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Everest
2001 Expedition: Polytechnic
University of Valencia
Three
climbers from Valencia, Spain will attempt Everest
from the Standard North Col Route. They have become a
close-knit team by participating in three expeditions
together. In the Himalayas, two of the three
summited Cho Oyu (8,201) and, most recently, they had
an unsuccessful expedition to Manaslu. This
was caused by bad weather. Of note is
that they were accosted by terrorists during the trek
to Manaslu!
Thursday,
22-March-2001
Arrival to Katmandu - After we
take off from Manises Airport,
we took
the flight to Frankfurt. Finally we are on way
- the journey that will
take us to
the top of the world, to highest peak,
Mt. Everest. Two
years ago, when the project started, we agreed that we
had to believe
that our trip would happen or it simply couldn't happen. In
Frankfurt we spent the night in a hotel that seemed more
like a hospital. We
returned to the airport and incredibility, we
did not have any problems
embarking exactly
on the hour we
were supposed to. The truth is that after the
problems of the Manaslu
-- the attempted kidnapping of us
by the
Maoist guerillas, the problems
with the Nepali
government, the officials
trying get
money from us,
the problems with the flights on
our return, and
of all the misfortunes that
ended up becoming the expedition. We
had the surprise of having an expedition
in which everything happens
easily.
In
Delhi we waited for 10 hours in the traffic zone, it
cannot be said that it had too many comforts, but
finally, and after a two hour delay, we left towards
KTM. Now already we are in our
hotel, after showering and scattering the
material all over
the room. In
awhile, we will go
to the center of KTM intending
to make the first purchases of material and
food that we need before leaving for
the trekking
portion of our journey. Also we have to pay for
the permission to trek
in the Langtang valley, because it is located
within the National Park of the same name. Soon we
will speak to you more thoroughly the trekking that we
are going to do and of our following time
in KTM
The
expedition begins!
Trekking
in Langtang
When
we planned the acclimatization for the ascent of
Everest we thought about different possibilities.
Between all of them, the one that in the end seemed
more suitable to us she was to trek in Nepal with the idea
of reaching 5000 meters after a march of several
days, and to remain over the 4000 for a few days. After
studying the different options that are available to
us in Nepal, we found the Langtang valley. We
liked it because it is only 100 km from Katmandu, it
reaches a good height in a few days (to allow us to
acclimatize), and we could stay in towns
that have lodges along the way. In addition, it is
considered in many circles as one of the prettier
alpine landscapes of the world.
During
these days in KTM, we have been completing the
preparations for trekking: buying the food which we
will use aside from the food we will buy in the
valley, securing permission to go to the Langtang, to
contract a porters to help us carry all the
material necessary to keep in contact with Spain and
the food. Finally, Sergi Mingote (a Catalan) will
accompany us during this trekking and who will share
our Everest permit.
Day
to day Trekking Schedule
First
day: we will dedicate it to the traveling from KTM to
Dhunche (2040 meters), and located at the head of the
valley. There, we will have to show our trekking
permit. Although Dhunche is only 110 km of KTM, the
highways that we will have to follow are winding and
run between precipices of more than 1000 meters.
Thus, getting there becomes laborious and can
take up to 10 hours. When we arrive in Dhunche we
will look for lodging.
Second
day: we will leave Dhunche early, because this will be
possibly the hardest day of trekking. After crossing
the Trisuli Khola river, we will ascend to a high
mountain pass and then will descend to Syabru (2230
meters). Syabru is a nice, populated
town in a beautiful valley, on an edge of a mountain with unobstructed
view of the main Langtang
valley. In this precious place, we will look for lodge
to rest our bones.
Third
day: we will finally get into the Langtang Himal and
not leave it for the rest of the trek. After
crossing the Langtang Khola river, we climb in the
direction of the town of Gumnachok. From there,
we will ascend to Gora Tabela (3010 meters).
Fourth
day: after ascending the valley for a few hours,
we will leave the forests behind and arrive in
the town of Langtang, that gives name to the valley,
and is the main establishment of the Bothia, town of
Tibetan descendants. We will go through Langtang and
continue to ascend until arriving at Kyangjin Gompa
(3840 meters) - the end of the trek.
Fifth
day: from Kyangjin Gompa we will make an ascent to the
Tserko Ri, from where the views are impressive. With, this
we will have finalized the acclimatization, and
will begin the return.
Sixth
and Seventh day: We will use them to the return from
Kyangjin Gompa to Dhunche.
In
any case, whenever trekking of this type
confronts, we will adapt to the possible variations
that can arise during it. We hope to be able rest
every two days depending on how things develop.
