl7HrRolZmysxJas2DvZkWgkNjT+Az249mIJa1W5n706npRNqA71SoDJyTv1QqhmPsqoVhWfmQw7gBaSaPgih3HFqn6vtk+zplF5qBKQiRg6AqE1mQvC0i3rwq0ZnviYxIZlFGoJXSevIn8kYScYKuO8yvkX6BfIXj0k2YxfkqvzNOSwMu4axSCnUbUamTQlUxYprNydp6j4XKefAcOOS4uDtDSD8vCgFVIOWZBRNl2KodpEVqVBI9tyjEbtBWVE7Yp1R5iZrbnR45eVPp/RlB+EQ9KTqdyJFZRU+Ivl8CoAKaBSmj1YkVoaeIqZ65x0PolgQJUuKdchEYjdEeOUSXeHee1mITJsg8HMhJCoxBxrA66gcoULIKMSGfLq9iCqoCHc6huSqviW5WfkIjibgyNVofyH28l+yv/giqa0CUQPOnwpfs1KuoSGl0vVGWdGHQhhQu9GKHBdJasW27SguGZ8+ynxEvPnOu4/CZn6skomy9GEMrIZxXilNRuLEKt5f83CYbFSMmWdXTIFvtyvUUIDo52JqUSo7LpldVzO8TPLIie1Z45S0diFvTHIAY60fQNomRrUEb3k6byoE5MLFDFYwoORFeFt8xnJBl25FCSgnU8WFUuZI4oy6BIJykNjoTZIGR9i2Arpo4yExkmTWLtLtldJM9iuxMq2frS9FWbdAySpqn8v+yvMoJ0uNGvMtPQijKcKmORGa2MtXplRKNGaI0y6NJeGVm1SnYrHTLtFV+Rq6yyrYa2oqKC6/aoaj5S7bMKwcGmDEhjc0i/R2il/7SKsqBVLM1Lj8p78otkp5G9R7oBi310NznwMnm+KgVXOXOLYGcG++HTZjGGzaQMd9KLOgGdJGMwAabJMrLqxfro9LcqxktWrBOLMGvsR0JJ7P9rUQ9pj1wYQBZY2KZW+83kQKCkE5aR2CxESqkJSydpFFO+LEpBQnYUs4jZ0mMb7GsSHX67jHkmMVLVIvQv9j+CocKevYdRUyt0PmBgEI/gMCibRpRgZYZDSyVnJs9S5UUENUdZ3TzXfg0pHO/Yajl1IN9+yUpplyq6QYphEJoiW9Yqyiwy+NnEkoqOGBNR+kmjvUpstZcgLArfoSc0CSnRbJ8KSyOmJ6AUw15F6zeL+EKMCZhOTJPVi+FRFBwoPapokUp1kiGWrl4lPOmUSl+esoxUnpgFhBuqaRTm/HDVTbmWhYyFTEKsYtFc6W1MDjkPo6yE2SaqtpLmUBKRJMumFIjoFQxipKDsWCrV2mSf5MhfIn27Y3+1iNEBZhGnSSkIM6OpjLg0X5kjkULLbFUnRqQalGKfVtTpaLK8RBbhZegltOoBNEh+ZOUHOhSJpfzz8tVsv/CVKrjKsKdqWekJpU2bxAhv+Y243GqvaxrFkyukEiS7l7RXdEEJoQwfBoOBP8ysyNpme8YgE1z5G3T2A5ItiuhBzBg+9crkWilNaOxlRUmMpdOWO/TPPEiduePKD0btQq8gopKSSP8s/7DBoequutxkL+1a7SdSSvdrcSDSMsmRpsaWpdswCIGQd+DlBmV4jVlwOl5Lny//mspeVf/OJEbJ6MREW8mKVeaoFSV0jlXT2FfoVIMrKEmqyBq9sRyKrI61LMU7EiizPYfiX7KIvILQSluBCUrOwvayiplbZvskxCSCOsOBVZEnmc+Y7LNMk1B8iLH8qTK3MTmQMtXP421VlFsv5ryYlWkBMgUyCSlDJrIqVkx4pKJEyyNmKnOXaQ8PUsFAL8GiymqHPGzYMCzQWCgWx2UHl5tkQLJNDfZzb8z2TwZho5sFx5ZWIlmxNG6rfS5rdBj5TGcrXQjf8lexI6ItaFj/jY3j5jyNaDHhpsnS4IirSnKSLpdvCZtUhqX7lT5ZxZB5ck5ODpYHk8946kBDZvJD9dVmXxKXBNLiIDkROX5qdNDnzPZDkwoKCqSNMle2ibE1sjOpogBtyCIUMYtYg8EksiCLxYIGHTduXHV19eTJk4cPH56fn68TT6yRfoiWSk8rDZqmKTUpcmat/Wg3KShKjKWlEk5GYsfzdfZVd3QLPn0iV3n4SAdFPSY/nJqnmioj6z+SVrDFzaJ8TVDlyRYH6YPgyXld0oWqHLWjobMTGO11TboWvGq12jlz5nz33Xc3b96sqamZOnXqmDFjZsyYMWrUKLpT2iLtXvobVZ7qCJ5eDJIyiInuBqFEElQiSh8rmTPtkiiqkmB2ArpiWL96STDktXIJP05RlW5ZQmtV1s9RhWGrmL5I2+IRmeTIvsJ9OT/HLBIP6Zn5XYy7ElQelHZvMpkWL17c3Nz88OHDe/fuTZgwwdXVNTQ0NDY2duLEie+++25xcbFWqzXbP35M/guDEJiM9pKhQVlxgtDKdIgHJZYysWFwdUxvVEjLm5ND8aFclC86KA/AalmsVflhaVIy3pjs80KcL42VTSz7hxy5LtG12VdqpeOVzc2+pYKQnEseN5lMr7zySkNDw5UrV9rb23fs2JGbm7tkyZJ9+/bt3Lmzrq6uoaFh586dFRUVGo1G0iVJI3BEpqEGMWtdK6ays/UNyhwCSZ1kApPnMHBCRZSkcKERYxm1ok6QZ7/ywX+FlqszFjgsK2QTo6Ikz3Lc6EhVTEf6Sat99ddqX36gEUuXoBfFbWNH5QervbqC++DMb7755ujRo999993evXvnzp27adOm8+fPr1+/fv369d9+++2ZM2caGhrOnDkzZswYWi1ZmHwriZLOfuvQPzPllVxXxXil+arglzKT3mFkq9yhS1cnP/Hx8SwPSDVKukdpwTjBbE9riahZpCUMw7RXm5jCTDtTTYC3KjOxHBmZKnmV3EpyMf5UvV4/cuTI/fv3v/3227NmzRo+fHhKSopOpystLZ08efKUKVNGjBgxb968efPmbdmyZdOmTVZlTqLkgDRcGWhVGOuFymgUj4HUifW9ZIaqQlr1FotUyIMyEvMjZrQwXJ3jswfi4uJUNAqemU1vsWfLNCm2qSr0qszUJIaPq661KuuJqEpM8ttlcmxQRh7RhRBg6ZmpJWm12hUrVpw+fXrevHmjR4+eNGlSQUFBXl5eaWnpkiVLPv/886+//vrdd9+dOnVqVVXVhx9+uHDhQp0osvKe0mHIeGwSK9qZxaQYs6IzMy/SiZnzKhetcqoSbMZmnUOOqxOSMp/PpnbIFBrlRK4C+1X8OLvN5lBJtYi80yxmMRtFQkLTNBgM7AdWoTWqfIPquxj5GH2N9oU57Ehmi+OlpaWnT5/euXNncXFx//79c3JyysrKZs+evW7dut27d69Zs2bq1Kl5eXlGo3HMmDGLFi1644038vPzqVtJpiaBNIrFKPRisRLJnI32yrZBjLZxhFaKjo6jFVUWrBUb6gR41KnWcTpXfHw85vxgUCMH0KgGWqhYD8VIIi3jsVk8L1YVCHG5zGRUnNlsv2oXjYBNZjabdcosDIuQRxx96eTJk//+978PGjRo4MCB48aNW7x48cyZM0tKSpKSkgIDA7t169apUyc3N7eEhITs7OyCggKDwVBZWWmy16QM9vNEdMqEWo0QExgOjYgIIq0AACAASURBVIJFEwCNqOc4sqE8ZZVcVQDOE2KyTHllfyLzyutwVnxsbOzw4cMltDYx8Fg6ZCn+WYVOZHWQf2nBcI8qIqbitHAJnP0uOTPOMTrkygaxnieBJxL0gSNHjpw7d+7EiRPnzJkzfvz4jIyMoKCg8PBwPz8/Pz+/sLCwhISEkJCQnj179uzZ09/fPykpafDgwfQNBnsB1SDmOkjvKgMhf6f8CJADG5nPECremXybO7y5NHS+ZW/gYvXqWIvyAEdZyKkDFjEBi1SIrthkrxJYhFIosx2LwqvNIiWlQct1bmxieCyxNykTtM0OOatVZNLSeRoMhiFDhrz66qtvvvlmcXFx3759+/Tp06dPn4iIiIyMjBkzZmgUoc7T09PV1TUuLs7Pz8/DwyMzM7O4uFg6f7O9HmIUwyeIImMqqbXeviqlMmIZMmUslwRNMjV5OQOzHMSamZkJ27WDNiEhobKyEvXa0tLSArGMsARG1eK0Y7OQjSRyEm+r/XqK7BlWUcTl+gQ2Mc5URjuDEDJV6ZOK7+h0uqqqqrfeemv06NGxsbHBwcHz5s177bXXIiIiEhMTCwsLly9fvmDBgn79+nl7ezs7O/v6+g4ZMiQ7OzswMDAqKqq6ulqqm5INyXZnH5Kqk+q4SSxv4OiHAa1RTBTTKvPDJOtmT5J8So5l5MpvHVitXPAANkThQrpN6aIlSB3GWhVxlSGZyEnabLMfzm51UDSxT0tVfZHKcF977bUJEyakpKSEhIQMGjTogw8+WLp0aUZGRr9+/XJzc/FsyNTU1FGjRun1+sDAQDyfOyUlxdXVNScnhytdWJTROY60SGY1MgUyiNEXtEXpUeW+Y07c4WnyziodQ6NML9A6Pi6Rj3DiMo3SRiVxVZkmN7ND/ZwNLe1YlbyqUil+ZLYv1al8IxFln6Nlk9maTCabzYY1sCIjI7OysoqKiqKiogYMGBAcHNy7d2+NRjNy5Mg5c+asW7du8eLF8fHxISEhBoNhwIAB3t7eOp0O19Ib4/5UELXi4S70E6qUV2VtevvBGDQ+RwPV2k/ikzTKIGZVS1KdpxT4/uvza+XTifPFEksq3yiNWHJdFbSAgfjZxIJN0g/bxLohqsRJhjeTfYVAfindg1QzcMncuXN1Ol1GRoZWq3355Zfj4uJiYmJCQ0PLysqqq6tnzpy5ZMmSFStWBAQEdO/e3cPDo0ePHiEhIenp6Tab7f333welMohNBj+jqPrpxEwecCKt/Zx5rZg0zc3R36oQlWyZGMM65cQ9ntaB0IgHisunHcmYR/crR18ACRnwJO2iHUvrZHimpmgTj0KUHM0kpGmLvS7BHaPIm2ni7AfoIqNGjRo6dGhBQcGUKVOGDh0KDHCH8ePHL168ODExsbi4ODQ0tGvXrt27d+/WrZurq6uHh0dGRsbs2bPLyspMJpNGo5HcWxIcUifkQsx0aak0Vo39wAmQZKlPyWRG5kiqdIgY5wm1mQ9NVDtkrqzKZYWKxINNCZUkL9xR2bGUl1UuV0Zo6ZDz7dd1kvFbWqoqZqtisFlsJntdzGq1Tpw4saSkJCYmZuDAgSkpKUlJScnJyYi1AQEB/v7+vXr16tWrl7Ozs4uLi4uLS1RU1IQJE6xWa15eHhYto15IZysTHqP9c8QZYqVnphFrheKoEwowslLWcKT8hLIdn4TJ8xmMc5XZt2rJgqX4YrGpFqE2dDTemjhJ76oKzASVsZYiojzfIpQNaZSqTQUh5Sd+KsmUSRmsk5mZ6e7u7uHhERUVZbPZsrKydDqdxWKJjIyMiYmBix40aFD//v2Tk5NjYmKgM2dkZBiNxokTJ5rN5uTkZL0i0FOvV+W1hJwmS8OljqETZQMCIzmz40Nqac1yIKPkWTId6kBDRnmAKqNc4dom1g3BDicNSHQL7J/Mo2I68qN8scwmDN3cUUIsqRMNUeUtjA5yIIMiTXzEiBFZWVmdOnUaNGjQK6+8UlJSotFowJKSkpIiIyPj4+N9fHwCAwOTk5OtVmtAQEB2dnZKSkpCQkJGRkZCQkKvXr1cXFwyMzNBzYqLi61Wq8r3qmiUzr4mL38YuaHK/Wod1GM5Lg42TXVCemlabQfQshTPBQ/ojUlZZYiVLlQGRRqoo0N2pE60Y1XUtDjIIBJjq/3UEhksTGJ9baOYWjhs2LDZs2cnJSWVlZVNnz49MTHRarWOGTNm8ODBCQkJ0dHRnp6e3bp18/T0TE9PLygo8PPzi42NTU9PT0hI8PDw6N69e8+ePfV6/YIFC9asWbNx48aVK1fOmjWrsrKypKTEYrHIHEYnFoeS2EvPzOOSNNGIiaVqKLlGrGiRkZGRrWxaZYgroO2ARqHyI9UoOWPOKoazkBgzCsoAXGD/jA+ZsBJaeY5VqP/yVkb7BStU1mmyn4SCT432U6dlLJ88efLo0aNxn7S0tOTk5LFjxxqNxrCwsKioKGdnZ3d3d1weFxfn7u4eGBjo6+vr4uLi7Ozs5OQ0bNiwU6dOvf766xMmTLBYLHDdOp1uyJAh48aNq6ysNCr1dp1Yr1EFrcxfJTdmtsMcRtbVVU+DJ2mi39Ypi9nk/bdFc/m4RJn8SLJD45ABUoJnEZKT9LcqC8M5DKvSCUtTVrllbNLQJcZSpWOsxW3REQ0Gw+DBg1977bVZs2aZTKaBAwcOGjQoOjo6KCgoICCgR48e/fv3T01N9fX17d27t5ubm7+/v7u7u5OTk5OTU1hY2A8//LB582b0fpPJpNPp0tPTBwwY0K9fP61WW1lZWaA8lJE/lYTZKGq3WvE0cdVGlZ+uVSPWOZDLz8gzGZJ5QgfTuWRtAOFEBS2RIGaE0+rAgTvc4X5RUVF5ebler2enMYlFvOiHpY0yYZWBgFZrsS/+6PV6enKab0VFxYwZM4YOHdqvX7+QkJDAwEBvb29XV1cnJydfX9+ioqLk5GR8ka+vr7u7O+Krq6urVqutq6v78MMPV6xY8fbbb8+ZM6eqqqq0tDQ1NTUkJMTDwyMsLKx///6DBg3Kzc2V6goTVpkZM6VhDY6bXHBeFnMAGAe25SoPg+EjxnlJB1aLRzhJXCEgEwyzMsVKhjo2H01QWqfFXl6Wll1UVPTuu+9OmzYN+aLFfnipij1Jr+uIJaOy1Wo1ilHBBrF4Pn9wVlZWcnJyeHh4r169fH19vby8XF1dwY9mz55dUFBgNBpDQ0Nx0M3NzdXV1c3NbdSoUd9++63FYikvL6+oqCgsLDSZTBUVFWPHjh07dmxubi5ct6enZ3BwcEJCgkajMYkShVHIk0b7pWtU0gQNlG6ZIRZjxznqmM8lxiaVqQ7UKGjIcMhcwlyyXLP91CvZcCZRb1cZKI1MCk9Wq7W4uHjp0qXz58/Hb8KZMouVIqVkVTJhVRkujYO2YhVDBqxW6+jRo996660pU6akpKT079+/T58+/v7+Pj4+I0aMsFqtrq6uvXv37t69+0svveTl5eXh4QHDraqq+vbbbzMyMvr375+UlJSampqbm2swGKxW64gRIyorK7VabXR0tLe3t6+vL7RMWqperzc5rFsD50wHSy/NWCvnWBK2PPHwJtViyHliyFzHDJl5rePqjIRZ4iobWsJZIB5AKK1chlJs8+fPf//99zUaDYQ9VRCVPtkshFx+tcleZEZIU6VA9OEajcZisZSVlRkMhunTpyclJcF2Q0NDg4ODg4OD8/LyevTo0bNnz969e3t7ewcGBgYHBzs5OVmt1g8++AD3LCoq0ul0aWlp6enpOTk5JpNp6NCh48ePr66urqqqGjlyJIatm+2nEkmd0igel6ixHy+hUUZFSWg5REbCqQrJ8ojaIWPBA9WD12wOzwdmrDWL9X+sDhqTqngnXSJpF26i1+urq6s3bdpkNBrj4uKMRqNV5EKOyBFsGYN5PrMOs1KZx/eiTadPn7548eJJkyaVlpZqNBo3NzdPT09PT093d/fevXs7Ozv7+fnFx8cj4fH19bVYLIWFheHh4WFhYTabraqqqry8PDs7OywszNfXFzaKHpCQkKDT6fB7srKyIiMjYbj8ndInk0/plTXcpF1Ki8RcjxyxqrXUJeCZpbJBm/6vVqt6fq1NPEZL+luViiTdtfS9Ki4tfTLQ1Wq1Y8aMWb9+/bBhw/r27avVavGN6NcUbFWZrsResmhmlgalBKTX6wsKCtauXdvY2NjS0rJ58+b33ntv8eLFRUVF8fHxkKh69+7dpUuXmJiYt956q2/fvp6enkFBQeXl5QUFBXFxcZ6enjExMUZl1I5Go8nKyoqIiOjTp4+Xl1fv3r179+7t7u7u5eXl7+8fGBjYp0+f0NBQKNUmUUJWiY6gPDlira9csVQfDJdEiV4XR2DTwJ6RGJ/+11XMqR4XiodzM6vhvuTG0vcSOUeBQnYIm30VQafTlZWVffzxx6+88kpQUFBKSorRaLTZbCUlJbm5uVlZWenp6bm5udQBTELiMAmtyiQeq8SgW1RU9O233zY2NtbW1l65cuXYsWPLli1DKTc3NxcBtWvXrgEBAatXr87Pz3dycvLy8goMDIyPj/fy8oqOjtZqtREREZmZmQUFBWBP48aNq6qqKisry8zM9PX1xeCb7t27d+/e3cfH5+WXX87KykpJSdFqtWZFoFVpVZI3yZSG/hZQAa2srKzMzEz6Z2a62WKDEeN4x1YrQSVCMkDK/McRWqso1/PafDFOXZUKk+aYTKaCgoJ33nln8eLFYWFhKSkpGzZs2LNnz9atW7dv375p06aRI0dibX2GK4PDFDyTWMgc5q7RaObOnfvw4cMrV66cOXPm5MmTK1asGDFihMViyc7OdnNz6969u5OTU58+fVavXj1t2rTu3bu7ubl5e3t7e3t7eXn5+fkhBQ8PD8/IyMjJydHpdPn5+aWlpWPGjBk+fPiYMWPGjx8/bty4ESNGVFRUTJgwYerUqYWFhaGhoS4uLqGhoXr7cTYmsXoU1WPqwzKs0iglq6JzpjXTLQN79IwO8lqupkpHKvUHKTioWJJk0SrTlMxLZcc8gejqdLo333xzw4YNBQUFOp1u5syZy5YtW7JkyTfffHPixImlS5eazWaYr2RJskJgFMUZtGBlZeWlS5caGxsPHTq0du3ayspKvV5vs9n69u2LKl7fvn3XrVu3aNEiV1fXnj17enp6Io6azeaRI0eOGTMGinFSUtKgQYNSU1OTkpISExMHDhyIIVTDhg2bNm3arFmzFi5cOHPmTK1WGxoa6u7u7uvrGxgYmJSUpOINWrEiglSAc5U5d6z/EFFwK6KYpxSCeFCjDKDJdZwVHxMTg8m1+fbPh+fYKNYDZLhlyisTDGnBjNPclyezN8h/bjabV69ePWXKFA8Pj8DAwLy8vAkTJrz11lszZ86cOXPm7Nmz8/PzNcrMHNoByRTjGRMPrVb7zjvvnD59ev369a+//jqZtrOzc6dOneLj47/66quFCxeCTLm4uPj4+Li7u6ekpAwfPryoqGjs2LFVVVXZ2dkJCQmZmZlRUVEoAvr6+kZERERHR/ft27dv374BAQEhISEBAQHx8fEZGRkIIgkJCcnJySgSSyrAgiAjKPADliq7xEHckzQKoGZkZGRmZsJeZdxVWy2eI17g8Kh2ciUJBneInApR1Q7dsrycKQ37NW4yfPjwOXPmxMfHg3wmJCTMnDnzzTffxKevvPJKfn5+Xl4eswuTeBqNTozQ1ymPt1u2bNmnn366atWqSZMm5ebmlpSUREdHd+7cWaPR7Nq1a/Lkyc7Ozj179uzVqxcIUWhoKMQNs9k8cOBAiFZQm/vYbyDJXl5eGBPp5OTk5uY2YMCA4uJi/Lu//e1vs2fP1okJ89hUhbxcZViTSkdktpOVlQUDxUeZmZnULohxx9BGR0cTWnJjOaJFpQcRTktHk9gl4VLJDtK4zcqMR5nMaLXagoKCyZMnFxUVzZgxY+HChUuXLjUajcuWLVu+fLnJZBowYMD06dOrqqrMDsvIM6QZxbiWoqKiAwcObNu27cMPPywsLIQDfOmll0pLS/fs2VNcXNy1a1eks05OToA2LCxMr9dnZ2djFFVoaCjYb1hYWEBAQGBgIGgwNj8/P09PTw8PD1dXV/Cv8PDwmJiYtLS0yMjI1NRUk1j7iDKy1CtkbYCbjLVgVZz3jrco/kj77tghA1r5ED0ZcaWpWRQdXyoPZEM0Vok0kZNWblLWUpZ4oDtXVlYOGzZs2LBhq1atWrx48aefflpWVrZx48YzZ84sX77caDQOGzZs6NCh6enp6BxmsxkaoUSUepDNZtu0adOKFSsWLFiQk5NjsVhCQkImTZq0ZcuW1NTUzp07d+vWrUePHkAX+mJYWFh8fDyGW4SEhMTHx7u5uXl4eEB5RkXB398fg9S9vLzc3d29vb379OmTkJAAVCorK1NTU11cXHr37h0YGDhgwAAIWDr7UW1kyIRQZkHMZ+SSBsA4MzMzPT0d3pif0qw7qPxwmKpqfpUjtFaxCpA0SpUTpuOl5iCpstl+DWjsl5aWYryHxWJZt27d+vXrly5d+sUXXzx69Oivv/66dOlSdXV1VFRUly5dXFxcYBNFRUUaZfk8ab4m5UkGS5cura6uHjNmTFpaWkFBwXvvvbdq1aqIiIjOnTsjb+nVq5enp6ePjw9wcnNzc3d3xySD8PBwd3d3FxeXXr16SXv18/Pz9vb28fFBFtu/f/+BAweGhYVh9KRGowkPD4dM7efnp9frq6qqyAykgKzSIqTyoNKYJLSIvsQVO5mZmR3ntXKBejmiUaIlWa7VQa+wiIkC7BOUDGVXMCnlBJgXfivKn/PmzUPRSavVTpkyZdGiRVu2bPnrr7/++c9/trW1bdiwITw8vHPnzrC2AQMGYAiqm5vboEGDjPYjGdClcnJypk6deuDAgQkTJgwdOvTTTz9duHChr6+vs7Mz1H9vb29/f//g4GA/Pz83NzcXF5egoKD+/fsnJCQEBwdDsUIc9fLyCgkJ8fPz8/Hx8fDw8PHx6devX79+/SIjIzMzM8PCwiBcBAUF+fr6enp6+vv7BwUFRUVFQeMkQ9Y5zKIEK5aZD/wtaRTwQ0DFDqHlcZp4B5KFnFwroVUlOVahBpvtK7hSj3QkwEDUKAo4Wq3WYDAsWLBg2rRpmZmZb7311qxZszCnSqfMMJw2bdp333332Wefffzxx5GRkZ06dYK1paWlDR48OCYmxsnJqVevXomJiRalggR0dTpdTEyMl5fXsmXLjh079tZbbx08eHDixInwrh4eHi4uLu7u7p6enuBBQMvf3x/+FgcBtrOzs7Ozc+/evQMCAkChvb29ExISwsLC/P39o6Ojo6KigoKCYO4YEOnj4+Pr6wt9ytfXF/FbL8bLsaqjVdaQoiYMG5XISeECoAJyyZ6YJnVgtXTITH44eka6ZRUrVjEpWrZF6H80JkkUjUbjkiVLDh069OzZs8ePH3/00UcbNmwYMmRIYWGhHF2WqzwIMC8vz9fXt2vXrj179gwLCxs4cGBISIi3t7ebmxsK5qwx0BlERUVVVFScOHHis88+O378+IgRI3r16gVoPT09e/fu7enpiZDZp0+fQGWDZybebm5uIM/QlsGKoTK6ubn17dsXjjcwMNDLywsRGj3Gw8PDz88vMDAwICAgNDRUo9Gwz8mRUBSNc5VaOm2UMZUYSzPFpzgfjrqDyg9iLdfKLRDPizU7LAMjia5Me5DeGJURDkzmiCsFYaPRCMwOHz78P//zP7/99tuff/75z3/+s729/fXXX9dqteyVLI8gq0lPT3d1dfXz8wsJCfHy8vLx8QkICID9wVCio6MHDRoEWWDgwIEDBgyYMWPG7t27T506VVlZ2bNnT8Dj7+/v7e2N1Dk4ODggIKBPnz7gR5CioC27u7sj0Lq5ucF8ARuSYC8vL51Ol5WV1b9/f2gsGA2J3ubq6urq6ooQ7uvrGxAQkKes4qdTnoOIDXSXPEiSYTheHMnIyEhPT8fsFW5AGjsdJz8oxbMOz7FLZlEMl2xIxarMohBksl85TfIaqrtardZoNK5Zs+bu3bu//fbbL7/88uTJk+fPn//666/379//5JNPLBbLyy+/DIAltLm5uUACm7+/v7+/f+/evcGGXnrpJXd39+zsbDCyAQMGRERE7Nmzp6mpqaqqCgmMn5+fr68vKrU4gg14+/j4IACDT2Efg5NdXV39/f1DQ0MxwqZXr16Y3picnBwSEtK3b1/0FVaT0BVwK/gGzGBQZTsyoEomzJyVTBigwnDTlY0fpaen88L/arVy0jTBM4oRZYRQ+mfaLuOoWRknTCUBXigzM1Ov13/99df//Oc///jjj19//fXevXs3btxoa2tra2t79OjRixcvzpw5M3ny5EGDBqWnp2uUORF6vT4+Pj4gICA4OBg0FZBARXJzcwsNDa2srJw8eXJycrLBYEhJSamoqKivrx87dmxwcHBoaGhgYCBCKUgTMKYThu/1UDYYnLu7u7Ozs5eXFxhTeHh4z549e/ToAVIdEBCQk5MD3qfX61NSUmJiYoKCgnr37o0x6/TMPj4+kKA5gEarTO6gAiUVRJgs3S9ME0VihNs0ZYP5Ema11cbGxgJarikkK7VAzihGnUllX77alPXqpQ6O+iJDy7Rp077//vtffvnl119//eWXX37++eebN282Nzdfvnz52rVrN27cuH379rNnz+7fv486blpaWp7yBBsMBw8LCwsKCkJsAwxubm4+Pj6okEdERERGRsbFxeXk5Jw/f37BggVBQUGhoaEhISG+vr5+fn6weKQl3Ae5ZXDFGBoPDw8nJycUCfLz8728vJABd+3a1cnJ6eWXXy4tLc3Pz09PT4+LiwtXtsDAQCgYqPdhJyQkZOfOnW+88YZGPBwEDQIIKRFL6R8oUlBknMIRAJyamkojhmdWO2SuvWlRHuqu0gupQ8mN1mlUlpfnWwTU7OxsvV5fVlaGwLls2bKnT5/+4x//+OWXX549e/bo0aP79+/fvXv3wYMHp0+fPn78eE1NTUNDw40bNx4/fvz7778fP358yJAhKSkpQBejWKDZYtAhSCkoa2JiYmxsLCrqTk5OFRUVn3/+eb9+/ZCKeHt7gy4B4D59+gQEBOAjLy8v8COEWPpSJyen4OBgq9WamJjo6ekJWaNLly7Ozs7ItZKSkvr27ZuYmJiUlBQTE+Pj49OjRw9ci74CquXu7h4VFXX16tW9e/eaTCbmPDRZ2qis7VAoZkyVegU2ldXibmpoITSCPRWI563J1JaiIIOuYyrJomlOTk5BQcG0adO2bdvW3Ny8adOmvXv3Pn78+MWLFzBWbI8ePbpz587du3cbGhqOHTt26NChkydPXrt2raWlpb29/dmzZzU1NeXl5ZmZmWiLuLi4iIgIb29vhDSmLj4+PpmZmf369fPy8goNDcXAF9Tg4uLiEKHhhMFmAwICYKNwy9QL0V2Aa2hoaEFBQWRkZJcuXaKiogoLC+Pj4319fXU6HZ71W1paWlZWNnLkSBhiXFyct7c3iDfiRWBgYFhYWGBgYGRk5N69e/ft2zdnzhyOfMtT5gHQA2eLR77TG0urxX662OTxHMcBNJipxyf8qAoDMvkx2G9Sv4XCh4FOOTk5kyZNOnv27JMnT/74449//OMff/3113/+858XL148ffr0yZMnsNf79+/fu3fv3r17d+/evXPnzs2bN9va2i5evHjs2LFTp07V1tY2NTU9efJk79698Da5ubnx8fERERE+Pj6Alo4UPCU4OBijiPV6/WuvvRYUFAQyFRYWBjoNugQDZVHW19eXURY7bm5uAQEBSUlJSG0HDx78xhtvDB06FCmWwWAAY4iNjY2MjOzTpw8EZDAyJMfBwcHwz6GhoZ6enr6+vlOnTv3ggw/GjBmDlJ3SEvlwthhWQdGf1IlkmK5YmiyNuwOGjCEWnHspdWDGWpN46BTTGIPBwPifmZlpMBimTp26e/fuW7du/fHHH3/88cfz589//vnnZ8+ePXv27MGDB48ePXr48OHPP/98//7927dv3759+969e8D11q1bDx48uH37dl1d3enTp48ePXr69GlY8HvvvcckLzExEdACA/g9Pz+/gQMHBgYGQlt45ZVXXn31VdBX5DNABQ0Nx4ucB+tXQHICJcYWHh4eGRlps9nmzJlTXV2dlpbm4uLSs2dP+PA+ffp4eHj4+/snJCSEhoYiuFJMhrIBJ+/s7Ozj4xMSEjJgwIBly5aNHz8eHMpisZSUlOj1+szMTBZzHMkUk12W9rBJb4zjrP+ooS0pKZHzl232T7w0iwWusIOEBCEBCuW8efMWLVp0+PDhZ8+e/etf/3rx4sWTJ08eP3786NGjR48ePXjwAGb68OFD4Hf79u0bN27cunXrzp07bW1t169fb29vv379emtr682bNwH2hQsXTp48WV9f/8svv+zcubOkpCQ1NVWj0cTFxQFdBFE3Nzc/P7/IyEhfX9+XXnoJAFRXVy9evNjX19fHxycxMVGr1cbExAADxF1wKCYtPXv27NatW5cuXbp06eLu7p6VlTVt2rSqqqro6Ggcf+mll8DG2QP8/f379esXHR0Nh49P4RiQXMGxp6enT5gwwWazrVmzZt26dZ9//vmOHTv27du3b9++iRMncrhTrhh4LEUMqsQwdKlmMN/FIJCOk5+SkhKbMlDNLGY9E1QwI9YucnJy0tLSRo4cuXnz5rq6utra2p9//vnFixd//vknWNLjx48fPnwILB8/fgzfi9fbt2/funWrra0N0N5QttbW1paWlpaWFnwEhtXa2nr79u2nT5/+/vvv165dmz9/Pv55ZmYmeCkoFeMlkk4nJ6dVq1atXr06KCgoJiYmJycnJiaGPhy6MVwxrB9ik8FgqKqqQoqVmZmZmprau3fvzp07A29o1126dOnRowfUTeS4iNCI2YgOuD+K8xCJIJKvWLGiqqpq+vTp06ZNoxtVbgAAIABJREFUGzduXFlZGVpSjpdgykutKjMzEwZKBUoW4cm2WMG1gzYqKgpFPZvDLB05MAUpDYb02Wy2KVOmHD9+/K+//nr27BmUh6dPn4L6Ald4WhBgBNT29vabN2/euHGjvb29Vdlu3LiBg83NzW1tbdi/efPm7du3cTk6xKNHj37//fdnz57t2rVr+PDhki4i9sTFxSFD7d69e1ZW1hdffDFx4sTAwEDM7YGpIaBSL8QEgl69evn7+69du/bx48f/+c9/WlpaNm7cuG7duu++++7bb78dNWpUXl6ezWZLT08vKytLTEzs0qULpGwkuBiJDp8fGhoKiufv7x8XFzdw4MDc3Fyj0Zienl5YWDh79myr1YpgSTCo+LPgk6cszMdODGgBIXI8/GsZZenS7aBFvdZxTIXMZEACc3Jy9Hr9xx9/DILD7cGDB4ij95TtwYMHd+7cuXfv3s2bN8mYbt682d7eDmjb2tquXbvW3Nzc2tp6/fr1pqYm7Le1tcF8IWJcv36dYMO3//7773fv3l25cqXFYklOTs7MzETvTk1NjYmJQWIzfPjwsWPH9u/fPzIyMjw8HBkIBj1BoURJzs3NDX541KhRv/76688//9zc3FxfX3/nzp3nz58/e/bs6dOnz58/v3379v379588efLvf//77NmzL7/8MqBFAQpyFYI3eBOEkdjY2OnTpyOEIaxWVFSUl5drlSUpcsU4U+mEGVYBG5UpR7mRUgZx1ahmxYNGyQEVUgeGUkqWtGnTpl9//fXPP/9EKH348CFCKezy5s2bCJbt7e3t7e23bt0CP0JMBa4ArKWlBXA2NTVhkHBTU1NdXd3Vq1flEeDd2tra3t5+//79O3fu3L9///nz5//4xz/OnDkze/bs1NTUxMTE5OTkgQMHYnh3dXU1ZC9wHARjWBIr51CakKe+9NJLb7zxxvHjx3/88cdTp06dOHFiz549+/btO3DgwIkTJ+7du/fkyRN4lNra2tbW1i+++CIgIKCzskHmhGwCfTsmJiY4ONjFxSUvL2/MmDEMmVDaOaDCsWgjhUYAjHSD0MKCU1NTiTFDL6O1GlrMEreKdaItyihDo9E4b968zZs3f/HFFz/88MPz58+fPn36888/I5Tevn377t279+7dA370t9gHwLBFGivObGtra2lpaW5uxmtTU1NDQ0NdXd3ly5ex/DTeNjY2Atrr16/funUL33Xv3r2nT5/++eefjx49gn9OTEx8+eWXIyIiioqKJk2ahKaMjIxEzRwBFYEQrrhXr17wqEiOX3vttTfffHPs2LEzZsyYO3cuIuLSpUv379+/Z8+etra29vb2+vr6Q4cOrV69eufOnQsWLHBycurUqVOnTp26desGdJH/BAUFhYSEQNkODg4uLy9HmdZgMEAb4OgZEp8sMX6RBxmD+ZqdnQ1iDP8stcZMMVBZ7ZDBkGUJD+7XYDBs2LDh+fPnL168+PXXX58+fQpEYUBwuYiIt27dAgYwU7Bckl6ACnslDW5tbW1ubm5ubr527drVq1cbGhoIMEaEX716FebS0tICzwzbffToEZLjx48f//HHH3fu3Pnkk08KCwuzsrJWrVqVk5MTEhISHByMLJPCEJQNf39/FxeXPn36jBo1atu2bYcPH96/f//333//1VdfrVmzBvlrdnY2Jm2uWbNmxowZhw8frqurO3v27Pr169988805c+YsX7583LhxPXv27NSpU5cuXbp169a9e3cMpAoKCnJycgLbwhgBIIoSuE5ZppH1SqAIqOhjVYhmKavQS1ZMmGm+IGJqaGG12NCzRo0atWbNmgMHDty/fx+OF+ETdgP6SsEBuMJ5Ii6SInG7fv16Y2Mjgyt8cmNj49WrVy9dulRXV9fU1ESSXF9f39TUVF9f39zcjDMRfW/evHnv3j1wNGxImv/444+mpqZ9+/atXbu2b9++Pj4+kZGRGNESGBgITYOiRGBg4KZNm1pbW9EF2dvQTU+dOvX222/bbLbBgwdPnjwZIz3279+/f//+lStXvv/++zNnzly5cuXBgwcrKio6d+7ctWvXLl26uLq6+vj49O7du1u3biDS3bt379WrF7IPDibkDHbqTarxElliFCpUGnppeGN4ZvpkvKalpeEStUOOioriXDyj0VhQULBq1aq6uronT57ATGF/iJc0VkhI7e3tLS0tra2tTU1NCI3Xr1+/ceNGQ0MDTJNZDSwSVoh+APaEEFtfX19fX9/Q0FBfX9/Y2NjQ0IBLrl69Wl9ff+3aNbzC+vFj2tvbEXoR6eFaGhoapk2b5u/vHxsbi4oC9SBkPj169Jg1a1Zzc/PFixfPnDlz4cKFurq6urq6Y8eOffTRR0uXLv3yyy8bGhoOHz68dOnSkpKSiRMnzpgx44MPPti6deunn366devWtWvX7ty588aNG2+//TZS3s6dO6Oi0LlzZzCsbt26IcOOiIgwKtNqOcoAnpPlORgfoSWFlgozcwGeILMg+md18hMZGYlH7uj1eovF8sUXXyAfvXPnDrQF2N+tW7eA6O3bt5GcANf6+nqYFADGvrROGivAI2ZE99q1a9euXWOsxWkNDQ2NjY3Xrl2DZ8ZNEJgbGxvRgejn8dsePnyITOzrr79OS0vDsAe4YggILi4uCQkJe/fuPXfu3JkzZ86cOfPTTz9t3Lhxzpw5I0eOnDJlytq1a48cOXLy5Mlt27Z98803b775ZlJSUnR0dGZm5qJFi3bs2HH06NGjR4/+9NNPX375ZUZGRteuXZ2dnSMiIry8vGCsgBa4Ojs7owifnJycm5uLsYUGg4FxVDpVoCt5r2P5XQKZmpoKI8ZB3ERd+QkPD0e3Kisr+/LLL5HD3LlzB262TdnAiSA4QDxqbW0FAHDC8Jytra2NjY1ofaCLaNrY2FhfXw/Hi6uAE7HHWxhoQ0MDbfrq1atXr17FHeic2YHQM+AMIFX+8ssv//rXv5qammbMmBEQEAD6CukqMjJy7ty5J06cOHbs2IEDB5YvX15cXKzRaKZNm/bll1/u3r373XffHTly5KBBg/r27RsfHz9y5MjKysrExMSIiIjk5OTq6uqNGzcuXry4pKTE29vbxcXF398/MTER4Pn4+HRSNhSIoC1jpCqmIxQVFZnNZqkJUzKk4QIkmbCSLkm8ZUWPB9XQxsXFzZs3b+XKlefPn//5558RSm/fvg1DvH79Oi2yubkZ/IiECDwIKU1zczOoEFC8du0a0AUMLS0tCKtgTOguwAa2TqdNM8VHvBscMr6L5+PbEbZBp2/fvv3w4cM//vjjxYsXBw4cKCsrg+EGBATExMSsWbPm+PHjBw4c+Oijj6qrqxcuXLhr166LFy/Onz8/JiYGg9ZAp1GELysrw2iK6OhozOHJycmJjY3FiHNMpYWSk52dHRwcTJ/co0cPjJcbMGBAZWUl5s8jsZSO11HohznSTIk98QZp4mky4qqhnTx58r///e/ffvvt119/ffDgAfMWigloaJAatiwiIhoUCF2/fh22hZMRWRliATzyGV7Y2Nh45cqVOmUjtPX19TBWgIe3sE6wZdyZiPL++N62tra7d+9CzX78+PHKlSujoqJcXV0jIyM//fTTQ4cOffLJJ/Pnz//b3/62ffv2nTt3mkwmFOM8PDy6du0KZoQ6fN++fceOHYuSe2xsbGZmJhLCgQMHQkBOSUlBsQSCT2hoKLgVFpxydnaOjo7OyMiAPIAEhF4XQA4aNCglJQVmxx2YLE3TMZGV2S2IVQfQvvbaa//7v/8LXO/evXv37l3gd+PGDZUZUUmARdLrAi2c3NTURF0CrQ/LwzlXrlxBuKUt1tbWXlY2SBbcuXLlyuXLl/kb8DNwOYBkPEYPAPAtLS0NDQ1g3W1tbY8fP/7rr78OHjyYmprq7++/evXqffv2ffzxx3Pnzv3oo4/2798/YsQIf39/jH4Cs01KSkpJSRk/fvysWbOmT59uMBgwSCE7OxuTu0E5gUq/fv3S0tK0Wq3Vai0vL09LS+vatSvnJaA+mJGRgbmQWPwfYFA+BHiAimilp6dz5JvUF+nGcRXcOBmZuvIzc+bMv/76CxkO4ivwuH79ekNDw9WrVykEgr7SE9bX1wMqHAR4cNqAls2NO+BuQALf0tjYCHu9evUq09lLly5duXIFye7Vq1cZg4E0jiBGsEvhWxA10I2uXr168eLFs2fPXr58+caNG8+fP798+fLQoUOXLFmyY8eOLVu27N69+5NPPlm1atXLL7+M2VoYBvvOO+98+eWX+/fvRySqra1duXLlvHnzysvLc3Nz09LSjEajzWYrKioyGAypqakoCWO4XXl5eVFREfJdziby8fGxWq2oiFut1pKSEoABtGiF8MwIwzBW4uooGpM0UWVkCcEO2unTp//2229SdmhtbSVtIZbMSdDWV65cqampOXv2LNAieA0NDTdv3kRDA7wmZYOZot2BB/ZhoLW1tbgVyHNzc/OlS5dqamqAKKC9cuUKpWb+JN4fN+SPhBuvra09d+7chQsXHjx4cPPmzV27dsEbT506dfbs2SUlJXFxcf369QsLC/Pw8MCMzX379v3yyy/379+/dOnS+vXrR44cuWTJkr/97W9YQzcvL8+kLG+Tm5uL0W7h4eE5OTmDBw8ePXo0+BTrgBEREampqTDKvLy8/Px8AiblJKALOFNSUpKTkyX2NGUGYHpsnMMMyg7aKVOmPH78GMoRbQu5JhoaPhMyAs65dOnS+fPn0ehwfXCVYLbUj0BoGxoaYKnIcAA2wEOsvXz5Ml6BClKgEydOfP/99z/88MOxY8fOnj3LBImMHfixcyDQAk4ZgGHc58+fP3fuHFLzzz//3Gq15uXljRgxAoJAYmKil5dXSUnJ6dOnm5qa2tvbT5w4sWzZsmHDhlVXV3/22Wc//fTTN998s3Xr1vHjx+fk5EAAgPSPhXijoqJiYmLMZnNVVVVYWFinTp26d+/u7e0dHx+v1+shLlIOpDRBdEmIEG5TUlLormWmK8sGJNIpKSm8VXp6uppG3b17F1ZVX18PEwFOMM3a2loiDT98+vTp2traS5cu1dbWkr4yaUEezJwHrwASnkA2+pUrVy5evAjHDod/9erVM2fO7Nq164svvvj222937Nixf//+mpoaXAUDpYhx7do1dAX+Zhn1r127hqSora0N/6WhoaG2tnbatGkDBgzAwnxpaWnx8fHBwcEff/zx6dOnDx06tGzZMuj1K1asuHz58sOHD9vb248fP75nz54FCxbAai0WCwp2GRkZAwYMyMjI6Nev36BBg4YPH56enu7p6RkbG4tGx+ByGLpWq8VkNVbomPPQ5YIQOVZ4ZHYr01+V6GgH7aRJk+7fv9/c3EzLA5CXL19GoyPCwbZw/MKFC7BmBEWSVYhHwI8RWtooYiSwRywHMLgPOkdTU9PFixePHz/+/fffHzhwYPfu3fv377948SJ6CWIzwjwcBmIzfhvCMO6MvgVaB42loaHh0KFDR44cOXjw4Pvvvz958mSz2Yxp2lar9fvvv9+1a9fHH388dOjQYcOG7d27F4rbtWvXjh49eurUqQsXLhw7dmz+/Pn5+flFRUWQHQwGA8bGGgyGxMREPJojJCQEw2wxl4vz2CoqKoqKikwmEy0vQ1GMGUppsnS/jvDLbBhv2SHsoB0/fjwqG8g7YUYXLlw4d+4c4l9NTc2lS5dAXNG48NjkRDREQAtvDFfMwg52KFHBrEmDESNhiC0tLQC7pqYGP+nChQuk1rBF8C/wavy2emVjeo0zEfVv3LgBVbKmpuann3768ccfT5w4sWnTJpPJhOHpb7zxxq5du9avXz9lypSioqIjR45cvnx5+/bty5cvr66uHjp06JgxY6ZPnz5z5sxvvvlmwoQJWNEvPj7eYDAkJSVlZGQUFRVptdpRo0aVl5cnJSXl5+cXFhaOHj162rRpY8eOLSsrKy8vHzlyJGbfOPJeSYhUiWxqaqqsw6vyXWm7HeS1LS0tICznz5+vqampqam5ePEimoxvEQvRA9CUcM7UeLHT1NQE6YpJJykuXALaGufgVjA+JjONjY3oYbiWDJzUDMGbiTJpMzoKy73Mv/GT2traILFdvHgR5diNGzeirp6VlfX++++vXr16xIgR0dHR8+bN27Vr1+7du7/66qsdO3YcPHjw2LFj+/bt27Bhw+jRo0ePHj158mSse4gJ8KmpqSgWjRgxYtGiRRi6jEn+WDd86NChVVVV8+fPX7lyZXV1dW5uboYiFqqAyc7OVuGq2me2Q+8tR5mrGfLEiRPb29svXbpExRyWVFtbi/zh3Llz58+fRwsi7tI5k0nBDxNL7tNSgRBeoQtev34dVo60B/en/ARDR08iutevX79y5cqFCxcuXLiAb4R3ITcGkK1io9QFURNqWn19/YEDB959992kpKQePXrYbLa33377gw8+KC4urqys/PLLL7dv375///6TJ0/CgdXW1oJV/PTTT19//fWKFSsqKiqGDBkycODAxMREjUaTnJxcWVk5ZcqUhQsXpqenBwcHI0cqLCzMycmxWCxjxox54403Pvroo7KyMqakhE1KE6oYnCFKQxn2mpS8D327HbTjxo1raWkBkDU1NefPn79w4UJNTQ3R5REAgMCGnbq6OpyJfRglM5OWlhZU9JB3EjNUfqgGM4XF5aDowJUVIWY4586dO3ny5NGjR48cOcK6DSICGBzcA78CVQTS9dbWVnjm1tbWZcuW9e/f38nJSa/Xz5kz54MPPpgyZcq2bdsOHjy4a9euAwcOHDp06Kuvvvryyy8PHjx4/Pjxc+fO1dXV4c7Lli0rKytLT08PDQ3Ny8tLS0srKSmZMmXKkiVLBgwY4Ovrm5WVNXjw4AkTJsyYMePVV1+dOnXq/Pnzly9fnpubK4Nlur1MKAOnTHtYQpBcWvpzRGg1tFVVVTdu3Kivr7906RIC25kzZ5BTIiO8cOHCxYsX6foQ4a4oGw7iOMgLfSa8LltZ6oWQupibSmGSchIILTUQCtE1NTVHjhz54YcffvrpJxA6OSgH5wBdaGrIxwA/R3o8efLk3LlzNpsNAuSoUaPmz58/dOjQVatW7dq1a8uWLdu2bcPyKN99992ePXu+++67devWvfPOO/PmzVu7du2ePXtGjRqVnZ3dp08fkCmbzTZt2rR58+aFh4cHBwenpKRMmjTpvffew4PBlixZsmzZsldffZU6Q1pampQVJZBkUjRlnMwoKzeKWXDvdtCOHTsW0CKmwkxra2vPnz+Pyhc0HWYa4IrgVnDLoMSgLRAc5PgmaluEVjpt9gNmpdQaYeKAhwMfoaLU1dWdPHly7969P/zww8mTJxEmmPhev34dl1PORN9ixQJ3e/jw4VdffTVo0CA859RoNFZWVuIZxRgtfODAgR9++GHTpk1Lly6dO3fu1KlTlyxZsnHjxo8++uiTTz5ZuHBhbm5unz59YmNjsWBKdXV1eXl5YGBgXFxcRkbG3LlzV6xYsWrVqk8//RSBnPhlOkyLJgGWyY/00hn29T453ILwqyWLCRMm3LhxA9aAyHr69GnEGCINPgW8T58+DZOifoTY2dbWRnWCoiMgBOVBzyCE6CswfdIoYAxOxyoeGLUcq4yOcvr0afyYCxcuIGrQpYMBqAIwQnJLSwtHy96/f3/Dhg3x8fFQGKqqql5//fUNGzYcOXLkp59+2rVr1+bNm3fu3Hn48OGDBw8ePnz49OnTiFmHDh3asmWL1WqNjIyMjIzMzc2tqKiYOnVqdnb2wIED9Xp9eXn5u++++9lnn23duvWNN94oKCggBvSicvST1KQYbkmRsJOpjCx3HMSK26rHRo0fP761tRVS3/Hjx0+cOHHu3Dk0DdoLGGO037Fjx+AnqQ7CoEGUZCGW8hCaGHjgQpJq0ijaqEyOmTTL8RtkRrLKhLuBAOJ8ahe4lmrGmTNnzp8/zxLW3bt3nz59unv37uzsbGdn5xEjRqxatWrLli179+5dt27dq6+++sknn+zYseOTTz7ZsmXLnj17Dh48eOrUqWPHjiHTXbFiBQbJ5uXlTZ06ddq0aTqdrri4eNy4ce+///7+/fs3b95cVFSUKRYnAH4c8EbGK8t8LBXQWMmEM8Q8eSlSAlo1Qx43blxzczOkuFOnTsEJw8XV1NScPn36/PnzJ06c+PHHHw8fPgxfTbECxo16HNMbFtiZtl5TNoBdV1dH+YlOGCcQjKamJqRYEK3gFTDYA0fggfm9oOvyIIwV/YwOuaamBizs8uXLIFn3799/8eLFpUuXKioqkpOTkQVt37597dq133777fbt27ds2fL5558fPHjw0KFD+/bt27NnD8axXrx48eDBg1hbF/X8wsLCsWPHLliwYNu2bd9///0777yj0WgiIiI4UZq6Ek2WuErjo0Nm5krzdazdMtntANrRo0c3NDQA2rNnzzKLhdxz4cKFU6dOHT58+OjRo+fOnUNw5ajSq1evAmwUYmkfFJsgboB5wf0CzpqaGrR+g1K9pxhJowdPZqEJcOJCVJEvXbqE6E6ODZjp+alaNyoDOVpaWpA+wTPBVdy6dev3339/9OjRwoUL58yZ880336xevXrr1q2fffYZZM79+/fv2LFj06ZNf//73z/77LMff/zx6NGjJ0+ePHv27IIFC1JTU2022/jx48eOHfvhhx/u27dv69ato0ePTk9PxwIXmO6RaT+JlpP1OJhGsmUpV6XbT96Scgfde0ZGBsYz20E7ZsyYpqYm5jmMoIDk1KlTpP5nz56FvED99sqVKyBZhAG2cuvWLVZSqdfDOSN5lcV85CQszIHKyoGPdXV18A2XLl06fPgwgoL8DYj3gAo9gG4fBg3yj9uydIHfht5269YtTCD44osvPvjgg6KiotGjRy9fvnzp0qVTp06trq5+4403Nm/efODAgSNHjhw6dOjAgQOHDx8+e/bsoUOHXnvtteHDh8+aNWv58uXbt29ftGgR1rHn3CQ5+BQHVdN1VIJwutCEVamOlJ8yhJ6MTR1rq6qqGhsboepBZbx48WJtbS3IyMmTJ0+dOsVECBkOOA5aE5aNDiEdMl0xYzDMHdQanhNngtPC5VJn4PS9tra2q1evokHJ4+hXqEfi1yKJosrBui84AX4/HTX6EDXL1tbWp0+fPnv2bOvWrSUlJWvWrNm+ffvChQtXrly5a9euvXv3fv755xs3bvzss8/27t17/PjxU6dOnT59uqGhYfv27XPnzv3www83bdo0Y8YMtD7HtmVmZnIiJceOc660PAKkZVglhHTjrN+pUqAMZWCNGtrm5mZUcs6fP3/27FloF5cvX0aFp6Ghoaam5sKFC1CdYCiACvgh4hIzVl2Q80BGgCWh98DVw7DQyhxfB2NFfsK6LGLk0aNHz58/T/mavYQaMr4aWFIQlRYMJRV9tLGxUY6ZPXv2LKZst7S0nDlzZu7cuRs3bkRN/vjx45s2bVq0aNGKFSu2bdt25MiR48ePI0KdPXu2trb21KlTH3300aJFizDPjGOMyWY5uQPYwHzTFWWRwmGGqMXK8o7MfCTe0m/jYAdCI4YTQOiB162trUVGe+3aNQr0TFHo9wAS2uvMmTPnzp1Dn2hQBlRAoEc0lRwHJosIDUILGYuzP7gsDV03KRiMkt8OTwPbxTlXxIaex3gMURPJFYg9tmPHju3YsQOi8c6dO4cPH67T6f7+979v3rz57bffnjnz/27v3H7jrM88ft+bvahU7VVvqCpVorBL0hLiBGirVWm1C4SKHiiHBBIoSlUgVC1tUVWKihoOuyHECUlsx+fzeTye84xnnLHH9njOJx8T23ESAoFCW7WXe/HR89XPQ/6C1b4XkWOPPe+8z+85fZ/v8zy/OHfunMfjGRoa6uvr6+zsHB0d9Xq9AwMDw8PDqVTqtddeo36+14aJuEOgXNXct3MYn76WzBqclvg6K03Kq4r9HqdUoGyqHrLIZDJTU1NTU1PAxYDJ4XAYI5ZMJoXoCo7gcWPr4vE4qZE0noOCVklpVOF3kxalKC4wqeYwCHhksUKslBxL0tPT0z6fj0EnUlBe5raZzM3NkbhzyJQiFwqFvr6+c+fOnTp16sSJE3/+859//vOfHz58+MiRI7/97W9fe+213t7eoaGh999/v7m5+f3339csyR/84Ae/+tWvOjo6zp49e++991InaLABXa4dvtd20KopD6db51/drNf9qYywwmk3kOYQ8P0don388cdnZ2cV8qF8fC1cIuvU24U3FYtFmmHi8biwjmQySTY8PT1NHQkrzUXMQtkfa8nlUprpEYItK9G6/BjU0Q2qs9lsLBaLxWKkbXLtsjEY6pmZmUAg4Pf7GaUADopNjsfjnZ2d4+Pj4XDY6/W2trYeOXLk/vvvp+H/9ddfP3Xq1EsvvXT06NH/+q//2rdv39GjRzs6OhKJxMjIyMDAQDQaPXr06O7du9WStc+ZV6yQ2J3Wp5kVbkYrcbpYhJvkSMshT7m/iAbvEO1PfvITsr1EIhGNRv1+P8qHBgsYQq7kiAL9UWsVdBOJBAYZYItfV3aER8QUUxDkiSMkHDMQIF1DGEx15nC23NofoZZMOhhZKpWSnVd+pcIitaxoNJrL5VwHX61WqX0RnY2OjkJBpWzwu9/97te//vXZs2ebmppaW1t7e3sJoC5fvlyr1RobG9999923336b2RR13XYaiOu2X+6zodWy0q5DrYOZZH5BkuuCZ/c19aJ9/PHHC4XC9PT0xMREKBSKRqMqEvA5ZTD1NMUdRK0VdomlRuaquu/c3JwLPwlPEGyEDgku5u9ns1kFz3pHnYaiQ1BVJsNxwRorJxYS4pbxuY3FxcWStSBks9lIJDI+Pn7q1KlXX30VvRwaGhobGxsaGmpvbw+Hw319fcPDw5zmWCzW3d0NberHP/7xsWPHjh07JgjCzXZod6fhxxW8giylua7rvWdn+56V6l8FAAAgAElEQVSgR76gtOAilLfwtYcOHcpkMlSbo9EoXlN5pESbc+i+xWJRkiP9v3jxIopOckxETVIkIk7JaeFCUVTJQRJIUWV8xc+8HoqTGuuEUQt3JIASAoqNUUyAxitlF+TJGVK2yhUKhciU5MUJQQKBwODg4J/+9Kdnnnnm9OnTwWBwaGgoGo3Ozc29/PLLjz322Pe+9z3x+t1GShlkBO8aagTv5j8ysPc4OKJrq+sCaeGU9e1cTz31VDKZDAQCkUhkdnbW7/ejuCiiAt2csddQIASJgEmZEDBelpwEJSYZTSaT8/Pz1NokxVqtJhdOwkO3SNlhNetUuRQcYf2uYSdiEpkZe+DC1ERPdTAWvzs9Pd3W1tbS0uL1esfHx30+H77pwoULx48fJ+dRjBmPxxsbG7/3ve898cQTp06dam9vRx8OHz788MMP//CHP/zJT37y/e9/v64JuqGhQZ130l0NnpFo91iz7D2GRyqPciMsN8YWYFnfX3vw4EFKddPT05FIhFAIQ4riSq4F6wFJp9MKmlBT9wKCl+Iifr6g7ovmYX7FK2YuCTCWGorUsYkM8KwqJPAF6bKCYWwArkRxFiGbPhRxtcRfLBaXlpaSyWRbW1tjY+PJkydPnDjR0tIC9nTixImXXnqJPGd4eHhoaGhycjKZTJ48efK2225raGh44okn3njjjfHx8b6+vkcffZR1CN/5zndkb+VQ3Zb4BtsWoO+4LZcNzlUHXLhR9B6n1tvw+TElP/3pT8m7WWGF+yRpwb5JroJk5+fneTFHATsMDTEcDkciEUlUxAxCLc4BtSD655eXlxlOo6ZKlfD4pvxuzuFD5XI5SCCq+AqsVigkoiQHFIUW9YdwXcw9qvTVajUSiTQ1Nb355pukOmfPnm1paXn88ce7urp6enrOnz9//vz5CxcutLe3Dw8PQ486cODA008/feLEibGxsffee2/fvn133XUX61DdgFlu1Z2p6q6VcHdKuHrpWmZdDTub+PbZHPQdon3ssceAacR5c+mfOYffm7XuZjQgEolQ1wyHw0AWwWAwHA7jqomQUXoqbkTRlAgB/EhvNJkGB4wGiyCBprr2GXFyD2oKIrASKRPRYidkpZEx4KjOLq8UErK6uppOpxsbG1988cWnn356165dDzzwwOuvv/7uu+++9dZbv/vd79566y12UzQ1Nb3++ut33nnn/v37H3rooT/96U9tbW0zMzOvvPLK008//cADDwAj77OJBTLL7pyKOqer8EqBmKZxKlDaZ0PANa5mrzObqN4gA/kKvRNxfNFprBMVuVgsYmmnp6dB3cLhcCwW418u8mMwEOIRQdMyzkRqSmDkgBGn+u3VW0apAPUq28QaJKQ4gPAY4QlhxvUKkhSNkkhekJbCZtCS4eHhI0eOfOMb39i7dy8tlA0NDQ899NCzzz578ODB3//+94cPH3711VcfffTR22677cknn3zxxRefffbZP/zhD83NzS0tLaFQ6MCBA3fddZeMp6Tlqu/nTbTrht0akfvvflsjIhMtnKQeaFxaWhI+jLOknCmEDzyIDz8/P+/3+8fHx6kFRSIRGAjhcNjj8Xg8nkAgADKFM8aLq2jIsZiamlLSLJkRQNVsXJS8L/ZZM+KWl5dV08WP5ozakdvZQ1CwxhMulTFU45JtFxMon8/XarXLly+n0+lTp0799Kc/1cIb2kB27dp1//33Hzp06MCBAz/4wQ8efPDBL3/5y3v27HnwwQefe+653/zmNydPnnzzzTc/+eSTarV66NAhpIvlVBzbYAsVpH8Kod1tw9JmIZSSbl2JV9HZDtE+99xzKysrAmDFlSEMUa7Cx84b9VdMR9H8oaKNj497PB6v1xsMBoPBIOqbSCTgb6DQ09PTyJuEGDSKBEaUdGFScskoLn07DAQULZmQyi3K5q2pN+v0kEl3MRuqHOB3ScDw9xqr093d/eKLLz755JMHDhx44oknaGvfv3//a6+91tLS8sYbbxw8ePC222678847Dxw4gNa+/fbbL7zwQj6f/+c//3np0qVXX3119+7dkNbucUZoNtgwsPts4Sn/pbgr4yzNdi22mwS7hro+r33++ec3NjZ06rHJ5DYkowJsOdqCLFBoQrBoNEpqz+Bf6IaUrGEwKcKKxWLKmpRO8EyFPIgxw+w/AhyVfpeXlxEtflplXb2eooJbO3KJykgRByQ/XTDiTqVSgc26srLCFLtQKPTyyy8/8sgjDz/88H/8x38cPXr05z//+R//+Mc//OEP//3f/338+PH9+/c/+OCDx44dY5vQCy+8cOzYscnJyY8++ugvf/nLhx9+eO7cuW9/+9v/9m//JrqMUhq4MhKeROuunti3c3mtgq+GnaMA7/384rUjR46sra2hKNlsFl0kS0GioO24SUJNtXKABZKlpNPpSCTi8XgGBgZIFUZHR+m289uFKsdisXg8ToANqZ2cRMCTxicosMIR4CPJdkR2RK1xkGoSVIDNiVFHk5spyVDhubPWPczkPka0XLt27eOPP65UKm+//faPfvSje+6554knnjh+/Pjx48f/53/+5/jx4yxF+Pa3v/3b3/72l7/85c9+9rMf/ehHv/zlL6emppjD//HHH//1r38NhUKPPPII6zLqUCe5Wy6p8n07F3Qp3laa5KJae636u0O0Tz/99MrKCsgAOINY/AIB5ubmgB5xmRD2wXVBHlAgjGQmk8GbxmIxv98/PDzc3d3d19fX19c3MjICySgQCIDy8Ncoa4MsYhJFb8MOLywsiOkOSIKMiaokVOFW8tCImbMi4ocgceJEkUOw4ZVKhSl2ly5dunLlyvb2NqMoJyYmDhw4cOjQobfeeuvdd99955137r777ttuu+0rX/nKF7/4xWefffbll18+evTof/7nf/KaUqnEyKOPPvros88+q1arsG3ond3rTN9znascsLZPKF9y3bBwKJWD+P4O0T7zzDOQVVUqwUYBs2FOiX1IYSnzqR3WbcJhohPTVDXrpFgsxuPx/v5+gHWkOzk56ff7FVor8iLOEtSMPVhaWgIwUsUQl4GAsa4EuoAS5XKZMTluj4IQSo01ye/sVcGqc0aZVsSQLKbbMV0/mUy++eabL7300iOPPHL77bdDQt69e/dXvvKVY8eOPfnkk3ffffcdd9zx0EMPHT16dHh4mO0ZH3zwAUOFr1692tjYuHfvXvo2ZZwFRe3fv9/dQ12nyoKgpaaIVllvvdYePHgQkgpxk0JKSnsoH7EuIS4lehi5InZDatQgp0KhoBFiDL4tFAp+v7+np6ejo4Py59jYGKE1DpjeyLGxMb/f7/P5EolEycboXrp0qVwuQ/j2+/1EZNwYtiSRSID/AbwAuYg4gJriibmfpaUliRN5E5Gpz4zdJdw/x5TRsdevX9/Y2Egmk6+88gr7Txmr+vWvf/306dPf+c53vvCFL3zpS1+6/fbb9+zZ8/DDD6dSqevXr1+9evXatWsMpvvkk08CgcAPf/jDO+64g9hKxAxi3QYb26ds5/NmWZizomXMQL1oDx06hKfE8JKPUuNTtoopnpmZiToXJTy167ieErliJ9fX15nsuLKysri4GAqFBgcHu7q6IBwhXcoMfr9/cnIyEonggxcWFkql0urqKiPPw+FwZ2dna2tre3v7wMDA2NgYJj0UCkGkDQaDItuCnKRSKQI0gkHNAnULSsI7RdvjHPARNMaZoVQo8fXr12/evBmLxR577LF/+Zd/+epXv3r+/PkbN25MTk5+//vf/9d//dd9+/a98cYboVCot7f30qVLTCtFtDdu3Pjkk09KpdIrr7yya9eu3bt3uzii64kFXChWcsWsa6/DuKgX7eHDh1dWVjC/4XDY5/Mx0wxoiYSVJwX8FAwGQ6EQIhfGhHvWg8PbEcKgAbguvlksFhOJxOTk5ODg4ODgoNfrTSQSi9YNphKbGlWIdEql0uzsrM/n6+/v7+rqam9v7+npGRgY6O/vb2tra29vb21t7evrg9rCbScSiUwmI0hLxZ+SM1YbfcXLkuMRQOhcKozA10iDP/30062tLYg1H3300ZUrVz777LO1tbXR0dF0Os1i1vX1dTJyTgZum5F0H3744enTpxsaGkh8XQTKTWnIf+RlVeTZ67Dm3IisPkJeXV2FEEq5A+GhBz6fj+/AT4CMQdE+Ho9jGJPJZNamHci+oQ3EL3wT14tCoEmpVCoSiVBmATKs2rRrwrF4PA6QiZnVFF7EjFrQhNPU1NTR0dHe3t7S0tLW1tbX16f0OpFIwGgn5le2gwXWH6RvTHkdrlfLLojAseqbm5sM3id+huXKyNcbN27cvHmTLUZbW1tbW1u01nNKNjY2tre3+cUPP/zw5s2bvb29e/fu1TyKBod0fo/RIhnG6g7tdEsOssm3iJCfffbZ1dVVyOKoptfrnZiYINKZnJz0+XwkqfjFcDiMQkPYBDFOW7ttzmaTu3PFSEI0cbVmIzSRPWE5tAfx0AhoZ2ZmPB4PeEgikchmszwpnvXGxsby8vLU1FRzc/PAwIDYyNFodHx8fGhoqL+/f3Bw0OPxBINB6ABKgbLW21mxBk6aBwm/OQ2E6EJLwFKI72q1GuNlUWWUG8esIaVk3rwGYBzTtbm5ie4SW509e3bPnj27d++WTRaM3OAQIt2K/X22NN41yLcoxR85cqRaraZSqUQigd/yer2jo6M4M5/PR/Di8/lgaKLQAh8IqQDtAJ/dpFPVddlqTUfVf3lkiBk1ovtDhKbJycmRkRGfz3fx4sW1tbXNzU3xMXjuAEyolFAOcjAMzOjoaCwWE3UZpirJm3pK8/k84BpmiWBb8DIAHPkSqHjV5uzKCC0tLeGbNfibDy50rGKNoEx/x/XevHnz1KlT6qIUW8qFkd1ISoX9PbZlT7Sphlu2TqttiwAYfR0bGwNdQonRXdUDsMbQ5FQGyFrvjahxYEwFa5dzfbAQBpwfAuanBWcm1NzcXCgUIiFeWFi4ZNf6+jqBrmpEKi3gRwvWSxIMBmEUIy0KvVClKFrwqd0UgEolRBlVOERYJwIv29SOml0iZSJdGF6qiuLIec36+joryoA1zpw5oyZa1/W6xYO62r5e5lbjbyFaSjEgTUJ8iFonJiaGh4fHx8cVvhIhh0IhxEzuG4vFUAjFzKoJ1mo11QSLNpxNDApJV8+lbCNO8IL8CnzEaDRaLBa1iGTJ9o8Q37oMyJrNIsxmsxcvXvT5fBMTE5FIREM5xBSYnZ0VuA0fiHoGHLlAIBAIBJAuR1Zpt4a5lJ2xwRUbOkpQhmfhjGZthCSHD/d89erVGzdufPrpp++///7dd9+9a9cu2IqKjd0ioJIllfPkm/d/flf8kSNHKpUK7DUVqzlr+K2xsbHu7m6kizb7/X6v10uQQiyK+lLMcaEPghfIwxhDzHXGZtUAKIoNo8xEeozMRMgifFtcXCTvxJ+hLgqwybax7UKY8/l8IpHweDzQGcvlMhCb0A/ESY8lvgZ77vV6PR4Px51cQOArjKpoNOpqsPizRRv8WrW5tG6GTVLHdpWtra2bN2/+9a9/bW5u3rNnj2JmidaNn++xKdj33nsvBny/w9GpD6PoHlCzrPiL8/PzbNBoa2vr7u4mKqEGgDNGzPAgwfpJdlVvSdvMTBWAESQISd56AnI2z1PEUnwzZAxV8fCOpOA6/gJJxLgoWNOHcCjMIxRMzMzFixcjkQhqqg5x8FHQN/LjWCxGUCmyJtpMo8ro6Gh/f38wGBSwJUuD7ZV9UiMhqRcGBgAc6bJ45pNPPjl//vw999zD+l43jFLCozqPAGS3UF8PWVBdB7eDMaTWmvn5+WAw2NHRAUzY09PT29vb19dHA0V/f//o6Ojk5CQxM4qLo+KYz9sszYINCCpam54KiJCVVC6UDccyMy4dky5UWRUbqXvBenB1MtxlJVVntQX2GSeCQxVBgPSPTwF0w35O96PRozA1NUUg4vF4ksmk2Jk6lNRa5G4oErtsLGGogJrAmdvb259++mlXV9d99923a9cuFNS1yW6c7FbmJeAdon3qqafy+TwnF+uUs0ZYJJFOpycnJ7u7u3t6erq6ujo6Orq7uzs7O9va2jo7OwcGBgQqETkrQcI+E+jmbfGAnFBdJRXcn7IdBytnI0BRStVTV2ybFyXetM2K0ourNqG7ZqzpmjMQAzufyWTq2h2ku6KIxO3ia1lsUNh4PM48F7WVcp8UOeRuRdGlN2nR2szBZUmZqECzLoM53VNTU0899RQxsxtAKYxyM1p9v94gHzx4sFwui3SiNjcxQ0HppqamBgYGOjs7m5ubQX/a29u7urq6urqGhoYmJiZImTBf/EsIzVnBAQv9qdhcegSQz+cB9xVq5W38mCtCtNmtxZZKJVw4tk5EHCJwLRQqOsOkiLzK5TLPWgKGRydqLVFVyoYsIft4PM7xTSaTWLWKTb6p2NxRl0yvUhKPEcuE4uKGgbVBNK9cuUKuv7m5+Y9//OPChQvwyEV9+jzvQs5YyVJ9hFyr1bCNFGI/D9bwLBYWFsLhcG9vb3t7e1tbW1dXFyYaNHhoaIgCLdA/gCX1djGYajYCm+OiVE9qnXfmJSBmiHN5Y4fzIx6KwGGqUul0mnvGs7LQRKWeinXrknRRx1SPobRWLeRoKgEERgW2NvwCeD9igBAQ6GvOjUvQrznjj/LWAFGtVonLwKoYIV8qldbW1ra3t9955x08rpyuix4rKXKN8y18LZCQaCVF6yyuOmslCjZBKJlMgj4Sj4TD4fHxcRwPgzzAKUVKFbFUxDOXAyubjAYo7ijZ/ClgEE66+oVUq+GUTE9P04lFNE7wid1Gk5AlmBG/y0YxwiVNtFPJkv9ijROJRDweJxdg+IHX652dnRUeqWQd/GR9fb1iW4yyNitWDpgPUi6XOS7Af4uLi/QnEgqQ38fj8Ycffvjf//3f99g8A9caI1cFz6rx7RDtM888s7KykrU+aBeml03GyJSdSeF6uPyUETUa9QNDuGJjNiEa0gNJRUEdCUJrJbaiNeAibxEN9Sg5YS7oT7wKpsGIIcwMN0D4tmzr4OQF19bWYJWQv8LRFHDBpwDDCQQCbJwdGhoaHBwcGBgIh8NqYKEconBPlp8HKCaei8qBk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<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: windowtext; font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Makalu 15 May 1955 Jean Couzy and Lionel Terray
French French expedition<span style="mso-no-proof: yes;"></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: windowtext; font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Manaslu 9 May 1956 Toshio Imanishi and Gyalzen Norbu Japanese expedition<span style="mso-no-proof: yes;"></span></span></div>
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Swiss expedition<span style="mso-no-proof: yes;"></span></span></div>
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<div class="MsoCaption">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: windowtext; font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Dhaulgiri 13 May 1960 Kurt Diemberger, Peter Diener
Nawang Dorjie, Nima Dorje, Ernst Forrer, and Albin Schelbert Swiss - Austrian
expedition<span style="mso-no-proof: yes;"></span></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">‘The Climbers’ Club’ – the First Ten Years with extracts from the
CCJ </span></u></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Throughout the late 18<sup>th</sup> and into the 19<sup>th</sup> Century the mountains
gradually lost their terrifying reputation for being the home of dragons,
witches and wizards who hurled their victims down the precipices only to be
devoured by the Devil lurking in the surrounding valleys. People were beginning
to viewing the mountains with alternative aspirations in mind.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">During
the Victorian period the sporting world, especially in the British Isles was
beginning to get itself organised and structured in more formal ways. The
Victorian middle-class gentleman were taking the ancient pastimes of village
life, adapting them, codifying them, and organising them into virtually all the
modern sports as we know them today. The Football Association was formed in 1863
and the Football League in 1888. County cricket matches were first played in
1873 and the first Test Match in 1880. Lawn Tennis was ‘invented’ in 1874. By
1885 golf was becoming popular. Rugby Union rules were established in 1871 and
boxing had the `Queensberry Rules’ by 1880. Was it so unexpected that the
adventurous men of the time, and only a little later the women, developed
organisations for mountaineering, walking, climbing, pot holing, and sailing? </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">One
of the earliest groups to show a specialisation in the ‘technical’ scrambles of
the day was the Scottish Cobbler Club formed in Glasgow in 1866. Many of these
climbing clubs and associations were chiefly established to provide `training’
opportunities for their members interested in further exploring the Alps and in
particular the more technical lower peaks that had, up until then, not had an
ascent. In 1857 the Alpine Club was formed by several British mountaineers that
had been particularly active during, what is known as the `Golden Age of
Alpinism’, 1854–1865. Several of the new clubs were formed, as would have been expected,
by a nucleus of Alpine Club members living in Scotland and who were to go on to
bring about an awareness of what the Scottish hills had to offer the
mountaineer and climber.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpwdDnShnJaIhzGcyMrzXLL09J9k4l2dtF34HWlbJFiODY-Xy17RiEX5WDpC3IE8OAuT62rS8cR3JH7kd6d3Mg9a07FGSYB0m2A0E964uJIQC-39AKXhKhm-9ih_gXwWb4e50U9JnSba8/s1600/Pyg-climbing-party.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="459" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpwdDnShnJaIhzGcyMrzXLL09J9k4l2dtF34HWlbJFiODY-Xy17RiEX5WDpC3IE8OAuT62rS8cR3JH7kd6d3Mg9a07FGSYB0m2A0E964uJIQC-39AKXhKhm-9ih_gXwWb4e50U9JnSba8/s640/Pyg-climbing-party.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">An early climbing party outside the Pen-y-Gwyrd, Mathews left bottom row, Oscar Eckenstien next to him and Robinson right standing. It is thought that the gentleman second in from the right, might be the Swiss Guide Melchior Anderegg. Photo believed to be dated April 1888</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">One
for the founder members of the Alpine Club was a wealthy solicitor from
Birmingham and a political friend of the Chamberlain family. C E Mathews first
visited Pen-y-Gwyrd in 1854 from where in the spring of that year, and for the
first time, he ascended Snowdon and like so many of us today, he went on to
become a regular visitor, </span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">for nearly the next
fifty years<span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif";">, </span></span>to ‘the Gwyrd’ and North Wales. Mathews, with his experience of the Alps had made a lot of friends
who were foreign `professional’ mountain guides and he played a major role in
introducing the Alpine Club to North Wales and in particular `the Gwyrd’. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The Society of Welsh Rabbits</span></u></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The
ranks of British `Climbers’ and `Alpinists’ continued to expand rapidly and in
1870 Mathews formed the ‘Society of Welsh Rabbits’, the name being synonymous
with the breeding habits of those little furry creatures. The object of the
Society, whose natural birth <span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif";">was at</span> the Pen-y-Gwyrd, was to explore
Snowdon in winter and as near to Christmas as possible. By then, during August
and September, and in most years, a group of men who rarely met anywhere else
would gather together to share their mutual enjoyment of the hills and at the
end of the day, after a fine meal, they would sit round the fire and share their
experiences, the older men would drop encouraging words to the beginners,
difficult ‘points’ [of a proposed rou<span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif";">te] </span>would be discussed and located and suggestions were made for the
following days climbing. This group of men were well aware of their common
grounding for George B. Bryant, in the CCJ Vol. 1 No.1 August 1898 goes on to say, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">`<span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">In
that congenial atmosphere, where conventionalities were not obtrusive, and the
bishop or the man of law shared the sofa with the old shepherd and deferred to
his opinions, men of various sorts, but united in their love of the mountains,
grew to know each other; and there the sense of association, the germ of the
Club, struck its first root.’</span></i><span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"> </span></span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;"></span><span lang="EN-GB"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">This
band of explores rapidly multiplied, as rabbits do, and soon the professional
upper class regulars suggested meetings in the summer as well as during the winter
months.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdVwstlprIVzkyygJ1MBlF7roamioQyfqnO9Q7AadnrBAsOM6tqJfpaF955ggVHo9N3I7ZYsE20Md261MHWBtHxstoXIrUnYr3GacbymfXW5WtDQ7dnMVbRZ7ZIjLePmT-5ks3ZjJRhlk/s1600/Melchior_Anderegg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdVwstlprIVzkyygJ1MBlF7roamioQyfqnO9Q7AadnrBAsOM6tqJfpaF955ggVHo9N3I7ZYsE20Md261MHWBtHxstoXIrUnYr3GacbymfXW5WtDQ7dnMVbRZ7ZIjLePmT-5ks3ZjJRhlk/s400/Melchior_Anderegg.jpg" width="315" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The famous Swiss Guide of the time, Melchior Anderegg</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The
majority of the higher ‘less technical’ summits of the Alps had all been
climbed by 1885, in their entirety as guided parties but with the vast majority of those parties being
made up of Englishmen. New Alpine districts, where the lower less technical peaks
had yet to receive their first ascents, were now the focus of attention. Many of
the young British mountaineers visiting the Alps had aspirations to make
ascents of these lower technical summits and many would employ the same guides
and would in fact make recommendations to each other as to who would provide
good service, usually via the Alpine Club meetings. In April 1888 Mathews
arrived at the Gwyrd with Melchior Anderegg, the great Swiss Guide and climbed
Snowdon, Anderegg wanted to turn back from Crib Goch not expecting to reach the
summit in less than five hours but Mathews assured him it would be possible in
four. The pair summated in four hours five minutes!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">It
was generally felt that the Pen-y-Gwryd ‘Welsh Dinner’ meets were <span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif";">spaced </span>too far apart
so a suggestion was thrown out that these intervals should be bridged by a
dinner in London. This was met with instant enthusiasm and so the first CC London
Dinner was held on the 19<sup>th</sup> May 1897 when about forty of the Welsh
farm-house regulars gathered at the ‘Monaco’ Restaurant to `<i>recall old times</i>’, with
T S Halliday, one of the Club’s forefathers presiding over the gathering. At
the time it was doubted whether the actual formation of a Club was likely to <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif";">take place</span></span>, however there was a strong desire at
that meeting to continue with the Welsh Dinner and it was planned to again hold
this function in December 1897 at the Pen-y-Gwyrd.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">By
the time the second dinner, and first Welsh Dinner, came round there was a
strong feeling from many quarters that the formation of a club was being
welcomed. The proposal was put forward and on the 6<sup>th</sup> December 1897
the first official Welsh Dinner took place. Unfortunately, as happens even today, this
date was not convenient for everybody and several regular and long standing
attendees of the previous Welsh Meets were unable to attend, amongst them C T
Dent, Frederick Morshead and F T Bowring. However the general attendance was
good and the foundations of the Club were laid down. The resolution `<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">That a Climbing Club should be formed’</i> was
proposed by Roderick Williams and seconded by H G Gotch, both Alpine Club
members, and was then accepted by those climbers present under the chair o<span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif";">f </span>the Rev. J N Burrows. Those general members present included Roderick Williams, Lord Coleridge,
C E Mathews, Arthur J Gale, T S Halliday, H G Gotch, Thomas Rhodes, A O
Prichard, C C B Moss, A F Leach, L K Pagden, H A P Genge, J Fildes Pearson, E W
Chaplin, G H Chaplin, Astley J Morris, W W R May, Marshall J Smith, Charles
Candler, Dr E C Daniel<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>, Henry
Candler, Dr T K Rose, C
Hampton Hale, Frank Pearson, George B Bryant, E R Turner and William Ernest
Corlett. This collection of climbers’ were generally referred to as the
‘Forefathers’ of the Climbers’ Club and they then went onto elect C E Mathews as
the first `CC’ President with Frederick Morshead and F H Bowring as Vice
Presidents, George Bryant as Secretary and Dr T K Rose as Treasurer, the
genreal committee consisted of W G Corlett, Rev J N Burrows, W Cecil Slingsby, E
R Turner, T S Halliday, and Roderick Williams. The Club at that time had a
membership of forty but there was an assumption that numbers would increase
within the first year to one hundred. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">CE Mathews’ Presidential Years 1898 – 1901</span></u></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">In
March 1898 the CC Committee issued a circular promoting the Club</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The Climbers’ Club<span style="mso-tab-count: 6;"> </span>
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>25<sup>th</sup> March 1898</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Dear Sir,</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">It has been determined to establish a Club under the above title.
The object of the Club will be to encourage mountaineering, particularly in
England, Ireland and Wales and to serve as a bond of union amongst all lovers
of mountain climbing.</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The qualification for members will be determined by the Committee,
who will have sole power of election</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The officers will be a President, two Vice-Presidents, an Honorary
Secretary, and an Honorary Treasurer. The Committee will consist of the
officers and nine additional members, all to be elected annually at the Annual
Meeting. The first officers will be: -</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The President<span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>C
E Mathews</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Vice-Presidents<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Frederick
Morshead</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 3;"> </span>F
H Bowring</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Hon Sec<span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>George
B Bryant</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Hon Treasurer<span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>T K
Rose</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The Annual Subscription will be half-a-guinea, and after there
will be an entrance fee of the same amount after the first hundred members are
elected.</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The Annual Meeting will take place in London at the end of April
each year, and will be followed by a Dinner. The First Annual Meeting and
Dinner will take place about the end of April next, on a day and at a place,
which will be duly notified.</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The Club will be in no sense antagonistic to any existing
institution; but will, it is hoped, gather all those who are interested in
mountaineering in England, Ireland and Wales.</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Should you be willing to join, will you be good enough to return
the enclosed form immediately to: -</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Mr C E Mathews, The Hurst, Four Oaks, near Birmingham</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">At the First Annual Meeting the Formal Laws of the Club will be
presented for adoption, and the First Annual Dinner will follow.</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Yours faithfully,</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">C E Mathews</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Frederick Morshead</span></i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">F H Bowring</span></i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">George B Bryant</span></i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">T K Rose</span></i></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;">[CCJ
Vol. 1 No. 1 August 1898]</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">This
circular was sent out to all those people known as `climbers’, whose names
could be obtained from various sources, including from those who were already
CC members. The response exceeded expectations with exactly two hundred
applications for membership being received by the day of the first AGM.
Although this doubled the number that the Committee had previously agreed to admit
without an entrance subscription there was no option other than to admit all
two hundred as ‘original members’ of the Club.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The
first AGM was held in the Alpine Club rooms in Seville Row, London on the 28<sup>th</sup>
April 1899 attended by the President and sixty-two members. The rules of the
Club were agreed and passed and the officers of the new committee were formally
elected; The President, C E Mathews, Vice-Presidents Frederick Morshead and F H
Bowring, The Committee, Rev J N Burrows M A, W C Slingsby, Roderick Williams, Owen
Glynne Jones, R A Robertson (President SMC), H G Gotch, E R Kidso, E R Turner, W
P Haskett-Smith, Hon Sec George B Bryant and Hon Treasurer T K Rose.<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhccLJYx_WhbDFmrntXxVszf9bkO1R6cFmyK5pXAQidxrJT_lvluIoJne7VEW7zJW0coY01RjowD__NVXMyKQT17QRTFpCwGQ77AUT7AqCPy6mFAOn5dsZH3S5njQnqiLYEcM0rdA7Z4HE/s1600/Early+CC+Memebers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="286" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhccLJYx_WhbDFmrntXxVszf9bkO1R6cFmyK5pXAQidxrJT_lvluIoJne7VEW7zJW0coY01RjowD__NVXMyKQT17QRTFpCwGQ77AUT7AqCPy6mFAOn5dsZH3S5njQnqiLYEcM0rdA7Z4HE/s400/Early+CC+Memebers.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Early Climbers' Club members, Mathews third fom the left and Eckenstien and Robinson right top row</td></tr>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">In
line with the developments being made by the Scottish Mountaineering Club it
was proposed that the Climbers’ Club should <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">‘have
a view to expand its interests in the directions of botany, geology, art and
natural history.</i>’ After the AGM the Committee and Members reconvened at the
Egyptian Room of the Monaco Restaurant where all eighty members were individually
announced before dinner.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">During
the Presidential speech C E Mathews made reference to the formation of the
Alpine Club forty-years previously and the fact that its first dinner was only
attended by twelve members from an original membership of thirty. He also
mentioned that the Alpine Club had published a series of articles, `Ascents and
Adventures’, and that the Club, its members, and its publications had received
from an `<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">undiscerning</i> <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">public ridicule, disapprobation and contempt’</i>.
