A Traverse of Nepal
(September 16
- November 12, 2008, and April 28 - May 19, 2011)

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In the fall of 2008 and spring 2011, I did a traverse of Nepal entirely on foot, between its Western and Eastern borders with India. This traverse started in a small village near Baitadi and ended at Khang La (pass) near the settlement of Tseram at the foot of Kanchenjunga. The first part in 2008 (traverse of Western Nepal) ended in Arughat, a small town located at the foot of Manaslu, about 100km from Kathmandu. The second part in 2011 (traverse of Central and Eastern Nepal) started from this same town.

 

The approximate itinerary is shown on the map below, in blue for the first part and in red for the second part. Each part lasted approximately 2 months, exactly 56 consecutive days for the first part and 53 for the second. On average, each day involved 7 hours of actual walking or climbing (this time does not include rest stops). In total, the traverse is about 2,200 km in horizontal length and 100km in cumulated elevation gain. The itinerary crosses about 45 passes. This was an awesome trip, full of contrasts, among people with different Buddhist and Hindu cultures, from low to high elevation, from very hot (and humid) to freezing cold temperatures, from jungle to desert-like regions, from rarely visited areas, like the far West of Nepal, to over-trekked areas, like the Annapurna and Everest base camp circuits.

 

Links at the bottom of this page give more detailed information and numerous photos about each leg of the traverse.

 

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Ang Karma Sherpa, the owner and managing director of Windhorse Trekking, helped me set up the itinerary for this trek and arranged the permits and logistics.

 

His intimate knowledge of Nepal and his mountaineering expertise were invaluable. He had previously helped organizing several mountain expeditions in which I had participated (Cho Oyu in 2001 and 2002 and Kyajo Ri in 2006).

 

 

For each of the two parts of the trek I was supported by a team of 5 Sherpas (selected by Ang Karma), all from the same area of Solu-Khumbu. These two teams worked very hard to help me achieve the traverse. It is clear that without them I would not have been able to complete the traverse.

 

There were 3 Sonam in the first team! Sonam (1), on the left below, was the leader. were the other members. Sonam(2) and Nawang left in Beni to return to Kathmandu.

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Sonam (1)

Pasang

Sonam (2)

Sonam (3)

Nawang

 

 

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Pemba Lama, on the left below, was the leader of the second team. Apa Lapa, Tshering, Kabirajhaba, and Kame were the other members.

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Pemba Lama

Apa Lapa

Tshering

Kabirajhaba

Kame

 

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Some of the Nepali people we encountered during this traverse:

-     First part:

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people-1st-part-1-2

 

-     Second part:

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Sceneries (in chronological order from top to bottom and left to right):

-     First part:

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sceneries-group-2

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-     Second part:

sceneries-2nd-part-1

sceneries-2nd-part-2

 

One fascinating aspect of Nepal is that, outside the Kathmandu valley, the low-elevation south (Terai), and the main trekking areas, most of the country has barely changed for decades, even centuries. Many people ignore what is going on outside their immediate environment, not only in other countries, but even in Kathmandu. Many still have never seen a car. This does not mean that Nepal is a primitive country. In fact, its culture is ancient, refined, coherent, and highly developed. In most villages, houses are neat, and harmoniously designed and built. Throughout most of Nepal, trails are numerous and incredibly well engineered to handle heavy rains (unlike some recent, brutally bulldozed roads, for example in eastern Langtang). Although people are poor by many standards, they have organized their life in accordance to their environments, cultures, and needs, without undue inequalities among them. They are extremely welcoming, supportive of each other, and amazingly gentle with children. The kindness of the Nepali people was for me a great source of comfort during the entire traverse.

 

I hope that the information and photos in the pages pointed by the following links reflect the great harmony and beauty that still prevail across most of Nepal (despite a number of acute growing problems).

 

 

Click on the following links to see photos of the various legs of the traverse.

 

PART 1 (Traverse of Western Nepal, 2008):

 

Leg 1: Baitadi to Chetty

Leg 2: Chetty to Seti Khola

Leg 3: Seti Khola to Kolti

Leg 4: Kolti to Hurikot

 

 

 

 

 

 

Leg 5: Hurikot to Dunai

Leg 6: Dunai to Beni

Leg 7: Beni to Dharapani

Leg 8: Dharapani to Arughat

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

PART 2 (Traverse of Central and Eastern Nepal, 2011):

 

Leg 9: Arughat to Keronja

Leg 10: Keronja to Shyabru Besi

Leg 11: Shyabru Besi to Barabise

Leg 12: Barabise to Tsho Rolpa

 

 

 

 

 

 

Leg 13: Tsho Rolpa to Lukla

Leg 14: Lukla to Honggu Khlola

Leg 15: Hunggu Khola to Tumlingtar

Leg 16: Tumlingtar to Khang La & Tharpu

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Return to my mountaineering-trekking-travel webpage