Dear Friends ,
I wish you a joyful Merry Christmas and a prosperous and Happy New Year.
I hope you are all doing well. It has been a very busy few months for me and my family.
The Ministers' Cabinet of the Government of Nepal held a special meeting at Kala Patthar Plateau (5,542 m) on December 4th near Mt. Everest Base Camp, to raise awareness about the impact of Climate Change on Nepal. Nepalese Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal and 23 other ministers attended the meeting, where a 10 point ‘Declaration’ was released which calls for concerted actions to minimize adverse effects of climate change in the Himalayan region
The meeting held at such a high altitude was substantial in drawing attention to the dangers of climate change and global warming on the Himalayas, days before UN negotiations on climate change in Copenhagen. This meeting gained worldwide media coverage and it showed the commitment of the Nepalese Government towards the burning issues of Climate Change and the mountain environment.
Following this, Summiteers Summit to Save the Himalayas was organized by the Government of Nepal in Copenhagen to mark the International Mountain Day on December 11, 2009. Led by honorable Minister for Forestry and Soil conservation, Mr. Deepak Bohora, this rally was an accompanying event in the 15th session of UNFCCC conference. The objective of this program was to draw attention of international community towards the Himalayas and the impacts of Climate Change on the Himalayas so that the important role of the Himalaya mountain region in regulating global climate regime can be well recognized by all. This event was a humble request to the world community to pay greater attention to the challenges of climate change in the mountains and to value their unique contribution to the global ecology. Also please visit :
http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/video/2009/dec/10/copenhagen-sherpa-himalayas
On behalf of the Government of Nepal, as President of Nepal Mountaineering Association and Union of Asian Alpine Association, I had the great pleasure to co-ordinate the gathering of International Mountaineers from all over the world in Copenhagen for this event. A large number of people (estimated between 900-1200 by the Copenhagen police), including 35 renowned Nepalese Mt.Everest summiteers, many international Mt.Everest and 8,000 m peaks summiteers, celebrities of International repute, Nepalese living abroad and supporters from all over the world with a concern for global climate change gathered and marched together in the streets of Copenhagen to highlight the challenges faced by the Himalaya in the context of global warming.
The event also included other activities such as the “Himalaya- Changing Landscapes” photo exhibition; a cultural program by a Sherpa cultural group and a Danish band; speeches by mountaineering leaders and icons and the issue declaration to Save the Himalayas. Nepal Mountaineering Association along with several organizations such as Nepal’s National Trust for Nature Conservation, ICIMOD, WWF, Nepal Tourism Board, the World Bank, Danish Embassy, Union of Asian Alpine Association, ESA, and NRN joined hands with the government to launch this special event.
I thank all the participants for their concern and support towards saving the Himalayas and the mountain environment.
On behalf of the Government of Nepal, as President of Nepal Mountaineering Association and Union of Asian Alpine Association, I had the great pleasure to co-ordinate the gathering of International Mountaineers from all over the world in Copenhagen for this event. A large number of people (estimated between 900-1200 by the Copenhagen police), including 35 renowned Nepalese Mt.Everest summiteers, many international Mt.Everest and 8,000 m peaks summiteers, celebrities of International repute, Nepalese living abroad and supporters from all over the world with a concern for global climate change gathered and marched together in the streets of Copenhagen to highlight the challenges faced by the Himalaya in the context of global warming.
The event also included other activities such as the “Himalaya- Changing Landscapes” photo exhibition; a cultural program by a Sherpa cultural group and a Danish band; speeches by mountaineering leaders and icons and the issue declaration to Save the Himalayas. Nepal Mountaineering Association along with several organizations such as Nepal’s National Trust for Nature Conservation, ICIMOD, WWF, Nepal Tourism Board, the World Bank, Danish Embassy, Union of Asian Alpine Association, ESA, and NRN joined hands with the government to launch this special event.
I thank all the participants for their concern and support towards saving the Himalayas and the mountain environment.
Just ahead of the Climate Change talks in Copenhagen, my son Dawa Steven along with renowned mountaineer Apa Sherpa, 19th times Mt.Everest Summiteers went on a ‘European Expedition.” On expedition they visited 10 major European cities. They attended various events and exhibitions, participated in many talks, gave lectures and presentations, met high- profile politicians and celebrities, and spoke to the media delivering the message from Himalayan communities who are on the front line to face the impacts of climate change. The ‘European Expedition’ was part of the Climate for Life campaign of WWF and directed to raise the profile of the Himalayas in the global climate debate. Dawa Steven and Apa are both Ambassadors for the Climate for Life campaign.