This in the main came from Anthony Trollope in his `Travelling Sketches’ but
more viciously was the onslaught from Ruskin who accused the Alpine Club of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">‘Making racecourses of the cathedrals of
earth, the Alps which your own poets used to love so reverently, you look upon
as soaped poles in bear gardens, which you set yourselves to climb and slide
down with shrieks of delight.’</i></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinKsrYPVzHvQV9XasrIGGbQHi1oqbxii4J6TcrR5-hUArbb25sSeZqpq5drhpBcr7LBjlbGLwQsawsIUiIk-FK08rANN_YylzIC2svE3jfEherx2KGfng8fTXhkTLHQgxwikEWNwahaMg/s1600/Haskett+Smith.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinKsrYPVzHvQV9XasrIGGbQHi1oqbxii4J6TcrR5-hUArbb25sSeZqpq5drhpBcr7LBjlbGLwQsawsIUiIk-FK08rANN_YylzIC2svE3jfEherx2KGfng8fTXhkTLHQgxwikEWNwahaMg/s320/Haskett+Smith.jpg" width="231" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Walter Parry Haskett Smith</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Mathews
then went on to add <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">`The critics did not
know much about it. There is a story told of a certain undergraduate, not very
well up in his Greek, who told his tutor that he had contempt for Plato.’</i> <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">‘I should presume, Sir,’ said the tutor
’that yours is a contempt which does not proceed from familiarity</i>.’ </span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;">[CCJ Vol. 1 No. 1 August 1898]. </span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">This was a reference to Haskett-Smith who was
reading Literae Humaniores at Trinity Oxford when he first discovered Wasdale
and who was sat in the gathering to hear the Presidential speech.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">`<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Criticism is good for all of us, but it is
really valuable in proportion to the honesty and ability and insight of the
critic. That Club, with a steady rising standard of qualification, now numbers
over six hundred men; the great hall at the ‘Metropole’ is not large enough to
accommodate the numbers that flock to its winter dinners; and it comprises
within its ranks some of the best of intellectual aristocracy of this country’.</i>
He went on ‘<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">that a man who only sees what
is just before his eyes loses always the best part of every view; but we have
neglected too long the binding together of the lovers of the beautiful scenery
at our own doors. The Scottish Mountaineering Club first realised the
situation; then the Yorkshire Ramblers; and last year; the Climbers’ Club had
been founded, which embraces England, Ireland and Wales, and yet is open to all
lovers of mountaineering in every quarter of the globe. At last our
mountaineering ladder is complete, and the youth of England can be reassured.
They can matriculate at the Climbers’ Club; they can graduate in the Alps, and
carry off the highest honours in the far-off regions of the Caucasus and the
Himalaya. We have begun well. We begin two hundred strong. I will not say every
original member has an ample mountaineering qualification. But we have no
reason to be ashamed; one-third of our members are also Alpine Club men – a
good healthy sign’.</i> Mathews then went onto identify <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">`seven members from The University of Oxford, seven members from
Cambridge, the Bar was represented in great force, Davidson was the legal
advisor to the Foreign Office and thirty gentlemen have joined us from what is
erroneously called ‘the lower branch of the profession.</i>’ <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">‘The Scottish Mountaineering Club, The
Yorkshire Ramblers each contributed its president. Climbing literacy is
represented by Haskett-Smith and Owen Glynne-Jones, we have authors,
journalists, clergymen, members of the Civil Service, merchants, manufacturers
and inspectors of schools. I see undergraduates from Oxford and Cambridge here
tonight, who, I trust have obtained the usual permissions from their tutors;
and the best bowler in the Oxford Eleven has placed his services at our
disposal’. ‘<span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">Of such excellent
materials is the Climbers’ Club composed’</span>.</i> </span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;">[CCJ
Vol. 1 No. 1 August 1898]. </span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Mathews concluded, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">‘<span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">And
so, I give to you ‘The Climbers’ Club!’ Remember that a Club is an institution
towards which every man must contribute his share. May it flourish and prosper!</span></i></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Mr
Roderick Williams responded to the toast, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">‘Our
hills and mountains.’<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>`This ‘plain tale’
ends for the present with the result of a Committee meeting in June at which it
was decided to publish a Journal at the expense of the Club once every three
months, Mr E R Turner undertaking the editorship. The membership has now
reached 209 and there are several applications to be dealt with at the next
Committee meeting.’</i></span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;"> [CCJ Vol. 1 No. 1 August 1898]</span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"></span></i></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtBF6xVp8M6H6h5MfHBo65Rnw68Vitm2PXW_JiNyPzk5cq6YfszzMmKD5Q-5pvaU7q0Te-GK-wz_l032_YJAEdEXbC_0KmCEfzYx4laSj_gui7wXplMBdkU0GIEGxxwTwx39ln9K-alOg/s1600/Wasdale+Head+Hotel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtBF6xVp8M6H6h5MfHBo65Rnw68Vitm2PXW_JiNyPzk5cq6YfszzMmKD5Q-5pvaU7q0Te-GK-wz_l032_YJAEdEXbC_0KmCEfzYx4laSj_gui7wXplMBdkU0GIEGxxwTwx39ln9K-alOg/s400/Wasdale+Head+Hotel.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wasdale Head Hotel</td></tr>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The
Committee had <span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif";">soon </span>realised the importance of the annual meeting as playing a
considerable role in keeping the Club together and <span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif";">provided</span> the opportunity for
all members to meet together under one roof. To develop the Club’s ethos the
Committee organised meets in various climbing areas and, as an experiment, designated <span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif";">the </span>mid August to mid September period as being an opportunity for
members to attend a meeting either based on the Pen-y-Gwryd or in Wasdale. It was
thought advisable to avoid a concentration of the membership at any one place
so as not to `<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">outrun the available
accommodation’</i>. It was a condition of the meets at that time that a journal
or log book would be kept detailing all activities and that at the end of the
meet it should be forwarded to the Honorary Secretary as the property of the
Club. Suggestions for future arrangements could also be made through the log which
would then be available to the Editor of the Club Journal to be used at ‘his
discretion’. The Committee also considered a winter or spring meet with Easter
being considered the best choice for ‘winter’ conditions to be found in the
gullies. The next matter the Committee referred to was that of the question of
whether or not the Club funds were sufficient to enable the Club to secure
permanent rooms for the exclusive use of the Club in London. The outcome, after
discussion, was that there were insufficient funds and at that point the
question was raised as to whether such rooms were actually deemed necessary?</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc_nKtgDHG3x1XdU73Y-7MD5Gj-tleV0BkdaEjgio0z19DvB6CvxL_At4EXg7Opb2wxlmro5o141khQa9LgUe2DVAlj44YwBETpt0rR-JC2s_ICqL8UAng-zg1aiB8x1TIzcrLN1qR8rQ/s1600/Scramble.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc_nKtgDHG3x1XdU73Y-7MD5Gj-tleV0BkdaEjgio0z19DvB6CvxL_At4EXg7Opb2wxlmro5o141khQa9LgUe2DVAlj44YwBETpt0rR-JC2s_ICqL8UAng-zg1aiB8x1TIzcrLN1qR8rQ/s320/Scramble.jpg" width="191" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Oscar Eckenstien</td></tr>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Oscar Eckenstein,
who had a great deal of mountaineering experience by the time he joined the
Climbers’ Club in 1898, became the first man to carry out a <span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif";">serious</span> analysis of
climbing techniques and equipment. He invented and demonstrated the 10 point
crampon and also designed a shorter ice axe, just over two feet (60 cms) in length which
was considerably shorter than the traditional alpenstock used by all the
alpinists of the time. Amazingly his ideas fell on deaf ears, principly because <span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif";">he was a quiet man and shunned publicity,</span> it was not
until many years later that the ‘new’ technology was eventually put to the
test. Eckenstein became a close companion of J M A Thomson and for nearly
twenty years the latter completed many first ascents, eighteen new routes on
Lliwedd and sixteen other climbs on Tryfan, Glyder Fach and Glyder Fawr and
fourteen new routes in the Llanberis Pass.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Lliwedd was Thomson’s favourite `cliff’ with his
notable ascent of Avalanche Route being one of his best achievements, so called
because of the boulders knocked down by a young G L Mallory from above during
the first ascent. Thomson climbed into his fifties and in 1911 put up a new
route on Skye. He suffered two nervous breakdowns and eventually whilst alone
at his brother’s house in Surry drank carbolic acid, two hours later he was
dead.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQO5iK0HJgyCcytlPiGyjYTFiPmOEwGl11ZPwOgQyP4vS58gleckt94oowXcMLg9udLpQPsMaAmIqNDbb1Molw8B9hoCL8OPtWiHvAIU8Sug5uvOOcBvVd94P5FdqvMuY0lL5zrfO0L6M/s1600/Oscar.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQO5iK0HJgyCcytlPiGyjYTFiPmOEwGl11ZPwOgQyP4vS58gleckt94oowXcMLg9udLpQPsMaAmIqNDbb1Molw8B9hoCL8OPtWiHvAIU8Sug5uvOOcBvVd94P5FdqvMuY0lL5zrfO0L6M/s320/Oscar.jpg" width="269" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Oscar Eckenstien, shunned publicity</td></tr>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">It
is interesting to note that in the second edition of the CCJ November 1898 Owen
G Jones states that <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">`we must be prepared
to admit without much qualification that there is no more room, and that there
are not many problems remaining unsolved, on high days and holidays, the hotels
are overcrowded and the outhouses filled to overflowing. The popular gullies
are thronged with visitors. It becomes almost necessary to issue numbered
tickets to the waiting throng at the foot of Gable Needle. Orders for the
ascent of Kern Knotts may be received two days in advance; this is a fact in my
own experience’.</i> What would he make of the situation today? </span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Along
with Jones assessment of the state of English climbing he shows a great
knowledge and understanding of alpine ‘scrambles’ comparing for example the
traverse of the Dent du Requin to the Ennerdale face of great Gable or ‘<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">the Pillar Rock by the North Climb giving as
much rock work as the Portiengrat traverse, the Zinal ridge of the Rothhorn, or
the Wandfluh ridge of the Dent Blanche’.</i> [CCJ November 1898 p 29]</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">From
the time of the original concept of forming a Climbers’ Club a group of men ‘<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">with a mutual and vested love of the
mountains’</i> would meet regularly in north Wales. By the time the second
edition of the CCJ was circulated the first ‘official’ meets had been held with both the
Pen-y-Gwryd and Wasdale being the hub of activity. A Climbers’ Book was started
for the use of climbers in January 1890 and kept at the Waswater Hotel.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Today these two hostelries still feature
greatly in the list of any genuine outdoor enthusiasts’ must visit venues and
with the aid of a small glass of the amber nectar one can still sit quietly and
be in the company of other great 'spirits', but as our friend O G Jones stated <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">‘it’s best to avoid high days and holidays!</i>’</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiJALrDdcTRRHs6QSb8sLFJqckj3cXz3xgwNahYWftskzLiEIA6CAF3nyuZAueM9qNjCPN6zi_1NEhYvAD4XgRJQF8iMAWCWbnP45T-FaS8zEKQ9KbNLSdOueEBZXpZ9s1p274IKqxxcA/s1600/History-British19.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiJALrDdcTRRHs6QSb8sLFJqckj3cXz3xgwNahYWftskzLiEIA6CAF3nyuZAueM9qNjCPN6zi_1NEhYvAD4XgRJQF8iMAWCWbnP45T-FaS8zEKQ9KbNLSdOueEBZXpZ9s1p274IKqxxcA/s320/History-British19.jpg" width="196" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">An early ascent on Welsh rock (route unknown)</td></tr>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">In
the report of the first meets of the Climbers’ Club it is stated ‘<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">the majority of climbers appear to prefer
trying some well-known gully or face rather than to strike out new routes for
themselves. That this should be the case amongst the Cumbrian hills is scarcely
surprising; indeed there where every chasm has received a name, and every
needle and pillar is, figuratively speaking, dotted with routes, it is
difficult for anyone who is not an expert to make a first ascent. But it is not
so in Wales. The Cambrian hills have not undergone the systematic examination
that has been accorded to their English rivals. A striking instance to this is
Clogwyn du'r Arddu, the magnificent precipice along which the Pony Track
zigzags its way up to Y-Wyddfa. If this precipice were situated within easy
walking distance of Wasdale Head, it would probably have a literature of its
own; but as it is, it suffers from ill-deserved neglect, and is comparatively
unknown</i>’. Little was he aware that many years later Ken Wilson would fill
that gap with `The Black Crag’. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">During
the first Wasdale meet on the 10<sup>th</sup> September club members made the
first ascent of the West Wall Climb of Deep Ghyll and on the 23<sup>rd</sup>
Great Ghyll succumbed to the CC onslaught in ‘<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">rather damp conditions’</i>.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Of
the two meets it was the Welsh one that drew the greater numbers with members
beginning to arrive in early August with the season finally drawing to a close
in late September. During this time <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">‘a
considerable’</i> amount of climbing was done with exploration taking place in
the Tryfan gullies, Glogwyn-y-Person, the gullies up Esgairfelen, Lliwedd and
Crib Goch all received inspection. Snowdon had its fair share of visitors with
reports of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">‘several pitches of very
severe’</i> being attempted.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">It
is apparent from earlier comments in the journal [November 1898] as to the fact
that existing ‘traditional’ climbing areas were thought to be almost worked out
and that club members were actively searching out new parts of the country in
which to develop climbing activities. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHuup0GwCBUuPZeShKOElF4KFrQF4q7yHUAujzcvqX7pHpfB3_3Xe8WLBZGKNk5IADzsqXAke8kbF8BPC5gTev_uPLDDzyDRJX9i6U6rB39p6twgmUHF8DuOCPCmk6vGSO2McCYH80b_U/s1600/History-British14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHuup0GwCBUuPZeShKOElF4KFrQF4q7yHUAujzcvqX7pHpfB3_3Xe8WLBZGKNk5IADzsqXAke8kbF8BPC5gTev_uPLDDzyDRJX9i6U6rB39p6twgmUHF8DuOCPCmk6vGSO2McCYH80b_U/s400/History-British14.jpg" width="361" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Practice climbs in Derbyshire. soloing at Stanage pre 1902</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Ernest
Baker begins his article `Practice Climbs in Derbyshire’ by apologising for
writing a ‘paper’ on a series of scrambles of less than a hundred feet in
height<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">, `were it not for the fact that
they are in the neighbourhood of some of the most attractive scenery in
England, and right at the gates of several of our biggest towns; the man who
happens to tumble off a big boulder may hurt himself, but he will not have the
luxury of falling through a thousand feet or so of magnificent scenery.’</i>
Baker goes on to wax lyrically about the fact that Northern Derbyshire
possesses a miniature mountain-system, amid which many <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">`capital little scrambles’</i> are to be found. Haskett-Smith adds his
voice of approval by noting that <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">‘When it
does offer a climb, it ends it off abruptly, just as we think the enjoyment is
about to begin.’</i> He goes on to specifically mention Froggatt Edge, just
above the Chequers Inn, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">‘where there is a
remarkably good crack, only giving a climb of 40 or 50 feet though.</i>’
Mention is also made of possibilities to be found in Leicestershire and
Nottingham. [CCJ November 1898 p 55]</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The
chapter concludes <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">‘Although the
Derbyshire scrambles are nothing more than practice scrambles, it is not to be
forgotten that, like all other climbs, they are to be found amidst delightful
landscapes and at the end of inspiring walks. For their purpose they are
first-class quality, and a man might serve an apprenticeship here in his off
time, which would qualify him to undertake some of the best rockwork in the
neighbourhood of Sligachan and Wasdale Head’.</i> [CCJ November 1898 p 29]</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">In
line with the recommendation that the Club should broaden its activities to
include botany, geology, art and natural history there is a paper researching
‘The Glyders and Thermometers and Winter Temperatures on Mountain Summits’ by
Piffe Brown. In it he documented thirty years of evidence 1867 to 1897 where
the lowest temperature were recorded as being -8.0°F with the average temperature
being 16.02°F. [CCJ February 1899 p80] I wonder how this equates to the global
warming temperatures of the 21<sup>st</sup> Century? </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNQ8YU-eqxPnpNkjNGY8URsc_msUYKdeyNoGcApdLbAvPcu7Rzcd09eFi7U2_IlxK-J2GJgzB7j7oruqOaMUsRmvvfzEz-1lkRxoOq307Tq-VbiXJuZVW3ehIGzUC-4ICEUpx7L0eSBL0/s1600/Untitled-1+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNQ8YU-eqxPnpNkjNGY8URsc_msUYKdeyNoGcApdLbAvPcu7Rzcd09eFi7U2_IlxK-J2GJgzB7j7oruqOaMUsRmvvfzEz-1lkRxoOq307Tq-VbiXJuZVW3ehIGzUC-4ICEUpx7L0eSBL0/s320/Untitled-1+copy.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A modern ascent of Devils Kitchen</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The
first ascent of the Devil’s Kitchen took place on the 3<sup>rd</sup> March
1895, although this was before the official formation of the Climbers’ Club
would be Club members were involved in this winter ascent. Llyn Idwal was
covered by seven inches of ice making the approach a straightforward
affair.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Progress was achieved with the
use of a ‘hatchet’ that enabled Hughes and Thomson to penetrate the wall of ice
that they supposed was solid through to the back wall of the chimney. However
on creating a hole through the ice it became apparent that the ice was in fact
a free standing curtain hiding a large cavern behind which Thomson estimated to
be 10 feet in diameter and reaching 20 feet up from the place of entry and
30 feet down but owing to the darkness the bottom was not visible and so the
last measurement was only a wild guess. As the prospect of a rapid and
uncontrolled fall into the cavern loomed large in his conscious mind Thomson
continued climbing on the outside of the curtain aware that the ice was not a
particularly solid structure. Hughes initially formed a portable belay ledge
from which Thomson could climb but he then felt that in case of emergency he
would be better employed as a sheet anchor back down inside the cavern. This
must be one of the earliest attempts at steep ice climbing. Thomson went on to
explain how difficult it was using the hatch in such cramped conditions where
it was almost impossible to deliver each blow with accuracy and at the same
time to protect his head at the moment of impact to allow the ice fragments to glance
off his skull as opposed to hitting him full in the face. By the time they
reached top of the wall the thickness of the ice had diminished to only about
an inch but was strengthened by the icicles forming ribs. At this point it was apparently
possible for Thomson to use his axe, which was presumably considerably longer
than the hatchet so as to reach the snow slope above and to cut a step. He
estimated that the angle of the slope to have been 80 degrees. This pitch must
have been in excess of 80 feet because Hughes had to leave his belay position
to allow sufficient rope for Thomson to reach the end of difficulties. It had
taken him three to complete the hard climbing. By the time Thomson and Hughes
reached the true top it was 7.15pm and intensely cold and dark. The initial choice
of the descent route was to go down to Llyn Idwal but due to the increasingly
steep ice they decided to retreat over the plateau and down into Llanberis
where they reached the Dolbadarn Inn at 10.30pm. [CCJ February 1899 p85]<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBfeGHKuQ2lI02yybUTp9U5x6HfpkX6540lGQ_rug231jcjlk7Avd8ngAzkz-Xql2TOVHvvaVCbwMNrkZa9Otui8XU-pI3ln5iw0h1SmCBYYK7-bIpJEbLlQpXor-6u0OcsR5kzNTT3Ac/s1600/Ashley___George_Abraham.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBfeGHKuQ2lI02yybUTp9U5x6HfpkX6540lGQ_rug231jcjlk7Avd8ngAzkz-Xql2TOVHvvaVCbwMNrkZa9Otui8XU-pI3ln5iw0h1SmCBYYK7-bIpJEbLlQpXor-6u0OcsR5kzNTT3Ac/s400/Ashley___George_Abraham.jpg" width="367" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif";">George and Ashley Abraham</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span><br />
<div style="text-align: right;">
</div>
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">
</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Halfway
through Thomson’s climbing career a young fit and muscular man began to take an
interest in the hills and in particular in rock climbing. Owen Glynne Jones
made his first ascent, and solo, of the East Arete of Cyfrwy on Cader Idris.
Jones had done much in the Lake District and his book relating many of his
experiences and adventures ‘Rock Climbing in the English Lake District’ was
published in 1897. Jones met two young brothers from Keswick and introduced
them to the wonders of climbing, the Abraham brothers. Early in 1897 Jones took
the Abraham brothers to Wales and introduced them to the Pen-y-Gwryd scene. By
now George and Ashley Abraham were almost as skilful as Jones and they
undertook many exploratory climbs together. On one occasion all three attempted
to ascend Slanting Gully on Lliwedd but failed. Jones then had to return to
Wasdale to keep a prior commitment, leaving the brothers he warned them to stay
away from ‘his’ route, Slanting Gully. Shortly after, on the 27<sup>th</sup>
April, George and Ashley set off reputedly to ‘potter around on Lliwedd’ and
then made an attempt to claim the first ascent of OG Jones’ route. Upon their
return the Abraham brothers were not made to feel welcome at the Pen-y-Gwryd,
the established upper middle class did not like to see them complete a number
of new routes on a variety of cliffs, especially if they had been tried by
other members of the group. This was partly due to envy but the predominant
feeling of disassociation came from the fact that the brothers were not only
professional photographers but ‘shopkeepers’ as well. The Abrahams did not help
the situation or the fraternity of the Pen-y-Gwryd when they published their
book on ‘Rock Climbing in North Wales’. However both brothers, George and
Ashley gained membership to the Climbers’ Club by the end of its first year.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; height: 373px; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left; width: 246px;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKWUghf3bCli1aI_T-742mfW967oaw_WHDrUrIBP5Y1p6e7lfxG9RV6nkjJBmQuhlDr01ZRSRtuWsxGq53nj5VECfVQc-0j2QaedE1Hgug-MSIgALCsqfwI3Fg2Rk_L85JB7SdV4BqG5E/s1600/The+Terrace%252C+Slanting+Gully%252C+Lliwedd+by+M.+Botterill.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKWUghf3bCli1aI_T-742mfW967oaw_WHDrUrIBP5Y1p6e7lfxG9RV6nkjJBmQuhlDr01ZRSRtuWsxGq53nj5VECfVQc-0j2QaedE1Hgug-MSIgALCsqfwI3Fg2Rk_L85JB7SdV4BqG5E/s320/The+Terrace%252C+Slanting+Gully%252C+Lliwedd+by+M.+Botterill.jpg" width="235" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="irc_su" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;">The Terrace, Slanting Gully, Lliwedd by M. Botterill</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">During
Easter 1899 Jones and a large party of climbers went to Wales to continue their
work on the ‘Rock Climbing in North Wales’ book. Jones completed the first
ascents of the Devil’s Staircase and Hanging Garden Gully. Milestone Buttress
was the next venue for the group and although they attempted Belle Vue Bastion
they failed but did successfully complete what is now called Cheek Climb and
Terrace Wall Variant. At the top of the Devil’s Staircase Jones and George
Abraham discussed plans to go to the Himalaya, sadly this never came to
fruitarian as within six months Jones was tragically killed on the Dent
Blanche. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; height: 248px; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right; width: 160px;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-xH1-NOY30VI8dCacwRnhBVepABNYbSLY-kHXBjgeG03u-pw0jklYFmYOkJQboZj3VzUHHr2fj036tpf8ZrUUMH_2iN3GUE4GWbnKMfrYoAmKHmd3dA4Td0yb0n8b2Cja9zSUOFsCIyw/s1600/Beachy+Head.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-xH1-NOY30VI8dCacwRnhBVepABNYbSLY-kHXBjgeG03u-pw0jklYFmYOkJQboZj3VzUHHr2fj036tpf8ZrUUMH_2iN3GUE4GWbnKMfrYoAmKHmd3dA4Td0yb0n8b2Cja9zSUOFsCIyw/s200/Beachy+Head.jpg" width="158" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Tooth and Needle, Beachy Head</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The
1899 CCJ contains an article by H Sommerset-Bullock on the virtues of climbing
on Beachy Head. That autumn must have had particularly bad weather conditions
for in the ‘Notes from Wasdale’ it is stated that Borrowdale <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">‘had been the venue of some extreme flooding
with the Seathwaite road being under some five feet of water, the path from Sty
Head being obliterated' </i>and in summing up it is mentioned that<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> 'the flood, the
severest for thirty years or more had ‘swepted the scheme for the Sty Head
carriage-road into the middle of the next century, sufficiently far off at any
rate for it to remain out of sight and out of mind for many years to come’.</i>
However by Christmas the weather must have settled as Abraham and Field were
led up Walker’s Gully between Pillar Rock and the Shamrock by O G Jones to
complete the first full ascent on the 7<sup>th</sup> January 1899.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The
first article to appear in the CCJ that dealt specifically with a foreign expedition
did so in Vol 1 No.4 June 1899 and was titled `A High Level Walk from the
Brenner to the Bernina, Without Guides’ edited by Henry Candler. This article
deals in some considerable detail with the route, the views, acquaintances and
the occurrences of the expedition. [CCJ June 1899 p 133]</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The
notes of the AGM held on the 5<sup>th</sup> May 1899 recalls the fact that
Bowring retired from his position as Vice-President due to ill health, this
fact gave rise to a feeling of great regret as Bowring was one of the earliest
of English rock-climbers, E A Robertson, President of the Scottish
Mountaineering Club, was elected to fill the position. All other officers were
re-elected. The accounts for 1898 were accepted as audited and showed £73 2s 6p
as balance in hand. Guests at the dinner included Sir W Martin Conway, Dr HR
Dent Sidney Lee and C R Canney. In his Presidential speech Mathews pointed out
and recognised that ‘<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Boat-racing was
practiced by thousands and that cycling had been the saviour of the wayside
Inns and that it had restored to the English people the beautiful roads and
lanes of our common country which the railways had taken away. Football was not
only popular, but its exhibitions are attended by millions. How was it that
mountaineering was the noblest pastime in the world? How was it that scholars,
and statesmen, bishops and deans, men of science and men of letters, senior
classics and senior wranglers, had found the best solace and recreation amidst
the gloom or the glory of the hills?</i> The reasons he declared were not difficult
to see. ‘<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">We get renewed vitality from
personal contact with our mother earth in her best and noblest form. If we
could not reach the Himalaya, the Andes, or the Caucasus, the blessed Alps were
within easy reach of us, pure, bracing and invigorating. And if even these were
too remote from some of us, remember that Helvellyn and Scawfell were only a
day’s journey from London, and that God created Great Wales! </i></span>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-left: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Haskett-Smith responded in lighter tones, R A Robertson, the new
Vice-President replied in a more humorous style commenting that <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">‘the government of England had fallen into the hands of fellow Scotsmen
the ‘southerners’ had sought to avenge the situation by making numerous
unguided inroads into the even the most difficult of 300 difficult peaks over
which he presided in the Scottish Highlands.</i> [CCJ June 1899 p 149] Maybe
this was a comment related to the fact that Norman Collie made the first winter
ascent of Tower Ridge on the 30<sup>th</sup> March 1894 to which Naismith wrote
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">-‘The Sassenachs have indeed taken the
wind out of our sails most notoriously I will say that. This is truly a sad day
for auld Scotland. .. Flodden or Culloden was nothing to this’ </i>(undated SMC
Archives) </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">It
is interesting to note that Sidney Lee suggested that although he understood
ladies had not so far been considered eligible as members of the Climbers’ Club
it might be advisable, if not too late, to consider the desirability of
electing Queen Elizabeth (the Queen Mother), on account of the soundness of her
views, as expressed in the well known words with which she replied to the
aspirant who <i>'would climb did he not fear to fall</i>'. Although this comment was in
essence made in jest it does support the ideas that in its formative years the
Climbers’ Club was not opposed to women members. [CCJ June 1899 p 149] </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh26QWxWAkfFBR7at4NJxehLsj7L9ey8wOPIXep8BAr0kG2dO9Oq8U8FoKaYMq9OdsT6mDJVI5bXGpLUAxIXlwAl4spb3elBbUCDzFpRTi05JXr8WMoKUHIWforQ00gN8Uc3ZjqrF6WzDY/s1600/OGJonesStanding.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh26QWxWAkfFBR7at4NJxehLsj7L9ey8wOPIXep8BAr0kG2dO9Oq8U8FoKaYMq9OdsT6mDJVI5bXGpLUAxIXlwAl4spb3elBbUCDzFpRTi05JXr8WMoKUHIWforQ00gN8Uc3ZjqrF6WzDY/s320/OGJonesStanding.jpg" width="184" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Owen G Jones</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">By
the time the CCJ was printed in September 1899 more articles were appearing
edited by members who were looking at distant <span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif";">ra<span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif";">nges</span></span> seeking out new adventurous
trips. Under <span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif";">the section</span> titled ‘Welsh Notes’ the author enquired as to when a
book comparable to O G Jones ‘Rock Climbing in the Lake District’ was going to
be published. It was understood the O G Jones had been preparing a draft and questions
were raised as to the whereabouts of such a draft manuscript. It was also
suggested that a committee might be formed to undertake the completion of such
a book.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Could this be the first
reference to the forerunner of the PSC or Guide Book Committee of today? [CCJ
September 1899 p 47] Although at that time there was not an Obituary section in
the CCJ note was made under Notes and Correspondence of the death of O G Jones
on the Dent Blanche. The brief obituary goes on to ratify O G Jone’s enthusiasm
and strong support for the formation of the Club and for his contributions to
the committee and to the Journal. Only a few days before Jones left for the
Alps he had discussed detailed plans for a Himalayan expedition and was
preparing the production of a book on Welsh Climbing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>[CCJ September 1899 p 48] Under the Committee
Notes in the<span style="color: red;"> <span style="color: black;">same CCJ a resolution was proposed by the Rev Nelson Burrows,
seconded by Haskett-Smith and unani</span></span>mously passed, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">‘<span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">The Committee desires to put
upon record its deep sense of loss which the Club has sustained by the death of
Mr Owen Glynne Jones, whose services upon the Committee have always been most
zealous and unremitting’</span></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">On
the 5<sup>th</sup> April 1896, O Eckenstein, H Edwards, H Hughes, W A Thomson
and J M A Thomson made the first ascent of Lliwedd’s East Gully and Buttress.
It had been the original object to lower one of the party down the crag to inspect
the line of the route so as to place beyond any reasonable doubt the questions,
which had been argued over during the previous evening, concerning the line and
difficulty of the proposed ascent. [CCJ December 1899 p 73]</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF5vjRxBl8OCpKoEhWB4CLGZ2BtvEkLz8agJFgUNGOKM-1Ii2eg0VOlhCUB1whLJhBbLTxZNTFAqWR_zgC2y47bJRKVlP5XwuGGdI_k4cS28owfJY49FRtwtdDlCdT6iBkNkJSHh59i68/s1600/OGJ+Memorial+plaque+v2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF5vjRxBl8OCpKoEhWB4CLGZ2BtvEkLz8agJFgUNGOKM-1Ii2eg0VOlhCUB1whLJhBbLTxZNTFAqWR_zgC2y47bJRKVlP5XwuGGdI_k4cS28owfJY49FRtwtdDlCdT6iBkNkJSHh59i68/s320/OGJ+Memorial+plaque+v2.jpg" width="276" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Owen Glynne Jones Memorial Plaque, Evolene Church yard</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The
first of what was to become an account of the last exploits of Club members who
had sadly died whilst undertaking climbing activities appeared in the December
1899 CCJ p 81. ‘The Accident on the Dent Blance’ by W M Crook describes how O G
Jones died at about 10.00 a.m., on the 28<sup>th</sup> or 29<sup>th</sup>
August 1899. ‘<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Whilst attempting the
Ferpecle it appears from the description provided by Hill the sole survivor
that the guide Furrer had been stopped by a difficult move, Jones had provided
his ice axe so that Furrer could stand on the axe head. The axe shook under the
strain so Jones moved up so as to support the axe by the head, Furrer believing
he had a secured hand hold went to move up when his hands slipped. Furrer fell
onto Jones and together Furrer, Zurbriggen, Jones and Vuignier slithered and
fell down the face. Hill anticipating he would also follow his companions
waited for the tug on the rope but the tug never came instead Hill who was left
with about 30 feet of coiled rope at his feet watched in horror as the rest of
the group disappeared. It is believed that during the initial fall the rope
between Vuinier and Hill became jammed between two rocks causing it to snap
near to where Vuignier was tied in. Hill managed to avoid the place that proved
fatal for his companions and reached the summit shortly afterwards,
approximately one hour later. He descended the ordinary route to Zermatt but by
the time he reached the last gendarme he was surrounded by a violent storm. In
the shelter of a small depression in the gendarme Hill sat out 22 hours before
he was able to complete his descent to the valley where he arrived fifty-five
hours after the accident. Jones’ body is buried in the cemetery in Evolen now
by-passed by the road to Arolla.</i> An account of the search party appeared in
the Daily Chronicle early in September 1899.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The
CC received notification of another association based in Derby, the Kyndwr Club.
There were several dual members of the Climbers’ Club and the Kyndwr Club but
the latter organisation was identified as a ‘<i>club of scramblers</i>’ pure and
simple, and so their love of outdoor science, archaeology, and even a congenial
interest in literature, enter into the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">‘bond
of union’</i>, and thus gave occasion for frequent meetings and excursions. [CCJ
March 1900 p 135]</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The
Kyndwr Club Notes made their first appearance in the CCJ June 1900 p 178 which
consisted mainly of new recordings of scrambles around the Derbyshire edges.
This article appears 19 months after the previously mentioned Derbyshire
article by E A Baker, `Practice Climbs in Derbyshire’.</span><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5bbTAD9SSxqTimgyH-VtMbqmdyqKKhBFAKMaJSNZCko4a37fCy8k3eNoe7iH2UP75DKpTp-X9xZYD-KTuFP5r2sqhKhrE0jNWqhoL6dZ2ZqQwQnYxF1yZNAzKu9-UQsa3UZ85WPgCP6w/s1600/Edward_Whymper.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5bbTAD9SSxqTimgyH-VtMbqmdyqKKhBFAKMaJSNZCko4a37fCy8k3eNoe7iH2UP75DKpTp-X9xZYD-KTuFP5r2sqhKhrE0jNWqhoL6dZ2ZqQwQnYxF1yZNAzKu9-UQsa3UZ85WPgCP6w/s1600/Edward_Whymper.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Edward Whymper</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The
AGM of the 12<sup>th</sup> May 1900 was held at the Café Royal, London and was
attended by about forty members. The President reminded the meeting that he was
entering his third and final year of office. The audited accounts showed a
balance of £206 3s 6p in the bank. Amongst the distinguished visitors at the
dinner were Edward Whymper and A J Butler. The President began his speech with
the time-honoured toast <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">‘Success and
Prosperity to the Climbers’ Club’</i>. During his speech the President Mr
Mathews questioned the circumstances of the ‘accident’ that befell Owen Glynne-Jones.
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">‘Gentlemen, I do not want to dwell upon
this particular catastrophe. I do not know what conclusions such excellent
authorities as my friend Mr Whymper or my friend Mr Morse may have formed upon
it, but, in my judgement, it was not an accident properly so called.’ He goes
on in his speech to say ‘may be that I am only a voice crying in the
wilderness, but I implore you, the mountaineers of the future, to do nothing
that can discredit our favourite pursuit, or bring down ridicule of the
undiscerning upon the noblest pastime in the world</i> [CCJ June 1900 p 186] 1900
saw a longer than usual collection of after dinner speeches with over fourteen
pages of the Journal being used to report the events.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">In
the Wasdale Notes J H Wigner reported that on the Good Friday 1900 several <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">‘unfit’ parties set out at great speed,
boldly facing mist and rain to attempt the Needle. Only two climbers (one of
them a lady) succeeded in reaching the top’.</i> This lady however, was not
identified. [CCJ June 1900 p 199]</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Over
the previous year many club members had expressed a wish that the Dinner could
be held in the North of England, the committee announced that the following
dinner venue would be in Birmingham. [CCJ June 1900 p 201]</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwuN1uOEh4C7_IVyXNy-PELx2T-tLxx3OhLuHrHy4Sg7jon9ibZ4Z1FnBRabzgNATgb7G4pI8gD-TYEabXrp7PTVL8YOeuCiEtII4CmzoVuWzHdFabuH6KgPF9AsZfPU0UA_LfHWnD3oM/s1600/Buchille+Etive+Mor.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="497" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwuN1uOEh4C7_IVyXNy-PELx2T-tLxx3OhLuHrHy4Sg7jon9ibZ4Z1FnBRabzgNATgb7G4pI8gD-TYEabXrp7PTVL8YOeuCiEtII4CmzoVuWzHdFabuH6KgPF9AsZfPU0UA_LfHWnD3oM/s640/Buchille+Etive+Mor.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Buchaille Etive Mor</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">In
September CCJ 1900 E A Baker describes how along with the Abrahams and J W
Puttrell they spent some days on Buchaille Etive Mor. It was in fact Puttrell
and Baker who were to inform this region of Scotland of the relief of Mafeking
decorating their transport with a pair of crossed ice-axes and assorted
handkerchiefs in jubilant celebration of the news. After initially reconnoitring
the mountain the team were pinned down by bad weather. A writer in The Scottish
Mountaineering Journal Vol. IV p150-1 reported, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">‘At its lower end also, the rock that forms the crest of the ridge is
hopelessly steep, and nearly unbroken for some 300 feet. I will not prophesy
that that cliff will never be scaled in a direct line, but before then I think
mountaineering science will have to advance to a higher stage of development’.</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Baker
describes the first of the main pitches as being about 70 feet long and of an
open nature, nearly vertical, and for the most part almost devoid of good
holds, those that did exist he reported were as being '<i>shallow and sloping the
wrong way, any upward movement would have to involve sustained balance</i>'. The
next section required the team to un-rope thus enabling the distance between
each climber to be increased from the average 40 feet. George Abraham climbed
steadily for nearly eighty feet before he called for Puttrell to follow. Any climb
involving the Abrahams would automatically involve photographic equipment and
that expedition was no exception. Having done a hard pitch the rope was lowered
for the photographic equipment to be pulled up to a new vantage point. Ashley
Abraham pronounced the climb <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">‘to be at
least as difficult as Eagle’s Nest Arete on Great Gable</i>’. After several
more exposed and seemingly hold-less pitches the group reached the summit via
the original Crowberry Ridge route. They then took the opportunity to have some
food before they began their descent arriving back at the Inn twelve hours after
setting out. [CCJ September 1900 p 3]</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsIrf-Y8v4w8wvfydUAizmq1_yI7Vpt0GxI2PoisKX1CaTw4Eu8FoQPYTvUbXoTQVPDD4SZlhBCP18wwVE35dDedzn6sWAG850wE8tjqB02Q9DB2rlyofL8NjyknoTpvIzCY45qo1tsLs/s1600/Banrn+door.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsIrf-Y8v4w8wvfydUAizmq1_yI7Vpt0GxI2PoisKX1CaTw4Eu8FoQPYTvUbXoTQVPDD4SZlhBCP18wwVE35dDedzn6sWAG850wE8tjqB02Q9DB2rlyofL8NjyknoTpvIzCY45qo1tsLs/s1600/Banrn+door.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The famous Barndoor Traverse, Wasdale</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">An
interesting article appeared in the CCJ September 1900 titled ‘A Wet Day At
Wasdale.’ This outlined the activities of those members ‘trapped’ by poor
weather conditions in the Wasdale Inn during the previous September, amongst the
activities described appears the ’Stable Traverse’, the ‘Billiard Room
Traverse’, the ‘Table Leg Traverse’, the ‘Bannister Traverse’ and possibly the
hardest of all the antics, in the hall, the ’Chimney Reversal.’<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The author concludes assuring the reader that
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">‘there is no lack of amusement to be
found at the Inn even on the wettest of days’.</i> Many of these activities are
now regular features at club dinners up and down the country. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">In
the Committee Notice it was explained that consideration had been given as to
how to address the issue of detailing the mountain areas of Wales. The
suggestions put before the Club were that the country in question should be
divided into nine sections namely, the Snowdon Section, the Hebog Section, the
Glyders Section, the Carnedd Section the Arenig Section, the Rhinogs Section,
the Arans Section and the Cader Idris Section.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">It
was proposed that a party should be co-opted to explore each of the nine
sections working as a group of six to an area. It was hoped that the data collected
would relate to geology, botany and physical features of the hills, and all
other facts of interest to ‘students of the mountains’, as well as those who were
more closely concerned with discovery, recording, and classifying the actual
climbs. If this idea was sanctioned by the general membership it was felt it might
in future be extended to other areas within the sphere of the Club’s
operations. [CCJ September 1900 p 39] It was also noted that the footbridge
over the Glaslyn River near Llyn Llidaw which had been destroyed earlier in the
year was to be replaced at the expense of the Club.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">There
then followed a period of consolidation within the Club, the Journal continued
to develop and the breath of articles it contained expanded to include
reminisces from members’ climbing trips to the far-flung corners of the globe as
well as to include their exploits nearer to home. There was also a fair
coverage of scientific and geographical data presented by Club members.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The
first provincial dinner of the Climbers’ Club was held at the Queen’s Hotel,
Birmingham on Saturday 5<sup>th</sup> December 1900. C E Mathews was in the
chair and for those who could stay over Mathews organised a walk on the Sunday
in the Forest of Arden followed by lunch at his residence in Four Oaks.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The
last Journal to be published while Mathews remained as President is dated March
1901 and contained an article on the Rhinogs, G Winthrop Young writing on his
adventures during a very long winter’s day titled ’Benighted on Snowdon’, J M A
Thomson writes an account of a fatal accident on Tryfan. The interesting point
of this article is that the accident occurred just after it had been suggested
to Queen Victoria that she might wish to introduce a law to restrict mountain
and rock climbing as it was estimated 66 people had been killed at ‘lower
levels’ the previous year in the ‘pursuit of sport.’ As no journalists were
present at the inquest of the Tryfan incident there was an exceptionally high
level of inaccuracy reported in the newspapers. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; height: 369px; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left; width: 191px;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWgNgq6WFjqjjSyyfIlDDA2tUqXuUoodiuglHDNJxQrAfYuG6OS0ylAkvvyXNWcDS-OjtE4036ACS_yudP2KH0PsupLfVNZ4RM_KBEfjHfwOm155v1AKORKL7V0KGbpZ6B2sD0drS7jpg/s1600/Lehmann+J+Oppenheimer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWgNgq6WFjqjjSyyfIlDDA2tUqXuUoodiuglHDNJxQrAfYuG6OS0ylAkvvyXNWcDS-OjtE4036ACS_yudP2KH0PsupLfVNZ4RM_KBEfjHfwOm155v1AKORKL7V0KGbpZ6B2sD0drS7jpg/s320/Lehmann+J+Oppenheimer.jpg" width="179" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="irc_su" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;">Lehmann J Oppenheimer</span><span style="font-size: xx-small;"> Photo: Abraham Bros</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Oppenheimer
reported on his ascent of Stack Ghyll on the Warnscale side of Haystacks. Of
the other five articles published in this Journal, members of the Alpine Club
wrote three of them. In the section on ‘Club Notes’ it is reported that Douglas
Freshfield showed a series of lantern slides illustrating his journey in Sikkim
and in the Nepalese Himalaya. In 1899 Douglas Freshfield travelled to Green
Lakes, Sikkim, accompanied by the Italian photographer Vittorio Sella.
Freshfield conducted expeditions around Kangchenjunga and set out with his
party to trek in a circuit around the Massif from the North. When he arrived
safely at Dzongri, he lit a big bonfire, which could be seen from Darjeeling
and the Governor of Bengal ordered a Gun Salute to be fired in his honour.
