Brief Itinerary
Day 1 Arrive in Kathmandu trip briefing and preparation
Day 2 Fly to Jomson and begin trekking
Day 2-15 Trek to base camp 5240m through the ancient
Kingdom of Mustang
Day 16-17 Climbing phase using one high camp at 6042m
Day 18 Cross the Saribung La 6030m and glacier, begin
descent via Phu and Na
Day 19- 22 Trek out to Humde via the Kanga La and fly Kathmandu
Day 23 spare day in Kathmandu for contingencies
Day 24 Depart Kathmandu
The Attractions
Few teams have ever climbed the peak, so this is truly a special experience. This is not, however, a techncial climbing peak, but rather a 'trekking' peak. The principal difficulty will still be adjusting to the altitude and hauling yourself up to 6328m!
By the look of the terrain, it will be one axe, glacier travel mode for the most part with at the most a couple of sections of fixed line requiring the use of a jumar.
We will have with us a highly experienced sherpa team to assist with fixed lines, camps and general mountain guiding. High altitude porters will also assist with setting up the high camp. Everyone will need to carry their own day pack with warm jacket, water, camera and some food with them on the mountain and trek at all times. Due to the altitude this will be a tough climb and require a HIGH level of aerobic fitness. The Sherpa team will be employed to get safety equipment in place, such as fixed lines, medical kits, emergency oxygen supplies, setup camps, assist with food and hot drinks. But, alas, they will not carry you to the top - you will have to do that yourself!
Kathmandu
On arrival in Kathmandu, our staff will meet you at the airport and take you to our hotel. We will have our mid-afternoon trip briefing at the hotel which is also a chance to meet your trekking crew. Your leader will explain where things are in Kathmandu, and what will happen in the next couple of days. He and the guides will also check through your gear to ensure the smooth running of the trek and climb. We can also sort out rental gear or included loan equipment from our store in Kathmandu. We will not spend the usual extra day in Kathmandu at the start to minimise the total time on away.
Into the hills - getting to base camp
Leaving Kathmandu in a privately charted twin otter light aircarft we will fly approximately 90 minutes to Jomson in the Annapurna region. This is the start point for the trek, where we will meet the rest of our Sherpas and begin our trek immediately. Our trek crew will prepare the loads and organise with the porters for all the equipment to go to base camp (BC).
We will be trekking during the first two weeks through the ancient Kingdom of Mustang, a throw back in time to Tibet pre-1951, with the border only a few days walk away this region is dominated by people of Tibetan origins. The landscape is similar to Tibet in the north as the area is much higher, drier and dustier than the rest of Nepal. We should see some great examples of Tibetan buddhist monastaries, people and culture. This is also a restricted area for trekking which requires a special (expensive) trekking permit. At least this mean we are likely to be on our own. When China liberated Tibet in the '50's the semi-independant state of Mustang asked to join Nepal and was thus sheltered from the reunion of Tibet and China. This section should be culturally very interesting and a great time to use the camera.
As we make our way slowly upwards we pause at a couple of villages to aclimatise as this will be a tough part of the trip, aclimatising and getting used to trekking for 5-7 hours a day. Once we get toward the upper Mustang area we go past the last villages and head into the mountains which now close in all around us as we snake our way up a glacial moraine to our ABC (Advanced Base Camp). From here we will strike out to the summit using a high camp at just over 6000m to stage our summit bid.
Mustang village above Kagabeni
The trek in
For those of you who have been on a full service Nepal style camping trek with Chessell Adventures before you will know what to expect, but for those new to us or the Himalayas, you will be amazed at the work level of the local staff, cooking breakfasts and dinners if not lunches as well. Dining tents are provided to our climbers for eating, hot drinks, playing cards and a kitchen tent is used by our staff to prepare meals, hot drinks and wash up all the dishes. So it’s luxury camping but still camping! This crew will accompany us to BC but no further and wait for us to return from the mountain.
Mustang region trekking
Climbing Phase
Little is known about this peak and the other new expedition peaks in this area as until now only three ascents have been recorded of Mt Saribung. The first ascensionists have informed us the route was fairly straightforward much like a Mera peak in technical difficulty, i.e. non-technical. The peak is remote, high altitude and on glaciated terrain so ropes will be used to prevent climbers falling into crevasses. We will be doing some long days of up to 10-14 hours on summit day, so a HIGH LEVEL of fitness is required. Not only for the climb but also the trek out. As we are on a fairly tight schedule we have a fairly quick walk out planned, so training for endurance is going to be the key. On the mountain we will share tents and have a simpler food menu.
Mt Saribung
Saribung La crossing a glaciated pass and descending to Na, Phu, the Kang La and Humde
Trek out end of trip
Once the climbing phase is completed it is time to cross the Saribung La at just over 6000m and head down past the towns of Na and Phu, which have only recently become open to tourists. We will trek out over four days via the VERY spectacular Kang La with stupendous views of the Annapurna peaks on the other side of the valley, down to Humde airstrip which services Manang. We believe these are the best days trekking on the Annapurna circuit and so you get the best of the Annapurna circuit as well.
From here we must charter a twin otter aircraft to take us to Kathmandu, a 90 minute flight over the Himalayas. This charter is included in the trip cost. This saves us a further three days over walking out.
Village of Na toward the end of the expedition
Heading home from Nepal
We have scheduled two nights in Kathmandu at the end, this is as a contingency for delayed flights, poor weather, illness or otherwise.
It usually takes 1.5 days to get home from Kathmandu to Australia.