MOUNTAIN ODYSSEY TREKS & EXPEDITIONS
TRIPS IN 2007!

THE HIGH ANNAPURNAS - CHULU EXPEDITION, 2007
Dates: April, 2007 (To be determined)
Duration: 32 Days (23 days in the mountains)
Land Cost: $3600
Join me in April when I return to the Annapurna’s for “The High Annapurna – Chulu Expedition”. After two days in Kathmandu we fly to Pokhara, the second largest city in Nepal. Next is the breathtaking flight up to the high mountain village of Homde, 10,500’. This high, dry region in the rain shadow of the Annapurna range is quite reminiscent of Tibet. After careful acclimatization in the Homde area, we will move up for the first of our two climbs, Chulu Far East, 19,998”. Then it’s up the trail to Lettar and the base camp of Chulu West, 21,186’. This climb will give the participants a taste of expedition climbing, although on a smaller scale. We will make one or two forays to a high camp at approximately 19,000’, spend two nights there and make our bid for the summit. In 1999, I saw a Snow Leopard in this remote and peaceful base camp! The trip concludes as we cross over Thorong La and descend to the fascinating village of Muktinath, a holy shrine to Buddhists and Hindus alike. Then it’s on to Jomsom where, after 23 days on the trail, we catch a flight back to Pokhara and on to Kathmandu.

“THE ROWALING EXPEDITION”
Dates: Sept. 28, 2007 - October 28, 2007
Duration: 31 days (23 days on the trail)
Land Cost: $3,600
The Fall season begins with one of my favorite treks in Nepal - “The Rowaling Expedition”! We start with a bus ride to the village of Dolakha and begin our 23 day trek through the mountains of Nepal. The route takes us down to the rice paddies on the Tamba Kosi (river), 2904’ where we begin our steady climb towards the Rowaling Valley and the main Sherpa village of Beding. Beding was established nearly 500 years ago, by the Tibetan descendants of the Sherpa people, still living there. It has remained basically unchanged in all of this time. We continue our journey, which includes the ascents of three trekking peaks, Yalung Ri - 18,580’, Ramdung - 19,570’, and finally Parchamo - 20,700’. We access Parchamo from the top of Tashi Lapcha – 18,881’, one of the highest passes in Nepal. Crossing it is a mountaineering feat in itself! Then we descend the east side of the pass into Mt. Everest National Park and continue the descent through Thame, Namche Bazaar and down to Lukla - 9200’. From Lukla we catch a flight back to Kathmandu. This remote Rowaling Valley is not accessible by individual trekkers and can only be done in a self-supported group, which means that you won’t see many people on this one!

“PEAKS & PASSES of the KHUMBU”
Dates: Oct. 28 – Nov. 28, 2007
Duration: 32 Days (24 days on the trail)
Land Cost: $3600
My final offering for the 2007 Fall season is “Peaks & Passes of the Khumbu”. It’s 24 days on mountain trails as we make a large loop through Mt. Everest National Park. Although this is a very popular trekking area, I prefer to utilize secondary trails, which are much less crowded and offer better views??? Really! Also, rather than follow the normal, crowded valley trails to each highlight, we will traverse the park, crossing three high passes and selecting remote, beautiful campsites each evening.

We will walk up Kala Pattar - 18,300’ and Gokyo Ri - 17,519”, both great vantage points to view Everest and Cho Oyu. But that’s not all…this trip offers the ascents of four beautiful trekking peaks. They are: Pokalde - 19,049’, Lobuche East - 20,075’, Chugima Ri - 18,800’ and last, but not least, is Peak 5880m. After crossing the third pass, Renjo La into the newly opened and seldom seen valley above Thame, near the Tibetan border, we set camp. From this camp we make an attempt on the hidden Peak 5880. I made the first ascent in 2003 with friends. Afterwards it’s down the trail to Namche Bazaar and Lukla where our flight takes us back to Kathmandu.

For more details on any trek please call me at 307-733-9322.