Freshfield was the first mountaineer to examine the western face of
Kangchenjunga, which rises from the Kangchenjunga Glacier describing it as “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">the most superb triumph of mountain
architecture and the most beautiful snow mountain in the world</i>".</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip5yrUY3RZApFTv1Hgqeh8KciPdykVlFPK10YQ3C_pFXxzhycbxwhj_ipCZH_mpa9H825xVqrDyZQlQf8W1hQzCqcEQ6H-SufSrFT8z8LCexHgN6nnHln4WUj0IpJ0_Q_zQ8fPfbyEELs/s1600/Haskett+Smith+1936.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip5yrUY3RZApFTv1Hgqeh8KciPdykVlFPK10YQ3C_pFXxzhycbxwhj_ipCZH_mpa9H825xVqrDyZQlQf8W1hQzCqcEQ6H-SufSrFT8z8LCexHgN6nnHln4WUj0IpJ0_Q_zQ8fPfbyEELs/s400/Haskett+Smith+1936.jpg" width="301" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif";">WP Haskett-Smit<span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif";">h 1936 on the 50th anniversary of his first and solo ascent of Napes Needle aged 7<span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif";">6 years </span></span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span><br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The era of W P Haskett-Smith 1901 - 1904 </span></u></b></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The
third Club AGM was again held at the Café Royal in London on the 31<sup>st</sup>
May 1901. This was to be the last meeting presided over by C E Mathews. The
incoming President was to be W P Haskett-Smith, of the two Vice-Presidents,
Frederick Morshead retired after his three years in office with George Morse
succeeding him. Members of the committee who retired by rotation were Cecil
Slingsby and Raymond Turner they were replaced in office by Professor J A Ewing,
an FRS of Cambridge. Dr T K Rose resigned from his position as Treasurer which
he had held since the formation of the Club. George B Bryant was re-elected as
Hon Secretary, the role of Treasurer was taken over by C C B Moss, the audited
accounts were agreed to be true and correct at £256.19s 1p. The after-dinner
speeches were again reported in full in the CCJ and cover some twelve pages, those speakers, taken from the ranks of officers and guests at the
dinner included, the President Haskett-Smith, the outgoing President C E
Mathews, Dr Owen on behalf of the guests, H G Gotch and on behalf of Kindred
Clubs, Lamond Howie and H Bond on behalf of the Kynder (Kinder) Club, and Mr
Wynnard Hooper.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">June
1901 saw the first CCJ to be published under the new President W P Haskett-Smith
but the editorial responsibility remained with Raymond Turner who by now was
serving in his second year as editor.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; height: 357px; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right; width: 202px;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimtiOnCf7v-R5YPYCR-Ap5X8l1cn_vZKEVv5PYT6_U1fkB7Pxc0EcEx_pZax7F3RmnK6vmhx-4RtDUPQfOLw2ItAIrxzYjFXpaoSOAIYOh4SfbdURQa9KkPRa-nnQKcaykWGX32yYdfz0/s1600/Napes+Needle+Ridge.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimtiOnCf7v-R5YPYCR-Ap5X8l1cn_vZKEVv5PYT6_U1fkB7Pxc0EcEx_pZax7F3RmnK6vmhx-4RtDUPQfOLw2ItAIrxzYjFXpaoSOAIYOh4SfbdURQa9KkPRa-nnQKcaykWGX32yYdfz0/s320/Napes+Needle+Ridge.jpg" width="202" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Napes Needle Ridge</td></tr>
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<u><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"></span></span></u></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">During
early 1881 a twenty-two year old was sitting in his rooms at Trinity College,
Oxford studying maps of England. He had been appointed by his groups of friends
to locate a suitable summer venue for the ‘reading party’. So it was that
Walter Parry Haskett-Smith first came to visit Wasdale, reading Plato in the
mornings and tramping the fells in the afternoon. It was on his first visit to
the Lakeland Fells, lasting two months, that he met F H Bowring, an experienced
hill walker who was to introduce the group to the excitement of the fells off
the beaten track. Haskett-Smith revisited Wasdale in 1882 with his younger
brother on a walking holiday, they explored cliffs and gullies. It was from
this point that climbing, as we know it was born. In 1883 Haskett-Smith took
his finals and gained a third class in Literae Humaniores, he was back in
Wasdale for a productive 1884 summer season but then in 1885 he went to visit
friends in the Pyrenees. 1885 was also the year that W C Slingsby first visited
Wasdale. At the time the Alpine Club had some scathing views about the Lakeland
Fells often regarding them as only worth consideration for alpine training
during the winter months. Slingsby was a member of the Alpine Club and had
repeated several of Haskett-Smith’s routes and these prompted him to write a
paper for the Alpine Journal dated the 6<sup>th</sup> April 1886 (although it
was not published until the following edition) in it he paid tribute to Haskett-Smith
as a <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">‘gentleman who has done much
brilliant rock climbing in Cumberland and who, unfortunately, is not in our
club</i>’ (Alpine Club).</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; height: 369px; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left; width: 234px;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgceTDBlw4I2y5T3ZTBwxYCQtNadhjnP62SbqKuD7V93uh35M02HhYeywpxA3Xq4-PVjosC0VOJJel-mUFyPP9-1tICh4oUDEsUNoJbOjgbmUuCKGMNHqULNdMIC5jHIdxf6IFdws0q1KI/s1600/pillar+rock.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgceTDBlw4I2y5T3ZTBwxYCQtNadhjnP62SbqKuD7V93uh35M02HhYeywpxA3Xq4-PVjosC0VOJJel-mUFyPP9-1tICh4oUDEsUNoJbOjgbmUuCKGMNHqULNdMIC5jHIdxf6IFdws0q1KI/s320/pillar+rock.jpg" width="230" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Climbers on the East side of Pillar Rock, the scene of Jones' first Lakeland climb. Photo: Abraham Bros</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The
‘sport’ gathered momentum and from the outset Haskett-Smith was in the
vanguard. There was virtually no competitiveness between the climbers and
information was freely disseminated amongst the leading activists. The pioneers
became involved in rock climbing because they enjoyed the exercise, camaraderie
and danger (adventure). Haskett-Smith explored three main crags from Wasdale
where he achieved notable first ascents. On Pillar he discovered West Jordan
Climb and Central Jordan Climb (Aug/Sept 1882) East Jordan Climb, Great Chimney
(March 1884) and Haskett Gully in 1908. He then moved to Scafell and proximity
where he ascended Deep Ghyll in winter conditions (April 1882) Central Gully,
Great End (Aug/Sept 1882), South-East Gully, Great End (Aug/Sept 1882) Scafell
Pinnacle, High Man from Jordan Gap, solo (Sept 1884), Steep Ghyll, Low Man,
High Man (Sept 1884), Slingsby’s Chimney Route (July 1888). From Gable he
continued broadening his horizons, he visited Langdale and Coniston and was
responsible for the first ascents of Great Gully on Pavey Ark, North Gully on
Bowfell Buttress and North West Gully on Gimmer all within the two months,
August and September 1882. He then went to Dow Crag where he completed the
first ascents of ‘E’ Buttress Route and Black Chimney in 1886 and Great Gully
in 1888.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif";"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhkMNyfHE_-AwugnD3gdhf8znGMs8vSdTBuIlMuwqVRNiLQMGEcFCvShWMNf6zuO1a8enV4jcN8KAwAgNPma64kahFLmLx-1rmdayqV1clsalF97-Z_rbFhm0734575r-Lb1VhMEX43lM/s1600/An+early+ascent+of+Napes+Needle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhkMNyfHE_-AwugnD3gdhf8znGMs8vSdTBuIlMuwqVRNiLQMGEcFCvShWMNf6zuO1a8enV4jcN8KAwAgNPma64kahFLmLx-1rmdayqV1clsalF97-Z_rbFhm0734575r-Lb1VhMEX43lM/s320/An+early+ascent+of+Napes+Needle.jpg" width="215" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">An early ascent of Napes Needle</td></tr>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">It
was whilst exploring Deep Ghyll that Haskett-Smith first saw Napes Needle
through a break in the cloud. The Napes Face of Gable was the last to be
discovered but once Haskett-Smith had ascended the Needle in June 1886 it
became one of the most popular and best-known routes which was widely
publicised by the stunning photographs of the time. Haskett-Smith was very much
a rock climber as opposed to being a mountaineer; he wasn’t necessarily
interested in reaching the summit. His ascent of the Needle was done solo in
the afternoon after a long walk and without the aid of a rope; it was the first
breakaway from the preoccupation with gullies and it was to be three years
before it was to receive its second ascent by Geoffrey Hastings.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">In
1894 Haskett Smith published ‘Climbing in the British Isles: England’. This was
an A – Z of rock climbing and crammed with topographical, technical, historical
and etymological information. However this volume was of little use to anyone
seeking technical route information or descriptions. On the other hand O G
Jones book ‘Climbing in the English Lake District’ published in 1897 gave a
much fuller account of many routes which he attempted to classify according to
difficulty.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKFVfphgVheA3D8nF7cy6RdTpsn3zivf3O_xjWpKtwMuaZlj8k00YrRAIUuJA9XqyG95zsIQJfFhEL3ijRwASIHqSZYxY7rDP9v5FmIx3Ui5V0fUaFUYdiir0ojd4yAhttEqB1p2g5JuU/s1600/Moss+Ghyll.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKFVfphgVheA3D8nF7cy6RdTpsn3zivf3O_xjWpKtwMuaZlj8k00YrRAIUuJA9XqyG95zsIQJfFhEL3ijRwASIHqSZYxY7rDP9v5FmIx3Ui5V0fUaFUYdiir0ojd4yAhttEqB1p2g5JuU/s400/Moss+Ghyll.jpg" width="290" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Moss Ghyll</td></tr>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The
Fell and Rock Climbing Club of the English Lake District was formed in 1907 and
Haskett-Smith was to become an early honorary member. Although the old guard of
the ‘Golden Age’ were beginning to fade from the foreground they were still
active. Hasket-Smith climbed his last new route in Cumberland in April 1908 at the
age of forty-nine, Haskett Gully, described in the guide as ‘<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">very unpleasant, mossy wet and loose’</i>,
however he continued to climb for many years after that. During its inaugural
year the F&RCC lost John Wilson Robinson who died as a result of a medical
operation and the Club formed a Memorial Committee under the chair of Haskett-Smith.
The Club through this committee organised the building of the cairn which
still stands on the Robinson’s High Level Route to Pillar and nearby a bronze
memorial tablet was set into a boulder over which Slingsby paid a final
tribute.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCXDBWtfZpm0_wel-w8TwECGCDgCH73vXbFLClscMpnKIig6aFHgIzezlpNaJVccDZLaN2_bepeWWdTU6F8uCKRz0bdlYQEsEdC2IjYXO6Be8xdFqgSQ015VJbQXbHauLY5ETMjPT8vbo/s1600/RST+Chorley.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCXDBWtfZpm0_wel-w8TwECGCDgCH73vXbFLClscMpnKIig6aFHgIzezlpNaJVccDZLaN2_bepeWWdTU6F8uCKRz0bdlYQEsEdC2IjYXO6Be8xdFqgSQ015VJbQXbHauLY5ETMjPT8vbo/s320/RST+Chorley.jpg" width="282" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">RST Chorley 1978</td></tr>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Hasket-Smith
shared a flat with his sister near Olympia in London, they lived on independent
means but despite being a lawyer Haskett-Smith did little or no legal work.
Right up to the late 1930s he regularly joined those members of the F&RCC
who lived in or around London. In 1936 he agreed to mark the fiftieth
anniversary of his ascent of Napes Needle. He arrived in Wasdale on Good Friday
at the age of seventy-six and was met by R S T Chorley (the late Lord)
President of the F&RCC and then editor of the Alpine Journal. On the Sunday
through cold and gusty conditions and experiencing frequent snow flurries they
set off for the Needle. An audience of 300 had gathered around the Dress Circle
and Needle Gully and watched as Haskett-Smith lead by R S T Chorley up the 1886 original line of ascent </span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">and
followed by G R Speaker</span>. Haskett-Smith
gained the summit for the last time and when someone called out ‘Tell us a
story’ he shout back ‘There is no other story. This is the top story.’ After a
short speech from Chorley and a reply from Haskett-Smith the party descended
the Needle and slowly made its way back to Wasdale where Haskett-Smith paid his
last farewell to the hills of Cumberland that he had loved so much.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhftBxD-kXC91MxiHTfPKnyUZNuxtYRy9BoxgoZD53-nWpl_Rfsmf7MxgxVxse1D63B-rj_Y1B8p_azvI3le516oL0elkR4uL7q17lDDPJhp_0_MF2H9dB4Bj18WTgH1Ro5ejT53sfKB-U/s1600/WP+Haskett+Smith.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhftBxD-kXC91MxiHTfPKnyUZNuxtYRy9BoxgoZD53-nWpl_Rfsmf7MxgxVxse1D63B-rj_Y1B8p_azvI3le516oL0elkR4uL7q17lDDPJhp_0_MF2H9dB4Bj18WTgH1Ro5ejT53sfKB-U/s1600/WP+Haskett+Smith.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The forefather of British climbing, Haskett Smith</td></tr>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">He
died eight years later in 1946 at the grand old age of eighty-seven. He was
undoubtedly the first to realise the potential of the Lakeland fells as a
playground for the pure rock climber as well as a training ground for the
aspiring alpinist and he dedicated over fifty-seven years of his life to
developing the sport. Haskett-Smith joined the Climbers’ Club and was elected
onto the committee at the first general meeting held in London on the 28<sup>th</sup>
April 1898.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">In
the June 1901 CCJ T H Sowerby takes a long look at ‘Old English Mountaineering’
and revisits some of the volumes and maps used by previous generations. It
makes fascinating reading to see just how ‘wild’ so many of the districts were
that we now regard as major tourist areas. This is illustrated with reference
to Lyson’s History 1816 in which he confirms that the ‘<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">white-tailed eagle breeds every year in the neighbourhood of Keswick.’</i>
Sowerby’s references go back to John Speed’s maps of 1676 and cover the main
editions that would have been of interest to the ‘tourists’ of previous
generations. Milton reports on another fatal accident to a Club member, this
time the accident happened in winter conditions on the descent from Tryfan.
Weightman, it appears, fell down, possibly the NNW Gully of the mountain.
Articles also appeared related to Savage Gully and concerning the hills of
Arran.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">In
his first speech as president Haskett-Smith referred to the fact that in the
eyes of the continental mountaineering press Britain could no longer produce a `mountaineer’.
This comment, Haskett-Smith went onto explain, was proved by the fact that no
British mountaineer had been statistically recorded as summating Mont Blanc
during the previous season. The situation arose because so many members of the
Club were by then making guideless ascents and from starting points other than Chamonix. This fact was arrived at as a result of references made to the
previous President’s Book on Mont Blanc, the Journal of members’ activities and
achievements.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The
Pen-y-Gwryd was closed over Easter 1901 and also, as a result of
some very inclement weather, the Club gathered in Llanberis. The low snow line
prevented the more traditional areas around the higher summits from being
visited so some time was spent exploring Dinas Mot. On Easter Sunday an initial
exploration took place up the western gully, which from the evidence of a cairn
on the top proved it had been ascended before, however C G Brown and P A
Thomson then proceeded via a rib to climb onto the upper cliff to continue past
ledges and steep slabs to reach the summit some 200 feet above and one and a
half hours later. To round the day off the team then walked across to Lliwedd
and in full winter conditions made an ascent of Slanting Gully! [CCJ June 1901
p194]</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJwNdMfUtlhrwwdTAiBoyxnp9fJ3AA7k_NVcah86DCN9kdsHM2CPFAboTnHHHTMp3gCd6S9RKpYFFO3IuLtfFyDgkBzaCrfvQkJ0p6X84md0R377Jb7_-vNOdlvLxAwv09d6Y04cLyoNc/s1600/winter.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="293" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJwNdMfUtlhrwwdTAiBoyxnp9fJ3AA7k_NVcah86DCN9kdsHM2CPFAboTnHHHTMp3gCd6S9RKpYFFO3IuLtfFyDgkBzaCrfvQkJ0p6X84md0R377Jb7_-vNOdlvLxAwv09d6Y04cLyoNc/s400/winter.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Winter conditions on LLiwedd</td></tr>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">By
then the Kyndwr Club were involved in serious cave exploration where they
carried out surveying, geological surveys, and photographic work. It was
recognised from the outset the valuable contributions that climbers made to
cave exploration and this was reinforced in an article which states, ‘<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">h<span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">ere
(Mendip Hills) more than in Derbyshire, experienced rock-climbers will have the
advantage, both in getting at openings of cavities and in underground work’</span></i><span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">.</span> [CCJ June 1901 p 198]</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">In
an article titled ‘British Climbing from Another Point of View’ C S Ancherson
and H V Reade both Alpine Club members discuss relevant points differentiating
rock climbing in England compared to mountaineering abroad. This article would
appear to be one of the earliest in the CCJ to address issues of a
philosophical nature. The article continues <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">‘Indeed
it must be borne in mind that an exaggerated estimate of the value of British
climbing in the education of the mountaineer, which is prevalent, must have been
observed by many. Everyone knows that, despite these limitations, British
climbing gives splendid sport, and that the standard of difficulty is very
high. But how far is it from reproducing the real thing?</i> </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5LAaxn8a3sKN8QZyyFoFvywUVMFHxqpJjBOFSyIEKNtKPxmovH41pwIYR7oXOAEXenbf5VDGfpMc5gyBDQm_kVhyphenhyphenbh7JOJgHq3-lO1FRLfvFBfiht0xX_sl0yNly6BezWKJhwVBDMt1I/s1600/grepon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5LAaxn8a3sKN8QZyyFoFvywUVMFHxqpJjBOFSyIEKNtKPxmovH41pwIYR7oXOAEXenbf5VDGfpMc5gyBDQm_kVhyphenhyphenbh7JOJgHq3-lO1FRLfvFBfiht0xX_sl0yNly6BezWKJhwVBDMt1I/s400/grepon.jpg" width="282" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mummeryand the Abrham Brothers on the Grepon</td></tr>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The
case is argued, by the authors, over the ability of the English rock climbers,
who moved individually out of technical necessity as part of a rope to be able to
move quickly and safely over the mixed terrain (as found, for example, in the
Alps). <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">`In a point of ‘technical
difficulty’</i>, the authors go onto point out, ‘<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">that there may be little difference between Kern Knotts Crack and the
Grepon Crack, but, it does not follow that a man who can do one, can safely
attempt the other. The fact that the Grepon Crack can only be reached after
some hours of climbing as difficult, or more so, not to mention that a fall
from it for the leader would certainly be fatal, makes the comparison
fallacious. There are no doubts that certain rock climbs in the Alps, could be
paralleled to something that is found in Wasdale or elsewhere in this country'.</i>
Evidence of the well entrenched belief that climbing at home only served as
practice for the real thing! The authors go onto expound on the differences
between mixed snow and rock routes found in England compared to Switzerland and
the techniques required to deal with steep open snow slopes. ‘<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">There is scarcely a feature of Alpine snow
and ice work which can be found in Great Britain. British climbing may teach
one to be sure footed, and a safe man on rocks, but on British hills there is
practically no danger from stones falling spontaneously. Consequently, the
climber attacks cheerfully any rocks that come in his way, and in particular,
finds much of his best work in gullies, which often, form the only or chief
routes up the cliffs. In the Alps, on the other hand, to act on this principle
could only result in disaster.’</i></span><br />
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqf5dctdl8GgHAIikHFNiJ8uyWiZYZ8TyMU61RsV1hrVvBDzldb-Cw-o2BeaUvRoPawrL0mcoI9HoZWiYTYXMpU_igzYhacQxrF1Ys32rFUkyWU7uO8_0lXKj2vKYzqjIICG_hhFMGkos/s1600/New+route+in+Wales.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqf5dctdl8GgHAIikHFNiJ8uyWiZYZ8TyMU61RsV1hrVvBDzldb-Cw-o2BeaUvRoPawrL0mcoI9HoZWiYTYXMpU_igzYhacQxrF1Ys32rFUkyWU7uO8_0lXKj2vKYzqjIICG_hhFMGkos/s320/New+route+in+Wales.jpg" width="225" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif";"><i>A new route in N<span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif";">orth Wales - climbers unknown</span></i></span></td></tr>
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</i></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The article concludes, <i>‘</i></span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Climbing, as it is practiced in
Great Britain, forms a small sub division of rock-climbing proper, and
consequently a very small sub-section of mountaineering in the full sense of
the word. All that is commonly taught by it is the capacity to do a particular
kind of short climb, which tends to develop rock-gymnasts rather than all round
cragsmen. And, conversely, a man may be a thoroughly good all-round mountaineer
without being able to perform some of these gymnastic feats. Real
mountaineering is only to be learnt in an Alpine country, by working for
several seasons under good guides.’</span></i><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">
[CCJ September1901 p 12]</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText3" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">I wonder what those esteemed authors would make of
the level of skill, or is it audacity, with which the young ‘tigers’ of today
achieve their targets and goals, not only on British rock but also in the Alps
and the Himalaya, many on their first visits to the Alps or greater ranges?</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText3" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Members of the Climbers’ Club have always been on
the right side of anarchy but have not been afraid to take issue with those
authorities who take liberties, especially if it involves liberties to exercise
ones right.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText3" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The ‘Right to Roam’ issue probably had its first
airing in the September 1901 CCJ with an article entitled ‘Deer and Deer
Forests.’ The author, A L Bagley, a member of the S M C expressed his
disappointment in reading that freedom of access was granted to ‘<i>allow the
climbing and scientific public access as far as possible.’</i> <i>‘What about
those who just want to enjoy the moors and hills?”</i> he asks. The statement ‘<i>as
far as possible’</i> referred to the damage that might have been done by the
unwary causing stags to desert the forest and move onto a neighbours land. What
Badley goes on to ask is <i>‘what will become of the stags on that neighbour’s
land?’</i> The article goes on in depth and was to be commented upon over the
following months with letters appearing in subsequent copies of the CCJ.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText3" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The Staffordshire Roaches are mentioned in the
‘Kyndwr Club Notes’ and several ’interesting scrambles’ are reported to have
been found. The Ben Nuis Chimney on Arran was climbed for the first time by
Baker, Oppenheimer and Puttrell.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Under
the Editorial Notes mention was again made of the continued persistence of
those determined to construct an electric railway from Portmadoc to the foot of
Snowdon, also within the article concern is raised over the proposal to intern
the Glaslyn River in pipes to generate electricity down the Dyli Falls and that
consent had been given in the House of Commons to convert Llyn Llydaw into a
reservoir. There also appeared in the correspondence section a request for
donations to support the National Trust who wished to purchase a mile of the
western shore of Derwentwater.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr4-aSKYNPQyx_EkxAJ_0tQGPCcb2cqtFwXDuCZCBhj3cGVpPMywZuBNgXGCEE2UrwXyT_eG_22BsQRP4jy5gwinf19QtLGJadV1Z50jLvGqPwB0yPWX-uTSX6hvWmlzGK5K71m-FebQI/s1600/kingsley.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr4-aSKYNPQyx_EkxAJ_0tQGPCcb2cqtFwXDuCZCBhj3cGVpPMywZuBNgXGCEE2UrwXyT_eG_22BsQRP4jy5gwinf19QtLGJadV1Z50jLvGqPwB0yPWX-uTSX6hvWmlzGK5K71m-FebQI/s1600/kingsley.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Charles Kingsley</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">By December 1901 C E Mathews had collected the
climbers’ and visitors’ books from the Pen-y-Gwryd and written his article
‘Reminiscences of Pen-y-Gwryd.’ He describes in great detail the very soul of
the ‘P-y-G’, its people and its structure. Harry Owen, the landlord, took over
the Inn in 1841 and was the resident landlord up to his death in 1891. A plaque
marking his final resting place can be found in Beddgelert church yard along
with that of his wife who died in 1896. Of all the interesting entries Mathews
writes about, the most interesting is where he revealed the connection of the
visit by Charles Kingsley in 1856 to the P-y-G. Upon leaving after a few days
rest Owens asked Kingsley to sign the book. The Kingsley party then went onto
pen a series of individual verses in which each of the three guests, Charles
Kingsley, Tom Hughes and Tom Taylor tried to outdo each other’s verse. In this
article Mathews referred to the ‘Rabbits’ and their members, one of whom was
Adam-Reilly who he recalls meeting in April 1879 when the guest list included
twenty-five members of the Alpine Club. Mathew’s examination of the visitors’
book reveals that people had travelled far and wide to be residents at the P-y-G
including. Gabriel Taugwalder from Zermatt who stayed in 1887, Lord Coleridge
and Gladstone, many famous artists had transferred its local scenery onto their
canvas and the names of the masters from the great public schools of the time
had left their mark in the book. Many of the inspirational years of the
Climbers’ Club matured in those walls of the P-y-G.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">George Abraham writes about a new climb on Pillar
Rock and it is also announced that the Club will take over the publication of
'Alpina', the Swiss journal with twenty issues a year.</span></div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWDJ70qU0Sfk8pmujeyBOBDzXGUWQLbTQoPGERi-VIp0InESXwqgrXSg1HJM0YF3gSl_3ujAI2lhBgQTkkuAQaPdNuNWZ2lcvz1zpMRlHp7ZylJw90dDfAVTkyo5JoNfQjbF9PsHtSI1A/s1600/Gt+Cave+pitch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWDJ70qU0Sfk8pmujeyBOBDzXGUWQLbTQoPGERi-VIp0InESXwqgrXSg1HJM0YF3gSl_3ujAI2lhBgQTkkuAQaPdNuNWZ2lcvz1zpMRlHp7ZylJw90dDfAVTkyo5JoNfQjbF9PsHtSI1A/s400/Gt+Cave+pitch.jpg" width="258" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div data-canvas-width="9.952933333333332" style="font-family: monospace; font-size: 15px; left: 571.117px; top: 915px; transform: scaleX(0.552941);">
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The Great Cave Pitch in the Gully of Craig yr Ysfa</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">March 1902 saw a subtle change in the format of the
Journal there was for the first time a greater use of illustrations and
photography. There were full-page illustrations of the Great Cave Pitch in the
Gully of Craig yr Ysfa<span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif";">, a sketch by A E <span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif";">Elias</span></span> and also a photograph to accompany J M A Thomson’s
account of the first ascent. Then there were the Abraham brothers’ photographs
of the cliffs of Ben Nevis from Cam Dearg, the Gap in the Tower Ridge, a
collection of four snap-shots depicting different aspects of Ben Nevis all to
illustrate an article on the history and topography of the mountain. Another
two full-page action photographs were used to good effect to accompany an
article on Wharncliffe Crags, a crag around which a variety of boulder problems
provide a <i>‘hard afternoon’s workout’</i>. The purpose of the article C F
Cameron informed us was not to convey that the Don Valley was a rival to
Wasdale Head but to publicise the fact that it did provide a variety of short
climbs on hard, rough, firm-set rock, and by the experience on them the climber
would acquire a skill which would give him valuable aid in his endeavours in
the future.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The attitude of the Club towards the Deer Forest question
was raised in the Committee Notes and it was stressed that the previous article
was purely the private opinion of the writer and not that of the Club. </span></div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY_EioZ0m7_nzdb9Kdu-NTUvORQLiMAuf0gTEwTsP32_7a9gCrgXLgTudGtEZTMysx9mve_m-_ZdlYmYw_3t0_7-i8PITb9K8-8rhoOyy9w5boQ4MV404iZFvhmf7RaRWtGdEx55a6Ph8/s1600/E+face+of+M.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY_EioZ0m7_nzdb9Kdu-NTUvORQLiMAuf0gTEwTsP32_7a9gCrgXLgTudGtEZTMysx9mve_m-_ZdlYmYw_3t0_7-i8PITb9K8-8rhoOyy9w5boQ4MV404iZFvhmf7RaRWtGdEx55a6Ph8/s200/E+face+of+M.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Matterhorn, E Face</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">In January 1902 L F Ryan along with his guide
Joseph Lochmatter arrived in Zermatt. Despite Lochmatter’s slight dislike of
the thought of winter climbing the pair made their way up to Schwarzee and
eventually on to the Hornli Ridge with serious intentions to climb the East
Face. Although the face appeared <i>‘remarkably black</i>’ it was undoubtedly in good
condition for winter. They were both of the opinion that they could achieve
their goal despite the cold temperatures and the fact that they had to traverse
across onto the North Face before reaching the summit. As the pair turned away in the last light of the
afternoon sun their eyes shifted to the magnificent Eastern Ridge of the
Weisshorn which was highlighted by the setting rays. Lochmatter quickly pointed
out that this would be a warmer prospect than their original project, and then
as if to add the icing on the cake, mentioned that it had not been ascended in
winter before. Ryan and Joseph Lochmatter met up with Alois Pollinger and
Raphael Lochmatter. The four reached the summit of the Weisshorn at 2.50pm on
the 29<sup>th</sup> January 1902.</span><br />
<br />
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6dtdeHOd9t7P4fuZ01D_FRpln0WNGdjlRbyHXD6L2smosa2o9rGas-nt0nGE5o1t7ShGbveQFbgvv_9icv0aoNbtmbBlurs8YfBqtzLshZqVypKbAa4Y7KRWoMyYN1SUmj-BxfuSpNls/s1600/Weisshorn.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6dtdeHOd9t7P4fuZ01D_FRpln0WNGdjlRbyHXD6L2smosa2o9rGas-nt0nGE5o1t7ShGbveQFbgvv_9icv0aoNbtmbBlurs8YfBqtzLshZqVypKbAa4Y7KRWoMyYN1SUmj-BxfuSpNls/s320/Weisshorn.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif";">East Ridge of the Weisshorn (right)</span></td></tr>
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</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The Club’s fifth A G M took place at the Café
Royal, Regent St., London on the 9<sup>th</sup> May 1902, the accounts for 1901
stood at £282. 1s 6½p they were audited and passed by the meeting. Haskett-Smith
informed the Committee that Mr W Rickmer Rickmers had donated about 300 volumes
as a nucleus to form a Club library. He also referred to the gift in his
Presidential speech commenting that it was good that the Club should have its
own library as the Alpine Club had their own library. However he questioned
whether the books would be read as infrequently as those at the AC! G Winthrop
Young replied to the President’s speech referring to the fact that he was, at
that time, the youngest member of the Club. The formalities of the evening
concluded after another six speakers gave lengthy but humorous anecdotal reports
on the Club’s activities and their own adventures. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The third bound copy of the CCJ contains Volumes V
and VI of the journals and opens with a fine and extremely interesting article
by Haskett-Smith tilted ‘Wasdale Head 600 Years Ago’. It is very evident from
the article that Haskett-Smith had indeed studied</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> <span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">Literae Humaniores! Despite routes having
been climbed on the more open buttresses as the description of
Bowfell Buttress illustrated the Club was still very much in the gully era and the
article ‘Two Gullies on Twr Du, Cader Idris’ described the first ascent on the
28<sup>th</sup> and 29<sup>th</sup> August 1902. The interesting point of this
article is in the fact that the photographs were taken by the actual climbers, J
Phillips and H L Jupp, as opposed to having been taken by a third party. After
the announcement that the Club had a nucleus of a library as donated by
Rickmers the journal of 1903 contained a catalogue reference of the volumes and
by whom they were donated. Those items donated by Rickmers were in the main of
foreign origin, where as those presented by W Maude, A V Valentine-Richards,
Godfrey W H Ellis and C W Nettleton, the Honorary Librarian, were of English
origin.</span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Some of our present members living in the London
region might find the article ‘A Day Down the Dene Holes’ interesting. This
described a short expedition to the <i>‘rural village of Bexley about 15 miles
from Charing Cross’</i> where there was a series of holes and underground
excavations. The team explored the labyrinth with the use of a ladder and
Alpine Lanterns and a loaded revolver just in case! No satisfactorily
explanation has ever been given for their existence, however their antiquity is
not in question as Pliny </span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">wrote about these chalk extraction in A.D. 70 and other classical writers mention them in their
works.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The Club was now entering an era of exploration of
the less frequented corners of the planet, an article on climbing in South
Africa anomalously written and submitted to the CCJ editor for fellow members to read and the library catalogue
was updated.</span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMSoHRcAgTgqon6IXE-FvZK18HCl7JX0eKiUPOehIXuaa5xVJVWGwZec6d1hTCpPQYutaSginY1VIit84mluVfqikjPn-i1gkaIIxX-TStdpCo4jcp5Kk-6kKYKUqag9JgSKJKS6Vo05o/s1600/Cecil+Slingsby.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMSoHRcAgTgqon6IXE-FvZK18HCl7JX0eKiUPOehIXuaa5xVJVWGwZec6d1hTCpPQYutaSginY1VIit84mluVfqikjPn-i1gkaIIxX-TStdpCo4jcp5Kk-6kKYKUqag9JgSKJKS6Vo05o/s320/Cecil+Slingsby.jpg" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cecil Slingsby</td></tr>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The sixth AGM and the W C Slingsby Years 1904 – 1907</span></u></b></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">William
Cecil Slingsby was born in 1849 into an old established and well-to-do
Yorkshire family of landowners who had reinforced the family wealth by going
into the textile industry. He grew up to love the hills and moors around his
home in the Skipton-in-Craven area and it was there that he developed his
interest for walking and a love of the outdoors. He was educated at Cheltenham
School.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">In 1872 at the age of twenty-three he visited
Norway and was immediately captivated by the grandeur and splendour of the
mountains. He returned summer after summer to explore the high peaks, passes
and glaciers. Slingsby learned to speak Norwegian and to ski and in fact took
the idea of skiing to the Alps.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In 1875
he made his first visit to Aak in the Romsdal Valley, he returned the following
year and went onto to make many first ascents including Kvandalstind, which he
regarded as the steepest mountain in Europe. </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6UOjjARzXZhEeY4uZnJqw6xzpCO3kX4WyAoiWbfr7iBmfjcbspf3T_0RPs7VyG-akxXuGMnOMSNSnrHNmOAVRDEux58YPYOdjvE2lRQ11kQt66W1ajhxy7xTJ7IKqnWOYLHh5wVugpQ0/s1600/Deep+Ghyll+Scafell.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="217" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6UOjjARzXZhEeY4uZnJqw6xzpCO3kX4WyAoiWbfr7iBmfjcbspf3T_0RPs7VyG-akxXuGMnOMSNSnrHNmOAVRDEux58YPYOdjvE2lRQ11kQt66W1ajhxy7xTJ7IKqnWOYLHh5wVugpQ0/s320/Deep+Ghyll+Scafell.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Deep Ghyll Scafell, extreme righthand gully</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Two years later he went for the first time to
Switzerland and from then on spent his summers divided between Norway and the
Alps. Slingsby very much rejected the exclusive attitude of the Alpine Club’s
‘Old Guard’ and was for a more inclusive approach where he could embrace the
complete gambit of outdoor involvement of every kind. In amongst his forays
abroad Slingsby developed his knowledge of the Lakeland mountains when his
first recorded visit to Wasdale was in 1885 with Geoffrey Hastings, who
accompanied him on so many foreign trips, they tried to climb, but were defeated by the
ice in Deep Ghyll. As a result of the Deep Ghyll experience Slingsby wrote a
brief account of the climb in the Alpine Journal April 1886 in which he
concluded </span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">‘<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Do not let us be beaten on
our own fells by outsiders, some of whom consider ice-axes and ropes to be
‘illegitimate’ (reference to the Old Guard from the Alpine Club)<span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">. </span>Let us not neglect the Lake
District, Wales and Scotland whilst we are conquerors abroad.’</i></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh4diRvu7uqv2eU54kW-4LKjgX67V42k_2RyV6Q5t1DroZLlTGFQBZcQ9QhwhOsLLob1vm8d1Ofzn0E7-0AMTiHuBkzh8GIYaPcFfJaOdp1k7RBrk3wTpKNNzA5MOBJMrxCC9-7udvuJw/s1600/northern+playground.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh4diRvu7uqv2eU54kW-4LKjgX67V42k_2RyV6Q5t1DroZLlTGFQBZcQ9QhwhOsLLob1vm8d1Ofzn0E7-0AMTiHuBkzh8GIYaPcFfJaOdp1k7RBrk3wTpKNNzA5MOBJMrxCC9-7udvuJw/s200/northern+playground.jpg" width="170" /></a></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Slingsby was a member of the Provisional Committee
of the Climbers’ Club that met in February 1898 to deal with the practical
questions of detail regarding the establishment of the Club and to draft the
notice to attract new members. He then became a full committee member and was
elected to position at the first general meeting held on 28<sup>th</sup> April
1898. Not only was Slingsby known as the father of Norwegian mountaineering he
went on to become a widely acclaimed authority on Norway and in 1903 he wrote
‘Norway, the Northern Playground’. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText3" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Sadly 1928 saw the death of Cecil Slingsby, he had
continued to climb in Norway, the Alps, Scotland and the Lake District well
into the twentieth century. He moved from his Craven home to a house
overlooking Morecombe Bay and this continued to be the focal point of many
gatherings of likeminded men, including Haskett-Smith, Norman Collie, Geoffrey
Hastings, Godfrey Solly, the Hopkinsons, Pilkingtons and many others.
Slingsby’s last climb was North Climb on Pillar on his seventieth birthday in
1926. The team comprised of Raymond Bicknell who led followed by Slingsby with
Winthrop Young as last man on the rope. Winthrop Young had lost his leg whilst
serving on the Italian front; he was also Slingsby’s son-in-law having married
Eleanor Slingsby.</span></div>
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<div class="MsoBodyText3" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The First World War also sadly saw a large group of
Club members killed in action. However, the Club did survive and in fact went
from strength to strength with many fine Presidents being elected to post over
the course of time. Robert A Robinson past Committee member and ex-President of
the SMC took up the Presidency from 1907 – 1910, he was followed by Sir John
Bretland Farmer 1910 – 1912, Geoffrey Winthrop Young 1913 – 1920, A W Andrews
1920 – 1923 and George Leigh Mallory as the eighth President of the Climbers’
Club 1923 – 1924, he of course met his untimely death on Everest and has left
the Club, and the mountaineering world, pondering the everlasting question, did he die before or after
reaching the summit?</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">As can be seen in those early years solid pillars
for the foundations of the Club were laid down and in the main these have not
only withstood the test of time but have in fact been developed and
strengthened over the last century. 2017 will be the 120<sup>th</sup>
anniversary of the official Welsh Dinner and with that in mind I should like to
be the first to make the toast </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">‘<span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">And so, I give to you
‘The Climbers’ Club!’ Remember that a Club is an institution towards which
every man must contribute his share. May it flourish and prosper!</span></span></i><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> CE Mathews, CC AGM </span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">28<sup>th</sup> April 1899.<span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif";">All original text has been researched in the Climbers' Club Journals, the images are based on research on the internet and were gathered from<span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif";"> the following sites:-</span></span></span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif";">The Yorkshire Ram<span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif";">blers</span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif";">The Scott<span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif";">ish Mountaineering Club</span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif";">The Fell <span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif";">& Rock Climbing Club</span> </span> </span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif";">FootlessCrow.blogspot.com</span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif";">History of British Climbing</span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif";">The British Mountaineering Council</span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif";">The A<span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif";">rmitt Museum</span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif";">SummitPost.org</span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif";">Abraham Brothers Photograp<span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif";">hic Collection</span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif";">UK Climbing.com </span> </span> </span> </span></span></span></span></div>
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ianoffthewallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09893050670803576833noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4685057110957823513.post-29775163304969903662015-12-27T03:52:00.000-08:002015-12-27T03:56:14.091-08:002015 Off the Wall Newsletter 9 December edition <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKbWwZkL42QVa5rKfERAJ4XBZnE0s-IESSNPNQwmAuFG0K6bUo0O2zEJ_sRulL1DJRyUSefN40W9Gzl36hwuvQwBjQeB8E9SfK28fcXqrcR3x-XncCJFFJFl1UaM2SIEOqTtesUVILsxY/s1600/P1010809.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="184" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKbWwZkL42QVa5rKfERAJ4XBZnE0s-IESSNPNQwmAuFG0K6bUo0O2zEJ_sRulL1DJRyUSefN40W9Gzl36hwuvQwBjQeB8E9SfK28fcXqrcR3x-XncCJFFJFl1UaM2SIEOqTtesUVILsxY/s640/P1010809.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Another
year comes to an end in Nepal and another crisis continues. Many people outside
Nepal have little idea what is going on between India and Nepal and don’t
really understand the politics. As an outsider I’m the last person to try to
make any sense out of the situation ... but here goes! First the introductions
-</span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /></span></u></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Meet the Neighbour!</span></u></b></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9oEqYsxMI_7yBzXoc0KpxYf_RNLAXEVLossdKyedrbCuW6YeO6w_IHVdPArG70WHHkWrbpT1llXUNGj1_kVs1GDVdaPHpFbUMOVIn_T-yesvsW4s9iSMePMu8NMnUaK-KG1BhUg0qdBE/s1600/Modi.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9oEqYsxMI_7yBzXoc0KpxYf_RNLAXEVLossdKyedrbCuW6YeO6w_IHVdPArG70WHHkWrbpT1llXUNGj1_kVs1GDVdaPHpFbUMOVIn_T-yesvsW4s9iSMePMu8NMnUaK-KG1BhUg0qdBE/s1600/Modi.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Prime Minister Modi</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Narendra Damodardas Modi is the 15th
and current Prime Minister of India, in office since 26<sup>th</sup> May 2014.
Modi is the leader of the Bharatiya Janata Party. For several years prior to
Modi’s unexpected and convincing win at the elections the ruling party was the
Congress Party.</span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /></span></u></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">And his Neighbours</span></u></b></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Then we
have our recently elected Prime Minister Khadga Prasad Sharma Oli, and
President Bidhya Devi Bhandari. <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEU3uH6-AvxZgXzDsXM_J27-oTZsMQYhRh3Ti8EXQ3FWmeAc6RRB4RCvdkqymMCC1C5l1cluZLwfDVqjUPHfLow95w-lEypFFZf1KtitH2mpxlyr60b6oONz0IYTkp4KxMMXoXjm1K7Kg/s1600/Oli.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEU3uH6-AvxZgXzDsXM_J27-oTZsMQYhRh3Ti8EXQ3FWmeAc6RRB4RCvdkqymMCC1C5l1cluZLwfDVqjUPHfLow95w-lEypFFZf1KtitH2mpxlyr60b6oONz0IYTkp4KxMMXoXjm1K7Kg/s320/Oli.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Prime Minister of Nepal Khadga Prasad Sharma Oli</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Both the President and the Prime Minister are
from the Communist Party, the Congress party is in opposition.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">In
August 2014 our neighbour popped round for a cup of chi, on touching down in
Nepal on Monday 3<sup>rd</sup> August, the PM of India made it clear that India
expected Nepal to draft an ‘inclusive’ Constitution.<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> "I request all political stakeholders to draft the Constitution
by early next year as committed through consensus, which will reflect
aspirations of all communities, including Madhesis, Pahadis </i>(ethnic groups
from the Nepal/Indian border, the <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFq1yK1EdjNCxSbDR4MS-C_-JVvp3PlU5CpBEjBM1dsVbXjp2TfY7KcsfTMdZDRbUkdxI-pHpLI72PMf844JephcMUtwREcTCDY0rO2oGWMuaf32RbgNELCvQRVaKP56D103IP1bob1Qk/s1600/president.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFq1yK1EdjNCxSbDR4MS-C_-JVvp3PlU5CpBEjBM1dsVbXjp2TfY7KcsfTMdZDRbUkdxI-pHpLI72PMf844JephcMUtwREcTCDY0rO2oGWMuaf32RbgNELCvQRVaKP56D103IP1bob1Qk/s320/president.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nepal's President Bidhya Devi Bhandari</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Terai region of Nepal)<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> and Maoists ... failing to do so can cause difficulties to Nepal and
your difficulty despite our expertise to help you in this field is a matter of
sadness," </i>Modi said. </span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">He stayed
for a couple of days and after he left the Times of India reported ‘<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Flagging off the Delhi-Kathmandu bus
service, Prime Minister Narendra Modi signed more than 10 agreements with Nepal
on Tuesday, showing that India is prepared to go the extra mile for its
neighbours’</i>. [Times of India 26<sup>th</sup> Nov 2014] </span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /></span></u></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"></span></u></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"></span></u></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Moving onto the Earthquake</span></u></b></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn2FYqpQbykCjivB_xsFNHulVktytm4DukS_CCLBC2zwSV5jwR9w4tsBjYPlyloPw9uUiYN0-oAEgm_6gj1TgbZQrN76tEApF82pYW-7GrQatVsJgYxRN4mPz-PM2ocp3I67IlXAo8axc/s1600/Untitled-2+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="257" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn2FYqpQbykCjivB_xsFNHulVktytm4DukS_CCLBC2zwSV5jwR9w4tsBjYPlyloPw9uUiYN0-oAEgm_6gj1TgbZQrN76tEApF82pYW-7GrQatVsJgYxRN4mPz-PM2ocp3I67IlXAo8axc/s400/Untitled-2+copy.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Many of the main roads routes in Nepal suffered as a result of the earthquake</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">As
a result of the April and May 2015 earthquakes Nepal was pledged billions of
dollars in foreign aid. It suddenly dawned on the Nepal Government that it did
not have the robust and transparent policies to allow it access that money.
