A trek in Nepal is a unique and unforgettable
experience for a whole lot of reasons but four in particular
stand out:
Scenery : Eight out of fourteen highest mountains in the world
are in Nepal and if you want to see these up close, you must
walk. While trekking you see far more than the mountains. You
can walk from the tropical lowlands to alpine meadows and
glacial moraines while in the spring Nepal's brilliant
rhododendrons will be in bloom and you may see rare species of
birds.
Diversity : The landscape of Nepal is almost continually
inhabited. The majority of Nepal's population live, not in the
cities, but in tiny villages. Even in the high mountains, small
settlements on stone houses and yak pastures dot every possible
flat space. Much of the fascination of a trek is derived from
the opportunity to observe life in these villages, where people
truly live off the land, using only a few manufactured items
such as soap, kerosene, paper and matches. All of which are
imported in bamboo baskets carried by bare foot porters.Trekkers
pass through picturesque villages inhabited by Sherpas, Magars,
Gurungs and Tamangs in the highlands and Brahmins, Chhetris and
Newars in the lower altitudes. These are among the many ethnic
groups which exist in Nepal.
People : Trekkers are always impressed by the friendliness of
the people they meet along the local trails .The hill people
particularly their traditional hospitality and fascinating
culture, make a trek in Nepal a special kind of mountain holiday
unlike any other part of world.
Safety : Not only is scenery interesting and ever changing but
it can be seen in relative safety. Theft, robbery, assault all
the problems of western civilization and many Asian countries
are still relatively unknown in Nepal. There was a time a few
years ago When even women could trek alone in Nepal.
Unfortunately things seem to be changing and treks need to be
more careful than they used to be. It is advisable to trek in
groups of at least two persons and if possible with a porter or
a guide. But this doesn't necessarily mean that you need to trek
with an organized trekking agency in an expensive way.
Height : Trekking is not mountaineering but it is as well to
remember that the Himalayas begin where other mountains finish.
Whether you begin your trek at a roadbed or fly into a remote
mountain airstrip, a large part of your trek will be in the
middle hills region at an elevations between 1000 meters and
3000 meters but the trek to Everest base camp will reach 5545
meters. Most of the time you will remain with in the altitude
range 1500 to 2000 meters. In this region, there are always
well-developed trails through villages and across mountain
passes. Even at high altitudes there are intermittent
settlements used in the summer by erders, so the trails, though
often indistinct, are always there. All trails are easily
traversed without the aid of ropes or any mountaineering skill.
There are rare occasions when snow is encountered, and on some
high passes it might be necessary to place a safety line for
your companions or porter if there is deep snow, but alpine
techniques are almost never used on a traditional trek. Anyone
who has walked extensively in the mountains has all the skill
necessary for on extended trek in Nepal. |