Starting from Prague, Dawa Steven and Apa passed through Brno, Bratislava, London, Viterbo, Gland, Chamonix, Vienna, Brussels, Paris and finally to Copenhagen. In London, Dawa Steven spoke to Members of Parliament at Westminster. In Gland (Switzerland), Dawa and Apa met Jim Leape, Director General of WWF International and were awarded “Leaders of a Living Planet” the Highest award for conservation given by WWF. Dawa Steven also informed the Austrian President about Nepal’s problems in the face of Climate Change and handed over the summit rocks to the President. Similarly in Brussels (Belgium), Dawa Steven spoke at a Climate Change rally to 13,000 people and participated in round table talks at the European Parliament where members of Parliament, South Asian Nation Ambassadors and officials of the European Commission were present. In Paris, they handed over the Prime Minister’s Letter to the Chief of Protocol of the President’s Office. Also please visit:
http://www.climate4life.org
Looking forward to an exciting New Year, we also have many programs planned.
Mt. Dhaulagiri Golden Jubilee will be celebrated on 28 May 2010 . Celebration of International Everest Day will held on 29 May2010. On the same day" Save the Himalaya"Conference will be held.
Conforming to the success of Imja Tsho Action Event 2009, Dawa Steven Sherpa and his iDEAS team will organize Imja Tsho Action Event 2010 this year also on 10 June 2010. The run titled Beat the GLOF Action Run will start from Imja Lake (5010 m) and end at Khumjung Village covering a total distance of about 35 kilometers. Following the Action Run on 11 June 2010 will be Save the Himalaya – Khumbu Festival at Khumjung Village to focus on the mountain communities, the mountain environment and the impacts on them due to climate change. Also please visit
www.theuiaa.org/act_mountain_protection.html
http://www.everestnews.com/stories2010/everest201001042010.htm
Steven and his Eco Everest Expedition team has planned to collect and bring down garbage from the Mountain, including at altitudes as high as 8000 m and above. The plan is to create a team of 10 Sherpas to clean up garbage and debris from such high altitudes. This year’s expedition targets to bring down 1000 kgs of debris from high altitude (above Camp 2) and 6000 kgs of debris from Camp 2 and below.
I once again hope to receive your support and encouragement for our efforts in the New Year.
Best Wishes,
Ang Tshering Sherpa
Founder Chairman
Dear Friends,
Namaste and warm greetings from Nepal.
I am delighted to inform you that finally the monsoon has arrived in Nepal after more than a month of delay. The air is much cleaner and fresher after every rainfall.
After all the expeditions left it has been a very busy time for Asian Trekking. My son Dawa Steven, through his non-profit organization iDEAS, helped the local youth group Sherwi Yondhen Tshokpa organize the Imja Tsho Action Event. The local community is very well aware of the dangers that climate change is bringing. Glacial Lake Outburst Floods (GLOFs) occurred in the Khumbu in 1977 and 1985 washing away much infrastructure and settlements. The Imja Tsho Action Event drew national and international awareness to the problem. The event was a call for action.
On the first day, 18th of June 2009, the Beat the GLOF Action Run was organized to show what lay in the path of destruction of a GLOF. The run started at Imja Lake (5010m) and the route followed the river valley downstream. 137 runners, including 22 women, ran to raise awareness of the threat of climate change to mountain communities and environment, and especially of the threat to the lives and livelihoods of the people living downstream of Imja Lake, which has been growing at 74m every year, because the glacier behind it is melting and retreating.
The fastest runner, Ram Kumar Rajbhandari, reached Khumjung, the finish line, in 3 hours and 15 minutes. He crossed the Phunkitenga bridge, below the confluence of the Imja River and the Dudh Kosi river,. in two and a half hours, two hours slower than the speed of the flood as predicted by ICIMOD. This clearly shows that we cannot run away from the problems of climate change but need to tackle it head on.
