Mt. Whitney Portal Store & Hostel Forums General Mt. Whitney Portal Store Message Board Nepal Trek: Need All The Info I Can Get!

So now I'm looking for help.

I've been contemplating another trip back to Nepal in October, 2007 and was briefly sidetracked by thoughts of delaying a return to do a trip to Africa with my wife later this year. After spending a few hours looking into doing Kili, I think I'm go back to my original plans.

Anybody out there have experience in the Rolwaling Valley? (I went up the Tashi Labtsa on my last trip, but we didn't head down into the valley.) From what little I've seen posted, it seems that it is on the verge of becoming a regular "off the beaten path" trekking route. If so, there would be lodges available, but I'd like confirmation of this.

The other area that I've had on my list for quite a while is the Makalu area. There are supposed to be some great high-altitude passes between the Khumbu and Makalu regions. (Maybe an off-the-record ascent of Baruntse on the way back?)

Richard, you tweaked my interest. Makalu-Barun area. Boy I'd love to see that golden west wall of #5 again.

This high pass trek route might be of interest. Sorry, cannpt answer your other questions. Harvey

http://www.highmountaintrek.com/makalu_region.htm

Thanks. I'm really getting pumped about this. I hope it all works out.

I was thinking that I'd left all of my topo maps over in storage in Thailand, but found ten of them in my office this afternoon. I'm looking forward to opening them up and "exploring," which is odd for me, since in most cases, I just decided how long a trip is going to last, and leave the final decision-making until I'm in Nepal. (Gaining wisdom with age? Losing interest in the unexpected?)

Richard

This is interesting. I had been planning a climb of Kili for over a year and a half. I was side tracked recently when I had an opportunity to trek in Nepal this spring with some climbers I really respect and admire. I am now back to my original plan to climb Kili! (My plan for Kili is to summit on June 30th (a full moon and my 50th b-day.) Since this b-day will only happen once, it seemed pretty cool to be standing on the roof top of Africa on that day! I still plan on trekking in Nepal in the near future and I want to trek the off beaten paths. I will be following your plans to see where you end up. I hope it works out for you this fall.

Btw, maps are half the fun of any adventure!

Well, this is only true according to Overstock's bookstore. I've been having an e-mail conversation with Jamie (trying to get him to let me be another one of his draft reviewers) and he states it'll be late-summer at the earliest. He's hoping it'll be out for the autumn high season.

That would be cool! I had wanted to stand on top of Whitney last year, but it didn't work out. I've also been into doing climbs on my dad's birthday in October (since he passed away). Here's hoping I'll be up on something special when it rolls around this year.

There really is something cool about looking at a map for trip planning purposes. I just wish I had one of my Nepali friends around to let me know whether a line I draw on the map is foolish or not. In '04, one of the highlight of the trip was the night we spent over the map, over beers, up in Namche. I couldn't believe it when my friend (and guide) didn't balk at the route that I proposed. If I ever come close to doing a trip that turns out to be that fun (only bummer was quite a bit of bad weather and stomach), it'll be unreal.

line on the Nepal map foolish or not? You know they don't follow contour lines there anyway. Harvey

Richard

What a great way to honor your father, to be climbing a great mountain on his birthday!

I can only imagine what it would be like to be looking over maps of the Himalayan region while actually being there. One day soon. Again, good luck with the planning of your trip this fall.

I got another e-mail from Jamie McGuinness and he called me a "Fellow Nepal Junkie." I'll take that as the sincerest form of flattery! He also stated (after having a look at my photo website) that he wishes that I'd reconsider heading over in October so that I could join a couple of his company's guides for an "Exploratory trek traversing Rolwaling -> Khumbu -> Makalu!" I'm smiling from ear-to-ear! What a compliment!

I really, really wish I could do this. To think of the high passes that you cross on this journey! And all the mountains that you'd see!

Richard

I have two words for you: "do this"!