Consequently the Constitution was promulgated and elections were held in line
with the Constitution to form a new government. As a result of the elections
all the senior government posts went to members of the Communist Party,
including that of the President with the Congress Party having no claim to any
of the senior positions. A new Reconstruction Committee was announced and the
Congress Party aimed to take control over that but all moves to elect a
Congress Chairman were blocked. </span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">By August
2015 the implications of the Constitution were beginning to sink in and the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Madhesis</i> ethnic group from the Terai
region of Nepal felt that they were being disadvantaged and marginalised by the
plans to redefine the districts to form a federal state. In amongst this
simplistic overview they also felt that the north, south, hill people and
lowland people divide put them at the feet of the ruling ‘hill’ ethnic groups
who would always out number them in the new arrangements. They demanded a <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Madhesis</i> State, that would basically
form the border with India, and that inter-cast marriages would not marginalise
the women and the children of mixed marriages.</span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /></span></u></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Other Human Rights issues highlighted in the Constitution</span></u></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The border
with India has always been porous with people from both sides moving back and
forth, marrying and basically occupying a great swath of land along the border
line. To aggravate the situation still more the new constitution<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>states that if a Nepali woman marries a non
Nepali man then the children from that relationship would not get Nepali
citizenship, however, if a Nepalese man married a foreign woman then those
children would get Nepali citizenship. Obviously this clause would have a
greater impact on the Terai people than possibly any other ethnic group in
Nepal.</span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><br /></span></span></u></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Violent Clashes</span></u></b></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCddoryePCYxmz27vpu2wdGQFsc2JgCY_QXHrGEdNmrxJu68fZ2NMYGAgacpxmvR3a-ZNHbI_dqgQVvqM1p6O1BbUfHYBRnQFOYP79QewTCUyFwgrg_ER963IZOCpzGDKgDt30SM4KNHo/s1600/violence.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="215" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCddoryePCYxmz27vpu2wdGQFsc2JgCY_QXHrGEdNmrxJu68fZ2NMYGAgacpxmvR3a-ZNHbI_dqgQVvqM1p6O1BbUfHYBRnQFOYP79QewTCUyFwgrg_ER963IZOCpzGDKgDt30SM4KNHo/s400/violence.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Police and terai Madhesis residents in a face off</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Sadly this
all became a violent dispute in August with many <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Madhesis</i> people taking to the streets in protest. At some point the
Armed Police Force (APF) stepped in and injuries and deaths occurred, with the
local people declaring that the APF were using un-necessary power and force to
try to control the situation. The bar had just been raised.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Along
with the violence, roads were blocked, vehicles were torched and the flow of
goods was initially reduced resulting in gradual shortages occurring in
Kathmandu and other smaller towns in Nepal.<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5iaJhCZvabWW4ZDI5ceue1HtMcGm9NNuWPRCREU0m9VKG-k7stxNUoldOZPcAM2drT5gqu1PGRDvSALWXhMFVlP2_ZqJkPtsjCOW72r52nKdsDL5Ctr__FcEYWj_1HWx_k4tmLPlmIvI/s1600/Untitled-1+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="181" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5iaJhCZvabWW4ZDI5ceue1HtMcGm9NNuWPRCREU0m9VKG-k7stxNUoldOZPcAM2drT5gqu1PGRDvSALWXhMFVlP2_ZqJkPtsjCOW72r52nKdsDL5Ctr__FcEYWj_1HWx_k4tmLPlmIvI/s320/Untitled-1+copy.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Petrol tankers waiting to cross into Nepal from India</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Nepal is a
landlocked country however it does have ‘dry docks’ along the border with
India. These dry docks are the rail head terminals for all the cargo rail lines
from Kolkata into Nepal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>India has never
blocked these and goods have been regularly delivered into these docks on the
Nepal side of the border. The crux of the matter is that the fuel tankers
travel by road and without diesel or petrol the trucks in Nepal are unable to
deliver the much needed goods and essential supplies into the interior.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">To this
point it seemed a straight forward dispute between the Terai people and the
Government but this is where politics rears its ugly head.</span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAsAbCKhGAuKe73ofzamgebZpF6pnwNkyfHllP3b5hVjDBQi1ZBem5_fMpQ2aMiBd8C39j_UI_iir0Ydme2kfkddI_OEYEAKPMTPw6OVKaaf7yzbsolA3waR6yEIL8pEks1wIm6J54DpU/s1600/stranded-trucks-in-nepal-border.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="196" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAsAbCKhGAuKe73ofzamgebZpF6pnwNkyfHllP3b5hVjDBQi1ZBem5_fMpQ2aMiBd8C39j_UI_iir0Ydme2kfkddI_OEYEAKPMTPw6OVKaaf7yzbsolA3waR6yEIL8pEks1wIm6J54DpU/s320/stranded-trucks-in-nepal-border.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Trucks carrying essential supplies waiting to enter Nepal</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Local
community leaders and political leaders along the border and at the border
crossing points closed the official customs posts in an attempt to reduce the
tension and wilful damage and deaths that were occurring. This spread to the
next level of administration up and so on until it reached the top of both the
Indian and Nepalese political institutions. So to this point India had not ‘officially’
blockaded the border and goods were getting into Nepal as normal, the blockade
comes from the fact that the tankers are not being allowed to cross thus
basically blocking the onward movements of goods.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="page-break-after: avoid; text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-no-proof: yes;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoCaption" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: windowtext;">Trucks carrying essential supplies into Nepal held up
at a border crossing point due to lack of fuel within Nepal</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: windowtext; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB">On the 3rd
October Nepal turned to the UN over the alleged obstruction of key border trade
points with India that resulted in acute shortages of essential goods and it
appealed to</span><span class="storytext"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> the international community to ensure
that the landlocked country’s freedom of transit was not curtailed. Ban Ki-moon
expressed concern over the obstruction of essential supplies and the
difficulties resulting from it. [The Tribune Nov 24<sup>th</sup> 2015] </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span class="storytext"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /></span></u></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span class="storytext"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The Political Intrigue</span></u></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span class="storytext"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"></span></u></b></span><span class="storytext"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxh7Rb0Sq_eRroVdX72rZqnlVKzQ5TFCYDtQsMvEXEX4Xh0k3YDgwTIdFqmqogZ97WueXu8WSv8I5xmwIxGWTOToF3YedDGUOBYUxO95pdi5tTc5PyDVrTaAW5zeL-aYev3XDu8f-4nh8/s1600/6%252Bfederal%252Bstates%252Bof%252BNepal%252Bin%252Bnew%252Bconstitution%252B2072.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="377" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxh7Rb0Sq_eRroVdX72rZqnlVKzQ5TFCYDtQsMvEXEX4Xh0k3YDgwTIdFqmqogZ97WueXu8WSv8I5xmwIxGWTOToF3YedDGUOBYUxO95pdi5tTc5PyDVrTaAW5zeL-aYev3XDu8f-4nh8/s640/6%252Bfederal%252Bstates%252Bof%252BNepal%252Bin%252Bnew%252Bconstitution%252B2072.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The proposed new federal states of Nepaldd caption</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span class="storytext"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The
Congress Party in India and in Nepal have both been relegated to the ranks of
the opposition party sat on the side lines of government. This is the first
time that this has happened over the last few decades for more than a short
term in the recent history of both governments. Both Modi’s opponents in India
and the Congress opponents in Nepal are rumoured to be using this situation to
try to over-throw their respective governments. In the Nepal mix, of course,
you have to add the </span></span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Madhesis</span></i><span class="storytext"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> issues. As far as the human rights and woman
rights issues are concerned these can be attended to quickly, virtually by the
relevant signatures, however, the redefining of the administration zones, of
which it is proposed that there should be seven is totally unworkable without
one side or another backing down or at least moderating their stance.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span class="storytext"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The
Terai groups are demanding that the two areas basically running along the
border will become </span></span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Madhesis</span></i><span class="storytext"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> Zones. The problem lies in the fact that with
the close association and ties to India any future stand-off between the two
countries could weaken the integrity and security of either nation. If the </span></span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Madhesis</span></i><span class="storytext"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> continue to stand for their disagreements to
be a 100 percent resolved then this situation could go on for a very long time,
however, if all parties are prepared to meet somewhere in the middle then an
end to the situation could soon be reached. At the moment no-one is prepared to
back down. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span class="storytext"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">In the mean-time</span></u></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span class="storytext"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">In the mean time, political leaders and
security forces are turning a blind eye to many issues including the </span></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ3WZbpAxeBejE7DI7R_e2N-Z7x7XKSQu7J_htRYtsyKL-bUEq7Pe87sMvEmrHu1eUQWaVTq30fw7LVP86-Kx9qMYAvq85Gp15ENIrR3YV2iC9__Mv44lHNr3TJHbxCeeHiYtyPHbaTe4/s1600/images.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ3WZbpAxeBejE7DI7R_e2N-Z7x7XKSQu7J_htRYtsyKL-bUEq7Pe87sMvEmrHu1eUQWaVTq30fw7LVP86-Kx9qMYAvq85Gp15ENIrR3YV2iC9__Mv44lHNr3TJHbxCeeHiYtyPHbaTe4/s1600/images.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Linimg up for fuel in Kathmandu</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
rapidly
developing ‘black market’ trade. On the surface nothing appears to be changing but
in reality there is fuel getting into Nepal evident by the number of cars
increasingly taking to the streets. This fuel is obviously more expensive but
people are able to acquire black market supplies in certain towns across the
country however, they are being more considerate as to how they use their
vehicles. Despite the ‘blockade’ the Nepal Government is allowing this black
market trade to develop basically making the statement to India ‘You can’t
break us’. Goods will eventually get back on the shelves albeit more expensively
priced as the fuel to transport them from the ‘dry docks’ although is more
expensive becomes more available .. but people who can, will pay.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span class="storytext"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">However,
you can rest assured that many political leaders and community leaders are
making a small (or not so small) fortune out of the black market trade and this
will certainly not help to lubricate the mechanism to sort the disputes out.
Even if the situation was resolved within the next week or so it will take a
few months for life to return to anything like </span></span><span class="storytext"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">normal.</span></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjitwT9cYGNZ0ax8MBi8uj_NgkFBV7hosnBDF6pPU1wyVni-sF2QFxD57Uxtr-_zxCk8meHRIvV9hjh8ctHGI1Z8Zu8u2l9snfOIqLpqu7O4xSaWdealKDH_mtcSZelmRGM_cdUiRF-LJ8/s1600/4421517_1445089170.2421_updates.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="224" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjitwT9cYGNZ0ax8MBi8uj_NgkFBV7hosnBDF6pPU1wyVni-sF2QFxD57Uxtr-_zxCk8meHRIvV9hjh8ctHGI1Z8Zu8u2l9snfOIqLpqu7O4xSaWdealKDH_mtcSZelmRGM_cdUiRF-LJ8/s320/4421517_1445089170.2421_updates.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Women queuing for cooking gas in Kathmandu</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span class="storytext"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">With
over 3million people living in Kathmandu the pressure on gas supplies is
critical, without gas not only domestic homes but schools, hotels and other
food businesses are reduced to using firewood and this again causes pollution
and environmental problems.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="page-break-after: avoid; text-align: justify;">
<span class="storytext"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-no-proof: yes;"></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoCaption" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: windowtext;">Lives have to carry on even if it means using wood and
cooking in makeshift kitchens</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">India has
always maintained that it is not party to the disruption of essential goods to
Nepal, however on the 4<sup>th</sup> October the Indian Ambassador to Nepal
Ranjit Rae, was reported <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">‘as having
assured him [Nepal PM] about easing the supply situation from today’, </i>according
to state-run Nepal Television. If India has, as it states, no involvement in
the border blockage then how can it assure anyone about easing the situation? </span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKS1-zz2_bGYHbbid_IGrZSrQMN47qYLxhEJdRf7dudH_1052kGammr5W2gmxEEKhMOCTMUdh8_WzZKe8OmKtYSaig79E0cznKoZFqUjawY38pe71YEkuhXvu_bFpWF3v1GG9xflA9Rxc/s1600/15102015082715Bhim-Karki-IMG_20151014_155-1000x0.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKS1-zz2_bGYHbbid_IGrZSrQMN47qYLxhEJdRf7dudH_1052kGammr5W2gmxEEKhMOCTMUdh8_WzZKe8OmKtYSaig79E0cznKoZFqUjawY38pe71YEkuhXvu_bFpWF3v1GG9xflA9Rxc/s320/15102015082715Bhim-Karki-IMG_20151014_155-1000x0.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cooking in the space available on wood fires</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The supply
chain was disrupted approximately 5 months ago. This has now resulted in a
humanitarian issue which is aggravated by the onset of winter and low
temperatures. For people still living in buildings damaged by the earthquake
this is now extremely serious with reports coming in of people dying from
hypothermia and exposure.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">There is very
limited ‘official’ petrol for private vehicles and only available after
spending many hours in line. What is available on the black market is very
expensive, diesel is also on quota for commercial vehicles so limited public
transport and reduced domestic air services are being implemented. There is little
fuel for generators consequently hospitals and other essential services are reducing
their services.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Children
can’t necessarily get to school as school buses can’t run and schools can’t
provide hot food as there is no cooking gas. There are very few raw materials getting
through thus factories are shutting down. Private houses, hotels and other
establishment have had to resort to cooking on wood fires in the open.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Locally
grown vegetables can’t get transported into the Kathmandu Valley and tourists
‘perceive’ they are trapped in Kathmandu with transport services being
expensive to arrange. It is believed that </span><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">India is creating pressure though this blockade
to bring Nepal in line as a Client State.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><u><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;">The 1bn US $
impact of the strikes over the Constitution is 'worse than earthquakes' </span></u></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /></span></b></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisdHKQEZiF2IvlDVeB7DEyP7_l_xjyLuNI8hHaeLiwwxh6nSp0PVIK3gTzy-Uk12c9GiDtLiRCKVGICVGN8p5hSsjjlJPABhz3o1Bos2i2GtLXAWgyN7GWQwHkyxs86dYMyApOPRHdVi8/s1600/wpid-1-12-2013_83462_l.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="192" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisdHKQEZiF2IvlDVeB7DEyP7_l_xjyLuNI8hHaeLiwwxh6nSp0PVIK3gTzy-Uk12c9GiDtLiRCKVGICVGN8p5hSsjjlJPABhz3o1Bos2i2GtLXAWgyN7GWQwHkyxs86dYMyApOPRHdVi8/s320/wpid-1-12-2013_83462_l.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Over-crowded buses carry the additional risk of accidents</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">In Kathmandu, there are now over mile-long
queues for petrol twisting through the streets and blocking the roads.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">John Augsburger, Oxfam’s humanitarian program
director in Nepal, said: <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“The fuel crisis
is narrowing the window we have to reach communities before the cold winter
sets in. Temperatures frequently drop below zero in mountainous Nepal and this
is going to take its toll on earthquake survivors – particularly the elderly,
pregnant women and children.”</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">People are regularly risking their lives going
about their daily duties. In recent days the lack of fuel has forced buses to
carry more passengers than their capacity, [over and above what we normally see
sitting on the roof of busses] Considering the current situation bus operators
feel they cannot force the bus drivers to follow the law of carrying passengers
according to the seat numbers. The Police also turn a blind eye to the safety
issues based on the fact that people need to get about the valley, and beyond.
This is leading to a greater number of accidents.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Nepal is a resilient country and its people
will survive. As of the 20<sup>th</sup> December there is no appreciable
improvement in the situation, although the black market economy is developing!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=4685057110957823513" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">At the time of completing this newsletter, it
is rumoured that the </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Madhesis</span></i><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> blockade has now been curtailed with
their leaders being in Kathmandu to meet with the appropriate government
officials in a bid to resolve the situation. The only issues now are related to
those surrounding the ‘mafia’ leaders who it is alleged are continuing to
control the situation for their own personal financial benefit. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">It has also just been rumoured that the new
Tibet/Nepal crossing point will be via Ruswa (Langtang area), as a result of
the severe damage to the border point at Kodari and other local issues. The
road to Shabrubesi from Kathmandu will be up-graded.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">On a positive note ‘every cloud has a silver
lining’. With the reduction of traffic the Valley pollution levels have
dropped, cars pooling has brought neighbours together and groups of socially
minded young people are reaching out to the elderly and to those in need, not
only in the valley but far beyond, as ever.. it’s only the negativity that
makes the news. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">And now for something completely
different!</span></u></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOVP75SiBBQCUrK4VvL6Rc0jCqmFy1LqQy81cTmwDrCS_pUZ8wf9eFMWSwwHYCaWx9CrTEhSz_Hl5_esb76rlAWWmk7eLiHUpsOSqRX6CotQftSyKdx2X927qKvqqz8T92Dqy6YEqM-Bk/s1600/Untitled-1+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOVP75SiBBQCUrK4VvL6Rc0jCqmFy1LqQy81cTmwDrCS_pUZ8wf9eFMWSwwHYCaWx9CrTEhSz_Hl5_esb76rlAWWmk7eLiHUpsOSqRX6CotQftSyKdx2X927qKvqqz8T92Dqy6YEqM-Bk/s200/Untitled-1+copy.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-GB">Kathmandu</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-GB">International</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-GB">Mountain</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-GB">Film</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-GB">Festival</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB"> The 13<sup>th</sup>
edition kimff, 2015, closed its doors with the final screening ‘Tiger for
Breakfast’, the Russian film portraying the life of Boris Lissanevitch. Despite
the hardship facing Nepal over the last 12 months the kimff Organising
Committee felt that the Kathmandu International Mountain Film Festival is an
important event in the social calendar and therefore believed that it was
crucial to maintain a focus for film buffs on the developing genre of
independent film trends.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB">The opening film
‘Bhagyale Bachekaharu’ (Nepal Earthquake; Heroes, Survivors) was followed by
the screening of more than 80 films from 25 countries between the 10<sup>th </sup>to
14<sup>th</sup> December. The spectrum of films included documentaries,
fiction, adventure cinema, experimental shorts, anthropological narratives and
animation from the international scene and specifically in the Nepal Panorama
section, from the heart of the Himalaya. In the presence of filmmakers, film
enthusiasts, critics, scholars, journalists, artists and mountaineers, the
festival included discussion forums, guest lectures, and exhibitions of books,
photos and installation art projects. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4hvELpRUlchmpdo83WICnGjYn0gh73ZqTl4ZkvtybMA5afkVdhy-R0Zuw3TCoaEe1Nzd4R8ocuxkS2LNE0zxSds_xBFkKTzWyLvlrjpIJm0RXxk-_vIRFuXt8rjdNMpS0PBnALj4V7Vg/s1600/P1020716.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="476" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4hvELpRUlchmpdo83WICnGjYn0gh73ZqTl4ZkvtybMA5afkVdhy-R0Zuw3TCoaEe1Nzd4R8ocuxkS2LNE0zxSds_xBFkKTzWyLvlrjpIJm0RXxk-_vIRFuXt8rjdNMpS0PBnALj4V7Vg/s640/P1020716.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Basanta Thapa warming the audience up before the 'Mountain Quiz' 2015</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB">The kimff 2015
jury members were British climber and journalist Ed Douglas, Korean Professor
of Media Studies Eun Young Kim, award winning Indian film editor Namrata Rao
and senior film critic Premendra Nath Mazumdar. Their job was to judge the best
top three films in the international competition and the top documentary film
and fiction film in the Nepal Panorama selection. <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMVKkuSkBx57p_9hqGbiJRg0X53r8iHDZcxOmVqWegR0wOgfq9S_yNQClNjPXChc442GaJSU0rIlB2kjpCVexTaV5Lgrjs1WAe_hl71XLYfqd5B4Dq5F7vpPWepw_zNCT043yNb6wEmBI/s1600/P1020793.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMVKkuSkBx57p_9hqGbiJRg0X53r8iHDZcxOmVqWegR0wOgfq9S_yNQClNjPXChc442GaJSU0rIlB2kjpCVexTaV5Lgrjs1WAe_hl71XLYfqd5B4Dq5F7vpPWepw_zNCT043yNb6wEmBI/s320/P1020793.jpg" width="238" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Maryam Cheema and Ramyata Limbu</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
There was also the Audience
Choice Award. The top three prizes US$ 1500, US$ 1000, US$ 500 for the
international competitions were sponsored by the Nepal Mountaineering
Association (NMA), Trekking Agents Association of Nepal (TAAN) and Thamserku
Trekking respectively while Nepal Film Development Board and the Jane Goodall</span> Foundation
respectively sponsored cash prizes of Rs. 50,000/- NRs each for best fiction
film and documentary in Nepal Panorama. The ICIMOD sponsored prize of US 1000
was awarded to the best film focusing on mountain development issues. This
year’s events also include the popular quiz ‘Know Your Himal’ hosted by Nepali
Times Editor Kunda Dixit, a photo exhibition by Indian mountaineer and photographer
Abhijeet Singh, a panel discussion on ‘Trends in South Asian Independent
Cinema’ with panellists Min Bham, Namrata Rao, Premendra Nath Mazumdar, Tsering
Rhitar Sherpa all moderated by Anup Subedi. The screening of the Discovery
Channel film ‘Sherpa’ was as expected very popular and resulted in two
showings. After the first screening on Sunday 13<sup>th</sup> December there
was a panel discussion with audience interaction. The panel consisted of
Gobinda Bahadur Karkee, Director General of the Department of Tourism, Ed
Douglas, UK journalist and mountaineer, Ang Tshering Sherpa, President of the
Nepal Mountaineering Association and Lakpha Sherpa representing the Nepal
Guides Association, Deepak Thapa was the moderator.<span style="color: red;"> </span>Unfortunately
due to a tight time schedule and some rather long presentations from the panel
members the audience had little time to respond to the issues raised in the
film. Sadly an opportunity to ask some deep searching questions was missed!</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTYxq7L0kpcxrhp08JNZe5JL82Qi9wE5JptEqmFZkmtU1Yw20zAUpy97XQUCikU9zZOX2W6ysKuOuGP5prkA505Gr9WYu0WwxPnCell6DEXQVlxES_PxaY8rzQhooR0jGBJJAEXol6Ql8/s1600/P1020799.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTYxq7L0kpcxrhp08JNZe5JL82Qi9wE5JptEqmFZkmtU1Yw20zAUpy97XQUCikU9zZOX2W6ysKuOuGP5prkA505Gr9WYu0WwxPnCell6DEXQVlxES_PxaY8rzQhooR0jGBJJAEXol6Ql8/s320/P1020799.jpg" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Winners' Prizes 2015 kimff</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Two films
were particularly popular with the audience and consequently kimff provided a
second screening of ‘Castaway Man’, the story of Prof. Dor Bahdur Bista, Nepal’s
‘Father of Anthropology’ and ‘Sherpa’ the story of the avalanche on Everest in
2014. The WWF film ‘The Ghost of the Mountains’ which explored the snow leopard
tagging project in the Kanchenjunga region was also a popular attraction</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB">This was
possibly the best ever edition of kimff with many films having capacity
audience attendance. The winning films for 2015 were, in the International
Competition, first place went to ‘Tashi and the Monk’, a portrait of a monk and
his relationship with his young charges, second place to ‘Jurek’, Jerzy
Kukuczka the mountaineer, the man behind the myth and third place to ‘Shepherd’s
Song’, a family suffering from a genetic sight disorder has to make a life
changing decision.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB">‘Passion for Life’
the story of two climbers retracing the routes pioneered by Stanislawski in the
Polish Tatra Mountains got a special mention from the judges. The Nepal
Panorama prize went to ‘Kamaro’, the story of a family of bonded labourers from
the Sinja Valley with ‘Heaven is Black’ getting a special mention from the
judges. The ICIMOD Award went to ‘Serdhak’, the trials and tribulations of a
family living in Mustang. However, ‘</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Bhagyale Bachekaharu’ (Nepal
Earthquake; Heroes, Survivors) won both the Audience and overall </span><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Winners
Award.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span lang="EN-GB">Other snippets</span></u></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB">With the present
fuel problems, including aviation fuel domestic flights have been hard hit with
steep price increases. Tumlintar tickets now cost 170 US $ for foreigners and
7900/-NRs for Nepalese travellers single journey. As a result many locals can’t
afford the flights so the companies are saying ‘No passengers, cut services’,
it’s a vicious circle. I just hope when all this gets sorted out then prices
will go back to normal.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Trekking Peak permits</span></u></b><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> – these
were handed to the Nepal Mountaineering Association (NMA) in the mid 1970s so
that income could be generated to fund the NMA services. The Government for
various reasons decided to claw the permits back earlier this year on the
understanding that on the receipt of appropriate planning and budgets from the
NMA all services would be financially covered by the Government. The NMA felt
this would stifle their ability to control their own finances and therefore
challenged the Government’s wisdom in this matter in court. In the beginning of
December the Trekking Peak Permits were returned to the NMA and I have been
assured by the NMA that services will continue as before.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The exchange rate</span></u></b><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> – as always at this time of year
there is a subtle movement in the rate, at the moment it has dropped to 153/-
NRs to the sterling pound.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Weather</span></u></b><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">
– we are now well into winter, December is always considered to be the coldest
month in Nepal, before ‘climate change’ became an issue. Certainly over the
last few days the average temperature has dropped with a low temperature in
Kathmandu being around -2°C rising to around 15° in the sun and out of the
wind.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Load Shedding</span></u></b><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> – this has been an annual event for
many years now. Despite the fact that Nepal is one of the world’s greatest
producers of fresh water, even more so now in times of global warming, it is
still not able to produce sufficient electricity to meet the nation’s needs. This
results in electricity being cut off to all sections of the community in rota.
However, under the present conditions with the restricted supply of cooking gas
many households are turning to the use of rice cookers and other electrical
appliance, this puts increased pressure on the local transformers which cannot
cope. Consequently for much of the 110 hours a week (58 hours without power)
during which time households are supplied with power it is restricted. Once we
get towards the monsoon time hopefully electricity will become more plentiful.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Christmas
is not generally celebrated here but there are plenty of Christmas decorations
up in hotels and the larger shops just to make us feel at home. However Father
Christmas and Rudolf in
Christmas lights across the top of a lodge in Namche Bazaar does seem a bit
incongruous, but, as we say, it’s the thought that counts! </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB">Another year is
coming to a close and for Nepal I don't think we'll be too sad to see the end
of 2015 and to welcome in 2016.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It has obviously been a very difficult year
for so many people who continue to struggle against the impact of the
earthquake, political disturbances and a failing recovery program. <br />
I hope 2016 brings you all greater security, health, wealth and happiness. </span><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">And
on that note I’d like to wish you all a Merry Christmas and so many grateful
thanks to all of you that have supported our Earthquake fund.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitiwjNnfV8RVEOnCY2qoL7BUpeE-TpusbCz0AKTBui8TSwmWz5PsTTFADV44qkWR_55Re2QbTjSx9KogoTR_s_RsnLUrEqh2u69OpkbaCF6Ashu6gdVJmvfOHKSf1ksa1b9zleCnsMuEU/s1600/Christmas+2015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitiwjNnfV8RVEOnCY2qoL7BUpeE-TpusbCz0AKTBui8TSwmWz5PsTTFADV44qkWR_55Re2QbTjSx9KogoTR_s_RsnLUrEqh2u69OpkbaCF6Ashu6gdVJmvfOHKSf1ksa1b9zleCnsMuEU/s400/Christmas+2015.jpg" width="298" /></a></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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ianoffthewallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09893050670803576833noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4685057110957823513.post-61148291024399275872015-12-18T05:15:00.002-08:002015-12-18T05:37:27.727-08:00kimff an "off-beat gem’; a colourful calendar of specialised screen festivals, short on glamour but with atmosphere to spare.” Time Magazine 2009<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
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<span lang="EN-GB">By the early 21<sup>st</sup> century Nepal was
facing the dawn of a new era, the King had been deposed and various political
parties had taken over as the constitutional assembly with an elected President
as the head of state. In general terms the country was finding its new feet. </span><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Nepal
is a particularly resilient nation, with suspect leadership and a lack of
strong positive governance the people have little to rely on, or trust in,
except their own fortitude and self-reliance. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Despite the many knock-backs the country
maintained much of its social fabric with many organisations and events
carrying on amidst the political turmoil. </span>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The original concept of kimff was laid down in 2000 as a non-competitive
biennial festival and in the light of a new open democracy, as a platform for
broadening awareness and educating a Nepali audience to the different cultures
and attitudes in an international arena. The Festival was to be held to
coincide with the International Mountain Day, 11<sup>th</sup> December and was
based in the Russian Cultural Centre as a five day event.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Since its inception, kimff has been organized by
the Himal Association, a non-profit organization based in Kathmandu </span><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">by the Organizing Committee (KOC) that consists of
volunteers who have consistently and tirelessly contributed their time for the
successful operation of the festival through their hard work, application and
participation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span> <br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5-wVG_eY9rQuHHszeKLBiIzc3Fp3ia2zCb6ON_2jFZ3Cv1G9rI1ksmugd178On_S7RMBJXu0Rs9_DTO2vl_ErV5L_P-lT_B4wb7OAbpMktL8uFmcPYE-SXaC_8xm2bNPk1CvPmMCbIGk/s1600/P1010027.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5-wVG_eY9rQuHHszeKLBiIzc3Fp3ia2zCb6ON_2jFZ3Cv1G9rI1ksmugd178On_S7RMBJXu0Rs9_DTO2vl_ErV5L_P-lT_B4wb7OAbpMktL8uFmcPYE-SXaC_8xm2bNPk1CvPmMCbIGk/s320/P1010027.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: windowtext;">Professor Terry
Gifford conducting </span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: windowtext;">a 'Writing Workshop kimff 2010</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The popularity of this unique Festival
grew and by 2007 kimff had become an annual event with a competitive section
and a new <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Nepal Panorama </i>section, designed
to encourage and promote emerging Nepali film makers and to provide them with a
platform to promote their work. The festival had by this time out grown the
Russian Cultural Centre and also its initial five-day program. A new venue was
found in the </span><span class="st"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Rastriya Sabha Griha, the </span></span><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">City Hall, </span><span class="st"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Pradarshani Marg, </span></span><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Kathmandu.</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> </span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The Festival went from strength to
strength over coming many obstacles, primarily in terms of financial support
with the audience rating increasing on an annual basis. In 2008, kimff became a
member of the International Alliance for Mountain Film (IAMF), an institution
developed to promote, enhance and conserve mountain cinematography through
communal projects that would flank, or be incorporated into the regular
institutional activities of the member bodies. Today the <span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">IAMF</span> has 22 Members: 21 festivals of mountain
film and a museum, which represent 17 countries across Europe, Asia, and North
and South America. Along its shared path the IAMF, which includes the most
prestigious operators in the sector among its Members, has successfully made a
name for itself and has become the main reference point for those who produce,
make, promote and conserve mountain film.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcBDQqGQez-hUOzG1rsNAu11mwC42d1ovqWFkbo1fJPjoFbbqn-crdZUH9yzGHeXb5KJGuQDSwOXOFF7iMjjMID7iAq4gZV36OuNLwNZhmovVPodsbLMniyy0wKQKtQaJgFaYl1n5n1EU/s1600/P1020398.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcBDQqGQez-hUOzG1rsNAu11mwC42d1ovqWFkbo1fJPjoFbbqn-crdZUH9yzGHeXb5KJGuQDSwOXOFF7iMjjMID7iAq4gZV36OuNLwNZhmovVPodsbLMniyy0wKQKtQaJgFaYl1n5n1EU/s400/P1020398.jpg" width="361" /></a></td></tr>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: windowtext;">Opening Dinner
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">TIME Magazine (2009) named the kimff in its list of "off-beat gems’
– <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">a colourful calendar of specialised
screen festivals</i>, [it might be] <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">short
on glamour but has atmosphere to spare.</i>” </span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Today, Kimff is established on the international film festival circuit’s
“must visit” list. As the only Festival of its type in Asia it provides a
platform to document, highlight and share human experiences and different
cultures from around the world. The festival showcases a spectrum of
documentaries, adventure cinema, experimental shorts, anthropological
narratives, animation and feature films from the international scene and
specifically in the Nepal Panorama section, from the heart of the Himalaya. It
has developed into a vibrant and world-renowned event, its size and content has
evolved to include topics such as human rights, poverty, conflict, climate change
and environmental issues. Kimff’s outreach, workshops and discussions groups,
associated with the film programme have matured to better serve the audience,
an already knowledgeable and discerning community.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Expanding audiences today raise questions and keenly discuss issues
presented at screenings; they engage in challenging dialogues with filmmakers
and presenters. Local filmmakers have matured in terms of their technical
ability and presentations, nurtured and encouraged by their exposure to international
filmmakers and global issues through kimff, many have gone on themselves to
gain global recognition. Audience numbers have continued to increase
dramatically from 4,000 in 2000. Once kimff has closed its doors in Kathmandu,
the story continues to unfold with Travelling kimff.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Travelling kimff generates much excitement as a result of taking a
selection of films to urban and rural areas across Nepal. This element of kimff
has now visited 47 of Nepal’s 75 districts, providing audiences with an
opportunity to be included in the spirit of kimff through the screening of
stories and films from around the globe that resonate with local communities.
Travelling kimff highlights positive social change and cultivates an
appreciation for the audio-visual medium especially among students, youth and
women’s groups as an all-inclusive activity.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">With the expanding program of films, especially in the Nepal Panorama
section, Travelling International kimff seeks out venues in places of not only
a sizable Nepali population but also with likeminded Festivals where Nepali
films are shown around the world. In 2014 kimff went to Hong Kong and Macau for
the first time and was also involved as the curator for the Toronto Nepali Film
Festival (TNFF) and in New York. The success of kimff in these locations
highlights kimff’s ability to interact with Nepali citizens living abroad,
often as migrant workers and to promote Nepal through the visual arts as a
film, adventure and holiday destination.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Kimff is, as a result of not only delivering Travelling kimff as a
standalone festival but in providing the ‘Best of kimff’ films to other
Mountain Film Festivals contributing to developing Nepal’s GDP through tourism
and foreign exposure to the ‘real’ Nepal, especially at this time when Nepal is
trying hard to establish a Road to Recovery post earthquake. Kimff is indeed
acting in an Ambassadorial role for Nepal.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBVu4EzSuxPC-id_IzQzb6ki4Zk59pmyXHojxjVsvt7l_Scv-M5EfF7KErGaVeKTXY0Icd3RFokOi7zRQIMdiuIuevtvOd3oSjLkavcjxXR8eTcCxqBhMyEfdBAfYfOTPuylMem0YtBCE/s1600/P1030658.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="466" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBVu4EzSuxPC-id_IzQzb6ki4Zk59pmyXHojxjVsvt7l_Scv-M5EfF7KErGaVeKTXY0Icd3RFokOi7zRQIMdiuIuevtvOd3oSjLkavcjxXR8eTcCxqBhMyEfdBAfYfOTPuylMem0YtBCE/s640/P1030658.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At Traveling kimff audiences seek out the best viewing vantage pointAdd caption</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Kimff continues to create a bridge between cultures and societies by
providing a powerful agent for positive social change and developing awareness.
To this end the Festival is seen as a vehicle for instigating change through
exposure to educational, humanitarian and cultural experience through
audio-visual presentations thus creating a more vibrant Nepali filmmaking
community. Kimff provides a market for both Nepali and foreign independent
cinema film makers and a platform on which they can interact.</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The festive or “mela” atmosphere at kimff
starts long before you even enter the screening halls and continues long after
those halls close their doors. Kimff occupies the foyer and outdoor spaces with
various displays and stalls selling books, documentaries, films, memorabilia
and food providing congenial meeting areas. Alongside the stalls, kimff curates
photo exhibitions, art installations and arranges symposiums with interactive
panels all of which contribute to the atmosphere of the ‘Festival’ and creates
a vibrant and stimulating space where filmmakers and audiences can interact.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Kimff, as the only mountain film festival in Asia provides a critical
opportunity that focuses on highlighting mountains and mountain people, gathering
national and international filmmakers together under one roof and actively
encouraging young Nepali filmmakers to pursue their aspirations. Nepali
audiences are exposed through kimff to the differences and similarities between
the Himalaya and other mountain regions encouraging and highlighting positive
social change. Within the tourism field kimff plays a major role in
establishing Kathmandu as the cultural capital of the Himalaya Region claiming
a spot on the film festival map.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> This is not only justified but proven by immense growth in terms of
audience response and in the significance increase in the number of film
entries received over the last four years when kimff received over 300 film
entries from 50 - 60 countries annually. The annual audience survey revealed
that audiences have a growing interest in documentary film and an interest in
culture and lifestyles from around the world.</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> </span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjY5HFfpKL25sYOwAAjhLinZVFrhZrNAr5g7ac_Lqq-8coes90aocpZiEsR8DwsNwfXefGGU1GBbb3AOO_nwM8cvTSwZLNZBv7VLIl-k7fZ7UsYq-DwJ7ydpzPDAu7Ud9RVNC7UoIGYpQ/s1600/P1060245.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjY5HFfpKL25sYOwAAjhLinZVFrhZrNAr5g7ac_Lqq-8coes90aocpZiEsR8DwsNwfXefGGU1GBbb3AOO_nwM8cvTSwZLNZBv7VLIl-k7fZ7UsYq-DwJ7ydpzPDAu7Ud9RVNC7UoIGYpQ/s320/P1060245.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: windowtext;">Film Maker David
Breashers and kimff Chairman 2013<span style="mso-no-proof: yes;"></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The surveys have also helped us realize that young people especially are
becoming increasingly interested in filmmaking, documentaries, and global
issue. Kimff has proven there is a great interest
among filmmakers for such a festival and it has demonstrated its growing
relevance as a platform to highlight the plight of mountains, mountain people
and related topics. For Nepali filmmakers, kimff will continue to provide
exposure and a venue for networking and nurturing a community of film makers
who are now producing skilfully told stories about Nepalese communities and
relevant issues and gaining international exposure.</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> In 2014, International Alliance of
Mountain Film Festivals (IAMF), held their General Assembly in Kathmandu during
the Festival and consequently kimff had an opportunity to showcase both the
festival and Nepal to representatives from member festivals from around the
world this also provided sponsors with the opportunity to interact with major
players in the field of promoting mountains and indigenous cultures and local
festivals. Kimff shares the same basic objectives as IAMF, namely, ‘to promote,
enhance and conserve mountain cinematography through communal projects
incorporated into activities of member bodies’.</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">In the immediate future kimff is considering ways to get the Festival on
a more substantial footing through working closely with a developing band of
supporters and sponsors, not only for the benefit of the Festival audiences but
also for Nepal and its ability to develop its potential within the tourism
sector.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrmCMdyta8B5qStMLpNUJsxZaNAaIZlPWvVj7EV3vmj_FCCcTiX_77liiJ1PBPeZ7hIUfNiPimiUA4XrBNXLizWcouIAwF_NFXhwo2EA3cTTWc8MDTBezH-nuu4AeIm9P9cujn5muyvlI/s1600/P1020793.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrmCMdyta8B5qStMLpNUJsxZaNAaIZlPWvVj7EV3vmj_FCCcTiX_77liiJ1PBPeZ7hIUfNiPimiUA4XrBNXLizWcouIAwF_NFXhwo2EA3cTTWc8MDTBezH-nuu4AeIm9P9cujn5muyvlI/s400/P1020793.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: windowtext;">Maryam Cheema,
Parkistan International Mountain</span><br />
<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: windowtext;"> Film Festival Director and Ramyata Limbu kimff </span><br />
<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: windowtext;">Director 2015</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> Over the years kimff has had the support of filmmakers, artists and
prominent personalities from both Nepal and abroad. In addition, kimff</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-language: ZH-CN;"> has been inaugurated in the
past by such eminent people as the late Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala
(who inaugurated the very first kimff in 2000); the late Swiss geologist
Professor Toni Hagen; climber Da Gombu Sherpa from India, and the late
geographer Dr. Harka Gurung. In the competition section the kimff jury has
included prominent and accomplished personalities in the fields of film,
journalism, mountaineering and academia, including Harish Kapadia, climber and
writer from India; Professor Kurt Luger from Austria; British climber Doug
Scott and Pakistani climber Nazir Sabir. Each year kimff hosts at least four
international representatives as jury members. </span><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Kimff has had a long history of partnering with a wide range of
international and national non-government agencies and state entities from the
Diplomatic sector, Environmental Agencies and commercial sector.</span></div>
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</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
The 13<sup>th</sup> edition <span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Kimff, 2015, closed its doors with the final screening
Tiger for Breakfast, the Russian film portraying the life of Boris Lissanevitch.
