Nepal

 

Mystical Himalayan Grandeur

 

The Kingdom of Nepal is a country roughly the size of Iowa, but with almost no corn, and even less trailer parks. It is one of the few landlocked countries in the world, sharing its northern border with Tibet, and its western, southern and eastern borders with India. Nepal is a country poor in material wealth, but rich in scenic beauty and cultural treasures.

Of course, most any mountaineer can tell you the highest mountains in the world are in Nepal’s Himalaya, including Everest, Kangchenjunga, Lhotse, Makalu, Cho-Oyu and the Annapurnas, but Nepal is much more than just lofty peaks. It is also a land of friendly people, timeless traditions, and centuries-old temples. In fact, Buddha himself was Nepalese by birth.

Our expeditions begin in the capital city of Kathmandu; a city of pilgrims, temples, beggars, bus exhaust and winding streets. This city that attracted the long-haired hippies of the 60s now plays host to the well-heeled, Gore-tex and fleece crowd of the international circuit.

Himalaya is a Sanskrit word meaning “the abode of snow”. It is hard to believe, but the Himalaya is considered a new and fragile land formation. Until 35 million years ago – relatively recently in geological terms – this towering mountain range formed the seabed of the vast, shallow Tethys Sea. This body of water was displaced by the collision of the Indian subcontinent and the Eurasian landmass in a process that took five to seven million years; a theory supported by fossilized mollusks found at altitudes of over 26,000 feet. The Himalaya has risen about 6,600 feet in the past 20,000 years, and continues to rise at the rate of 3-4 inches per year. The Himalaya in Nepal ranges in altitude between 16,000 to 29,035 feet, and includes eight of the world’s fourteen highest summits.

Our climbs in Nepal include Mount Everest (29,035’) and Ama Dablam (22,500’).

Click on the links below to learn more about our Nepal expeditions, view itineraries, prices and dates, and to submit an Online Application. Join us for an exciting mountaineering adventure in Nepal!