The major sponsor of The Beat the GLOF Action Run was The North Face with support of WWF Nepal under its Climate for Life campaign. Asian Trekking was very proud to sponsor the logistics, food and lodging for 137 runner participants and 15 volunteers for lodging and meals at Imja Tsho Lake (5010m) the starting point of the Action Run. Asian Trekking also provided the handheld radios and a manned base station in Khumjung village for seamless communication for the safety of the runners and for relaying the run progress to the huge crowds gathered to welcome them at the finish line. Asian Trekking also sponsored the lodging and meals of National and International media and press persons who came to the Khumbu to cover the event. La Villa Sherpani lodge at Lukla, Camp De Base Lodge at Namche Bazaar and Himalayan Chain Resort (a subsidiary of Asian Trekking) provided free lodging and meals for the media and press persons on the trek up to Khumjung. AGNI Airlines provided free one way flights for all the Media and Press persons.
The following day, on 19 June 2009 the Khumbu Festival was organized in Khumjung village to focus on the irreplaceable value of the culture and traditions of the mountain communities. The Sagarmatha National Park, The Buffer Zone Management Committee, the Aama Samuha (Mothers' Group), youth clubs, social service units such as Khunde Hospital, and the local residents all joined together to hold the Khumbu Festival in an effort to showcase to the world that the Khumbu is not only home to world's highest peak, Mt. Everest, but is also home to the world-renowned Sherpa people. A home that is facing imminent destruction due to a GLOF!
The Festival focused on the cultural heritage of the mountain community, and the community's crucial role in maintaining and protecting their mountain environment. As a part of the ‘Imja Tsho Action Event’, Art and Letter Writing competitions were jointly organized in May and June 2009 by the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) and iDEAS in collaboration with Sherwi Yondhen Tshokpa. School children studying in Primary and Secondary schools in the Khumbu were invited to express their concerns about climate change and its impact on their environment through art and letter writing competitions. The art and letter entries can be viewed at http://www.icimod.org/?page=480 , http://www.icimod.org/?page=502 and http://www.asian-trekking.com .
A traditional Sherpa dance competition was also held where 114 dancers participated. The Himalayan Trust was the main sponsor for the dance competition. The dancers requested that the prize money be shared equally among all the competitors as they felt that the most important thing was to participate and help preserve our traditional dances. Dancers from Pangboche, Phortse, Khumjung, Khunde, Namche, and Thame participated.
With such a huge success and more than 1500 people attending the two day event and by popular demand, the event will be organized again next year. We hope to see you all there. We are also very happy to report that the event and the message have been highlighted in the National and International News and Television.
For Dawa Steven, the event was a part of the WWF "Climate for Life" Campaign. Dawa Steven and Apa Sherpa have been made the Climate for Life Ambassadors of the WWF.
We are also organizing our expeditions for the autumn season now. With many enquiries for various mountains, we are already very busy preparing arrangements for the Expeditions. Amongst others, we have a large Expedition on Ama Dablam in the early autumn and also a post-monsoon International Expedition on Everest. We will be using once again the Eco Everest Expedition 2008 model (http://www.asian-trekking.com/report.pdf). Especially, we would like to clean Ama Dablam which is also a very popular and beautiful mountain.
Dawa Steven will be managing both expeditions in autumn this year. Apa Sherpa will be joining him next year as Climbing Leader of Eco Everest Expedition 2010, when he will attempt to climb Mt. Everest for the 20th time.
Please keep in touch and let us know if we can be of any assistance at any time.
Best Wishes,
Ang Tshering Sherpa
www.asian-trekking.com
Dear Friends,
Namaste from Nepal.
The 2009 Spring Mountaineering season has been very eventful as well as filled with tragedy and sorrow.
I am saddened to report that there were eleven fatalities on various peaks this season. Among them was our Lhakpa Nuru Sherpa climbing with Eco Everest Expedition 2009.
Please join me in praying for eternal peace for the departed and for strength to the bereaved families.
My son, Dawa Steven, Leader of Eco Everest Expedition 2009 and his Team Members returned to Kathmandu on 28 May - safe and in good health.
As you know Apa Sherpa, climbing leader of Eco Everest Expedition 2009 reached the summit of Mt. Everest for the 19th time - a new world record. He joined Eco Everest for his 18th summit of Mt. Everest in 2008. Apa said he is committed to support the efforts of Dawa Steven to bring awareness to the world community about Climate Change and to help remove old garbage from the slopes of Mt. Sagarmatha (Mt. Everest) - our sacred mountain.