Despite the hardship facing Nepal over the last 12 months the Kimff Organising
Committee felt that the Kathmandu International Mountain Film Festival is an
important event in the social calendar and therefore believed that it was
crucial to maintain a focus for film buffs on the developing genre of
independent film trends. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQAOVacKdK305nRsdkV_va99tbZGSgpvxYsVlV6SElsOJzHXcIdvkAk7LmWh32wPVg0YCIllMvsmcV4UM0sK4vSzAiwREUGWfNQ9ji4q_btwS9FOu-Mtd4gA5uYUzopT8dXgA0_ulKkb0/s1600/P1020716.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQAOVacKdK305nRsdkV_va99tbZGSgpvxYsVlV6SElsOJzHXcIdvkAk7LmWh32wPVg0YCIllMvsmcV4UM0sK4vSzAiwREUGWfNQ9ji4q_btwS9FOu-Mtd4gA5uYUzopT8dXgA0_ulKkb0/s400/P1020716.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: windowtext;">Basanta Thapa
warming the audience up before the 'Mountain Quiz’ 2015<span style="mso-no-proof: yes;"></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> The opening film Bhagyale Bachekaharu (Nepal Earthquake; Heroes,
Survivors) was followed by</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>the
screening of </span>more than 80 films from 25 countries between the 10<sup>th </sup>to
14<sup>th</sup> December. The<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> spectrum of films
included documentaries, fiction, adventure cinema, experimental shorts,
anthropological narratives and animation from the international scene and
specifically in the Nepal Panorama section, from the heart of the Himalaya. </span>In
the presence of filmmakers, film enthusiasts, critics, scholars, journalists,
artists and mountaineers, the festival included discussion forums, guest
lectures, and exhibitions of books, photos and installation art projects.</div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The kimff 2015 jury members were
British climber and journalist Ed Douglas, Korean Professor of Media Studies
Young Kim, award winning Indian film editor Namrata Rao and senior film critic
Premendra Nath Mazumdar. Their job was to judge the best top three films in the
international competition and the top documentary film and fiction film in the
Nepal Panorama selection. There was also the Audience Choice Award.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The top
three prizes US$ 1500, US$ 1000, US$ 500 for the international competitions were
sponsored by the Nepal Mountaineering Association (NMA), Trekking Agents
Association of Nepal (TAAN) and Thamserku Trekking respectively while Nepal
Film Development Board and Jane Goodall Foundation respectively sponsored cash
prizes of Rs. 50,000/- NRs each for best fiction film and documentary in Nepal
Panorama. The ICIMOD sponsored prize of US 1000 was awarded to the best film focusing
on mountain development issues.</span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn-6KapYbtGTZYz7oHp0edAXwVZERI6tIy7qdBUqZASMEwfbbOkzzOgrxyTwyTrAUNZzp0x3Smwb-cYkssTCtAW8m-G320f_V4mgFpE6w6MVHHN24i0IopHAja8wKVWAIU7sNMhFpnaOM/s1600/P1030778.JPG" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn-6KapYbtGTZYz7oHp0edAXwVZERI6tIy7qdBUqZASMEwfbbOkzzOgrxyTwyTrAUNZzp0x3Smwb-cYkssTCtAW8m-G320f_V4mgFpE6w6MVHHN24i0IopHAja8wKVWAIU7sNMhFpnaOM/s320/P1030778.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Traveling kimff audience gathers in Penuti 2013</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">This
year’s events also include the popular quiz ‘Know Your Himal’ hosted by Nepali
Times Editor Kunda Dixit, a photo exhibition by Indian mountaineer and
photographer Abhijeet Singh, a panel </span>
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">discussion on ‘Trends in South Asian Independent Cinema’ with
panellists Min Bham, Namrata Rao, Premendra Nath Mazumdar, Tsering Rhitar
Sherpa all moderated by Anup Subedi. The film Sherpa was also followed by a discussion
with panel members including the Director General from the Tourism Ministry, Ed
Douglas, UK climber and journalist, Ang Tsherring Sherpa, President of the
Nepal Mountaineering Association, and Lakpa Sherpa representing the Guides
Association the moderator was Dipek Thapa.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Two films
were particularly popular with the audience and consequently kimff provided a
second screening of Castaway Man, the story of Prof. Dor Bahdur Bista, Nepal
‘Father of Anthropology and ‘Sherpa’ the story of the avalanche on Everest in
2014. The WWF film The Ghost of the Mountains which explored the snow leopard
tagging project in the Kanchenjunga region was also a popular attraction.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB">This was
possible the best ever edition of kimff with many films having capacity
audience attendance. The winning films for 2015 were in the International
Competition, first place went to Tashi and the Monk, a portrait of a monk and
his relationship with his young charges, second place to Jurek, Jerzy Kukuczka
the mountaineer, the man behind the myth and third place to Shepherd’s Song, a
family suffering from a genetic sight disorder has to make a life changing
discussion. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Passion for Life the story
of two climbers retracing the routes pioneered by Stanislawski in the Polish
Tatra Mountains got a special mention from the judges. The Nepal Panorama prize
went to Kamaro, the story of a family of bonded labourers from the Sinja Valley
with Heaven is Black getting a special mention from the judges. The ICIMOD
Award went to Serdhak, the trials and tribulations of a family living in
Mustang. However, </span><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Bhagyale Bachekaharu (Nepal Earthquake;
Heroes, Survivors) won both the Audience and overall Winners Award.</span></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
</div>
ianoffthewallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09893050670803576833noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4685057110957823513.post-52873507030936541282015-12-05T03:14:00.002-08:002015-12-05T20:27:48.598-08:002015 A Walk on the Bara Shigri Glacier, Himachal Pradesh<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">A Walk on the Bara Shigri Glacier</span></b><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">For those readers
who regularly explore the more remote areas of the Himalaya, the Bara Shigri
Glacier will not be a new addition to the list of some of the less frequented mountain
regions in the Indian Himalaya.</span></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: windowtext;">The peaks on the south side of the Bara Shigri Glacier
from left to right - Kulu Pumori 6,553m, Parbati 6,633m in the distance, Jedi 5,548m
in the foreground, un-named peak 6,250m, Cathedral 6,100m and the Tiger's Tooth
6,035m.</span></b></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Manali 2,050m, </span><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">located in the Kullu District of Northern
India,<span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"> is a</span> cosily town situated
in the mountains of the Himachal Pradesh and is now regarded as the major
tourist centre of the area. The Kullu Valley grew in importance and developed
economically as the ancient trade route to Ladakh which continues from Leh over
the Karakoram Pass to Yarkand and Khotan became more established. Manali, the
name, is derived from "Manu-Alaya" which literally means "the
abode of Manu". Legend has it that the sage Manu stepped off his ark in
Manali to re-establish human life after the great flood. Manali is also
referred to as the "Valley of the Gods". Old Manali, the traditional
town, is situated higher up the Valley and has an ancient temple dedicated to
Manu. As the valley steepens the hill sides are covered in forests of tall dark
old cedar trees, some over 2m in diameter at their base and reaching well over
33m in height. The whole area resembles a traditional Alpine scene with the
sharp jagged shapes of the eroded fold mountains with their steep cliffs and slopes
scattered with lush pastures, broken by powerful torrents rushing through
narrow gorges and all with a back-drop of snow capped peaks. In winter there is
good skiing to be had under the right conditions and the region is equipped, to
a certain extent, with ‘ski resort’ infrastructure. Kullu is famous for its
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Heading north
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the great divide between the lush green fruit laden fields to the south and the
mauve and ochre world of boulders and slate to the north. Once over the pass
the road descends steeply down into the Chandra-Bhaga Valley, turn north-west
and you will be heading towards Ladakh and Ley while turning right along the
easterly road, will take you eventually into the Spiti Valley. You have now
left the Kullu Valley District and entered the Lahul Valley District. This central
trough is separated from Zanskar by the high snow capped mountains of the Great
Himalayan Divide to the north and the Central Himalayan Range to the south.
Lahul has a massive central area of mountains ranging up to 6,500m and with
wild high passes extending back into the Kullu Valley, via the Hamta Pass and
the Sara Pass, while the Baraalacha and Shingu La connect with the Zanskar and
Ladakh regions to the north-west.</span></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: windowtext;">Dharamsura (White
Sail) 6,446m</span></b><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: windowtext; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-no-proof: yes;"></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">This
area is one of the finest and most accessible Himalayan-Alpine regions in the
Indian Himalaya. From Delhi, a 14-hour over-night sleeper bus will take you to
Manali and from there a four hour jeep journey to the start of your exploration
of the Bara Shigri Glacier. However, it is worth spending a few days in Manali
just to begin the acclimatization process.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">In 1912
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soldier, Lal Bahadur Gurung made the first ascent of Hanuman Tibba 5,928m and then
went on to explore both the Indrasan and Deo Tibba mountains. Jimmy Roberts
lead an exploratory expedition into the region in 1939 again in an attempt to
climb Indrasan and Deo Tibba however in 1941 he succeeded on a different
mountain, Dharamsura, now known by its more popular name White Sail 6,446m. R.C.
Evans tried Idrasan and Deo Tibba albeit unsuccessfully in 1952, success on
this peak finally went to the Dutchman Van Graaf later in 1952. Many other
expeditions followed into the region between the 1950 and 1960s. A British Air
Force expedition successfully climbed Shikar Beh 6,200m in 1955 while in 1962 a
Japanese expedition visited the area and successfully summated the elusive
Idrasan. The British mountaineer, Robert G Pettigrew, first visited Kulu in
1958 and later became a dedicated protagonist in the area up until the late 60s.
He made the second ascent of Dharamsura in 1961 and the first ascent of Kullu
Pumori 6,553m along with Sonam Wangyal in 1964. During the same expedition Pettigrew
unsuccessfully attempted Papsura 6,451m he then went on to successfully climb
it in 1967. In 1966 Bob made the second ascent of Hanuman Tibba, 54 years after
Gen. Bruce’s first ascent. R.C. Evans and Sonam Wangyal completed a successful
expedition to Mukar Beh 6,069m in 1968. </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2xrTJ7wU5QUX7BNxFeQJApDF8w1FDwzDJCOga9-tqSBhVJBuND53mRDNfv5L4snWjD4zFSNtDx1F5MumnHeVf90jHqJ0Oh-icxnsoHsf904RUK8LOhONHhTjcAUh1f24hshK7m06WxPg/s1600/P1010811+e.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2xrTJ7wU5QUX7BNxFeQJApDF8w1FDwzDJCOga9-tqSBhVJBuND53mRDNfv5L4snWjD4zFSNtDx1F5MumnHeVf90jHqJ0Oh-icxnsoHsf904RUK8LOhONHhTjcAUh1f24hshK7m06WxPg/s640/P1010811+e.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
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<b><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: windowtext;"> Looking into the Upper Bara Shigri Glacier</span></b></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">By the
late 1960s mountaineers were turning their attention to more technical routes.
Ali Ratna Tibba 5,490m was climbed by a Scottish team in 1969 and with the
promise of excellent rock routes attention shifted from the snow peaks to more,
or less, ascents on the rock spires. Many of the Manikaran Spires were climbed
by the British up to 1972 when Collier and Isherwood made an ascent of possibly
the finest peak in the district, Parbati South 6,127m. Various other nations
all played a role in developing the area, the Dutch returned, the Indians
continued with their exploration, the Italians arrived and in 1970 an all
Indian women’s expedition successfully climbed Lalana 6,265m.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Suffice to
say, that with modern equipment and techniques, unimaginable to the early
activists, this area now offers untold opportunities for inexpensive
mountaineering and is a perfect setting in which young mountaineers can begin to
cut their Himalayan teeth. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">I first went
into the Bara Shigri Glacier in 2014 as part of an Indian Mountaineering
Foundation ‘Climbathon’ group. I was simply amazed to see just what
opportunities were at hand and basically in an area with relatively easy and
assured access unlike some of the other more popular but maybe less reliable
Himalayan destinations. However, sadly due to various travel arrangements and a
delay in visa procurement due to a clash of Nepali and Indian festivals my
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIBuFm_H62NpzUw4P2dif336h0mmEfLh_oa0OS1dA7zvNA5u2CWbBwh_67Sso__DlC7EIWe-elDA7qz9YZKF8OZ-GApx2ppDi-lb3ZP_pSPDprmFRP2FawVpDhnvp-G1Qw-NWQdb_7yeE/s1600/P1010908+e.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIBuFm_H62NpzUw4P2dif336h0mmEfLh_oa0OS1dA7zvNA5u2CWbBwh_67Sso__DlC7EIWe-elDA7qz9YZKF8OZ-GApx2ppDi-lb3ZP_pSPDprmFRP2FawVpDhnvp-G1Qw-NWQdb_7yeE/s640/P1010908+e.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
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<b><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: windowtext;"> Shigri Parbat 6,526m</span></b></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">I
was lucky enough to have an opportunity to return to the Bara Shigri Glacier in
2015, this time with more time on my hands. The Climbathon program is designed
to provide suitable training to enable young mountaineers to safely lead small
low key expeditions to some of the more accessible but challenging peaks in the
Indian Himalaya. The overnight journey from Delhi to Manali was never going to
be an easy one, but, in the Volvo overnight bus with its fully reclining seats
the hours slipped away and by breakfast time we were heading up the Kullu
Valley a 160kms from the northern plains of India but only 80kms from the
plateau of Tibet. Despite Manali being well appointed with fine hotels, bars
and restaurants I found accommodation in the Manali Mountaineering Institute,
not only can you book accommodation here but you can also hire mountaineering
equipment if required. After a couple of good night’s sleep and time to catch
up with some old friends around town we headed out of the Beas Valley, over the
Rohtang Pass and down into the Chandra River Valley on our way to Batal, which
was for us, the road head. By the time you reach Batal, four hours or so drive
from Manali you have already gained nearly 2,100m and the next stop is at 4,200m
so it was worth while trying to take a couple of days to get up to speed before
going any higher. The four hour walk back up the valley you have just driven
down is a bit of a no-brainer, except that you made the only crossing of the Chandra
River possible via the road bridge at Batal and so we were now on the south
side of the valley with the Bara Shigri Glacial close at hand. Time was of no
concern so after crossing a fast flowing tributary of the Chandra River via a
wire and a pulley system we set up camp by a small glacial lake in a idyllic
setting on a large grassy plain, the last greenery we would see for the next
three to four weeks, time to relax, sort out gear and attend to some of the
training issues that are important when travelling in the mountains with a
group of other people, issues that I call ‘soft core’ leadership, team building
and mountain skills, expectations, crisis management, resolving conflict,
weather and all the other elements that could result in a good expedition going
wrong before you even reach the mountain.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: windowtext;"> <b> Advanced Communication Posts 5,230m high on the Mid
Bara Shigri Glacier</b></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The climb
up the lateral moraine of the glacier is certainly one of the hardest I’ve ever
done, it’s steep, much of the moraine is loosely covering the hard blue ice and
what doesn’t slip away under your feet, rolls away once you transfer your
weight onto it, it’s a constant conflict between looking at the views and
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was established on the moraine just before the confluence of the main Bara
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higher mountains. </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_AydOF2aTAWJTpJAK2tQGMrWmY4JZbd6sI1Xk79mKZXMLhyphenhyphen7rE04sNNZ-TRNOmA9msqZH0-6JZMtQjpPAL9n2vCk5HT742mwihdT3XbfoHU7M5_6xUSj3JtaF4MmkUX85-pozCJcg5qI/s1600/south+east+ridge+route+e.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_AydOF2aTAWJTpJAK2tQGMrWmY4JZbd6sI1Xk79mKZXMLhyphenhyphen7rE04sNNZ-TRNOmA9msqZH0-6JZMtQjpPAL9n2vCk5HT742mwihdT3XbfoHU7M5_6xUSj3JtaF4MmkUX85-pozCJcg5qI/s640/south+east+ridge+route+e.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: windowtext;"> <b> Nearing the summit of Corner Peak via the south-east
ridge – photo credit Pranav Rawat</b></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Over the
next ten to fourteen days ‘hard core’ mountaineering techniques were taught,
learned and refined all in preparation for the ultimate aim of the program, the
expeditions. Many days were spent acclimatising and surveying the surrounding
peaks and potential routes. Finally the time came when the logistics were
sorted, high advanced camps were planned and the routes mapped out, the stage
was set. First the glacial approach to Advanced Base Camp, then some technical
climbing to Summit Camp and finally the push to summit and return to the lower
camps before the final descent to Base Camp. In all six peaks were climbed by
routes of various standards, including; a new south face route on </span><span lang="EN-GB">Cathedral Peak 6,250m, and routes on Corner Peak 6,050m, an un-named
peak 6,187m, another un-named peak 6,050m, Lion Peak 6,120m and Central Peak 6,285m.
In an area like this were exploration has been sporadic and not necessarily
well documented it is difficult to know what peaks have previously been summitted
or what lines have actually been climbed. However, with no one else around and
no documentation, every route is a ‘new’ route.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">So the walk on
the Bara Shigri Glacier was complete, despite several weeks at altitude,
walking and climbing every day, the trek back down ‘those’ moraines was still no
easier!</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">If you are
looking for your first experience of Himalayan expeditions in a remote setting
then this is an area well worth considering, but there are no rescue services
in India and satellite phones are not permitted, remember that despite the
relatively easy access the area is remote and in an emergency a long way from
assistance, you’re on your own!</span></div>
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<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-no-proof: yes;"></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF4yRTLeRUfrq86Jo5udgolYhxMWBRVMJAYfHOBtxpP1AUquphf_OAjISprA9IpIEIF04KRoCdJ2mJbBHBvDRHtEMgvtrBDjQSE2gAVaT25gkgNGb9YAU_Vnhrs2bpugrtT4ZbHJQluNI/s1600/P1010919.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF4yRTLeRUfrq86Jo5udgolYhxMWBRVMJAYfHOBtxpP1AUquphf_OAjISprA9IpIEIF04KRoCdJ2mJbBHBvDRHtEMgvtrBDjQSE2gAVaT25gkgNGb9YAU_Vnhrs2bpugrtT4ZbHJQluNI/s640/P1010919.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Early morning light on new snow above Snout Camp</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMDC-PBoLSlVxsoOEJffn19VSHqILRBvAn-krS1Pns_rTn0LoTw_TNHkxQPpGG1vRyQSALnw9n-WYAhoJzWux0SKrac1s8u5HHt7yffVVmGQPiDPtC8AT0YkyInvL7jz29SlMsafpbfz8/s1600/P1010798.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="458" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMDC-PBoLSlVxsoOEJffn19VSHqILRBvAn-krS1Pns_rTn0LoTw_TNHkxQPpGG1vRyQSALnw9n-WYAhoJzWux0SKrac1s8u5HHt7yffVVmGQPiDPtC8AT0YkyInvL7jz29SlMsafpbfz8/s640/P1010798.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Kullu Pumori 6,553m</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVvxMGQyokNEW9rYZ5VN0zAbAt_ysx_73bPna7Z2NcENuMUyQCJ51fsxvzrlIS0cUKdfgSzOqtjAJFp8KAyg4iBKMdunB_eKe8aw4JE558epp0VRg3mafdd0bUUMEZivb3bGvHSaMxCqU/s1600/P1010820.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="302" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVvxMGQyokNEW9rYZ5VN0zAbAt_ysx_73bPna7Z2NcENuMUyQCJ51fsxvzrlIS0cUKdfgSzOqtjAJFp8KAyg4iBKMdunB_eKe8aw4JE558epp0VRg3mafdd0bUUMEZivb3bGvHSaMxCqU/s640/P1010820.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Approaching the ice fall on the way to Gunter's Col 5,399m</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>The ice fall pouring out from an upper side glacier</b></td></tr>
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<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Base Camp looking into Shrigri Parbat 6,526m</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Looking across Konkordiaplatz into the Shigri Parbat Basin</b></td></tr>
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<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Parbati 6,633m</b></td></tr>
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<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp6yePncCDe40Ry2FgoUBQ6stIKzoyprVGsZdL02C6UUxsETIy9LxGUI2Vh9242sxG3AZ9QadLLznnqlYi_vtSd7XVR4ldAHsKCtuZbgEjucLqFXy2xkinE7g6TR3BJaFJH8HWpgtfUSg/s1600/P1080435.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp6yePncCDe40Ry2FgoUBQ6stIKzoyprVGsZdL02C6UUxsETIy9LxGUI2Vh9242sxG3AZ9QadLLznnqlYi_vtSd7XVR4ldAHsKCtuZbgEjucLqFXy2xkinE7g6TR3BJaFJH8HWpgtfUSg/s640/P1080435.JPG" width="478" /></a></b></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>A cold river crossing</b></td></tr>
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<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Kullu Makalu 6,349m</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Snout Camp with the begining of the Bara Shigri Glacial in the distant valley</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>The peaks of the Baldor Parbat Range</b></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>A wire and harness river-crossing</b></td></tr>
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ianoffthewallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09893050670803576833noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4685057110957823513.post-57713024350416796642015-10-17T10:22:00.000-07:002015-10-19T06:13:18.648-07:002015 Traversing the Mushrooms of Jordan<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<u><b><span lang="EN-GB">Traversing the Mushrooms of Jordan</span></b></u></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<u><b><span lang="EN-GB"><br /></span></b></u></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">Jordan
is a ‘safe’ heaven amidst the surrounding turmoil of today’s world, it is </span><span lang="EN-GB"><span lang="EN-GB">considered to be the safest
country in the Middle East and also the safest Arab country.</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Its wonderful climate, natural beauty and
very hospitable people make this a ‘must visit’ destination on any adventure
traveller’s itinerary. Jordan offers everything from world-class trekking
routes and World Heritage historical and cultural sites to modern
entertainment in urban cosmopolitan towns, most notably in Amman. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSUc_2fQ8srELDkDP6NqjrEwzo2j1gEL9jMr5-bD3JikBmaU76v467aO2997pG-w18ftSF53Zvucn2aBK_jz56U2YpYLrwLrXKPAmDOtQ-28oY8jwY1oTIH6dSP2dVBfk0D5WzBm96_LE/s1600/P1020221.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSUc_2fQ8srELDkDP6NqjrEwzo2j1gEL9jMr5-bD3JikBmaU76v467aO2997pG-w18ftSF53Zvucn2aBK_jz56U2YpYLrwLrXKPAmDOtQ-28oY8jwY1oTIH6dSP2dVBfk0D5WzBm96_LE/s320/P1020221.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">However, my reason for visiting Jordan was
not to be part of the modern entertainment circuit, I’ll leave that for another
time! My visit was as a result of a joint tourism initiative between ‘Visit Jordan’ and the Union
of International Alpine Associations (UIAA), and I went as part of a team to
help train and assess trek leaders, along with ‘the Boss’ Steve Long and Hannah
Burrows-Smith. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">A night flight from Kathmandu saw me land
in Amman in the early hours, a quick transfer to the Airport Hotel, a couple of
hours sleep followed by a three hour drive down the King's Road and I was in Shoubak. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">Shoubak is situated on the eastern side of
the Arabah, the desolate and dry area situated between Israel to the west and
the rest of Jordan to the east. In biblical times this area was the centre of
copper production, even King Solomon is believed to have had mines in the area
and the Nabataean people, who built Petra, were residents of the lands just to the
east of Shoubak.</span><span lang="EN-GB"> </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1AdIneE-bcFwb0Wy3ElOF78koYneEysc3L6G1mARYROLsPc70V7VugbozUGMdIgaK2XstvkR0ejPhjwaBkR-ksFFX9AsZVMuBe8ZC2CGhIUTPzFd11zDz_b04m_VHauz-MxPAb9sKALk/s1600/P1020254.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="146" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1AdIneE-bcFwb0Wy3ElOF78koYneEysc3L6G1mARYROLsPc70V7VugbozUGMdIgaK2XstvkR0ejPhjwaBkR-ksFFX9AsZVMuBe8ZC2CGhIUTPzFd11zDz_b04m_VHauz-MxPAb9sKALk/s640/P1020254.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<br />
<span lang="EN-GB">My introduction as to what Jordan has to
offer came head-on during the first day of our program. At the moment Jordan
does not have trekking maps, in fact it appears maps of any sort are virtually
impossible to come by. Some information can be found on Google Maps but the
area is so complex that they are of little use to navigate by. Tony Howard has
produced a guide book to the area but I would suggest you purchase a copy well
before your intended visit as the area is difficult to orientate yourself with.</span><br />
<span lang="EN-GB"> </span>
<span lang="EN-GB"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">Your only option, that’s if you actually
want to reach your trek destination within any reasonable length of time, is to
hire a local trek guide.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span lang="EN-GB"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMwwQuWmL9tGaDZyX5cfChGnuSYylFSl5FEvdqQoPp18mF8p3PC6LUqsWSRiGW778kcaE0gjMHTzXmBnXdUZ__LKgiTJl05nthrcXKO-7xjNh8HpAawlqe4CjBmwMf2Af8qRpVbwUTQUA/s1600/P1020053.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="476" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMwwQuWmL9tGaDZyX5cfChGnuSYylFSl5FEvdqQoPp18mF8p3PC6LUqsWSRiGW778kcaE0gjMHTzXmBnXdUZ__LKgiTJl05nthrcXKO-7xjNh8HpAawlqe4CjBmwMf2Af8qRpVbwUTQUA/s640/P1020053.JPG" width="640" /></a></span> </span><br />
<span lang="EN-GB">So what did our first day throw at us .. a
big surprise that’s what! After a gentle trek across a fairly arid landscape
we entered ‘the Badlands’ an area of limestone/sandstone layers which over the
course of millions of years has been eroded into a complex landscape of magnificent limestone ‘mushrooms’
and giant deep canyons, nearly all difficult to either enter or to escape from, almost
impossible to cross without local knowledge and disastrous to be caught in when there is a chance of rain. If
there is heavy precipitation anywhere in distant localities these the canyons form the
easiest route for the water to escape from the hills by and flash floods occur
instantly, your first inkling is, in more cases than not, the sound of rushing
water. These canyons are certainly not the place to be trekking in during the
wet seasons. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRjVhCwD9dSBcbVSLBKPe6OGRcVXrp3lLNZc3gSVfRMsIlVIHBKVD5eDZCwSDaarbqD5-ojtJfXQirEyMezLOwbr4jS6RDTcvxZ4nRuHf2RbsZHTBSD_E1x8fsc5XdefXivbvPsPlvN_w/s1600/P1020046v2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRjVhCwD9dSBcbVSLBKPe6OGRcVXrp3lLNZc3gSVfRMsIlVIHBKVD5eDZCwSDaarbqD5-ojtJfXQirEyMezLOwbr4jS6RDTcvxZ4nRuHf2RbsZHTBSD_E1x8fsc5XdefXivbvPsPlvN_w/s320/P1020046v2.jpg" width="239" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">Our route took us into the heart of this
wild terrain. The trek was going well and navigation straight forward until we were stopped by a gorge that was
at least 100m deep with sheer limestone walls on both sides and probably 60m
wide. Although our local lads did not have detailed knowledge of the area they
did understand the Bedouins and their ability to find a safe, even if adventurous,
passage through the almost Luna landscape. Sure enough in places where our
route moved off the limestone slabs we found traces of small trails or donkey
droppings that gave us encouragement that we were at least going along the
right ledges and terraces as used by the Bedouins. Steep shale banks were
crossed using a light weight rope for safety, all above drops that were hidden from sight, limestone pillars were circumnavigated via exposed trails and steep
holdless slabs were padded up, in some cases with the assistance of a Bedouin
Staircase, small piles of rocks stacked on top of one and other. Passing round
the source of the gorge and climbing back onto the ridge we immediately descended
into another deep gorge. Applying the previously practiced techniques our
guides under assessment found a safe passage and after nearly five hours we eventually
reached the other-side of our traverse literally only 3 kilometres further on.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">The definition of adventure is not knowing
the outcome and to be honest this was the first real ‘adventure’ I’ve had for
many a year. With no maps you definitely need to not only survive<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>off your skills as a mountaineer but also
understand the ways of the Bedouins. What started out as a short ‘before lunch’
introduction to the course developed into a full blown adventure which ended at
tea time! However, this was exactly the right route to reinforce to the local
guides why they need to develop and become proficient with the various skills
required to be a safe Jordanian trek leader.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgShKSiIk7kTdmqaLX-KqYn8EcTC8aTSHB7CYZDWWqhwFktrGwWOnCOpewwPDpahe4268Pa65-m51JOLSkP4alV_LrW8sF3bQy3t772AE8KqasZ3rSOHjRjD4ELMv7oM-CS9Jva6zd1ue8/s1600/P1020026v2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="409" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgShKSiIk7kTdmqaLX-KqYn8EcTC8aTSHB7CYZDWWqhwFktrGwWOnCOpewwPDpahe4268Pa65-m51JOLSkP4alV_LrW8sF3bQy3t772AE8KqasZ3rSOHjRjD4ELMv7oM-CS9Jva6zd1ue8/s640/P1020026v2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br />
<span lang="EN-GB">Shoubak is ideally situated as a base for a
stay in the Dana region of Jordan, not only does the locality offer a wide variety
of treks of all standards but it is also rich in historical terms. Situated on
a conical hill opposite the Montreal Hotel is the Crusader Castle ‘Shoubak’ meaning
ruins. Built in 1115 the castle was originally called ‘Krak de Montreal’ or ‘Mons
Regalis’ in recognition of the King’s contribution to its construction. As with
many similar constructions this castle allowed Baldwin 1<sup>st</sup> of
Jerusalem, who had captured the area in1116, to control the trade routes
and also to collect the taxes from the traders. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLZ2ET9GOKOVl-SEMf0S7LMn_xXBcHj5vxdyW_C5uBiBe2g7yfCRMmUdxBb-7LyWFo5qwEMV2Qi47YRWQmV3T-GNQmcBfrEU8KwmQHuiUZrmdcaNzlq0TD0FeP0ilLvM8K7BJ4Ty0wJCE/s1600/P1020113.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a></span></div>
<span lang="EN-GB"> </span><span lang="EN-GB"><span lang="EN-GB"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLZ2ET9GOKOVl-SEMf0S7LMn_xXBcHj5vxdyW_C5uBiBe2g7yfCRMmUdxBb-7LyWFo5qwEMV2Qi47YRWQmV3T-GNQmcBfrEU8KwmQHuiUZrmdcaNzlq0TD0FeP0ilLvM8K7BJ4Ty0wJCE/s1600/P1020113.JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLZ2ET9GOKOVl-SEMf0S7LMn_xXBcHj5vxdyW_C5uBiBe2g7yfCRMmUdxBb-7LyWFo5qwEMV2Qi47YRWQmV3T-GNQmcBfrEU8KwmQHuiUZrmdcaNzlq0TD0FeP0ilLvM8K7BJ4Ty0wJCE/s320/P1020113.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-GB">Raynald of</span> Ch<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">â</span><span lang="EN-GB">tillon, from the second crusade eventually used the castle as a base
from which he would </span><span lang="EN-GB">send out parties to raid the rich caravans that had
previously been allowed to pass through the region unharmed. This situation was
unacceptable to the Ayyubid sultan Saladin, who in 1187 laid siege to the
castle. </span><span lang="EN-GB">Because the castle was built on a hill the Sultan was unable to use siege
engines and so he cut off all supplies to the knights and families that
remained inside. After almost two years Saladin’s soldiers over came the resistance
and the castle fell in 1189. Part of the infrastructure that allowed the castle
to withstand the Sultan's attacks for so long was a tunnel that had been carved deep into the hill on which
the castle sits. This tunnel descends to a well and its spring water via a stairway of over
350 steps that were cut into the limestone. Today it is possible to descend
these steps with the use of a torch and maybe a rope just in case members in
the group are a little insecure on the slippery and steep passage that emerges at
the bottom of the hill outside the castle wall,s in what would, at that time,
have been a rich forest of wild fruit trees and other indigenous scrubs.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDqfX6fHGFB0rwGxHTPilSRywNJbtTwhVZAp-oZRfdWSev2O8L467qJuhB_jCpfCfsOibFJEH7cCB0GTOSBdoIE63YXxZiqxoP2d1vaudYtx_NgVHTwlHuN64E-O2M8K0lLYUxCwyfr9s/s1600/P1020172.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDqfX6fHGFB0rwGxHTPilSRywNJbtTwhVZAp-oZRfdWSev2O8L467qJuhB_jCpfCfsOibFJEH7cCB0GTOSBdoIE63YXxZiqxoP2d1vaudYtx_NgVHTwlHuN64E-O2M8K0lLYUxCwyfr9s/s320/P1020172.JPG" width="239" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">In a bid to encourage new activities that
can be completed from the Montreal Hotel course members explored a small gorge
to the north east of the castle and produced a route map and guide. This short trek
together with a visit to the castle and then exiting via the ‘steep slippery steps’
provides a good short but adventurous day out for visitors. </span><br />
<br />
<span lang="EN-GB">During the intervening days course members practiced navigation and rope skills. As with all well organised courses our
program ended with an Expedition and as with all tourism organisations they
wanted to show off the country's crown jewels to foreign visitors. ‘Visit
Jordan’ certainly did us proud in that department; our expedition spent the
middle expedition night in a Bedouin Camp. After sleeping off the effects of a splended meal cooked in a traditional Bedouin oven we awoke to a minor sand storm, althought the wind had managed to filter the dust through the tent and cover everything in a fine silt like layer it did not prevent us from continuing towards Petra. As we left camp aiming for Little Petra the wind wiped the sand up and it became rather like walking into a blizzard, the sand stinging any exposed parts of the body. There was no other option other than to try to beg, borrow or steal a 'Keffiyeh', a Jordanian headscarf, in the end I purchased one from a local shop, from then on, the storm was not a problem! From Little Petra we trekked
through more limestone terrain to finish in the sandstone area of the ancient carved dwellings of Petra.</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs14EWdtgeX0cFEvHuGyCAPzzKkfwdCEoeBLq44tLIN1AaxJdxVVLDRMMPN5J8iH4jU3zjbWIn48Y62r6_iu1i6Og3KEnHEjvMroP09FRV4DBbuX9HraiSrnrqbxVWShFPKmHMP29BlM0/s1600/P1020302.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs14EWdtgeX0cFEvHuGyCAPzzKkfwdCEoeBLq44tLIN1AaxJdxVVLDRMMPN5J8iH4jU3zjbWIn48Y62r6_iu1i6Og3KEnHEjvMroP09FRV4DBbuX9HraiSrnrqbxVWShFPKmHMP29BlM0/s320/P1020302.jpg" width="238" /></a></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">Petra, or the Rose City, so called because of the colour of the rock, has been inhabited since prehistoric
times, possible being established as early as 312BC. The Nabataea rock-cut architecture created a city situated between the Red Sea and the Dead Sea which catered for
the large, often a 1000 strong camel caravans that used to pass through the area.
This was the important crossroads between Arabia, Egypt and Syria-Phoenicia and
as such secured great wealth for the region. Petra is half-built and half-carved
into the rock and is surrounded by mountains riddled with passages and gorges.
