I want to thank everyone who trekked with us last year we appreciate your support making 2011 our busiest, most exciting and enjoyable year yet.

Highlights of the year include organising our first Makalu to Everest Expedition; helping four visually impaired people trek to Everest Base Camp; completing 28 day Lunana Snowman trek in Bhutan for second time; organising our seventh expedition to climb Mera Peak and our fifth trek around Dhaulagiri Circuit.

If you look further down this newsletter you will see detailed Trip Reports we have written for all of our western led treks organised in 2011. You will also see some feedback and testimonials sent by several people who travelled with us last year.

Looking ahead to 2012 we have developed an extensive program of treks and expeditions visiting Nepal, Bhutan, India (Ladakh), Pakistan and Tanzania (Kilimanjaro). Our aim is to be a specialist operator running trips to a small number of countries and to get to know these places better than anyone else! 

Our passion has always been exploring remote areas of Himalaya and Karakoram and to develop original and inspirational itineraries. Coming up this year we have a number of treks that fit this ethos such as Upper Dolpo to Jomsom (April/ May 2012); Makalu to Everest Expedition (April/ May 2012); Snow Lake & Hispar La (July 2012) and Lunana Snowman (September/ October 2012).

Please take a look at the column on the left of this newsletter for our complete portfolio of western led treks we plan to run throughout the year in 2012. As you can see we have several new leaders who have joined us recently so I would like to welcome then on board. There is no doubt we now have the best leaders working for The Mountain Company, click here to read about our panel of western leaders.

These days many people expect higher standards of accommodation while on trek. During 2011 we noticed an increase in people using the network of luxury lodges in Everest and Annapurna region booking onto our Everest Luxury Lodge, Luxury Everest Base Camp and Annapurna Luxury Lodge treks.

Luxury lodges in Nepal are getting increasingly popular so if you are thinking of joining one of these treks then we recommend you get in touch with us soon so that we can reserve rooms for you especially in the busy months of April, October and November.

All of our itineraries including luxury lodge treks can be tailored to your requirements, just to let us know the details and we will propose a custom trip for you.

For 2012 we are organising a number of charity treks, in October we have an Open Charity Challenge to Kilimanjaro following Lemosho route followed in November by Everest Base Camp and Annapurna Base Camp. These treks are a great opportunity to raise sponsorship for a charity of your choice.

We are delighted that Love Hope Strength Foundation is returning in late November for their charity trek Everest Rocks 2. In 2007 we organised Everest Rocks 1 when thirty eight musicians, cancer survivors and mountaineers set off to reach Kalapathar near Everest Base Camp where they set a World Record for the highest concert ever performed. The success of Everest Rocks 1 resulted in the first mammography and internal radiation machines for the country of Nepal.

Please get in touch with us if you would like to discuss any of our treks, I will be in London for the next few months so you can call/ Skype or email at anytime. I am also available to meet in person if you can get to London just let me know.

Wishing you all the best for the New Year.

DHAULAGIRI CIRCUIT IN APRIL AND OCTOBER 2012

Dhaulagiri seen from French Pass

GHT- UPPER DOLPO TO JOMSOM IN MAY 2012

Upper Dolpo

Gary Pfisterer is leading Upper Dolpo to Jomsom in May 2012. I led a reconnaissance trek in Spring 2009 to find out how this went please read my trip report: Trip report for Upper Dolpo to Jomsom trek in May 2009

K2

We are planning to organise two treks in Pakistan over summer 2012 with both of them being led by our Pakistan specialist, Adrian (Ade) Summers.

Ade certainly knows Pakistan well in the past having led four treks to K2 & Gondogoro La; two treks to Snow Lake & Hispar La and also climbed Spantik Peak and Workman's Peak. For more information an Ade's background and experience.

In July Ade will lead Snow Lake & Hispar La trek. 

Snow Lake is a high altitude glacial basin over 16km wide located at the head of the Biafo and Hispar glaciers. This vast river of ice connects two ancient mountain kingdoms; Hunza in the west with Baltistan in the east. Snow Lake area was described by the famous mountaineer explorer Eric Shipton as 'the last blank on the map'.

In August Ade will K2 & Gondogoro La trek, this is considered to be one of the world's great treks with breathtaking scenery unsurpassed anywhere else in the high mountains.

NUBRA AND SHYOK VALLEY VIA LASERMO LA IN AUGUST 2012

Nubra Valley

Alan Ward is also leading Nubra and Shyok Valley via Lasermo La trek in August 2012. This is a circuit trek in one of the least visited areas of Ladakh with unspoilt landscape and stunning views of the Karakoram mountains especially from the summit of Lasermo la pass at 5,400m.

FEEDBACK AND TESTIMONIALS FROM OUR 2011 TREKS