This year Apa Sherpa joined Eco Everest Expedition 2009 to carry a “wake up call” to the world about the negative effects of Climate Change on the Himalaya. He carried the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) banner with the slogan “Stop Climate Change – Let the Himalayas Live” to the summit of Mt. Everest to draw international attention to Global Warming and Climate Change.
Eco Everest Expedition 2009 led by Dawa Steven brought down to base camp 6000 kilos of garbage for proper disposal. In addition wreckage parts of the Italian Army helicopter were also recovered from the edge of the Khumbu Icefall. The helicopter crashed at Camp 1 (6100m) on Mt. Everest during the Italian Everest Expedition in 1973. This probably demonstrates the movement of the Khumbu Icefall over the past 36 years.
Apa also installed a Bumpa (sacred vase) blessed by the Venerable Rinpoche of Tengboche Monastery containing 400 different sacred ingredients. The offering is to seek to reduce the negative impacts of environmental changes and restore the sanctity of the Himalayan beyul (sacred valleys).
Before leaving for the USA, Apa Sherpa said he was committed to return as Climbing Leader of Eco Everest Expedition every year to continue to support efforts to deal with Climate Change.
The other summits achieved by members and sherpas on expeditions handled by Asian Trekking in the Spring 2009 season are:
1. Eco Everest Expedition 2009 : 17 on the summit.
2. Atumas Taiwanese 7 Summit and Everest Expedition 2009 : 6 on the summit.
3. International Adventure Alternative Everest Expedition 2009 : 13 on the summit.
4. 7 Summit Club Everest Expedition 2009 : 21 on the summit.
5. Kazak Lhotse-Everest Expedition 2009 : One on the summit (Lhotse)
6. Indo Bangladesh Mt. Makalu Expedition : 10 on the summit.
The Second International Everest Day Celebrations was observed on the 29th of May this year amidst various functions and felicitations to climbers.
We are busy preparing for the Autumn 2009 mountaineering season and finalizing details for expeditions to Mt. Everest and other peaks.
The Imja Tsho Action Event 2009 is taking place in the Khumbu on 18 and 19 June 2009. The event, organized by the Sherwi Yondhen Tshokpa, a group formed to create a network between all the Sherpa students, is supported by iDEAS, an NGO set up by my son Dawa Steven. As part of the event, the Beat the GLOF Action Run is being held on 18 June. It starts at IMJA Lake, at the source of the biggest threat to the people of the Khumbu. The run route follows the possible path of the Outburst Flood. The runners will run on the paths and bridges that will one day be washed away.
Asian Trekking is sponsoring two nights (16/17 June) full camping services at Imja Tsho Base Camp for the participants and volunteers.
On the following day, 19 June, the Khumbu Festival will take place in Khumjung village. The theme of this Festival is to focus on the Mountain Communities Culture, heritage, and their crucial role in maintaining and protecting their mountain environment. This will be an occasion for the communities to show their solidarity in taking action to tackle the impacts of Climate Change. National and International experts will be invited to share their studies with the communities, and together to formulate plans of action that are realistic.
As part of this event students from schools in the Khumbu have participated in Letter Writing and Art Competitions on the impact of climate change on our mountains.
Please visit www.ideas-action.org for more details on this event and other programs that Dawa Steven is initiating.
As always - please do not hesitate to let me know if there is any way in which Asian Trekking and I can be of help.
With very best wishes,
Ang Tshering Sherpa
www.asian-trekking.com
Dear Friends,
Namaste and Warm Greetings from Nepal! I am pleased to share with you many interesting and positive news from Nepal.
Apa Sherpa, World Record Climb of Mt. Everest 18th time has begun his journey to participate in the Eco Everest Expedition 2009 as climbing leader, 19th time for summit bid
Eco Everest Expedition 2009 established Camp III on 28th April under the leadership of my son, Dawa Steven Sherpa. The Eco Everest Expedition 2009 is based on the Eco Everest 2008 Model in terms of management and proper disposal of human waste and other garbage generated by the expedition.. Organized by Asian Trekking (P) Ltd., the expedition will also try to bring down as much garbage as possible from other previous expeditions. Until 27th April as much as 3936 kgs of previous expedition garbage (not including Helicopter wreckage parts) has been brought down and collected at Everest Base Camp including the most parts of the Helicopter that crashed in Camp I in 1973, old tin cans as always, oxygen cylinders, old boots and clothes, pots and pans, destroyed tents, old ropes, broken ladders and so many other random objects that shouldn't be on the mountains.
