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GHT Wild West - Double Wild WestWe break trail MAKING the Great Himalaya Trail high route There is one major section that no GHT walker has successfully trekked. Or local. Other GHT explorers have tried around the back of Saipal, but bad luck dogged them, bad weather, or they trekked into China (which we won't), or found the logistics too formidable. But it is doable and we head out to find a way. This neat Wild West exploratory trip can end in Simikot alternatively, if you are up for more, we resupply and keep going! Actually there is another major section that no GHT trekker has even ATTEMPTED. We find a way across over high, isolated ridges rather than a lower hot and less than exciting trail. Double Wild West! Yes, it seems a bit ambitious to take a commercial trekking group exploring on trails like this but this is what we do, and we have succeeded every time so far. And had INCREDIBLE trekking experiences, ask Paul who has joined for four of them or Celesta who has trekked three of them, and others. This will be Jamie's 10th 42 day exploratory trek (!)... Logistically extremely challenging, we will be taking the same all star crew as the last few years. Outline ItineraryThis is seriously "back of the envelope". Robin (Mr GHT), thanks for the inspiration! We are trekking the whole Nepal GHT but rather than a marathon trek, we have broken it up into quarters and pick the best season and direction for each section. Unlike our previous 42 day exploratory trips, there is no 6000m peak attempt on this expedition.
GHT Double Wild WestDay 28 - trek Simikot29 - rest-resupply SimikotGoodbye to the Wild West team, we rest, clean up and resupply. 30-39 - trek to MuguThe current GHT route to Rara Lake is low and hot and not very exciting, to say the least. Instead we head into the high country again to cross two major ridges over to the very remote village of Mugu. This will be wild country with wolves or snow leopard and their food, blue sheep... And nobody has trekked this route in its entirety, although there are grazing trails. 40-42 trek to TalchaWe are now in territory familiar to Jamie and the crew, and cruise down valley with surprisingly peaceful good camps given the rough villages and terrain. 43 - fly KathmanduWe take an (exciting-relieving) charter flight out, over Rara Lake, to either Surkhet and/or Nepalgunj and on to Kathmandu. Perhaps Talcha airfield is finished now, they were still working on it in 2011! 44 - Kathmandu spare dayThis partially covers flight delays. Day 45 - Saturday 3 November - depart
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The orange line is our planned route; dashed on standard GHT routes, solid where we are redefining it (map courtesy TheGreatHimalayaTrail.org)
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MapCheck out this map of the GHT, and detail on the Mugu region, and do click on the lower right most control to go full screen, then click on the text to activate. Click to zoom in. GearIt is critical to bring the right gear. Most importantly do bring sturdy trekking boots. These must be almost new tough fabric and leather trekking boots, and slightly tougher than the lightest available, or be all-leather trekking boots. As an example, Scarpa make the Mistral GTX, which is their lightest, but the Kailash GTX is a bit tougher, but still light. The all leather boot alternative should be tough with real ankle support, such as the New SL M3. You need a 4 season sleeping bag, nothing less. FitnessYou MUST have a good level of trekking fitness. We don't set out to make the trek tough, but it will be as we are trekking sometimes shorter, sometimes longer days as we don't know in advance exactly where the camp will be for any given day. In 2011 we only had one trek into the evening where everyone had to sleep outside, no room for tents, but these challenges happen. Trek styleWe trek standard Nepal expedition style, with you carrying a day pack, porters carry the gear and we have a kitchen crew to cook for us. So in some ways it is little different from a standard camping trek, the differences are that we won't be able to resupply, and that we are unlikely to meet another trekking group except perhaps at Simikot. Real explorationOn our 9 previous 42 day exploratory trips we have many firsts or major achievements that we haven't previously publicized. 2011 GHT - first commercial trek team across the Lakyap/Kekyap passes (thanks, Paulo Grobel). We rerouted the GHT near Bhijer, saving a 5368m pass crossing. Crossed the high route between Dolpo and Mugu without incident (it is a TOUGH route!). 2010 GHT - successfully climbed Saribung, 6328m, 100% team success. 2009 GHT - first commercial trek team to trek Chyangtang to Makalu Base Camp the direct way (Robin Boustead was the first). (2008 no commercial trek but Jamie discovered the crucial pass near Saipal for the current 2012 trek after guiding James Vlahos writing for Nat Geo; thanks Nepal Trust) (2007 Manaslu Wild 35 days - explored Tsum to the Tibet border) 2006 Kanchen Gola Wild - first trekkers ever to the top the Umbak La to Tibet. 2005 Kanchen Gola Wild - probably first commercial trek to cross Lumbasamba, Kanchenjunga to the Makalu region, crucial for the GHT. 2003 Kanchen Gola Wild - first trekkers to the top of Tipta La (after Joseph Hooker in 1848) 2002 Kanchen Gola Wild - first trekkers to the Ghari La 2001 Kanchenjunga Wild - first trekkers to the Chabuk La, first peak ascent, saw snow leopard (2000 Manaslu High 32 days - trekked the Tsum valley prior to it being opened) 1999 Kanchenjunga-Makalu 42/75 day trek (!) (1998 - Wild Kanchenjunga 38 days - the trek that started the Kanch series; we didn't meet another trekking group) 2011 GHT trek galleriesWhat an incredible, seriously tough trek, what an all-star team and crew!
Photo galleries of the 2010 tripWe had a classic, fun exploratory adventure, check out Jamie's Picasa slide shows.
GHTThe Great Himalaya Trail is the longest and highest trekking trail in the world, a trail from one end of the Himalaya to the other and Jamie and friends, Robin Boustead and Richard Bull particularly, are deeply involved in promoting and trekking it. 
jdesign -- all rights reserved -- 2012 |
