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| WESTERN LED TREKS FOR 2010 & 2011 | |
Makalu to Everest, Nepal (Roland Hunter) April 2011 for more information on this trek
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AUTUMN NEWSLETTER
It has been a busy Summer for us at The Mountain Company, in July Alan Ward led a successful expedition to climb Stok Kangri (6,123m) and then in August I led our K2 & Gondogoro La trek in Pakistan.
As most of you probably have heard Ladakh (India) and Gilgit-Baltistan (Pakistan) were badly affected by widespread flooding throughout the summer. However both our groups to Stok Kangri and K2 & Gondogoro La were very lucky in successfully managing to complete their treks as planned.
As it turned out we experienced better weather this summer than my five previous treks to K2 Base Camp. From Concordia we had clear blue skies with superb views of K2 and the surrounding mountains.
I have written Trip Reports on TMC blog, to read please click in links below:
I am now back in UK preparing for our Autumn (Fall) treks in Nepal, this year we have several western led groups starting in October with Dhaulagiri Circuit followed by two Mera Peak expeditions. In December we are then organising an Everest Base Camp trek to raise sponsorship funds for Islamic Relief.
For our camping treks in Nepal we have recently purchased twelve new Mountain Hardwear Trango 3.1 tents. These tents are used by many expeditons to 8,000m peaks such as Mount Everest. Trango 3.1s are three person tents although on trek we use for two people so there is plenty of room, for more information on Mountain Hardwear Trango 3.1 tents
Looking ahead to Spring 2011 our Makalu to Everest expedition is now a confirmed departure. This challenging trek travels from Makalu Base Camp crossing Sherpani Pass at 6,135m and Amphu Laptsa Pass at 5,850m into the Khumbu region near Mount Everest. There are only limited places still available so please get in touch soon if you would like to join this group.
Our 2011 prices have recently been published on The Mountain Company's website, as ever we have worked hard to ensure value for money while ensuring the quality of our service is maintained at our usual high standards. With our increasingly international client base we are continuing our dual currency pricing in Pounds Sterling for UK residents and in US Dollar for overseas clients.
I will be in UK until early October then after that will be in Nepal until just before Christmas. While I am away Edward and Jodie in our London office will take calls and check emails, please get in touch if you would like to discuss any of our treks.
Trek on!
Roland Hunter
The Mountain Company
Telephone: +44 (0) 207 4980953 |
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Mount Makalu seen from near Base Camp | MAKALU TREKS FOR SPRING 2011
Roland is leading two treks to the Makalu region in Spring 2011, the first group will trek to Makalu Base Camp returning to Tumlingtar then the second group will continue and cross the high passes into the Everest region. |
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LUNANA SNOWMAN TREK SEPTEMBER 2011
View from Karchung La |
Roland is leading our Lunana Snowman trek in September 2011, he led a group who successfully completing this trek in 2008 and is very much looking forward to returning to Bhutan.
The Snowman is a long and challenging trek in Lunana a rarely visited region of the eastern Himalaya, for more people have climbed to the summit of Mount Everest than completed this unique traverse of Bhutan.
We already have a number of people interested in joining this group so at ths stage it is looking likely this departure will run as planned. In Bhutan it is important to book flights early with Druk Air for the busy Autumn trekking season, please get in touch soon if you would like to join this group.
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Lamarayu Monastery in Ladakh | LADAKH TREKS FOR 2011
After leading The Mountain Compan's expedition to Stok Kangri this summer Alan Ward is keen to go back to Ladakh next summer.
We have not yet finalised the itinerary however at the moment the plan is to run an exploratory trek from Hemis to Lake Tsomoriri with dates July 23rd to August 13th 2011. Please check our website later in September for the full details of this trip.
Alan will also be returning again to Ladakh later in 2011 to lead another trek exploring Nubra Valley, again this itinerary is yet finalised however dates are September 13th to October 2nd 2011. |
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LEMOSHO ROUTE ON MOUNT KILIMANJARO
Summit of Mount Kilimanjaro | Alan Ward is leading our trek to climb Mount Kilimanjaro following the Lemosho route in June 2011. This route is the quietest on Kilmanajro with fewer other trekkers than other more popular routes such as Machame and Marangu.
There are eight trekking days on the Lemosho route, this is longer than the other routes on the mountain and so gives you more time to acclimatise to the high altitude. This will significantly increase your chance of summit success and enjoying the trip at the same time!
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Stunningly beautiful Phoksumdo Lake | UPPER DOLPO TO JOMSOM TREK IN MAY 2011
Upper Dolpo has been described as the last enclave of pure Tibetan culture. This region has a vast and rugged landscape inhabited by a hardy and enterprising folk who live in some of the highest villages in the world. Upper Dolpo is very rich in wildlife look out for herds of blue sheep, musk deer, Himalayan fox, marmots, eagles, lammergeier and of course the elusive snow leopard. |
NO WAY DOWN: LIFE AND DEATH ON K2 BY GRAHAM BOWLEY
I have just finished reading No Way Down: Life and Death on K2 written by Graham Bowley. This book has a detailed account of what happened on K2 in August 2008 when eleven people died.
Graham Bowley is a journalist working for the New York Times, although himself not a climber, he has carefully researched this book by interviewing most of the surviving climbers and families of the deceased. This book is very well written and I think provides an objective report of the tragic events of August 2008.
Trekkers from The Mountain Company's K2 & Gondogoro La group in August 2008 met many of climbers mentioned in this book at the K2 Motel in Skardu and while on trek to K2 Base Camp.
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THE GREAT HIMALAYA TRAIL SLIDESHOW BY ROBIN BOUSTEAD IN LONDON ON SEPTEMBER 21ST
Upper Dolpo on GHT. | Robin Boustead the first person to set up and walk the Nepal section of The Great Himalaya Trail is giving a slideshow at Cotswold Outdoor in Piccadilly, London on September 21st at 7.30pm- and tickets are FREE! Please click here to register, I already have my ticket so hopefully see you there!
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LATE AVAILABILITY FOR 2010 AUTUMN TREKS
We have the following availability for our treks in Nepal this Autumn, please get in touch soon if you would like to join any of these groups. There are still great prices for flights to Kathmandu.....
October
Dates; October 10th to 29th 2010
Availability: one place left
Dates: October 17th to November 7th 2010
Availability: two places left
Dates: October 10th to 28th 2010
Availability: four places left
Dates: October 23rd to November 7th 2010
Availability: seven places left
November
Dates: November 7th to 25th 2010
Availability: ten places left
Dates: November 5th to 25th 2010 (new dates)
Availability: four places left
Dates: November 28th to December 15th 2010
Availability: ten places left |
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We hope you enjoyed reading our newsletter, please forward to any friends who you think might be interested by clicking on the "Forward email" link below.
For any further information, help and advice, please don't hesitate to contact us.
Roland Hunter
The Mountain Company
Telephone:+44 (0) 207 4980953 |
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