Apa Sherpa (18 times Everest Summiteer) is the Climbing Leader of Eco Everest Expedition 2009. While climbing for his 19th summit on Mt. Everest, Apa also wants to show his support for efforts of Dawa Steven's initiatives to keep the Himalaya clean.
In order to provide better own communications on the mountain as well as with lower Khumbu and Kathmandu, the Eco Everest Expedition 2009 will have one base station at Camp 2 on Mt. Everest, one at Base Camp and one in Khumjung where the Asian Trekking field office is located. There will be telephone and internet connectivity. Our frequency this year is: 00 870772223518 OR 00870772223596. I would recommend that all climbers please make a note of this. In case of emergencies on the mountain, we can transfer messages down to Kathmandu rapidly should this be required.
This year there will be two routes in the Khumbu Icefall: one route for climbers going up the mountain and the other for those coming down. It is expected that this will avoid "traffic jams" in the notorious Khumbu ice fall. There will be seven climbing Sherpas in the "Ice Fall Doctors" team this year. I want to commend the SPCC's efforts and in recognizing the need for a stronger team during this busier-than-usual climbing season.
There are many climbing teams attempting different peaks on the south side of the Himalaya this season. Our website, http://www.asian-trekking.com/ , will have updated information on the progress of Asian Trekking expeditions.
As in the past, Dawa Steven will be setting up his Everest Base Camp Bakery which will also be a Climate Change Information Centre. ICIMOD and the World Wildlife Fund are participating in providing information.
Dawa Steven will also be available most of the time at Base Camp to provide information on the efforts of his NGO, iDEAS (Initiatives for Development and Eco Action Support), a non-profit organization formed by Dawa Steven to act as a catalyst and facilitator to encourage initiatives against the broad spectrum of risks faced by mountain communities.
As his first project, Dawa Steven and his iDEAS team have organized the Imja Tsho Action Event 2009 - Beat the GLOF Action Run. The two days program includes the one-day Action Run scheduled for 18 June 2009 to start from Imja Lake and the following day (19 June 2009) a Festival is being organised in Khumjung Village to focus on the Mountain Communities culture, heritage, and their crucial role in maintaining and protecting their mountain environment.
This event is expected to promote and attract a greater number of eco-responsible tourists to the area by encouraging entrepreneurs and visitors to lengthen the traditionally accepted trekking “season.”
The North Face, ICIMOD. World Wildlife Fund, and the Nepal Tourism Board are partners in this initiative. Many other environmental organizations have shown keen interest to participate in the Imja Tsho Action Event. 2009.
Forty persons representing the national and international media are being invited to cover the event and to give it maximum publicity. We feel that this would be an excellent opportunity for the Nepal Tourism Board to have a stall at the Festival in Khumjung to display its commitment to responsible and environmentally sensitive tourism.
Before leaving for the Khumbu, my son Dawa Steven and his iDEAS team also organized an Art Exhibition titled “Garbage Out of Thin Air” at the Imago Dei Café Gallery in Naxal, Kathmandu on 03 April 2009. The garbage brought down from Mt. Everest by the Eco Everest Expedition 2008 Team, has been used to create works of art with a message rather than just being disposed of randomly.
Venerable Rinpoche of Tengboche, Ngawang Tenzin Zangpo, inaugurated the 10-day exhibition. The garbage and debris was used by Artists of the Kathmandu University Centre for Art & Design to create sculptors and art. We hope that these art works will be valued by people who recognize the importance of Mt. Everest not only in mountaineering as the highest peak on earth, but also for the mountain’s cultural importance.
At the function the Venerable Rinpoche of Tengboche handed over a Tendrel Nyesel Bumpa to 18 time Mt. Everest summiteer Apa Sherpa. The Bumpa (sacred vase) will be carried by Apa to the summit of Mt. Everest and installed there during his climb of Mt. Everest for the 19th time.