The main structure of the dwellings and tombs are carved out of solid rock but many of the decorative pillars were carved separately and then put in place to appear to be supporting maybe, a lintel. On the 18th and 19th May 363 two severe earthquakes hit the area and Petra was damaged to such an extent that it losts its position in regional power, however many of the tombs and dwellings carved out of the solid rock survived.</span><br />
<br />
<span lang="EN-GB">The site remained hidden from the west until 1812, when the Swiss explorer Johann Ludwig Burckhardt 'introduced' it to the world. It is one of the world's most famous archaeological sites, where ancient
Eastern traditions blend with Hellenistic architecture and is described by UNESCO as 'one of the most precious cultural properties of man's cultural heritage.' Smithsonian Magazine rated it as 'one of the 28 places to see before you die!'</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSDaoc_daORC_WP5QLbzXPY3K4H8VQNgG9MexzT0-WQWJQ3XaCLDHLVpzrvhkwgZ-bTRPm9bmP0j1l8I4yH54ZmnsMlKSf7tV_T778QsWZbeEA35S1i_MRht7zSnRMOzRQX280Uwj8LU0/s1600/P1020321.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSDaoc_daORC_WP5QLbzXPY3K4H8VQNgG9MexzT0-WQWJQ3XaCLDHLVpzrvhkwgZ-bTRPm9bmP0j1l8I4yH54ZmnsMlKSf7tV_T778QsWZbeEA35S1i_MRht7zSnRMOzRQX280Uwj8LU0/s320/P1020321.jpg" width="320" /></a><span lang="EN-GB">As with nearly all good adventures the ‘good times’
come to a periodic halt. Within the following 48 hours I was caught up in the
chaos of Abi Dhabi airport caused by the fuel crisis in Nepal.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">Jordan..I will be back!</span></div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpY7J-YqjtRd2dLdNfQHx2d-OtuQktT9EcdcMDI6UrSP6ieHdNXQADLZbEgZ8Z3NO7EAVflacfVgovBHwYn5HRIWLbSCa_fSCIpigA-sfs6NKNz7FwNGfaplNW7Hpy8wtFHO2JI2V054A/s1600/P1020065.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpY7J-YqjtRd2dLdNfQHx2d-OtuQktT9EcdcMDI6UrSP6ieHdNXQADLZbEgZ8Z3NO7EAVflacfVgovBHwYn5HRIWLbSCa_fSCIpigA-sfs6NKNz7FwNGfaplNW7Hpy8wtFHO2JI2V054A/s640/P1020065.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The first hour of our first day gave away no secretes as to what was in store, the gentle approach route soon became an adventure amongst the 'mushrooms' </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2EPJ5kNoGxbu2V58gWo2YRgswYALHTHAPg7Y4SuEgmqojIbjge0yM7uT3XQGKyPh39RiXL2e4jyQ4vYZ1ZbMHQnI4z6ETltaPVNEmVvpTbuRwBODBeT3KIxKgXEHp3WwvEasqE3ptjoA/s1600/P1020068v2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="476" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2EPJ5kNoGxbu2V58gWo2YRgswYALHTHAPg7Y4SuEgmqojIbjge0yM7uT3XQGKyPh39RiXL2e4jyQ4vYZ1ZbMHQnI4z6ETltaPVNEmVvpTbuRwBODBeT3KIxKgXEHp3WwvEasqE3ptjoA/s640/P1020068v2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td><td valign="top"><br /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Navigation in the desert is a finely tuned skills, there are no specific landmarks, it is all based very much on reading the terrain and micro navigation</td><td valign="top"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5BR87J71OD_liNd-PpvH0mVjKlVgZsZ2BBTDb_pGGUW3u44ZWoA9layuUKs04Rl0s_aJxJf2WTWbiczbXX0IyMXTgJ8AJh6IJWf0hOiIixlHH6MLFHLyuMqBu9lofEDdyibzYcB8njTY/s1600/P1020134v2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5BR87J71OD_liNd-PpvH0mVjKlVgZsZ2BBTDb_pGGUW3u44ZWoA9layuUKs04Rl0s_aJxJf2WTWbiczbXX0IyMXTgJ8AJh6IJWf0hOiIixlHH6MLFHLyuMqBu9lofEDdyibzYcB8njTY/s640/P1020134v2.jpg" width="476" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The boys from the Wadi Rum were very much at home on the smooth sandstone features very similar to those of their own tribal landscape</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg1Et9AtYNot5cKk0Si8H21NQG0FAveQo8fwegP5Pu9QEQP1cCqDGMpQL4QWPpTLCQM-8SpuxeMYHzx5_nHY6mNiWk-kSjyL12-6OhqdAiOhVceIh6GG126oU2VlrmNcVbg-_YHnAyiEg/s1600/P1020155v2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="476" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg1Et9AtYNot5cKk0Si8H21NQG0FAveQo8fwegP5Pu9QEQP1cCqDGMpQL4QWPpTLCQM-8SpuxeMYHzx5_nHY6mNiWk-kSjyL12-6OhqdAiOhVceIh6GG126oU2VlrmNcVbg-_YHnAyiEg/s640/P1020155v2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Travel fast, travel light! Returning from the local Castle Gorge trek</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8YsyLaLg-2EvEBDDZXg6il0qJf8gStpcTJygVeEr_1LvVyEcuzAZMZF503LIndC7S4zLHv6YhE_xv3430zrm9yk2C56ZYYM0jx5nHvqy1RmW7pU4K9tsulFLTm7dpaIjWscunXkMH2uE/s1600/P1020186.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="476" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8YsyLaLg-2EvEBDDZXg6il0qJf8gStpcTJygVeEr_1LvVyEcuzAZMZF503LIndC7S4zLHv6YhE_xv3430zrm9yk2C56ZYYM0jx5nHvqy1RmW7pU4K9tsulFLTm7dpaIjWscunXkMH2uE/s640/P1020186.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">When you find a significant landmark..hang onto it, our route traversed the fine ridge</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZPxN03_QwbVzhQDzhAXfOFxq28MiG7o12EN0x_dMveFIMpqJ0_Fq9_G-72I49XH_ixAOK_xjU2tsTsU2uRabluNNBXIwsmRnBtuH7eRToGI4zl4V_SP2iPQ2WeNyZeGiJGTLyvaaaVCg/s1600/P1020197v2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="476" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZPxN03_QwbVzhQDzhAXfOFxq28MiG7o12EN0x_dMveFIMpqJ0_Fq9_G-72I49XH_ixAOK_xjU2tsTsU2uRabluNNBXIwsmRnBtuH7eRToGI4zl4V_SP2iPQ2WeNyZeGiJGTLyvaaaVCg/s640/P1020197v2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Probably the most reliable and economic form of desert transport</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs6JqoGu8-TovWYK8Nr9orx6wGGmarOcwHcDj-GAABvMHYPgwJf7A4NTRYfWZuP6IeQXeDuN_Qs_D8yNTX87MV3AC2HYXoAcwcRs_HSWRi-YfhyphenhyphenAsvFzEd3Me9IwD_5lQ4mfjeybvIB3Y/s1600/P1020226.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs6JqoGu8-TovWYK8Nr9orx6wGGmarOcwHcDj-GAABvMHYPgwJf7A4NTRYfWZuP6IeQXeDuN_Qs_D8yNTX87MV3AC2HYXoAcwcRs_HSWRi-YfhyphenhyphenAsvFzEd3Me9IwD_5lQ4mfjeybvIB3Y/s640/P1020226.JPG" width="476" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nedal, a young and enthusistic new breed of Jordanian trekking guides</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU9LiyFkjUWw8XJsUt0xJJQI8ou0ucG_p49bpgxKP-sINbmxbakeJS2dw4YiyLPNH-eWMPSROiuPx-LO-x1wP0Fd_YIAPNy8NF4N-XZSX_ddSH35Fv5paMRZaS-eXw7_e_ui7mEYME1Zs/s1600/P1020238.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="473" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU9LiyFkjUWw8XJsUt0xJJQI8ou0ucG_p49bpgxKP-sINbmxbakeJS2dw4YiyLPNH-eWMPSROiuPx-LO-x1wP0Fd_YIAPNy8NF4N-XZSX_ddSH35Fv5paMRZaS-eXw7_e_ui7mEYME1Zs/s640/P1020238.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A Sinai Agama, the blue lizard, very much at home amongst the heat and desert rocks</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwylkKS4Nhji1e3Ti9hbzX3OXP9NcB9GaFgAdW6NsAz3_bB5zrUz3yec5Hn6WBe3qy3tOSTt3Ua2OWXm-1rBPu5r-EEB2_j0a3WlcI5BjeuHG7e9-o8yu8Z8kjaJy-YWTHh_PvAoanv6I/s1600/P1020253.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="476" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwylkKS4Nhji1e3Ti9hbzX3OXP9NcB9GaFgAdW6NsAz3_bB5zrUz3yec5Hn6WBe3qy3tOSTt3Ua2OWXm-1rBPu5r-EEB2_j0a3WlcI5BjeuHG7e9-o8yu8Z8kjaJy-YWTHh_PvAoanv6I/s640/P1020253.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The smooth white limestone slabs give away little when it comes to following a Bedouin trail and the surprises are awesome! </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi62CnMqXzTPQb-NdSCjVwUMp2LG8vaslI_rTL9if7PoBdT9zsNoRhCwdN6DwXQdZn7dHPnJMr0qXBHoSfFv_kkVYhCv5fjZjZkWjH5Cfc-RuYbXTGSEEniR0o5sLflgeKuv7jT8CzVJ94/s1600/P1020261.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="476" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi62CnMqXzTPQb-NdSCjVwUMp2LG8vaslI_rTL9if7PoBdT9zsNoRhCwdN6DwXQdZn7dHPnJMr0qXBHoSfFv_kkVYhCv5fjZjZkWjH5Cfc-RuYbXTGSEEniR0o5sLflgeKuv7jT8CzVJ94/s640/P1020261.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The landscape certainly gives a feeling of remoteness, probably because it is</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1IU4FmeFNYpQgcJn7i2ViqKaMDQ-ZqYv0D7Nd12rNyBFcC3yVznUY77r3Zi223XFWsV95p_iwP9umEo-jyQbR7VK-EOZEFUN_gWMZV7p7iz6fXQhsUEprTVgSDBGae9kXUh3Jqp23-EU/s1600/P1020306.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="476" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1IU4FmeFNYpQgcJn7i2ViqKaMDQ-ZqYv0D7Nd12rNyBFcC3yVznUY77r3Zi223XFWsV95p_iwP9umEo-jyQbR7VK-EOZEFUN_gWMZV7p7iz6fXQhsUEprTVgSDBGae9kXUh3Jqp23-EU/s640/P1020306.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A Sinai Rosefinch seeking the cool air of a rock gorge, Little Petra </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy4Y0DTWzRkUUv3j36JcRxhRJAYLfeP07_T6nmj4cqEoviFsBTekW4_8gTAVTToI6WsJnuoeXMMC2IH8mgs4x00UfUDCSDYmYETvyNGy2r7kGktoqxjrlIVjOpMxaMOZHP5FeJSPn4Ey8/s1600/P1020310.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="475" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy4Y0DTWzRkUUv3j36JcRxhRJAYLfeP07_T6nmj4cqEoviFsBTekW4_8gTAVTToI6WsJnuoeXMMC2IH8mgs4x00UfUDCSDYmYETvyNGy2r7kGktoqxjrlIVjOpMxaMOZHP5FeJSPn4Ey8/s640/P1020310.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A fine ceiling fresco in a carved out room in a cave dwelling, Little Petra</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhph7M_lFmnfhdY7Ti1Y5fhyphenhyphenVruB6vFI-gnzLW2kqhIUEzKhjMjR_p2Q7EqLCSyiGcY-Car5OUbJQFjhzn7eN79VYvdJAERFtk75B2ca4Q_VhyphenhyphenKk5xgZEOGjdTBXQ8UG61dEjIVJfCvifQ/s1600/P1020313.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhph7M_lFmnfhdY7Ti1Y5fhyphenhyphenVruB6vFI-gnzLW2kqhIUEzKhjMjR_p2Q7EqLCSyiGcY-Car5OUbJQFjhzn7eN79VYvdJAERFtk75B2ca4Q_VhyphenhyphenKk5xgZEOGjdTBXQ8UG61dEjIVJfCvifQ/s640/P1020313.JPG" width="476" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The ancient <span lang="EN-GB">Nabataean settlers carved steps into the soft sandstone to enable them to increase their 'real estate and to create water channels!'</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNuIsdcOXakLdbL5bXRD4TL9w20tdFiFZxiHhp1Bn1w412zOG3Xf01GiC0lzT_B_iiX9yFKe1ZRxtelOhzFKWAO-nBpahaFBclXyYxrpAdcdqEHhOuWK1kUNliDeUwfjDOAPxXXSh44SM/s1600/P1020345.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNuIsdcOXakLdbL5bXRD4TL9w20tdFiFZxiHhp1Bn1w412zOG3Xf01GiC0lzT_B_iiX9yFKe1ZRxtelOhzFKWAO-nBpahaFBclXyYxrpAdcdqEHhOuWK1kUNliDeUwfjDOAPxXXSh44SM/s640/P1020345.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Another horizon and another gorge</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJPh-10gJepnkBfKcHiuXO-ZRJYBBSKVdTx735PXOs6nUt1e02ytj5wFZcxboynfHPMdTQsYOGNzCya2UuJgnAKrpt0qkhmH8ACotc1W4fROyAwWRsSa3vKuix0EbRYS8jtEMItkQfMxQ/s1600/P1020348.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJPh-10gJepnkBfKcHiuXO-ZRJYBBSKVdTx735PXOs6nUt1e02ytj5wFZcxboynfHPMdTQsYOGNzCya2UuJgnAKrpt0qkhmH8ACotc1W4fROyAwWRsSa3vKuix0EbRYS8jtEMItkQfMxQ/s640/P1020348.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Not only skill in finding the correct line but also sure footedness is required to ensure a safe passage around some of the sandstone pillars</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxJrZL6ikf7i0tkF-xY2eJ-RoOb1UQvYX4dhfFQHqzoMvEFjOgpSuVykwpnFSm-tvSxKHJ25MQCjL4IUlX_0re_0a-hchb0NPAKJ64QM_GS1v19rDQTBgQhdKsTZM2DXHEXA0yRexQYUA/s1600/P1020364.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxJrZL6ikf7i0tkF-xY2eJ-RoOb1UQvYX4dhfFQHqzoMvEFjOgpSuVykwpnFSm-tvSxKHJ25MQCjL4IUlX_0re_0a-hchb0NPAKJ64QM_GS1v19rDQTBgQhdKsTZM2DXHEXA0yRexQYUA/s640/P1020364.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Deir, the biggest structure in Petra, carved from the solid rock, probably as a mausoleum for a king</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHE5OSe0Mdg9KvNzd0nG8X4RwMzVDZLR5Gwc9rYwx2DOj3Ron8IyFYtdC3Ex7QmTTu7hspg4Z_oaVXSKtKzDgxZI340cTGH7msprvqYEAAxbBDyr5-iIyNTi1nRGBIOGeM0JiuAjs5YtE/s1600/P1020378.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHE5OSe0Mdg9KvNzd0nG8X4RwMzVDZLR5Gwc9rYwx2DOj3Ron8IyFYtdC3Ex7QmTTu7hspg4Z_oaVXSKtKzDgxZI340cTGH7msprvqYEAAxbBDyr5-iIyNTi1nRGBIOGeM0JiuAjs5YtE/s640/P1020378.JPG" width="476" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Descending from the Deir the trail winds down through the gorge but every now and then there are glimpses of Petra with a complete cliff of carved dwellings</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBFcc0CJ60s7bYXzgyuz1lmYJGqmlCzjOk0udVKLl4cIx6_DsSBO8OYq9w43XR1URr_CDeEd-mhQPDbLY3eg0wqLEb1vFTKa0Fdxmx4K7EISMToJuPtwXgmtYTjGJTB4T33vbM3K3K-Ho/s1600/P1020385.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBFcc0CJ60s7bYXzgyuz1lmYJGqmlCzjOk0udVKLl4cIx6_DsSBO8OYq9w43XR1URr_CDeEd-mhQPDbLY3eg0wqLEb1vFTKa0Fdxmx4K7EISMToJuPtwXgmtYTjGJTB4T33vbM3K3K-Ho/s640/P1020385.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Camels are still the preferred method of transport, not only for the<span lang="EN-GB"> Bedouin but also for the desert police, camels are purpose designed for the desert envionment</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFJSol_xfESAPZRHjI9cYF711rhFbsK9ZAHRUqO4cA4lLjB05zHTul0zYaHJKNlLFmeq3JC_WhnQQskFUiQUu0aMpUHFZkz8fQ7HhZXExDMbc_rMjm_vMfyTwIcD8585haxlD5XR8dW6E/s1600/P1020433.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFJSol_xfESAPZRHjI9cYF711rhFbsK9ZAHRUqO4cA4lLjB05zHTul0zYaHJKNlLFmeq3JC_WhnQQskFUiQUu0aMpUHFZkz8fQ7HhZXExDMbc_rMjm_vMfyTwIcD8585haxlD5XR8dW6E/s640/P1020433.JPG" width="478" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of the many deep gorges that allow access to or exit from the centre of Petra</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0sXEgRKr0Bi_OT2iD-PRJjxz0wfmdMEezlt7qT0zZcEqiEpJXp3s_3vTs0CbKUnWRZwa-VbgQj8lPa3mO5p1nVl6DMIkU4waqnfGMaAtZnj17tjIdFO9px4XAkJuU-JEy8eaj7mebBcM/s1600/P1020404.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0sXEgRKr0Bi_OT2iD-PRJjxz0wfmdMEezlt7qT0zZcEqiEpJXp3s_3vTs0CbKUnWRZwa-VbgQj8lPa3mO5p1nVl6DMIkU4waqnfGMaAtZnj17tjIdFO9px4XAkJuU-JEy8eaj7mebBcM/s640/P1020404.jpg" width="478" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Every tourist attraction has its young lads with their customised taxis!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Entering Petra from the hills</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Every cliff has been used, carved and maybe lived in, in its hay-day
Petra must have been a magnificent sight with the many camel caravans
literally passing down this road</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The two people in this image gives perspective to the size of the architecture</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The 'rose red' stone from which Petra gets its other name 'Rose City'</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Always on the look-out for someone who will try to feed them!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Today the camels in Petra are part of the tourist attraction offering rides to those who feel the need. But imagine it in its hay-day, it must have been a magnificent sight with literally hundreds of camels all tightly packed into the main square</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The famous Petra World Heritage site and the Treasury</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The sides of the main gorges are lined with carved tombs which must have been for the wealthy traders</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">As one moves away from ancient Petra the gorge slowly widens out, however it retains its height right to the very end</td></tr>
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ianoffthewallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09893050670803576833noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4685057110957823513.post-75909059512360740622015-09-30T04:49:00.001-07:002017-05-03T06:08:32.279-07:00New Trekking and Mountaineering Activities for 2016 Nepal and India<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Trekking In Nepal<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgakiPEo41FhGSQOS8R09JX8Ut3hUbNcurVCNyLjnNVKO5xeg9ZgOkpEUG7tBtOHSvPiS4SKsXx3CCijtAaBMPPcKEygs8fsmKuwcVUC8fWEAyFfVuzP7h_b_6NyK7sghwU5ZI93kQ6ZZ4/s1600/_3062327.jpg"><br /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYiiI7Ki-_Ywrzqi9hItN642jugnejWuKExEoP2-LjHMrWYyIxXjbi-_lMAshhS0R3ec8YD0spK31X84EGARzckmQD4EypGviGtc0Wn-Xu2loKjRHJxTMa3NH0whPCJVDPzopDqvk-Xe8/s1600/P1090476.JPG"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYiiI7Ki-_Ywrzqi9hItN642jugnejWuKExEoP2-LjHMrWYyIxXjbi-_lMAshhS0R3ec8YD0spK31X84EGARzckmQD4EypGviGtc0Wn-Xu2loKjRHJxTMa3NH0whPCJVDPzopDqvk-Xe8/s640/P1090476.JPG" /></a><br />
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The itineraries below provide an outline to the days' activities whilst on trek. Off the Wall Trekking has been operating in Nepal for several years but both Ian and Sarita have mountain backgrounds, in Ian's case for more than 50 years (sad old thing!) However all our staff are professionally trained and they will along with the itinerary designate acclimatisation days which depending on the group might change the daily plans, but this will only be done after discussions with the group.<br />
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Everest Base Camp; the classic Nepal 14 day trek, accommodation in lodges on B&B basis – 2,160 US $ per person (based on 2 people)<br />
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Day to Day Itinerary<br />
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Day 01: Kathmandu night 1 - Arrive in Kathmandu (1,300m /4,264 ft) <br />
Day 02: Kathmandu night 2 - Sightseeing and Trek Preparation <br />
Day 03: Trek night 1 - Kathmandu - Lukla - Phakding (2,652m/8,700ft): 3 - 4 hours trek <br />
Day 04: Trek night 2 - Phakding - Namche Bazaar (3,440m/11,280 ft): 5 - 6 hrs <br />
Day 05: Trek night 3 - Namche Bazaar: Rest day/acclimatisation <br />
Day 06: Trek night 4 - Namche Bazzar to Tengboche (3,870m/12,694ft): 5 - 6 hrs <br />
Day 07: Trek night 5 - Tengboche to Dingboche (4,360 m/14,300ft):5 - 6 hrs <br />
Day 08: Trek night 6 - Dingboche (4,360 m/14,300ft): Rest Day/acclimatisation <br />
Day 09: Trek night 7 - Dingboche - Lobuche (4940 m/16,207 ft): 2 - 4 hrs <br />
Day 10: Trek night 8 - Lobuche - Lobuche as an acclimatization day (optional)<br />
Day 11: Trek night 9 - Lobuche - Gorak Shep (5,170 m/16,961ft) - Everest Base Camp (5,364m/17,594ft) return to Gorak Shep: 8 - 9 hrs <br />
Day 12: Trek night 10 - Gorak Shep - Kala Patthar (5545m/18,192ft) then descend to Pheriche (4280 m/14,070 ft): 8 - 9 hrs <br />
Day 13: Trek night 11 - Pheriche to Kyangjuma (3,570m/11,710ft): 5 - 6 hrs <br />
Day 14: Trek night 12 - Kyangjuma to Monjo [2,840m/9,315ft]: 4 - 5 hrs <br />
Day 15: Trek night 13 - Monjo to Lukla: 4 - 5 hrs <br />
Day 16: Kathmandu night 3 - Lukla - Kathmandu and shopping <br />
Day 17: Kathmandu night 4 - Additional day (put these together to provide a better ‘weather cushion’ in the event of Lukla flights getting delayed<br />
Day 18: International departure flight <br />
Kathmandu - 5 days/4 nights based on twin sharing B & B basis. Sightseeing trip in Kathmandu as a group 100-140 US $ depending as to whether a micro bus or private car is required, to include entrance fees. (Optional)<br />
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Total Nepal days – 19 days<br />
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Annapurna Sanctuary<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgScKlud_iJWtKuKH_O8GKvppARPB6ExOx6tovSfMdaM0qyt4Uwlcb-up9VkaY6Qd2HRYkvgiM3IzFkZwiZ6hLMRrBK27Yh2WBB1OleurmNqQtfmJRy022BNn57pCVNv8W6FLIjXpEGSPA/s1600/Untitled-4+copy.jpg"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgScKlud_iJWtKuKH_O8GKvppARPB6ExOx6tovSfMdaM0qyt4Uwlcb-up9VkaY6Qd2HRYkvgiM3IzFkZwiZ6hLMRrBK27Yh2WBB1OleurmNqQtfmJRy022BNn57pCVNv8W6FLIjXpEGSPA/s640/Untitled-4+copy.jpg" /></a><br />
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This is a short 8 day trek that gives you the very essence of trekking in Nepal, lodge accommodation on B&B basis – 1,520 US$ per person (based on 2 people)<br />
Day to Day Itinerary<br />
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Day 01: Kathmandu night 1 - Arrival in Kathmandu (1300m/4264ft) <br />
Day 02: Trek night 1 - Fly to Pokhara (823m/2,700ft): 30 minutes and trek to Ghandruk (1940m/6360 ft): 5 - 6 hours <br />
Day 03: Trek night 2 - Ghandruk to Chhomrong (2170m/7120ft): 5 - 6 hours <br />
Day 04: Trek night 3 - Chhomrong to Bamboo (2310m/7578ft): 4 - 5 hours <br />
Day 05: Trek night 4 - Bamboo to Deurali (3230m/10,595ft): 3 - 4 hours <br />
Day 06: Trek night 5 - Deurali to Annapurna Base Camp (4,130m/13,545ft) via Machhapuchhre Base<br />
Camp (3700m/12135ft): 5- 6 hours <br />
Day 07: Trek night 6 - Annapurna Base Camp to Bamboo: 7 – 8 hours <br />
Day 08: Trek night 7 - Bamboo to Jhinu Danda (1760m/5770 ft): 5 - 6 hours <br />
Day 09: Trek day 8 - Pokhara night 1 - Trek to Naya Pul then drive to Pokhara: 6 hours trek, 1 hour drive <br />
Day 10: Kathmandu night 2 - Fly from Pokhara to Kathmandu <br />
Day 11: Final Departure <br />
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Kathmandu /Pokhara - 3 nights based on twin sharing B & B basis. Sightseeing trip in Kathmandu and Pokhara – in Kathmandu as an organized trip, as a group 100-140 US $ depending as to whether a micro bus or private car is required, to include entrance fees. (Optional)<br />
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Total Nepal days – 11 days<br />
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Annapurna Circuit<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpxSDHWhIVC4YEdF4ikQiHbOPoIgUNIvLZmJWtVNFnLOjUtqPODdceQSWz9LS9mD7WMaVl6LKLDArr1Na8NITcwVA6HCEryg0iM2F-L3QWRyT-wLWzoeW_OKvnp4hV-iLiPsLfCXBAU8A/s1600/P1080717.JPG"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpxSDHWhIVC4YEdF4ikQiHbOPoIgUNIvLZmJWtVNFnLOjUtqPODdceQSWz9LS9mD7WMaVl6LKLDArr1Na8NITcwVA6HCEryg0iM2F-L3QWRyT-wLWzoeW_OKvnp4hV-iLiPsLfCXBAU8A/s640/P1080717.JPG" /></a><br />
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The original 9 day classic Nepal trek - 1,890 US $ per person (based on 2 people)<br />
Day 01: Kathmandu night 1 - Arrival in Kathmandu (1,300m/4,264ft) <br />
Day 02: Kathmandu night 2 - Kathmandu: Sightseeing and Trek Preparation <br />
Day 03: Trek night 1 - Drive from Kathmandu to Syange (1100m/3608 ft): 8 - 10 hours <br />
Day 04: Trek night 2 - Trek from Syange to Dharapani (1,960m/6,430ft): 7 - 8 hours <br />
Day 05: Trek night 3 - Dharapani to Chame (2,710m/8,891ft): 5 - 6 hours <br />
Day 06: Trek night 4 - Chame to Pisang (3,300m/10824ft): 5 - 6 hours <br />
Day 07: Trek night 5 - Pisang to Manang (3,500m/11,482ft): 6 - 7 hours <br />
Day 08: Trek night 6 - Manang: Acclimatization day <br />
Day 09: Trek night 7 - Manang to Yak Kharka (4,110m/13,484ft): 3 - 4 hours <br />
Day 10: Trek night 8 - Yak kharka to Thorang Phedi: (4420m/14501ft): 3-4 hours <br />
Day 11: Trek night 9 - Trek to Thorong La (5416m/17764ft) to Muktinath (3,800/12,467ft) then drive to Jomsom: 7 - 8 hours trek, 1 hour drive <br />
Day 12: Pokhara night 1 - Fly from Jomsom to Pokhara: 25 minutes <br />
Day 13: Kathmandu night 3 - Drive from Pokhara to Kathmandu: 5-6 hours <br />
Day 14: Final departure <br />
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Kathmandu /Pokhara - 4 nights based on twin sharing B & B basis. Sightseeing trip in Kathmandu and Pokhara – in Kathmandu as an organized trip, as a group 100-140 US $ depending as to whether a micro bus or private car is required, to include entrance fees. (Optional)<br />
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Total Nepal days – 14 days<br />
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Annapurna with the Tilicho Lake<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcUsUkz4UBMjp4nnxYmcme6WuGFYwr5T7ykr5LGh2BpUj5WXBKvjH4WsKWmcnPRA9d0hL5lJYjoywmTbglTYmJ6fiZmdtKbIKWkn1pXvctm1zwn7pYFla3cgVpzfKhsaJCcby6H-QNe7Y/s1600/P1080933.JPG"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcUsUkz4UBMjp4nnxYmcme6WuGFYwr5T7ykr5LGh2BpUj5WXBKvjH4WsKWmcnPRA9d0hL5lJYjoywmTbglTYmJ6fiZmdtKbIKWkn1pXvctm1zwn7pYFla3cgVpzfKhsaJCcby6H-QNe7Y/s640/P1080933.JPG" /></a><br />
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A crossing of the Mesokantu La 5099m, 17 days, this is a mixed lodge and camping trek. This trek takes in some wild and remote terrain, a strenuous outing! 1,990 US$ per person (minimum 2 persons)<br />
Day 01: Kathmandu night 1 - Arrival in Kathmandu (1,300m/4,264 ft) <br />
Day 02: Kathmandu night 2 - Kathmandu Sightseeing and trek preparation <br />
Day 03: Trek night 1 -Drive to Chamje (1,410m/4,626ft): 6-7 hours <br />
Day 04: Trek night 2 -Trek from Chamje to Dharapani (1,960m/6,430ft): 5 - 6 hours <br />
Day 05: Trek night 3 -Dharapani to Chame (2,710m/8,891ft): 5 - 6 hours <br />
Day 06: Trek night 4 -Chame to Pisang (3,300m/10824ft): 5 - 6 hours <br />
Day 07: Trek night 5 -Pisang to Manang (3,500m/11,482ft): 6 - 7 hours <br />
Day 08: Trek night 6 -Manang rest and acclimatization day<br />
Day 09: Trek night 7 -Manang to Kangsar (3745m/12286ft): 2-3 hours <br />
Day 10: Trek night 8 -Kangsar to Tilicho Base Camp (4140m/13,583ft): 5-6 hours <br />
Day 11: Trek night 9 -Tilicho Base Camp to Tilicho Lake<br />
Day 12: Trek night 10 -Tilicho rest and acclimatization day<br />
Day 13: Trek night 11 -Tilicho Lake crossing Mesokantu La 5099m to upper Lungpughyum Khola valley<br />
Day 14: Trek night 12 -Lungpughyum Khola valley to Jomsom 2750m<br />
Day 15: Kathmandu night 3 -Jomson to Pokhara to Kathmandu<br />
Day 16: Kathmandu night 4 - Kathmandu sightseeing<br />
Day 17: Depart Nepal<br />
<br />
Kathmandu - 4 nights based on twin sharing B & B basis. Sightseeing trip in Kathmandu as an organized trip, as a group 100-140 US $ depending as to whether a micro bus or private car is required, to include entrance fees. (Optional)<br />
<br />
Total Nepal days – 17 days<br />
<br />
<br />
Upper Dolpo<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtyJn-Pf9XRIeNA2fCU-zPQLyRh6RqeclDBFvnP9EhJz0g4gKjwBkhkcpqmPUMkfMrRQdXH8GPGYtXc0aXk1iMKRivI_YV6tPSdJUfH_GerPoH9hJlexFYm2WcOF-mChy5wQLAtEyt3dI/s1600/P1010604.JPG"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtyJn-Pf9XRIeNA2fCU-zPQLyRh6RqeclDBFvnP9EhJz0g4gKjwBkhkcpqmPUMkfMrRQdXH8GPGYtXc0aXk1iMKRivI_YV6tPSdJUfH_GerPoH9hJlexFYm2WcOF-mChy5wQLAtEyt3dI/s640/P1010604.JPG" /></a><br />
<br />
A remote wilderness trek 22 days camping throughout 5,150 US$ per person (Min 4 people)<br />
Day 01: Kathmandu night 1 - Arrival day in Kathmandu <br />
Day 02: Kathmandu night 2 - Kathmandu valley sightseeing & trek preparation <br />
Day 03: Nepalgunj night 1 - Fly from Kathmandu to Nepalgunj <br />
Day 04: Trek night 1 - Fly from Nepalgunj to Juphal & trek to Dunai, 2-3 hrs <br />
Day 05: Trek night 2 - Trek to Ankhe, 5-6 hrs <br />
Day 06: Trek night 3 - Trek to Sulighat, 5-6 hrs <br />
Day 07: Trek night 4 - Trek to Phoksundo Lake 4-5 hrs <br />
Day 08: Trek night 5 - Rest Day at Phoksundo Lake <br />
Day 09: Trek night 6 - Trek to Phoksundo Khola, 4-5 hrs <br />
Day 10: Trek night 7 - Trek to Phoksundo Bhanjyang, 6-7 hrs <br />
Day 11: Trek night 8 - Trek to Shey Gompa via Kang-La pass, 5-6 hrs <br />
Day 12: Trek night 9 - Rest day at Shey Gompa the Crystal Mountain Monastery <br />
Day 13: Trek night 10 - Trek to Namduna Gaun via Saldang La 6-7 hrs <br />
Day 14: Trek night 11 - Trek to Saldang, 4-5 hours <br />
Day 15: Trek night 12 - Trek to Yangze Gompa, 4-5 hrs <br />
Day 16: Trek night 13 - Trek to Sibu, 6-7 hrs <br />
Day 17: Trek night 14 - Trek to Jeng-la Phedi, 5-6 hrs <br />
Day 18: Trek night 15 - Trek to Tokyu Gaon via Jeng la, 5-6 hrs <br />
Day 19: Trek night 16 - Trek to Dho Tarap, 4-5 hrs <br />
Day 20: Trek night 17 - Rest Day at Dho Tarap <br />
Day 21: Trek night 18 - Trek to Tarap Khola ( Kamakharka), 6-7 hrs <br />
Day 22: Trek night 19 - Trek to Khanigaon, 4-5 hrs <br />
Day 23: Trek night 20 - Trek to Tarakot, 4-5 hrs <br />
Day 24: Trek night 21 - Trek to Dunai, 5-6 hrs <br />
Day 25: Trek night 22 - Trek to Jhuphal, 2-3 hrs <br />
Day 26: Kathmandu night 3 - Fly from Jhuphal to Nepalgunj to Kathmandu<br />
Day 27: Kathmandu night 4 – Kathmandu sightseeing<br />
Day 28: Depart Nepal <br />
<br />
Kathmandu/Nepalgunj - 5 nights based on twin sharing B & B basis. Sightseeing trip in Kathmandu as an organized trip, as a group 100-140 US $ depending as to whether a micro bus or private car is required, to include entrance fees. (Optional)<br />
<br />
Alternatives to the above are Upper Dolpo Juphal to Jomsom, or, Lower Dolpo an 18 day trek.<br />
Total Nepal days – 28 days (Upper Dolpo trek)<br />
<br />
Everest Base Camp and Island Peak<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgakiPEo41FhGSQOS8R09JX8Ut3hUbNcurVCNyLjnNVKO5xeg9ZgOkpEUG7tBtOHSvPiS4SKsXx3CCijtAaBMPPcKEygs8fsmKuwcVUC8fWEAyFfVuzP7h_b_6NyK7sghwU5ZI93kQ6ZZ4/s1600/_3062327.jpg"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgakiPEo41FhGSQOS8R09JX8Ut3hUbNcurVCNyLjnNVKO5xeg9ZgOkpEUG7tBtOHSvPiS4SKsXx3CCijtAaBMPPcKEygs8fsmKuwcVUC8fWEAyFfVuzP7h_b_6NyK7sghwU5ZI93kQ6ZZ4/s640/_3062327.jpg" /></a><br />
<br />
The classic trek that includes climbing Island Peak 22 days 3,190 US $ per person (based on 2 people)<br />
Day to Day Itinerary<br />
Day 01: Kathmandu night 1 - Arrive in Kathmandu (1,300m /4,264 ft)<br />
Day 02: Kathmandu night 2 - Sightseeing and Trek Preparation<br />
Day 03: Trek night 1 - Kathmandu - Lukla - Phakding (2,652m/8,700ft): 3 - 4 hours trek<br />
Day 04: Trek night 2 - Phakding - Namche Bazaar (3,440m/11,280 ft): 5 - 6 hrs<br />
Day 05: Trek night 3 - Namche Bazaar: Rest day/acclimatisation<br />
Day 06: Trek night 4 - Namche Bazzar to Tengboche (3,870m/12,694ft): 5 - 6 hrs<br />
Day 07: Trek night 5 - Tengboche to Dingboche (4,360 m/14,300ft):5 - 6 hrs<br />
Day 08: Trek night 6 - Dingboche (4,360 m/14,300ft): Rest Day/acclimatisation<br />
Day 09: Trek night 7 - Dingboche - Lobuche (4940 m/16,207 ft): 2 - 4 hrs<br />
Day 10: Trek night 8 - Lobuche - Lobuche as an acclimatization day (optional)<br />
Day 11: Trek night 9 - Lobuche - Gorak Shep (5,170 m/16,961ft) - Everest Base Camp (5,364m/17,594ft) return to Gorak Shep: 8 - 9 hrs<br />
Day 12: Trek night 10 - Gorak Shep - Kala Patthar (5545m/18,192ft) then descend to Dingbouche (4360m / 14,300ft): 8 - 9 hrs<br />
Day 13: Trek night 11 – Trek to Chuddim collect essential climbing equipment<br />
Day 14: Trek night 12 - Trek to Base Camp<br />
Day 15: Trek night 13 – Rest day and familiarization day<br />
Day 16: Trek night 14 – Climb to High Camp<br />
Day 17: Trek night 15 – Summit and return to Base Camp<br />
Day 18: Trek night 16 – return hired equipment and trek to Dingbouche<br />
Day 19: Trek night 17 - Pheriche to Kyangjuma (3,570m/11,710ft): 5 - 6 hrs<br />
Day 20: Trek night 18 - Kyangjuma to Monjo [2,840m/9,315ft]: 4 - 5 hrs<br />
Day 21: Trek night 19 - Monjo to Lukla: 4 - 5 hrs<br />
Day 22: Kathmandu night 3 - Lukla - Kathmandu and shopping<br />
Day 23: Kathmandu night 4 - Additional day (put these together to provide a better ‘weather cushion’ in the event of Lukla flights getting delayed<br />
Day 24: International departure flight<br />
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Off the Wall Trekking can provide various options based on not only the above treks but many other treks and climbing opportunities in Nepal. Please go to our website <a href="http://www.offthewalltrekking.com/">www.offthewalltrekking.com</a> for a full list of the areas and itineraries that we can offer.<br />
In principle the costs stated above will cover the following options: -<br />
What Is Included<br />
All airport/hotel transfers <br />
The appropriate number of nights’ accommodation in 4-star hotel in Kathmandu/Pokhara or in other locations as identified in the itinerary, nights in guest house in Nepalgunj/Jupal and tented accommodation in mountain <br />
All domestic flights as identified either in the itinerary or as discussed with clients <br />
Guided sightseeing tour in Kathmandu <br />
Breakfast in Kathmandu and all meals and boiled water in mountain <br />
All ground transportation as per the itinerary program by private vehicles <br />
All necessary qualified English speaking guide and climbing leader other staff to include cook, assistant trekking leader (4 trekkers: 1 assistant guide) and Sherpa porters to carry luggage (2 trekkers:1 porter), other helpers (1 trekker: 2 helpers) including their salary, insurance, equipment, flight, food and lodging <br />
All necessary paper works; special trekking permit for the appropriate trek <br />
Off the Wall Trekking duffel bag, t-shirt, and trekking map <br />
Camping equipment North Face Client tents, kitchen, dining, toilet tents, mattresses, and kitchen equipment <br />
Travel and rescue arrangements (client insurance is not included) <br />
Exclusive Medical Kit Bag <br />
All government and local taxes <br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null"></a>What Is Not Included <br />
Nepal Visa fee (bring accurate US$ cash and two passport photographs) <br />
International airfare to and from Kathmandu <br />
Excess baggage charges (if you have more than 20 kg luggage, cargo charge is around $1.5 per kg) <br />
Extra night accommodation in Kathmandu because of early arrival, late departure, early return from mountain(due to any reason) than the scheduled itinerary (or in other appropriate destinations due to weather caused delays) <br />
Altitude chamber (PAC) or oxygen where appropriate <br />
Lunch and evening meals in Kathmandu (and also in the case of early return from the trek than the scheduled itinerary) <br />
Travel and rescue insurance <br />
Personal expenses (phone calls, laundry, bar bills, battery recharge, extra porters, bottled water, shower, heater, etc.) <br />
Optional trips and sightseeing if extended <br />
Tips for guides and porters <br />
<br />
Accommodations<br />
Accommodation is included in the trip cost in good best value hotels where appropriate. Tented accommodation will include a foam mattress and dining equipment, just bring your own personal gear. We aim to provide a good standard of comfort based on the conditions enforced on the trek in terms of the weather and local conditions. All hotel and camping accommodation is on twin sharing basis, however, we can provide you single supplement or if there is different sex pairing we will provide this without extra charge. Single supplement is 350 US$.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null"></a>Meals <br />
You will be provided with freshly cooked hygienic and nutritious meals on a full board basis while on trek this will consist of typical Nepali food, different ethnic cuisines as well as all types of continental cuisine. If you have a vegetarian request please indicate that when booking your trek.<br />
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India - Trekking and Mountaineering<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyD_Ay7G12rVmAYOCNeXgaAQIjnba9mukjHHbeybA6JWUx6zwFH4AAgnM-XyOz3OsrJIkMm6ZFLwvzKfbfDrD2gjnlM9E4AELMypiEOzHJw01R6Rxxooq8_Wvo4H69wVTXKgPtyqyoltA/s1600/P1010932v2.jpg"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyD_Ay7G12rVmAYOCNeXgaAQIjnba9mukjHHbeybA6JWUx6zwFH4AAgnM-XyOz3OsrJIkMm6ZFLwvzKfbfDrD2gjnlM9E4AELMypiEOzHJw01R6Rxxooq8_Wvo4H69wVTXKgPtyqyoltA/s640/P1010932v2.jpg" /></a><br />
<br />
For 2016 we have decide to offer an ‘Indian Trekking and Mountaineering ‘experience.<br />
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Trekking and climbing in India is a completely different experience to that in Nepal. There are very few lodges and virtually no infrastructure once away from the towns so it is very much a camping experience. The areas covered here are relatively unknown and it is very unlikely that you will meet other people other than locals on your trek or expedition. These itineraries were specifically selected to provide an opportunity to travel into the mountains during the summer months avoiding the monsoon as the locations are in the rain shadow areas of the Himachal Pradesh.<br />
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These next six itineraries all start from Manali. Flights would be into Delhi and then your onward journey would be via a luxury Volvo overnight bus leaving Delhi at approximately 6pm and arriving in Manali at approximately 10am the following day. It is suggested that you then have at least a day better still two to relax and enjoy the district before commencing with your next part of your adventure.<br />
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Kalihani Pass Trek – 7 Days<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWsiuXHXBhRKrCbmkH9LzPOS8YIoaSIRivZVV4bHCh8F5TdkIHbOteDEcdYZfVIbDNN9UpCgqrwP3s96jUTSb7eeCB9FaOfY3dv0UVxzAjkkTVtx-KnCcFJp7oevmBg2nhr8EM9tD0AgY/s1600/Untitled-1+copy.jpg"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWsiuXHXBhRKrCbmkH9LzPOS8YIoaSIRivZVV4bHCh8F5TdkIHbOteDEcdYZfVIbDNN9UpCgqrwP3s96jUTSb7eeCB9FaOfY3dv0UVxzAjkkTVtx-KnCcFJp7oevmBg2nhr8EM9tD0AgY/s640/Untitled-1+copy.jpg" /></a> <br />
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Though limited to the Kullu valley, the trek takes you to upper reaches of the Pir Panjal range with excellent views of Hanuman Tibba, Indrasan and other peaks. Kalihani Pass also forms the pathway to the remote Bara Bangal village in the Kangra valley. Best season June - October<br />
Trek Cost: 1,100 US $ per person (based on 2 person)<br />
Day 01: Arrive in Manali and check into your hotel<br />
Day 02: Manali - Lamadugh (3017m): 4 hours trekking up through thick forests, however, but there is no water point after departing from Manali so be prepared and well stocked! As height is gained the distinctly different views of the faces of Indrasan, Deo Tibba and the peaks of Bara Shigri Glacier come into view. Eventually the path turns to the right and one traverses the ridge to the campsite on an alpine plateau studded with a thick growth of alpine flowers.<br />
Day 03: Lama Dugh - Riyali Thach (3400m): 6 hours. The trek continues along a steep a ridge below Thanpri Tibba (4000m). From this point, there are magnificent views of Manali, situated on the left bank of River Beas and the upper Kullu valley, which appears swathed in the different colors depending on the season.<br />
Day 04: Riyali Thach - Base of Kalihani Pass (4010m): 6 hours. This is a longish day. The trail proceeds over open meadows initially followed by a steep descent to a stream. Crossing it, the path continues in a steep climb for about three hours till you arrive at the camp site at the base of the Kalihani Pass. Make sure you catch the views of Deo Tibba and Indrasan peaks from the campsite.<br />
Day 05: Base of Kalihani - Kalihani Pass (4725m) - back to Base: 8 hours. Today will be a long day with a steep climb to the pass crossing a stretch of scree, a morraine and the Kalihani glacier. Take time off at the pass to get a splendid 360 degree view of hanging glaciers, the Pir Panjal and Dhauladhar rangees. A steep descent will bring you back to the camp.<br />
Day 06: Base of Kalihani Pass - Rani Sui (3400m): 6 hours. The trail traces back to Riyali Thach and goes further to Rani Sui, where there is a small mountain pond.<br />
Day 07: Rani Sui - Manali (2100m): 5 hours. Today's we retrace our path through Lamadugh and down to Manali.<br />
Day 08: Depart from Manali to Delhi.<br />
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Himalaya Expedition - Deo Tibba 6001m<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk4Sd5nycwKwkplHirKIJcxhzSHFcj_O2us72nwn01lSRLhe78l2u3-y6LgYMPl0R1pCNss_BUpDkA60WkDGc5ptkWbGnBVXjnPObnH0FDFtA2Jr7nhs2rD3o-aDssHffcUqGKWHSidNs/s1600/Jean.jpg"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk4Sd5nycwKwkplHirKIJcxhzSHFcj_O2us72nwn01lSRLhe78l2u3-y6LgYMPl0R1pCNss_BUpDkA60WkDGc5ptkWbGnBVXjnPObnH0FDFtA2Jr7nhs2rD3o-aDssHffcUqGKWHSidNs/s640/Jean.jpg" /></a><br />
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This is an 18 day mountaineering expedition starting from and returning to Manali<br />
Expedition cost: 3,900 US $ per person to include all technical equipment or 2,700 US $ per person without hiring equipment (supplying your own) (based on 2 people)<br />
Overview:<br />
Deo Tibba is a technical peak that can be graded PD on the Alpine grading scale. Set back in the Manali valley, Deo Tibba is popular among climbers who have some mountaineering knowledge. The approach is through the ancient village of Jagatsukh and the nearest town is Manali. Best months June to October<br />
Our Tentative itinerary would be:-<br />
Day 01: Arrive in Manali overnight in Manali hotel/ Camp.<br />
Day 02: Manali - Jagatsukh (by jeep) and then trek to Chikka. 5 Hrs<br />
Day 03: Chikka to Seri (base camp)<br />
Day 04: Day 14: Climbing days on Deo tibba (6001m)<br />
Day 15 - 17: Retreat days from the Mountain and return to Manali<br />
Day 18: Depart from Manali.<br />
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The cost includes: <br />
Tents, Carry mats, Mess Tent, High altitude tent. <br />
Nutritious, high calorie food will be served <br />
Guide, cook and camp helper <br />
All high altitude rations and cooking gear like MSR stoves or Butane propane stoves with canister <br />
Horses/ Porters to carry all our equipment. <br />
Two people will be accommodated in one tent. <br />
All High altitude personal technical gear. <br />
IMF fees, LO charges, Wildlife and camping charges. <br />
Large Backpack, Plastic Mountaineering boots all Technical gear needed for the climb <br />
All Rations <br />
Transport to and from Manali to road head and return to Manali. <br />
Accommodation in Manali before and after the trip. <br />
<br />
Cost Excludes:<br />
Any expenses of a personal nature <br />
Food outside of the itinerary <br />
Sleeping Bags <br />
Transfer from Delhi <br />
Personal insurance <br />
Tips and gratuities <br />
<br />
<br />
Hampta Pass Trek - 7 Days<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8Siu8zTL1i79TumEkSpwrJpPI7ABzZ8aIu5WN_Q2sXddfM0oTR47iffsbIco1ZCYjrdhPNZo54Z9AGuGal77j4yXet5JAsLUrr-z0UaYFT5b4FO8cgYBH_IqrfmEkRL9Sdwy2Gop6kLw/s1600/P1010854v2.jpg"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8Siu8zTL1i79TumEkSpwrJpPI7ABzZ8aIu5WN_Q2sXddfM0oTR47iffsbIco1ZCYjrdhPNZo54Z9AGuGal77j4yXet5JAsLUrr-z0UaYFT5b4FO8cgYBH_IqrfmEkRL9Sdwy2Gop6kLw/s640/P1010854v2.jpg" /></a><br />
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This is one of the most delightful treks in the Manali region, affording views of lush green valleys, towering snow-clad mountains and barren hills with surrealistic forms and shapes. Leaving the Manali valley, the trek proceeds through forests of walnut, oak and the occasional alder, once atop the Hampta Pass (4270m), another spectacular panorama of the Deo Tibba and Indrasan peaks appear.<br />
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The trek cost: 1,100 US $ per person (based on 2 people), the best season is June – October, the trek begins in Manali and ends in Chatru<br />
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Itinerary<br />
Day 01: Arrive in Manali and transfer to your hotel.<br />
Day 02: Manali / Prini - Panduropa / Setan (2700m) via Chhalet & Hampta villages: 4 hours<br />
The steepest part of the trail takes about 2 hours to negotiate. It passes through apple orchards and forests of blue pine, cedar, oak, fir and chestnut. The trail passes through the villages of Chhalet, Hampta and Ghoratbari; all have an interesting legends associated with them. They lie on the way to heaven and when people die, their souls have to pass through these villages. It is said that people here hear sounds of crying if the soul is condemned to hell and sounds of a trumpet if it is ascending to heaven.<br />
Day 03: Panduropa - Chikka (3530m): 5 hours. The trek passes through some spectacular landscape to our campsite situated on a grassy bank sloping down from the cliffs just below the Hamta Nulla. The impressive grandeur of immediate surroundings, the nearness of the Tokru-Shakru peaks, the wonderful coloring of the rocks and mountainside, all make this one of the best campsite on the route.<br />
Day 04: Chikka - Bhalu Ka Ghera (3780m): 5 hours. The trail now begins to ascend towards Hamta Pass and with close up views of Deo Tibba and Indrasan peaks. During summer, it's a grazing pasture or halting place for the shepherds on the way to the Lahaul valley.<br />
Day 05: Bhalu Ka Ghera - Hampta pass (4270m) - Shea Goru: 8 hours. The trail now begins to ascend towards Hamta Pass and one can have close views of Deo Tibba and Indrasan peaks. The massive mountains of the Pir Panjal and Spiti ranges dominate the entire landscape.<br />
Day 06: Shea Goru - Chatru (3530m): 4 hours. The day's walk is quite easy, along the river up to a boulder field, which is hard to cross during the monsoons. The river has to be forded at one point from where one can see the valleys of Lahaul and Spiti. The massive mountains of the Pir Panjal and Spiti ranges dominate the entire landscape till the campsite at Chhatru. Chhatru is a confluence point of paths from Rohtang Pass, Hamta Pass and Spiti.<br />
Day 07: Chatru to Chandertal and drive back to Manali: 7- 8 hours. Today after breakfast a vehicle picks you up and will drive us to Chandertal. We will spend some time by the lake and then drive back to Manali. Reach Manali by evening.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMmzPNkapemvOgWETWU8ykXUUdApudzA08L2NkhQmH3dLe0TCY5XDUilTCeoxhoyBshVK0GiXzSxONnZOwfwOWTWk1Gv5K8k0YtGz-qjX6o6RnElPjU9D7wK8sziQk4losHQ-sWlg3Kzw/s1600/Untitled-2+copy.jpg"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMmzPNkapemvOgWETWU8ykXUUdApudzA08L2NkhQmH3dLe0TCY5XDUilTCeoxhoyBshVK0GiXzSxONnZOwfwOWTWk1Gv5K8k0YtGz-qjX6o6RnElPjU9D7wK8sziQk4losHQ-sWlg3Kzw/s640/Untitled-2+copy.jpg" /></a><br />
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Cost Includes:<br />
1. Tents, Sleeping bags (Holofill), Mess tent and Carry mats.<br />
2. Nutritious, high calorie vegetarian food will be served.<br />
3. Guide, cook and camp helpers.<br />
4. Horses with horsemen to carry loads.<br />
5. Transport from Manali to Prini.<br />
6. One day of accommodation before the trek and one day after the trek in manali. In good clean<br />
budget hotels<br />
7. Transport Manali to Prini and return Chartu to Chandertaal and return to Manali.<br />
<br />
Cost Excludes:<br />
1. Any expenses of a personal nature<br />
2. Food outside of the itinerary<br />
3. Sleeping Bags<br />
4. Transfer from Delhi<br />
5. Personal insurance<br />
6. Tips and gratuities<br />
<br />
For those who would like the excitement of travelling in remote India without the effort of trekking then Off the Wall trekking would like to suggest the following:-<br />
