Nepal High Passes Trek (Private)

This is a private event, organized by a MAA member looking for partners. Please express interest by joining the waitlist, the organizer will contact you. 

Nepal High Passes Trek - "Yeti Supertramp"

Join us in Nepal for some epic rural trekking to far away high places few have been before!  Together we will cross some of the highest mountain passes on earth and climb less travelled peaks on a long journey through the Himalaya.  This Yeti Supertramp shall be a grand tour of Rolwaling, Everest, and Makalu/Barun regions and will take nearly six weeks to complete. 

Staging begins and ends in Katmandu with sightseeing, supply coordination & orientation. The general idea is to employ local help to portage climbing and camping gear to select basecamps so the trekking sections are truly enjoyable with smaller day packs.  Food would be resupplied between each of the three segments to lighten loads.  We will go Alpine style on the climbing portions.

Part 1 – Rolwaling to Gokyo

Starts with a Jeep ride to Gonggar and trek over Daldung La to the remote and unspoiled holy Buddhist sanctuary of Rolwaling valley.  This route less travelled, loaded with waterfalls and suspension bridges has been described as “one of the most challenging treks in Nepal”.  This gets us acclimatized as we parallel the Tibet border just kilometers to the north in the first week.  Opportunities for side shows abound including Gaurishankar temple, Menlung La to Tibet, old settlement of Na, Yalung glacier, and the stunning Tsho Rolpa glacial lake below.

From here, we move up the Takarding glacier to Tesi Lapcha Phedi to camp, explore, and decision making.  Our “baseline route climbs semi-technically over Tesi Lapcha La hi pass (5755m) to Thyangbo & up valley to Lungdhen.  Alternatively, the energetic adventure goes higher up the Rolwaling glacier past 8 peaks (some unclimbed) including Langdak (6240m) then down glacier to Lungdhen town for respite in Thorwa hotel lodge on the ancient trade route.  Either way is a sound & memorable adventure.

Finally, part 1 culminates with our climb over Renjo La pass (5360m) to Gokyo valley with views of Cho Oyu and perhaps our first glimpse of Everest. 

Part 2 – Gokyo to Khumbu

Part 2 starts with an acclimatization climb up Gokyo Ri peak (5357m) and down.  Then we cross the mighty Ngozumba Glacier (largest in Nepal) where our baseline route would cross Cho La Pass (5368m) to Lobuche.  But here lies an opportunity for my highlight of the venture, a relatively unexplored climbing attempt venturing further north past Cho La Col (5656m) to a fascinating narrow ridge that separates the Gaunara glacier from the Changri Nup glacier.  This ridge drew my interest on numerous Google Earth flyovers and has been labeled on the map as “Changri La” (5802m) which only makes it sound all the more possible and alluring.

Whether via Changri Nup glacier or via Lobuche, part 2 ends with a stop-over in Gorak Shep with a side trip to Everest Base Camp (EBC 5364m). 

Part 3 – Khumbu (EBC) to Mera Peak (Makalu/Barun)

The final leg of the journey becomes a little more climbing focused since it puts us at the base of many such opportunities as we trek from the Khumbu valley through the far eastern side of Sagarmatha national park to Makalu/Barun national park.  We will start near EBC at Gorak Shep where rendezvous is possible with new team members, and head down to Lobuche and climb over the Kongma La pass (5535m) to Chhukhung.  This puts us in the Amphulapcha area at the base of Island peak looking up at the massive south face of Nuptse, Lhotse, and Lhotse Shar.  The route moves along to climb the formidable Amphulapcha La pass (5839m) where Amphulapche peak, unclimbed “hills”, Kali Himal, Baruntse will tower over us beckoning the adventurous and energetic which could be your opportunity to bag a 7Km high peak! 

After any foray into these high peaks, we begin our journey homeward via the Honggu Khola valley.  But the fun is definitely not over.  Regardless of the outcome or decisions of the high country, we still have the Mera peaks to enjoy starting by climbing the Mera La pass (5415m) to Khare camp, the Mera glacier to high camp (5780m) and the Mera peaks (6476m).  These less travelled hills should not disappoint!  The tour ends with another less travelled trek south out through the Inkhu Khola valley and Cherem for more cultural immersion and vehicle pick up back to Katmandu.

Team Member Prerequisites for the climbing portions of this event:

To participate in the climbing options of this trek, one should have prior training in glacier travel and crevasse rescue as well as general mountaineering and rope skills.  One should also have experience practicing these skills including tie-in & travel in a roped team in an alpine environment.  We will spend significant time above 5,000m elevation on this trip, so successful experience above 4,000m (13,200ft) meaning no unmanaged altitude sickness is a requirement.  Experience placing gear while lead climbing in snow and rock environments is highly preferred as this will be a small team and anyone may end up in a lead or rescue role at some time during our optional climbing segments.  Fitness level to hike and climb long hours with a pack day after day is recommended.  Lastly and most important is behaving as a team player, recognizing strengths and weaknesses of ourselves & others, aiding when needed (no loan wolfs please for this trip) as we are only as successful as our lowest common denominator.

We will be using our own equipment as much as possible.  Some MAA club equipment may be available for borrow, and it may make sense to pick up some things in Katmandu to reduce airline luggage fees.  This will be coordinated leading up to the event.

All that said, it may be possible for friends or family to join in on some of the trekking segments and/or as a supporting member of the team without all the climbing prereqs.  For example: trekking out and back up the Rolwaling, to Gokyo, or to Everest Base Camp, even backwards to Mera peak and return at the end.  Please be sure to explain the nature of your interest in applying for the event as suitable transportation will need to be arranged.

Group size

The preferred group size for the climbing segments is 2 to 6 participants (not including sherpa support).  Since some people will do only one of the three segments, there should hopefully be room to accommodate all qualified climbers with the means and will for such an event (a tall order)!

Price and Expenses

Final price for the shared organized portion of this trip will be determined once we have group size and make-up for each segment.  Initial estimate of the overall 5 week trip base upon 2 people was in the neighborhood of $250 per person per day including food, lodging, support, for reference.  This will depend upon level of support we finalize upon.  This is a custom itinerary with complicated logistics.  Climbing permits are generally less in the fall than in springtime, so that is on our side. Please keep in touch for further estimates of the shared costs.  Airfare to and from Katmandu is on your own.

Gear and clothing

Dress will need to be for both high altitude mountain environment and for early autumn trekking.  We could see rain and fog at times on the trek in or out.

• Lightweight hardshell jacket and pants
• Warm down jacket and light puff pants for camp and descents
• Wicking base layer top & bottom
• Soft shell hooded general mountaineering jacket
• Lightweight trekking pants (zip-offs might be handy)
• Good pair of general mountaineering trousers
• One pair of light shorts or swimwear optional
• 3 pair quality wool and/or synthetic socks and underwear
• Warm down mittens plus climbing gloves
• Warm hat, glacier cap, balaclava
• Mountaineering boots and sturdy crampons
• Lightweight but reliable quick change snowshoes w/cleats
• Climbing harness, belay device, slings & biners, jumar, helmut
• Pair of ice tools (one long w/adze, one short w/hammer
• Warm boot cover gaiters plus light ankle gaiters
• Trekking poles
• Mountaineering glasses/goggles plus sun glasses, sun protection
• Cold weather sleeping bag
• Tent (probably to be shared - will be worked out prior)