Hiking Yaks

01/02/2023

Namche Bazar 1988 😊

Namche Bazaar (3,440m) is a tourist hub and the most popular resting stop in the Khumbu region. This hilly settlement is shaped like a horseshoe and positioned in a very unconventional location.

Namche Bazaar, a gateway to the high Himalayas and known for offering wonderful views of the snow-capped peaks, is considered to hold the distinction of being the wealthiest district in Nepal. It is in fact, a junction of trekking trails where different Everest trek routes are diverged.

24/01/2023

Lukla Airport 37years ago vs current

FLYING INTO LUKLA AIRPORT- 5 INTERESTING FACTS.

Flight into Lukla Airport

Most people who trek to Everest Base Camp begin their trek from Lukla airport, flying in and out is a memorable stand and end to the trek and one that either fills people with trepidation or excitement. You’re guaranteed to have an adrenaline rush!

1. The flight is only 25 minutes.

It’s a very short flight, this often comes as a surprise when the flight time is announced by the air hostess. The Everest region is not that far from the city of Kathmandu but Lukla cannot be reached by vehicle. It’s possible to get a 4WD to the village of Phaplu and then walk for 4 days to reach Lukla, this is a great option if time is not an issue but for the majority of people work beckons, and time is of the essence. 25 minutes passes in a flash especially when you have got the most spectacular views of the city of Kathmandu and then shortly after, the Himalayan Ranges.

2. The weather changes within minutes which can result in the cancellation of a flight as it’s about to take off.

The changeable weather means many flights in and out of Lukla are cancelled. The airports in Kathmandu and Lukla often have a backlog of passengers waiting their turn to fly to begin their trek to Everest Base Camp. It’s not uncommon for passengers to board their flight, buckle up and prepare for take off only to be directed off the airplane as the weather conditions had just changed in Lukla. We find the level of vigilance reassuring as safety is always the priority. Sometimes planes are forced to land in nearby airports if they have taken off and conditions are not conducive to landing in Lukla. We always recommend booking your return flight out of Nepal a minimum of 2 or 3 days after the end of your Everest Base Camp trek date to allow for these delays.

3. You fly over a mountain pass before landing in Lukla Airport

Be prepared for an amazing experience just a few minutes before landing in Lukla aiport. You will suddenly feel the plane gaining altitude as it flies in between two enormous Himalayan mountains. The mountain pass is a highlight of the flight, as for many people it’s the first feeling of truly being among the Himalayas; the highest mountains in the world. Once the plane goes through the mountain pass you should see Lukla airport right there in front of you. When you see the runway you will notice how short it is and how it slopes upwards.

4. The runway is very short and slopes upwards.

After the mountain pass you will see a short runway placed in what looks like the middle of nowhere and surrounded by spectacular mountains. Many people comment on how short the runway is, the runway is approx. 527m long and to counteract it being so short the runway slopes upwards to allow for a safe and relatively fast and smooth landing. There’s only the one runway which means a very fast turn around with airplanes. You will be ushered off the plane and if the weather is good the next passengers will be on the plane within minutes. There’s no wasting time when relying on what is often a short window of good weather.

5. The official name of the airport is “Tenzing-Hillary Airport”

Even though it’s more often than not referred to as Lukla Airport, this is not it’s official name. The airport was named after the first two people to ever summit Mount Everest, Tenzing Norgay and Sir Edmud Hillary. Hillary was instrumental in buiding the airport, when he first sumited Mount Everest, the expedition team trekked with all of their gear from Kathmandu to Everest Base Camp, a massive undertaking. The airport opened up the Himalayas to people from all over the world and allows access to one and all.

When Sir Edmund Hillary was searching for a site to build the airport he struggled to purchase land, all of the Sherpa farmers required their land for farming and did not want to part with this precious resource. Eventually Hilary sourced land which was less than ideal but it has served it’s purpose since year 1964. If your dream is to complete the Everest Base Camp trek in less than two weeks, your only option is to fly into Tenzing-Hillary Airport.

17/01/2023

Lo Manthang, the walled capital of the Kingdom of Lo (Upper Mustang). Upper Mustang is considered to be one of the best-preserved examples of Tibetan culture in the world. Lo Manthang is located in Annapurna Region, in the isolated rugged plateau hidden behind snow-capped Himalayas of Nepal.

📷

17/01/2023

Mind-blowing facts about Mount Everest

What are some mind-blowing facts about Mount Everest?
Mount Everest, the highest mountain in the world, is located in Nepal and marks the border of Nepal and Tibet. Over the past 70 years thousands of adventurers have been attempting to, and have successfully reached the roof of the world.

If you’d like to experience the thrill of an Everest adventure without the dangers of climbing to the summit, then our Everest Base Camp Trek is the perfect challenge for you. We’ll spend 12 days trekking to the foot of the world’s highest mountain, whilst exploring the wonderful Himalayas and even summit Kala Patthar – for incredible views of Everest itself.

Here are our top ten mind-blowing facts about Mount Everest;


1. Everest is a massive 8848 meters tall – just below the cruising height of a jumbo jet!

The mighty Mount Everest was first measured in 1856 at 8840m tall. The height was then adjusted to 8848m in 1955, which is still the official height stated by the Nepalese government. However, there is a discrepancy as the Chinese declare the height of Mount Everest as 8844m.

Scientists are currently in the process of remeasuring the world’s tallest mountain, especially as it is thought the height might have changed following the 2015 earthquake. This work should be completed by 2020.



2. Everest is over 60 million years old.

The mountain was formed when India’s continental plate crashed into Asia. India’s plate pushed under Asia and raised a huge mass of land upwards, creating the world’s highest mountain rage; the spectacular Himalayas.