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Ladakh Lakes Jeep Safari<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy_mqX7Fy-An0YJPIeihPkdg_BvwGRXuEBFzx8PYnpOrH5xPJOol145zb2D5QhBNnp-_z6lTzpS0CFgb2WVFgmGsJOPjneqzSAcLK3V2qmLvj_0QFeyYknB4sVjNVUOb7Sm0mkzgYfXrs/s1600/P1010669.JPG"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy_mqX7Fy-An0YJPIeihPkdg_BvwGRXuEBFzx8PYnpOrH5xPJOol145zb2D5QhBNnp-_z6lTzpS0CFgb2WVFgmGsJOPjneqzSAcLK3V2qmLvj_0QFeyYknB4sVjNVUOb7Sm0mkzgYfXrs/s640/P1010669.JPG" /></a><br />
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This is a 5 night 6 day jeep safari through one of the most beautiful and remote regions of the world; the Changthang Plateau. Discover the mesmerising blue water of Pangong. You even get to travel along the ancient Silk Route, the link between India and Central Asia and to the highest motorable pass in the world, Khardungla La 5606m as well as the Tanglang La, Chang La Passes.<br />
Trip Cost per person - 1,280 US $ based on 2 person starting from Ley. (Fly from Delhi cost not included) Breakfasts and evening meals are included but lunches are not<br />
Day 01: Arrive in Leh. (B&D) Arrive Leh and check into hotel. In the afternoon visit the Shey, Thikshey and Hemis monasteries.<br />
Day 02: Leh - Pangong Lake, overnight at Pangong Lake in local accommodation. (B&D)<br />
Day 03: Return to Leh (B&D)<br />
Day 04: Drive Leh to Nubra Valley, overnight at Nubra in local accommodation. (B&D)<br />
Day 05: Return to Leh. (B&D)<br />
Day 06: Take the morning flight out of Leh to Delhi. Trip ends. (Only Breakfast)<br />
<br />
Manali - Lahul - Spiti - Kinnaur Jeep / camping Safari 8 day 7 nights<br />
Best season July to September. Cost: 1,100 US $ per person based on 2 people<br />
Day 01: Arrive Manali - Check in at Hotel for your overnight stay. (B&D)<br />
Day 02: Manali – Batal (115 km) -Travel by jeep from Manali to Batal via the Rohtang Pass (4000 m). Overnight in tents at Batal (B&D)<br />
Day 03: Batal - Chander Taal - Travel by jeep from Batal up to the base of Chandra Taal and over night at Chandra Taal in tents. There will be 2 - 3Kms of trekking involved before reaching Chandra Taal as jeeps do not go all the way to the lake. (B&D)<br />
Day 04: Chandra Taal - Batal – Kaza - Travel from Batal to Kaza by jeep over the Kunzam Pass (4558 m). Overnight in tents at Kaza (B&D)<br />
Day 05: Kaza In the mMorning visit the Ki monastery, 12 km from Kaza. This centuries old gompa is a labyrinth of rooms and corridors and at one time also acted as a fort. It houses valuable thangkas and offers a panoramic view of the area. Also visit the small gompa at Kibber, 9 km further ahead. Kibber at 4205 m has the distinction of being the highest permanently inhabited village of the region. Overnight at Kaza (B&D)<br />
Day 06: Kaza - Dankar – Tabo - Travel from Kaza to Tabo by jeep enroute visiting Dhankar gompa. Dankar gompa rests high over the valley and is a stupendous example of local architecture. It is regarded to have once been a fort and was also the residence of the ruler of Spiti – the Nano. Founded in 996 AD by the great teacher Richensang-po, Tabo is renowned for its breathtaking murals and stucco images and is often called "The Ajanta of the Himalayas". The largest monastic complex in Spiti, the old section has 9 temples, 23 chortens, a monk’s chamber and a nun’s chamber. There are several caves adorned with frescoes and contemporary structures too. In trans-Himalayan Buddhism, Tabo's sanctity is next only to Tibet's Tholing gompa. Overnight at Kaza (BD)<br />
Day 07: Kaza – Manali -Today we drive back to Manali.<br />
Day 08: Manali – Delhi – unless otherwise arranged you will transfer back to Delhi by the evening bus<br />
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Manali - Ladakh Jeep Safari<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu40DH6Oi1Vms2J22tW9cwC1IDVc_VbuDIvcPcxoi7YiY-5WF_uGFREZE85ksRc-Tj9uODlbokGP60cQyUiIda7rKLpYBO0SxI1Uy9DHipo_7TGyMrMS2wZ9cscwmlg-nfflj5gFhGzm8/s1600/P1010671.JPG"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu40DH6Oi1Vms2J22tW9cwC1IDVc_VbuDIvcPcxoi7YiY-5WF_uGFREZE85ksRc-Tj9uODlbokGP60cQyUiIda7rKLpYBO0SxI1Uy9DHipo_7TGyMrMS2wZ9cscwmlg-nfflj5gFhGzm8/s640/P1010671.JPG" /></a><br />
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This is an 8 night/9 day safari in one of the most beautiful high altitude and remote regions of the world, the Changthang Plateau, the route crosses three high passes, the Tanglang La, Chang La, Khardung La. The trip starts in Manali and ends in Ley. <br />
Cost: 1,280 US $ per person (based on 2 people)<br />
<br />
Day to Day Itinerary<br />
Day 01: Arrive in Manali. (B&D) Arrive Manali and check into hotel. Spend the day at leisure in Manali.<br />
Day 02: Manali – Jispa / Sarchu (250 km). (B&D) Travel by jeep from Manali to Jispa/ Sarchu over Rohtang Pass and Baralacha La. Overnight in tents / Hotel at JIspa, Sarchu and Kilan Sarai.<br />
Day 03: Jispa/ Sarchu - Leh. (B&D) Arrive in Leh and check into hotel.<br />
Day 04: In Leh (B&D) Visit the Shey, Thikshey and Hemis monasteries.<br />
Day 05: Leh – Pangong Llake, overnight at Pangong Lake. (B&D)<br />
Day 06: Return to Leh (BD)<br />
Day 07: Drive Leh to Nubra Valley, overnight at Nubra. (BD)<br />
Day 08: Return to Leh. (BD)<br />
Day 09: Take the morning flight out of Leh to Delhi. Trip ends. (Only breakfast included on this day)<br />
<br />
Ladakh – The Frozen River Trek – Chadar 10th January to 26th January 2015 (15 days)<br />
To include a down parka, synthetic down pants, -20 sleeping bag, down mittens, thermos, Chadar boots: (please indicate your requirements at the time of booking) US $ 2,780 per person<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3v9syRYnORDZq-SEWas_xf2IkMSRdEcav0GW5H0SRJydtCZ4eBMOfPIfaEj3gjj0m0j-dQpgYlV5EmaZwe6Lh-u9vOjCUGyDl5PNiHAtUVmvs6iObESx39s6GJQFG-NCX3M8n3lx319o/s1600/P1000283.JPG"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3v9syRYnORDZq-SEWas_xf2IkMSRdEcav0GW5H0SRJydtCZ4eBMOfPIfaEj3gjj0m0j-dQpgYlV5EmaZwe6Lh-u9vOjCUGyDl5PNiHAtUVmvs6iObESx39s6GJQFG-NCX3M8n3lx319o/s640/P1000283.JPG" /></a> <br />
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The Chadar trek is one of the most stunning and most unusual winter treks on the planet. From Delhi you will travel to remote Leh (by air) in the heart of the winter season and then trek up the semi-frozen Zanskar river gorge. You will experience the Zanskari culture during the best season. The winter scape of the rough landscape is one major attraction but the wildlife is another highlight of the trip. The surrounding hillside is the home of the Ibex, snow leopard, blue sheep, and lammergeier; experiencing these hardy species is a unique treat. You will trek with local staff and guides, who’ve trekked the river since childhood and know its history, its subtleties, and when to sing to scare away the demons that are believed to lurk beneath the ice. This is a true adventure in a wild land. We are the safest team on the river, hands down. No one else has swift-water and ice rescue training. Receive instruction for safe travel on the river, and go with a professional.<br />
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What’s the difference between us and everyone else? We provide all cold weather equipment, sleeping bags, western leader trained in swift water rescue, no budget on our food shopping (healthy meals with three to four dishes for dinner, large healthy breakfasts, and hot lunch on the trail), excellent lit dining tent, solar charging for electronics (when there is sun). After you do the maths, we offer the best value.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbcQYa5qXQqm2HRNKi41Xw5PhuzKnXURrW-QqbYoaiKsRevYLAAE7PlIvsYSnNfX4llLCMhZImPNZzcM728P84TKFeeqOq4iRVIeGJBQ4KM6DK0vSl_8rkNNOizPyybssycH6hZP5SwEU/s1600/P1000299.JPG"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbcQYa5qXQqm2HRNKi41Xw5PhuzKnXURrW-QqbYoaiKsRevYLAAE7PlIvsYSnNfX4llLCMhZImPNZzcM728P84TKFeeqOq4iRVIeGJBQ4KM6DK0vSl_8rkNNOizPyybssycH6hZP5SwEU/s400/P1000299.JPG" /></a>Itinerary<br />
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Day 1 – Sunday 10 January 2016 – arrive in Leh 3500m<br />
Film of the Chadar Trek during the evening<br />
Day 2 – Leh 3500m<br />
We will go tour Shey and Spituk monasteries today. This day is important in case your flight is delayed. You’ll feel the altitude so not much hiking today.<br />
Day 3 – Drive to Chilling, the road-head and trek to Tilad Do camp 3100m<br />
First day on the ice, you are now at a lower altitude than Leh, and it feels better.<br />
Day 4 – Trek to Gyalpo camp 3170m<br />
Day 5 – Trek to Dib Cave 3225m<br />
Tonight we camp next to a huge cave where the local guides and porters will sleep next to a roaring fire.<br />
Day 6 – Trek to Nyeraks camp 3390m<br />
Day 7 – Trek to Oma Chu, drive Zangla 3400m<br />
Trekking one of the more impressive sections of the gorge today and reaching the road in Zanskar. You’ll hop in a jeep and be in the warm traditional Zanskari home in Zangla tonight. Welcome to Zanskar!<br />
Day 8 – Jeep to Karsha, Sani monasteries 3491m<br />
Today we’ll tour the monasteries of Zanskar, and get to see what winter life is like in a remote Himalayan pastoral valley.<br />
Day 9 – Explore Jumlam gorge 3491m<br />
A treat that few have experienced, the Jumlam gorge starts just out of Zangla, and we are excited to explore its “Chadar” today. Not even the locals often get up here in winter!<br />
Day 10 – Jeep to Oma Chu / Trek Nyeraks 3500m<br />
Day 11 – Trek Dib Cave<br />
Day 12 – Trek Gyalpo Camp<br />
Day 13 – Trek to roadhead, drive Leh<br />
Day 14 – Leh<br />
Important contingency day, if we have an extra day we will go snow leopard sighting from Leh. If the ice goes out on the river and we have to wait for it to refreeze upstream ice, we’ll need this day.<br />
Day 15 – Sunday 24 January 2016 – depart Leh<br />
Note your domestic flight is a fine weather flight only and can occasionally be delayed. Also note that flights can be delayed by fog in Delhi in winter.<br />
<br />
What’s included:<br />
Airport transfers (not flights)<br />
3 star heated hotel in Leh, single supplement<br />
All other accommodation while present on scheduled trip itinerary<br />
Group transportation by private vehicle<br />
‘Himalaya Trekking Guides’ expedition-style trekking:<br />
Delicious meals, French press coffee & herbal teas, all porterage on trek, western leader, local guides and staff, single, roomy Mountain Hardwear & Big Agnes tents (double for couples) and our ‘equipped’ dining tent with solar charging for cameras.<br />
Well equipped porters for personal equipment, you carry only a day-pack with thermos, warm layer, and camera.<br />
Himalaya Trekking Guides duffel bag<br />
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What’s not included:<br />
Meals while not on trek<br />
Domestic flights<br />
Rescue insurance<br />
India visa<br />
International flights<br />
Bar bills, laundry, tipping and other items of a personal nature<br />
Gratuities and Extra Costs<br />
Allow approx $250 for meals (while not on trek), drinks (not on trek), and tips. We recommend $100-$150 per trekker thrown into the tips pool for the porter staff.<br />
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ianoffthewallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09893050670803576833noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4685057110957823513.post-12586304078409332852015-09-04T04:20:00.001-07:002015-09-04T04:30:01.634-07:00Climbathon 2015<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b>Climbathon 2015 - An Introduction</b></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGNOvrQDxUWXBY3BNRK-v6pfec-KIN2N0ee9vqHd9B8mRTkIC-0uy5VCxzPetRaymdrpMbqOrvHre6Kln3a_wCDYYKmkICkWP1WMYjfxd-w1tozFMZOEv5AsuxCfFAJPiRjrfXsPB0R3E/s1600/Class+of+2015.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="285" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGNOvrQDxUWXBY3BNRK-v6pfec-KIN2N0ee9vqHd9B8mRTkIC-0uy5VCxzPetRaymdrpMbqOrvHre6Kln3a_wCDYYKmkICkWP1WMYjfxd-w1tozFMZOEv5AsuxCfFAJPiRjrfXsPB0R3E/s400/Class+of+2015.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The team of Climbathon 2015</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
In 2011, Col Chauhan, IMF President, conceived the idea of providing young
people with an opportunity to develop mountaineering skills as part of an
'expedition' program offered by the IMF. By August 2013 this idea had become
reality with the first Climbathon taking place on the Bara Shigri Glacier,
Himachal Pradesh. At this point the IMF had been in contact with the UIAA and
they had expressed an interest in the program and offered the </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
IMF support. </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi74RdZsJdyHfMdLFSsRhfvWt8l-V-MXoiBORA4B5TeQKLAbgls42g7VyQcc-sQPtXLLAhm3kReJOTwasMHqa_aOWg6J_igYBJ1ilyrWvWcUFPvZ0Ezl4135curLWsX83CqvHLqEDO_RqE/s1600/Assessors.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="217" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi74RdZsJdyHfMdLFSsRhfvWt8l-V-MXoiBORA4B5TeQKLAbgls42g7VyQcc-sQPtXLLAhm3kReJOTwasMHqa_aOWg6J_igYBJ1ilyrWvWcUFPvZ0Ezl4135curLWsX83CqvHLqEDO_RqE/s320/Assessors.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Assessors</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
In 2014 the UIAA funded an observer to attend Climbathon and support the
initiative and to help with fine tuning the program to meet the criteria to
gain UIAA recognition. <br />
<br />
By 2015 the Climbathon program had developed and the management team had
addressed the concerns raised in 2014, putting in place, among other issues,
a vigorous assessment program to run alongside the Introductory 'course'. At
the same time the current IMF President was in negotiations with the Ministry
of Skill Development, Govt. of India in a bid to get the Climbathon Himalayan
Mountain Leader Certification recognised as a valid program resulting in those
participants who have undergone training and assessment receiving 'credits'
towards vocational courses in the higher education sector. </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWgYoJ521W0-Ro5CwXenx44Zjq74gCul6sEhw-gYSvCtyrjJb_-0RZmfkXhH-TYyXHi0SBZPgi9km33HIGpvS7lkW6yvWhlVGervUenfI0UoeEDzoEzh0OricrvtYrDgB7aMnwyBZOguU/s1600/Awards.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWgYoJ521W0-Ro5CwXenx44Zjq74gCul6sEhw-gYSvCtyrjJb_-0RZmfkXhH-TYyXHi0SBZPgi9km33HIGpvS7lkW6yvWhlVGervUenfI0UoeEDzoEzh0OricrvtYrDgB7aMnwyBZOguU/s320/Awards.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Assessment Candidates</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
This innovative program has come into being as a result of the dedicated effort
and vision of the IMF President supported by the IMF Board and implemented in
the field by the Program Leader, Wing-Commander S Kutty and Program Director Dr
A Gutoo.<br />
<br /></div>
<b>Why Climbathon? </b><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
In the 21st Century adventure sports are playing a greater role both in and
affecting society and in presenting challenges in everyday life, in many cases
these adventure sports are alternatives to the more accepted past-time
activities; base-jumping, wing-suit flying, extreme caving, canyoning, the list
is almost endless in what people will participate in to get a 'buzz' into their everyday
life.<br />
<br />
Mountaineering is now up at the top of the 'adventure sports' list. This
addiction is driven by several forces, namely commercialism and a personal
'tick-list' that gives the individual a confidence (ego) boost. These 'ticks'
are perpetuated by not only market forces but also by a step aside from the
norm. The highest, the fastest, the coldest (winter), the most audacious, etc.
In 1970 Chris Bonington completed the first climb on the South Face of
Annapurna in around four weeks, two years ago Ueli Steck climbed it in 18
hours, descending in another six or so hours. There are unique challenges in
mountaineering that are now the 'way to make a name for yourself', to become a
motivational speaker, to change life's opportunities - The Seven Summits, The
Eight Summits (including the two Poles), the 14 - Eight-Thousanders, and now
many of these challenges are being put under time scrutiny. If you reach the
summit of Everest then your life will be changed forever. <br />
<br />
However, the biggest 'threat' to what mountaineering is all about is
'commercialism' and fast track summit fever. It is said that money can buy
anything, and so it can, with virtually no experience, or mountaineering
apprenticeship, people can buy their way to the summit of Everest, what would
Mallory have to say about that? <br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4voVcABJ4aqPflJJWlKwD3pfaCOspCoJ4HAIT9wxt_KZ_RMJ84KeV9os5WNMGutffN1giVrnac_w2tk1XFQjqCsVlzW9-jTiaCRxiprfF2K1BxeN7jYJQ1xIub5Gm1sWo7MyyNAxDUew/s1600/south+east+ridge+route.JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4voVcABJ4aqPflJJWlKwD3pfaCOspCoJ4HAIT9wxt_KZ_RMJ84KeV9os5WNMGutffN1giVrnac_w2tk1XFQjqCsVlzW9-jTiaCRxiprfF2K1BxeN7jYJQ1xIub5Gm1sWo7MyyNAxDUew/s320/south+east+ridge+route.JPG" width="320" /></a>This fast growing 'buy it' culture sadly fails to give people a basic
understanding of the ethics and techniques involved in our sport. With the
modern mountaineering equipment, GPS and Sat navigation tools, rescue services
and guides etc, many people get lulled into believing they are invincible, safe
and assured of success, if anything goes wrong just call for a helicopter
rescue, 'I have a guide I'll reach the summit - and get down again!' In India,
as well as in many other high mountain ranges of the world these rescue
services are not readily available, the only safe 'rescue' is the individual's
own ability to get themselves out of their own mess. <br />
<br />
Today's' mountaineers and especially mountain leaders and guides need to be not
only experienced but also qualified against a national or internationally
recognised standard. To many participants in 'mountaineering' activities
failure is not an option and death is even less so. Without experience or a
recognised 'leader' qualification the person in charge of a group of
trekkers/mountaineers is exposing him or herself to all sorts of litigation and
retribution - the world of mountaineering is a changing place. <br />
<br />
The IMF, with a view to the future, recognition of a developing tourism market
and the fact that more people are looking for a mountaineering experience,
accept the value of transferable skills in what is always a potentially
dangerous environment (mountain regions). With this in mind the IMF instigated
the Climbathon program to meet many of these new challenges combining
transferable leadership skills with team building skills and using
mountaineering as the main theme to accomplish its mission.<br />
<br />
<b>Background to Mountaineering Expeditions (and Leadership) in India </b></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi50UYE4fURZ4r_BF7IaZJqrXqd-NuOyTmm3jjbepAmGCieplR1JwKsF2SdE9KYPLYVtZi-r4wSp5Z_6_XdUcHlYKHE-MwJUBtQfMJsn0jJKM9X89CP_fs9FZnbbZSFXTHwFQojECIrOcA/s1600/P1010865v2.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi50UYE4fURZ4r_BF7IaZJqrXqd-NuOyTmm3jjbepAmGCieplR1JwKsF2SdE9KYPLYVtZi-r4wSp5Z_6_XdUcHlYKHE-MwJUBtQfMJsn0jJKM9X89CP_fs9FZnbbZSFXTHwFQojECIrOcA/s640/P1010865v2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A Climbathon Expedition about to leave Base Camp</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
The development of mountaineering in India has followed a completely different
route to that of mountaineering in Europe. [This must be kept in mind when it
comes to reviewing the Assessment process.] The senior services of India very
much lead the way in terms of developing mountaineering and mountain related
activities, even today there are virtually no private expeditions, all fall
under the leadership of one or other of the 'Services'. <br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijxKankMF-e1zEznFM9oI_EkCtBuSm-YUMP2-MlfO3_rAIOmDAty-4oiv7ySvYCTZOzFltn0DOkXymIDdbdN_Eorkt2dn7WCZJM4Z4TbuHPELTAgOuugL02Wbac6_oobWg5pcqOcJA67E/s1600/IMG_4456.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijxKankMF-e1zEznFM9oI_EkCtBuSm-YUMP2-MlfO3_rAIOmDAty-4oiv7ySvYCTZOzFltn0DOkXymIDdbdN_Eorkt2dn7WCZJM4Z4TbuHPELTAgOuugL02Wbac6_oobWg5pcqOcJA67E/s320/IMG_4456.JPG" width="320" /></a>The IMF was formed in 1957 as the Sponsoring Committee for the 1958 Indian Cho
Oyu Expedition and which subsequently summited on May 15 of that year.
Encouraged by this Indian achievement the Committee continued to encourage and
sponsor future expeditions. In 1959 the organisation changed its name to the
'Sponsoring Committee of Everest Expedition and in the following year, 1960, to
the `Sponsoring Committee for Mountaineering Expeditions. Finally, on January
15, 1961 a permanent organization was set up as the national body, with
headquarters in New Delhi and was registered as such on November 3, 1961. Its
building was inaugurated by Prime Minister Indira Gandhi in 1980. <br />
<br />
The main objectives of the IMF are to organize, support and provide a base for
mountaineering expeditions, rock climbing, trekking at high altitudes and to
promote, encourage, support and execute schemes for related adventure activities and environmental protection work in the Himalaya. With this in mind
many of the Climbathon 2015 participants have been on large Service backed expeditions to the high
mountains, including Everest, Kamet, Cho Oyu, Nanda Devi, Saser Kanri and
Kanchenjunga, yet they lack having gone through an 'apprenticeship' stage of
mountaineering missing out on the intuitive learning gained from finding their
own way into the 'adventurous' aspect of making mistakes and learning from
them. Despite reaching the highest places on Earth these members were totally
unprepared for the style of expedition approach presented to them by Climbathon.
<br />
<br />
Historically all the main Indian mountaineering expeditions have been backed by
one of the three armed forces (Army, Navy, Air Force) and the para-military
forces. The leadership of such expeditions was delegated according to rank and
command, discipline and all aspects of planning and implementation was carried
out in line with the standard protocol of the chain of command. Less attention
was paid to developing a team spirit modelled around what, today, would be
called 'leadership skills'.<br />
</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPBPK_dW3L4UlMczURaabW-03wI5PSoXvKEPP95_ggqIMQN3ONAntqbWQek0N_lQgCtF2w7lNNe56RNA0jo9AZGV-Ja1II1E0Xex7ukQuH2IODTZ4VaEEQyCs0xPpPa3Pq4i_aeCKBgf4/s1600/P1010688v2.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPBPK_dW3L4UlMczURaabW-03wI5PSoXvKEPP95_ggqIMQN3ONAntqbWQek0N_lQgCtF2w7lNNe56RNA0jo9AZGV-Ja1II1E0Xex7ukQuH2IODTZ4VaEEQyCs0xPpPa3Pq4i_aeCKBgf4/s400/P1010688v2.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ouch! Watch those fingers in the pulley.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Keeping in mind the IMF remit to promote, encourage, support and execute
schemes for related adventure activities and environmental protection work in
the Himalaya the IMF now deliver courses on High Altitude and Mountain Medicine
Course (HAMMC) for MBBS doctors, the Wilderness First Aid Responder Course and
is now developing the 'Climbathon Brand' with the Climbathon Introductory
Himalayan Mountaineering program and the Climbathon Himalayan Mountain Leader
Certification, based on a vigorous assessment program and soon to be
considered, a Climbathon Survival Program.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<b> </b><br />
<b>Climbathon - Concept to Assessment </b><br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCUdStyJfUNALIto8kJR3a363GXH1nDtv3VslI1JBE5AhL9XtVZZCMb_rnLo00RCwDWdLXFNOAlE5Zn3UCTw_3z0eKSOGt41WnKFOlR0bU4Pc1-4iVrvGbFEP-qy-5FrLXXXcpQgreIlk/s1600/P1010892v2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="321" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCUdStyJfUNALIto8kJR3a363GXH1nDtv3VslI1JBE5AhL9XtVZZCMb_rnLo00RCwDWdLXFNOAlE5Zn3UCTw_3z0eKSOGt41WnKFOlR0bU4Pc1-4iVrvGbFEP-qy-5FrLXXXcpQgreIlk/s640/P1010892v2.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
<br />
Originally Climbathon was designed as an Himalayan Mountaineering Program where
the objective was for each participant to develop his or her climbing skills on
rock, snow, and ice. The course provided a comprehensive introduction to all
the skills associated with mountaineering in India. The first Climbathon in
2013 contained several elements that might be seen on a services training camp,
route marches, a strong service based discipline and an expectation where
participants would conform to the ethics as perceived and valued on a services
mountaineering expedition. Sadly this was not the case and the overall program
fell far short of the IMF anticipated outcome. <br />
<br />
In 2014 steps were taken to address many of the issues raised as a result of
the 2013 Climbathon experience. Certain elements were taken out of the program
to be replaced by many new 'leadership' skills and training elements along with
the techniques required for roped teams to move safely on glaciers and leading
on snow, rock and ice. This was all in preparation for an expedition to a small
non-technical summit in which all of the skills developed during the program
would be employed in a mountain setting. The overall safety of the group
expedition was carried out by instructors that had been invited to attend the
program and who accompanied the participants on the expedition. Unfortunately again gaps
appeared that had not been envisaged during the course of planning Climbathon
2014. There was a big disparity within the participant group in their concept
of what the Climbathon mission was focused on, their previous experience and
physical fitness differed widely and in some cases participants from both the
introductory group and the instructor group believed that once in the mountains
it was acceptable for 'summit fever' to replace training sessions. <br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsvR4ZZa9zUpBeka_e3rKMDkhUp60JWATJeyIQVmi6DfU8HSO4JAqw1voh5Q93_yb2z1COTPryyKXLJmd8z1obBYJS_6jAt4XasjArHjWArz_eQ9UFI217vqakLo9GwuSftaJaFSXMsb0/s1600/P1010811.JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsvR4ZZa9zUpBeka_e3rKMDkhUp60JWATJeyIQVmi6DfU8HSO4JAqw1voh5Q93_yb2z1COTPryyKXLJmd8z1obBYJS_6jAt4XasjArHjWArz_eQ9UFI217vqakLo9GwuSftaJaFSXMsb0/s320/P1010811.JPG" width="320" /></a>During the running of the actual program many discussions took place between
the Climbathon Program Director, the Course Director and the UIAA Observer with
the aim of identifying the areas where it was felt Climbathon could make
changes to positively focus on the main objectives of developing leadership
skills and team building alongside the core elements of developing mountaineering
skills. Once back in the IMF Headquarters in Delhi extensive talks took place
between the President and the UIAA Observer so as to get a clear picture as to
where the IMF wanted the Climbathon Program to go in the future and also the
expected outcomes concerning the UIAA. <br />
<br />
By 2015 the Climbathon management team had addressed many of the previously
identified concerns and issues. A Participant Log Book was established so as to
gain a deeper insight into the participant's previous experience and a doctor's
certificate was requested clarifying the state of participant's health. With
regard to the way forward as identified by the IMF President in 2014 an
Assessment element was added in 2015 to create qualified IMF Himalayan Mountain
Leaders. The core activity for Climbathon 2015 was to focus on 'Leadership
Skills' and 'Team Building Skills' centered round the ethics of mountaineering
and mountaineering skill development. This included introducing topics on
Leadership and Communication skills using role play, Responding to Disaster,
Crisis and Team Conflict, Gender Issues and Expectations, First Aid, Mountain
Health and AMS issues, Mountaineering Ethics, Assessing Hazards and Managing
Risks, Decision Making and Judgement, and Developing a Mountain Sense. The program
concluded with all groups completing a reccy of their intended mountaineering
objective before setting off on their final expedition. <br />
<br />
There is strong evidence of the Service background within the way the
Assessment Program is run and the approach employed by both the Assessment team
and the Program Directors, this is to retain 'discipline' and to give added
value to the overall Climbathon team building experience. Participants fall in
every morning in group ranks, they address all staff as 'Sir' and follow
protocol, if 'senior' officers deliver presentations then the perceived
'junior' officers leave the area. In reality this initially caused a lack of
understanding as many of the concepts being delivered by the Program Director
were new to participants, at all levels; the soft-core elements of leadership
(Gender, Leadership styles, Disaster management etc are, on service
expeditions, the domain of the senior officers.) In the modern world of small
team expeditions all members need to share and understand this knowledge. There
are many different styles of learning and to ensure the participants fully
understand the concept under discussion the presenter uses different
techniques to deliver the message, role-play, interactive learning and simulations
as well as the more traditional teaching methods.<br />
<br />
<b>Climbathon 2015 and the Assessment Process </b><br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzMZ2fkkpYI1zfOZF7_o54cZcYV1lP5e187-WKTiXQCbbmUQr9Pzs3AWwr5KuidtQppsNEmmInt9Zb6mkxqSxMD4lzVYOQEgT0hqvWuWh46ZtQZV6UPWftnQJbTVo1jMqp6x7EnmTDSng/s1600/P1010757.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzMZ2fkkpYI1zfOZF7_o54cZcYV1lP5e187-WKTiXQCbbmUQr9Pzs3AWwr5KuidtQppsNEmmInt9Zb6mkxqSxMD4lzVYOQEgT0hqvWuWh46ZtQZV6UPWftnQJbTVo1jMqp6x7EnmTDSng/s320/P1010757.JPG" width="320" /></a>The IMF have conducted three Climbathon programs, 2013, 2014 and 2015. With an
eye to the future developments in education, vocational skill development, the
tourism sector and with the aim of getting UIAA accredited the IMF has now
introduced an Indian base-line quality bench-mark assessment program for
potential Indian Himalayan Mountain Leaders. <br />
<br />
Pre - Climbathon 2015 a three-day Assessors' Training Workshop took place at
the IMF Headquarters in Delhi prior to leaving for Manali. This included
sessions on What is Climbathon?, the Role of the Assessor (and the Assessment
Candidate), Teaching and Learning Methods, Professionalism and Expected
Behaviour, Managing Conflicts, Complaints and Problem Solving, Feed-back
Skills, The Process of Assessment and finally and in depth, Developing a
Consensus on Core Competencies.<br />
<br />
The Assessment process keeps in mind the historical Service background of
mountaineering in India, the 'hard-core' mountaineering elements (knots,
rescue, belays, techniques etc) while also addressing the 'soft -core' elements
(Gender issues, leadership styles, Resolving Conflict, Meeting Expectations
etc) of leadership. <br />
<br />
Candidates wishing to attend an Introductory Climbathon program will be
provided with an electronic Log Book to ensure they meet the IMF criteria and
thus avoid any issues that have previously occurred during the Climbathon
program. <br />
<br />
The pre-requisite for applying for assessment is that every participant
successfully completes an Introductory Climbathon program and log-book. He or
she will then enter the program and then gain personal experience over the
next year (minimum time gap) at which point they may apply for assessment.
However in the early stages of establishing the Assessment program and the
Himalayan Mountain Leader qualification suitable and promising Introductory
Candidates will be invited for Assessment. Some Assessment candidates may be
exempt from the Introductory Program on submitting a personal log-book
indicating exceptional experience and/or other qualifications. <br />
<br />
Once enrolled and accepted onto an Assessment program an assessment candidate
is in <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpurULO_iG6IjKCJN-QbE3UfyGGwZhZpXZV0SLt8MSwpyJpq54oS1POvEbBt9SOw-U1yS9rnfND16Nv6b7fmhGno6-1OZshECMCE4jpspU-5UYQZW6wTv6behaviNJZpmAyciwljXUix4/s1600/P1010819v2.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpurULO_iG6IjKCJN-QbE3UfyGGwZhZpXZV0SLt8MSwpyJpq54oS1POvEbBt9SOw-U1yS9rnfND16Nv6b7fmhGno6-1OZshECMCE4jpspU-5UYQZW6wTv6behaviNJZpmAyciwljXUix4/s320/P1010819v2.jpg" width="320" /></a>charge of leading a group of approximately 6 Introductory Participants
through all the activities programmed, giving instructions, coaching or
supporting where necessary and throughout the duration of the program will
ultimately be responsible for absolute group safety demonstrating good
leadership skills, dealing with any of the problems that the group or the
chosen route may present and in general presenting a good role model. The final
element of the Assessment is to lead their group on a small expedition to a
local peak 6000m - 6500m to underline their leadership and mountaineering
ability. <br />
<br />
The Assessors are selected instructors from leading Mountaineering Institutes
in India and possess not only evidence of exceptional leadership and
instructional skills in the field of mountaineering but also have good and relevant
expedition experience. The Assessors shadow each assessment candidate
throughout the Climbathon Program, only intervening when safety becomes an
issue. Assessors have a predetermined 'Assessment - Core Elements' Monitoring
sheet on which they mark each candidate's ability according to a predetermined
tariff. At regular intervals throughout the program the Assessors meet to
discuss individual candidates. To avoid issues of either a personal or
personality nature the Assessors rotate so each Assessment Candidate will have
at least two different Assessors giving an over-view of his/her performance.
During the course of assessment the Assessor will try to identify candidates
who show both outstanding leadership and mountaineering skills and who might
provide the right and exemplary role model so as to act as assessor in the
future. <br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGDoed5LftJccCX2qDuUoV6ZVS6LZLfC3z0mvEA7dsu8ZUUMP37Lp1ZLw9oHoJGfdr0A3rhR3tezVpCgyJZ6nesBSkc09sjUX_O4WNLHtzm9TK6aKW9uqpOmUfIuLlk8gvm_-vFoiMKjQ/s1600/P1010777.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGDoed5LftJccCX2qDuUoV6ZVS6LZLfC3z0mvEA7dsu8ZUUMP37Lp1ZLw9oHoJGfdr0A3rhR3tezVpCgyJZ6nesBSkc09sjUX_O4WNLHtzm9TK6aKW9uqpOmUfIuLlk8gvm_-vFoiMKjQ/s320/P1010777.JPG" width="320" /></a>On completion of the Assessment Program a candidate will be provided with a
passport sized log-book (hard copy) for his/her individual use, relevant
comments of a constructive nature will be entered into this by the IMF based on
the Assessors' reports and the assessment process. The Log-book will also act
as a record of individual continuous professional development (CPD) and also as
a license and proof of qualification. </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b>The Log-book will consist of several sections</b>:- <br />
<br />
Pre Climbathon Introductory program experience - completed by the participant
and substantiated if possible <br />
<br />
Climbathon Introductory Program - completed by the group leader if there are
any outstanding features <br />
<br />
Experience gained between Introductory and Assessment programs - completed
individually <br />
<br />
Assessment Climbathon - completed with outcome/relevant constructive comments
by the Assessor, including recommendations as to future Climbathon involvement.
<br />
<br />
Post Assessment Experience - this demonstrates general skill development in
terms of leadership including non-mountaineering activities <br />
<br />
First Aid qualification <br />
<br />
Renewals. </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp4Yt6Cu3WvAxVa81P-zVWktj-H3_cSEjEW8zpTESA1cQVovo1Vpvko57PFslu5INfna9TUxrheH0q4KtRiSAIQ1JQ53aBoKl7eghVVVNRs2EKsQdobBPOEMLsNqBVInACIlcisQ4K2p0/s1600/P1010770v2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="209" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp4Yt6Cu3WvAxVa81P-zVWktj-H3_cSEjEW8zpTESA1cQVovo1Vpvko57PFslu5INfna9TUxrheH0q4KtRiSAIQ1JQ53aBoKl7eghVVVNRs2EKsQdobBPOEMLsNqBVInACIlcisQ4K2p0/s640/P1010770v2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFOKi1OOzgbmnqQ5mI6S38ZIYWw4mOJDE5GWSvN-ayLh9g1cZ6x7RCYU0gn6T-xJZRuusGQmc9svsdXEV_Rpx1ZNyueDgktu60zUM3iptt1at-knpabuxWzrd0i6Jv9eghjqJXXwPOdTo/s1600/DSCN9112.JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a>Candidates may present themselves for Assessment if they possess and can
substantiate their experience and a solid base of mountaineering knowledge at
which time they may be considered for an exemption to the Introduction program.
Exemption at Assessment level is not permissible.<br />
<br />
<b>Environment Cleaning Program </b><br />
<br />
There is an increasing awareness and concern in India over environment negative
impact. Climbathon is particularly concerned over the negative impact of
climbing expeditions in the Indian Himalaya, to this end throughout its
Climbathon program participants regularly conduct environmental audits of their
passing through the rural and remote area - what waste is created and of what
specific nature, wet, dry, bio-degradable, recyclable etc. The IMF in
collaboration with other organisations organises and supports Environment Base
Camp Cleaning programs.<br />
<br />
<b>Climbathon 2015 - Outcomes </b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFOKi1OOzgbmnqQ5mI6S38ZIYWw4mOJDE5GWSvN-ayLh9g1cZ6x7RCYU0gn6T-xJZRuusGQmc9svsdXEV_Rpx1ZNyueDgktu60zUM3iptt1at-knpabuxWzrd0i6Jv9eghjqJXXwPOdTo/s1600/DSCN9112.JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFOKi1OOzgbmnqQ5mI6S38ZIYWw4mOJDE5GWSvN-ayLh9g1cZ6x7RCYU0gn6T-xJZRuusGQmc9svsdXEV_Rpx1ZNyueDgktu60zUM3iptt1at-knpabuxWzrd0i6Jv9eghjqJXXwPOdTo/s320/DSCN9112.JPG" width="320" /></a><br />
<br />
Climbathon 2015 was conducted with 30 participants entering the Introductory
program, five candidates were assessed by five Assessors and a Moderator
Assessor also acting as a Chief Instructor. From of these: - <br />
<br />
Candidates who fulfilled the Assessment criteria - 2 Assessors who met the
Assessment criteria and were thus were exempt Assessment - 6 <br />
<br />
Assessment Candidates recommended for an Assessor role in 2016 - 2 <br />
<br />
Assessment Candidates who were failed - 2 <br />
<br />
Assessment Candidates who were deferred pending further experience - 1
requiring additional 'leadership/feed-back experience, log-book to be
resubmitted to the IMF by the end of March 2016 <br />
<br />
Seven people received the IMF Climbathon Indian Himalayan Mountain Leaders
Award thus creating a tourism mountain related qualified workforce of 7 plus
the expected success of the one 'deferral' in March 2016. <br />
<br />
Overview of the total process <br />
<br />
<b>Pre Climbathon Application Process </b><br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisYyZrSrxeQd1b_yNtBnUu3BIt-WZgGBmqVmXp6HIbKTBZpKV-qJAiwPObAm91EqpwNLmgheyoSo1Teg2veuZpdW3tl9StHlARNtDzA0sWIEQzJ9GZYibAxZXRLivn41-Qyp-UKKYO70I/s1600/DSCN9368.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisYyZrSrxeQd1b_yNtBnUu3BIt-WZgGBmqVmXp6HIbKTBZpKV-qJAiwPObAm91EqpwNLmgheyoSo1Teg2veuZpdW3tl9StHlARNtDzA0sWIEQzJ9GZYibAxZXRLivn41-Qyp-UKKYO70I/s320/DSCN9368.JPG" width="320" /></a>Application via submission of log-book evidence - vigorously scrutinised - in
some cases application rejected on grounds of lack of experience - process
excellent and transparent <br />
<br />
Submission of a medical certificate, signed off by a GP, in some cases
application rejected on grounds of a condition that might be aggravated by
altitude - process excellent and transparent <br />
<br />
Participation in Climbathon - performance monitored by assessors, issues of
concern are openly discussed by the Assessment Team, constructive advice or
warnings are given, usually on grounds of behaviour - an outcome is reached as
a result of moderation by the staff, the process is excellent and transparent. <br />
<br />
Selection of participants for Assessment - performance monitored by Assessors
on the Introductory Program, performance and attitude are 'graded', cross
referencing by Assessors and a jointly agreed grade, against Assessment
Criteria is decided upon - process is excellent and transparent -
recommendations forwarded and recorded. <br />
<br />
Assessment participants - are invited by the IMF if previously recommended but
in future individuals may apply on the submission of a log-book when completion
of an Introductory program might be exempted, all participant evidence of
practice are recorded and filled in the IMF, rejected candidates are usually
rejected on the grounds of lack of appropriate experience - process is
excellent and transparent . <br />
<br />
Assessment - all participants, at this level are subjected to an assessment
program, all candidates will be assessed by at least two assessors, regular
assessor meetings are held to moderate results, rolling records are kept and
referred to at each assessor meeting - final outcome -Pass, Deferral, Fail -
process is excellent and transparent. <br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi91RgBpcGx1hyphenhyphenV_1f5zrXRGaiJ8CQv9k-TwVZl5PuOtdJtqmCw8jx15GeTEmQaI2QFvPn7pN8y7p-UtJ4TyPqDtWV-wACg0CcLHD3E3ksftR_HUxDqRm7rQSKILe_ZCeVEz7m29-DT64g/s1600/DSCN9207.JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi91RgBpcGx1hyphenhyphenV_1f5zrXRGaiJ8CQv9k-TwVZl5PuOtdJtqmCw8jx15GeTEmQaI2QFvPn7pN8y7p-UtJ4TyPqDtWV-wACg0CcLHD3E3ksftR_HUxDqRm7rQSKILe_ZCeVEz7m29-DT64g/s320/DSCN9207.JPG" width="320" /></a>Future continuous professional development - assessment participants who show
aptitude and all the relevant skills are recommended, subject to experience, to
become assessors, these discussions take place at the final moderation meeting
- this is not a pass/fail situation but it is based on suitable role models with
the appropriate skill - process is excellent and transparent. <br />
<br />
The aim if the IMF cross referencing Mountain Leadership and Vocational
Training <br />
<br />
The IMF has continued with its mission of supporting those young people who
wish to develop and succeed in mountaineering activities and to that end the
IMF, through the President, are pursuing a program of vocational skill
training. This is being conducted by identifying roles within mountaineering
that match jobs within industry, for example, catering, environmental
management, logistical management, man management etc. These experiences would
then be linked into the vocational training qualification scheme whereby an
individual could gain 'mountaineering' credits to support a lack of formal
education thus enabling a wider percentage of the disadvantaged population
access to higher education. The Himalayan Mountaineering Leadership program
contributes to this development policy building on the experiences gained in
trekking and mountaineering expeditions.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPLPvWSXMSs6m0-KHWTU8R6VLyu34jAMxV7y1bUZ1rQj4uxZ6KDRDH0VJd3JtyJJ_49LZICj6aOW9XaQ-nUcSLW1z88qrlI3AIKCT80FxsuGub9KGyXv-z75zX-47LBDtgX3OwElQlqVQ/s1600/DSCN9364.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPLPvWSXMSs6m0-KHWTU8R6VLyu34jAMxV7y1bUZ1rQj4uxZ6KDRDH0VJd3JtyJJ_49LZICj6aOW9XaQ-nUcSLW1z88qrlI3AIKCT80FxsuGub9KGyXv-z75zX-47LBDtgX3OwElQlqVQ/s320/DSCN9364.JPG" width="320" /></a><b>Summary of Climbathon 2015 </b><br />
<br />
Climbathon 2015 was organised and delivered in a highly professional manner. It
maintained discipline through a combination of both the tried and tested
'Service' methods with the inclusion of a more 'rounded' approach. Climbathon
delivered what it had previously announced it would deliver and in the
per-prescribed manner. <br />
<br />
Learning sessions included both the hard-core mountaineering skills as well as
the soft-core leadership/team building skills. Teaching methods included a spread
of different styles, ranging from role-play to interaction through formal
teaching sessions and group presentations and experience sharing. <br />
<br />
The program included specific planning to incorporate acclimatisation and rest
days, although the latter were ostensibly the times for 'class-room' learning
sessions. <br />
<br />
The time-table was adhered to in terms of daily activities and sessions.
Assessment was vigorously pursued with in-depth monitoring of Assessment
Candidates being scrutinised at all times against a per-determined Assessment
Concept. The Assessment took place in sections - Batal to Snout Camp, Snout
Camp to Base Camp, Base Camp to Advanced Camp and then the expedition element.
At the end of each section the Assessors reviewed each candidates performance
and then present their conclusions amongst themselves giving time for Assessor
interaction and feed-back. At this point the Assessors also changed groups so
as to allow for several Assessors to ultimately review and assess a candidates
performance.<br />
<br />
<b>Climbathon - Participant and Assessment Program </b><br />
<br />
In Delhi - a 3 day Training of Assessors Program was conducted. This program
included:- An Overview of Climbathon, Role of the Assessor (teaching/learning
methods), Professionalism and Expected Behaviour, Managing Conflicts,
Complaints and Behaviour Problems, Feed Back skills, The Assessment Process and
Log-Books and Developing Consensus and Core Competencies. <br />
<br />
In Manali - a 2 day program for the Assessment Candidates in which registration
was completed and teams were designated. Sessions included, Leadership,
Communication and Responding to Disasters.<br />
<br />
In Snout Camp - the Introductory participants were lead by the Assessment
Candidates on the topics of River Crossings, Avalanche Search, Acclimatisation,
Crisis and Team Conflict, Gender Issues, First Aid, Mountaineering Ethics,
Assessing Potential Hazards, Managing Risk, Camp Hygiene/Sanitation and
Developing a Mountain Sense. <br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
At Base Camp - Situation Awareness, Survival/bivi skills,
mountaineering skills; rope work and knots, improvisation, glacier work,
climbing mixed terrain, using crampons and ice axe, assessing snow bridges,
crevasse rescue, avalanche Risk, belays <br />
<br />
Expedition - selecting a suitable expedition peak taking into account
expectations and ability, completing a reccy, preparing for the expedition and
completing the expedition over three days. <br />
<br />
Return to Manali for the final debriefing.</div>
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