Many highlights to mark Nepal tourism year

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Nepal tourism year, Eco Everest 2011 and the 50th anniversary of Hillary's Khumjung School are all part of the latest newsletter from Ang Tshering Sherpa of the Nepal Mountaineering Association:

Mt. Everest Route Fixing up to Summit-Spring 2011

I would like to make a special mention of all the work my colleagues and fellow expedition organizers are doing to prepare for the coming Climbing Season in spring. Throughout these winter months, various mountain guides and expedition operators have been working out the exact equipment requirements and budget to fix rope to the summit of Everest. The Expedition Operators Association of Nepal (EAO) agreed in its last general meeting to take responsibility for collecting the funds from all expedition teams to pay for the route fixing up from camp 1 to the Summit of Mt. Everest. What would normally be an arbitrary negotiation at Base Camp is now taking shape into a well coordinated and cooperative effort. I am very encouraged by this development as I am sure this will lead to more secure ropes, earlier summit chances and less crowding and “traffic jams”. As usual, the SPCC “ice fall doctors” will fix the Icefall route to Camp 1.

Launching of Nepal Tourism Year 2011
In Nepal, we are now celebrating the Tourism Year 2011. The official launch was held on the 14th of January at the National stadium in Kathmandu. The stadium, which can seat 35,000 people, was filled to capacity by wellwishers who wanted to show their support for the Tourism Year. Leaders of all major political parties also attended the event. Special mention must also go to the Tourism Ministers from Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Maldives, Bhutan along with Tourism Secretary from India and representatives from other member states who attended the function. I believe that the Nepal Tourism Year 2011 will be a very important force in helping Nepal develop its infrastructure and policies so that visitors from around the world may have a more fulfilling and memorable experience in Nepal, not only in 2011 but into the future.

Winter Kyajo-Ri Climb 2010
In December, Dawa Steven and 2 of our top Sherpas went on a short climbing expedition to Mt Kyajo ri (6186 m). They were exploring a new approach to the peak, directly from Khumjung and through the two hidden valleys. This route has cut out an entire day of walking from the normal approach route, which would take 5 days from Khumjung. They enjoyed sunny days, free of wind and the slopes were hard blue ice and solid granite rock. Winter climbing is a very viable activity in Nepal on the 6000m peaks as chances of snow and rain are extremely low due to the dry season, the winds are calm and the days enjoy undisturbed sunshine.

Eco Everest Expedition 2011
Again my Son, Dawa Steven Sherpa and Apa Sherpa will be leading Eco Everest Expedition 2011 to Mt. Everest. A new addition to the team, Mr Lee Bennett (UK), will be our base camp manager. Lee is a retired officer of the Royal Navy and a qualified mountain leader. There are still places open for those who would like to join the expedition.

As every year, we will be running out cleaning campaign and continue to bring down garbage from the slopes of Mt. Everest. Since 2008, the Eco Everest Expedition has collected 12,000kg of garbage and taken off all human waste produced on the expedition. The Expedition has helped to recover and provide dignified burials of 4 dead bodies. This year, we have the honour of having Ken Noguchi (Japan) on board to help with our cleaning efforts. Since 2000, Ken has run cleaning expeditions on Everest (4 times), Manaslu and annually on Mt. Fuji. Ken and 6 Sherpas will work on bringing garbage from the higher sections of Mt. Everest.

Manaslu Festival
Manaslu is the eighth highest mountain in the world and a spectacular snow peak in the Himalayas of Nepal. Supported by the Nepal Tourism Board and various national organizations, the local people of Manaslu Region are organizing Manaslu Festival from 9th May to 11th May 2011 at the Base Camp (4500m) of Mt. Manaslu. The main attractions of the festival are religious ceremonies, special blessing from Rinpochhe, archery competition(Dha), horse race competition (Toshi-Gyaltshan), ethnic and religious cultural shows, food festival, traditional tug of war competition, sanitation and environmental awareness campaign.

50th Anniversary of Khumjung School Celebration
Khumjung School, the first school built by Sir Edmund Hillary in Solukhumbu will celebrate its 50th Anniversary from the 26th to 29th May 2011. Sir Edmund Hillary is the father of the Sherpa people and he was the person who “opened our eyes" to the world. Sir Edmund Hillary was instrumental for the education and well being of people in the Solukhumbu region. In his lifetime, He built 30 schools, 2 hospitals, 13 health clinics, 2 airstrips and made countless other contributions. I was lucky to be in the first batch of students to study at Khumjung school; his first school and one which he built with his own hands.

The Golden Jubilee is a great opportunity for us to remember Sir Edmund Hillary and celebrate the progress that he brought to the Sherpa people.

Peaks in the Far West and Mid West Region of Nepal open till 16 July 2014
Nepal Government has declared Free Peak Permit Fee to all the Open Peaks of Mid Western and Far Western region of Nepal for mountaineering expedition until 16 July 2014. If you need any further information please let us know.

Great Himalayan Trail
In Autumn 2011, Dawa Steven Sherpa and Apa Sherpa will be walking from East Nepal to West Nepal, to promote tourism in Rural Nepal. This is to support the Nepal Tourism Year 2011. The trek will take 5 months. If you want to join them to support the trek, there are short joining treks available. Tourism is a very important industry that gives people jobs and stimulates local economies. It is also very powerful force to help people adapt to climate change.

Thank you for your support
It is again my pleasure to keep you all up to date as to our activities here in the Himalaya. If you have any questions please do let me know. I thank you for your support in the past and look forward to our cooperation in the future.

With kind regards,

Ang Tshering Sherpa

Contact Ang Tshering Sherpa at

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