3. Mount Everest grows approximately 44 millimetres every year.

This occurs because of the continuous shift of tectonic plates, pushing


4. Mount Everest isn’t actually the tallest mountain on the planet.

This title is owned by Mauna Kea, which is a massive 10,200 meters tall. However, the majority of Mauna Kea resides below sea level. Mount Everest is the highest peak in the world, above sea level.



5. We are pronouncing Mount Everest incorrectly.

Everest was first recognised by the western world in 1841 by Sir George Everest and was called Peak 15. The name Mount Everest was then introduced in 1865, in honour of Sir George Everest, and therefore should be pronounced ‘Eve-rest’ not ‘Ever-est’ – as per the pronunciation of the British surveyor’s surname.

Everest was originally named Sagarmatha by the Nepalese, meaning ‘Goddess of the Sky’. Whilst the Tibetans call it Chomolungma, meaning ‘Goddess Mother of Mountains’. The peak is a sacred place, and requires all mountaineers to ask for permission and safe passage before attempting to summit. This is called the puja ceremony, taking place at Everest Base Camp prior to setting foot on the mountain.



6. Edmund Hillary might not have been the first person to summit Mount Everest.

The first successful summit of Mount Everest was recorded on May 29, 1953 by Sir Edmund Hillary from New Zealand. He was accompanied by Tenzing Norgay – a Sherpa from Nepal. However, some believe that the summit of Mount Everest was conquered much earlier.

Climbers George Mallory and Andrew Irvine attempted to summit Mount Everest back in 1924, however were last seen on July 8 of that year, just below the summit, making their way upwards. The pair were then never seen again - It is unknown as to whether the pair made it to the summit or not. For a full history of Everest summit attempts.



7. It can cost between $75,000 to $150,000 to climb Mount Everest.

The average cost of climbing this famous peak is around $100,000, depending on the level of support required.



8. Kami Rita Sherpa holds the record for the most successful summits at 24.

Kami Sherpa’s most recent ascent was in May 2019. Mountain guide Lhakpa Sherpa currently holds the record for the greatest number of successful summits by a woman at a very impressive 9.

A total of 5294 different adventurers have summited Mount Everest whilst 1211 of these (mostly Sherpas) have summited the mountain multiple times. 2018 was a record year for Mount Everest summits, with an immense 802 recorded.



9. It takes approximately 39-40 days to summit Everest.

This does not include the time spent trekking to Everest Base Camp, which can take 10-14 days. The reason it takes so long to summit Everest is so that the body can adjust to the extreme altitude – on the summit there is only a third of the amount of oxygen available compared to at sea level. Climbers normally use bottled oxygen to help them withstand the effects of extreme altitude.



10. The fastest Everest summit was recorded in just 10 hours 56 minutes.

Lakpa Gelu Sherpa climbed the South Side of the mountain in Nepal, from Base Camp to the top of Everest in a record time of 10 hours and 56 minutes in 2003.

14/12/2022

Dedicated to all Mountain Guides and Mountain Lovers 😊

11/12/2022

Mesmerizing views of Mt Everest and Lhotse.

20/11/2022

And we are hiking...

Join us for 20 days trekking in April 2023.

How cool!

This is a wonderful hike and a physical challenge. We can recommend everyone to walk this amazing trek in Nepal.
#

19/11/2022

Cradle Mountain Summit is a 12.5km, grade 4 hike located in the Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park, Tasmania. The hike should take around 7 hrs to complete. Length: 12.5km. Duration: 7 hrs.
Total distance: 12534 m
Total climbing: 886 m
Min elevation: 932 m

Photo taken around Dove Lake Boatshed. The iconic Dove Lake Boatshed was built in 1940 by Lionel Connell, the first Ranger to be stationed at Cradle Mountain. Built from the local endemic pine, the hut sits on the north western shore of Dove Lake in the shadow of Cradle Mt..

13/11/2022

Not the usual track but today we trekked on the sand.

Waking up before sunrise and walking on sand can be a cool, relaxing way to start the day. As it turns out, walking on sand at anytime of the day is actually quite beneficial. It requires a great deal more effort and this can increase the strength of the legs, build muscular endurance and burn more calories compared to walking on a solid stable surface. If you choose to incorporate sand walking into your fitness routine, you should enjoy a variety of benefits as long as you avoid over-exertion

06/11/2022

Grand Canyon track

Setting out from Evans lookout near Blackheath in the Blue Mountains, be met with a series of waterfalls, creeks and spectacular views along the challenging Grand Canyon track.

Arresting sandstone walls, ever-present waterfalls and abundant native plants line the awesome Grand Canyon track near Blackheath in the Blue Mountains. The historic loop track takes you into the heart of this World Heritage-listed landscape. It's an intimate and adventurous track which walkers have trodden since 1907.

Setting out from Evans lookout, the well-shaded track meanders through luscious native vegetation of ferns and golden wattles, and remains close to Greaves Creek, all of which combine to make this a particularly good walk for the summer months. Shorten the loop by leaving a second car at the Evans Lookout Road entrance or spend the day and stop for lunch at the nearby picnic area before returning to the lookout.

Although there are loads of semi-ledges which make up this challenging walk, you don’t need specialist hiking or abseiling equipment, so comfortable walking shoes are all you’ll need to get out there and explore.

29/10/2022

https://youtu.be/gRDIRt1I_g0

Hiking Yaks is an adventure club where you can go on group hikes to enjoy nature’s beauty, unwind, flourish and challenge yourself.Come join us on the best t...