Venerable Rinpoche of Tengboche also handed over three other sacred Bumpas to Asian Trekking to be taken by Asian Trekking Sherpa Climbers and installed on the summits of Mt. Manaslu, Mt. Makalu and Mt. Lhotse. The installation of these scared vases on these mountains is intended to restore the sanctity of the Himalayan beyul (sacred valleys) and spiritually empower the people to cope with negative impacts of rapid environmental and social changes.
The vases contain over 400 different precious ingredients including samples of holy relics, texts, medicinal plants, valuable substances of the five elements and many more blessed components. A long and elaborate ceremony has been carried out by Venerable Rinpoche of Tengboche and the monks of Thupten Choeling at Kyabje Trulshik Rinpoche’s monastery to bless the sacred vases.
As a part of Eco Everest Expedition 2009, Dawa Steven Sherpa will continue this initiative to create awareness among the local people and among climbers to help keep Mt. Everest and the Khumbu clean.
iDEAS has joined hands with The World Wildlife Fund Nepal (WWF Nepal) in a year long campaign to bring world attention to the plight of the Himalayas in the wake of climate change. The overall objective of the campaign is to raise awareness on climate change in the Himalayas at national and international level through a series of events as part of WWF’s year long Awareness Campaign on Climate Change in the Himalayas.
Best Wishes,
Ang Tshering Sherpa
Founder Chairman
Asian Trekking (P)Lrd
www.asian-trekking.com
Eco Everest Expedition 2010 will take place this year with a special program. This year Dawa
I hope you are all doing well. It has been a very busy few months for me and my family.
The meeting held at such a high altitude was substantial in drawing attention to the dangers of climate change and global warming on the Himalayas, days before UN negotiations on climate change in Copenhagen. This meeting gained worldwide media coverage and it showed the commitment of the Nepalese Government towards the burning issues of Climate Change and the mountain environment.
Following this, Summiteers Summit to Save the Himalayas was organized by the Government of Nepal in Copenhagen to mark the International Mountain Day on December 11, 2009. Led by honorable Minister for Forestry and Soil conservation, Mr. Deepak Bohora, this rally was an accompanying event in the 15th session of UNFCCC conference. The objective of this program was to draw attention of international community towards the Himalayas and the impacts of Climate Change on the Himalayas so that the important role of the Himalaya mountain region in regulating global climate regime can be well recognized by all. This event was a humble request to the world community to pay greater attention to the challenges of climate change in the mountains and to value their unique contribution to the global ecology. Also please visit :
The event also included other activities such as the “Himalaya- Changing Landscapes” photo exhibition; a cultural program by a Sherpa cultural group and a Danish band; speeches by mountaineering leaders and icons and the issue declaration to Save the Himalayas. Nepal Mountaineering Association along with several organizations such as Nepal’s National Trust for Nature Conservation, ICIMOD, WWF, Nepal Tourism Board, the World Bank, Danish Embassy, Union of Asian Alpine Association, ESA, and NRN joined hands with the government to launch this special event.
I thank all the participants for their concern and support towards saving the Himalayas and the mountain environment.
Starting from Prague, Dawa Steven and Apa passed through Brno, Bratislava, London, Viterbo, Gland, Chamonix, Vienna, Brussels, Paris and finally to Copenhagen. In London, Dawa Steven spoke to Members of Parliament at Westminster. In Gland (Switzerland), Dawa and Apa met Jim Leape, Director General of WWF International and were awarded “Leaders of a Living Planet” the Highest award for conservation given by WWF. Dawa Steven also informed the Austrian President about Nepal’s problems in the face of Climate Change and handed over the summit rocks to the President. Similarly in Brussels (Belgium), Dawa Steven spoke at a Climate Change rally to 13,000 people and participated in round table talks at the European Parliament where members of Parliament, South Asian Nation Ambassadors and officials of the European Commission were present. In Paris, they handed over the Prime Minister’s Letter to the Chief of Protocol of the President’s Office. Also please visit:
Looking forward to an exciting New Year, we also have many programs planned.
Mt. Dhaulagiri Golden Jubilee will be celebrated on 28 May 2010 . Celebration of International Everest Day will held on 29 May2010. On the same day" Save the Himalaya"Conference will be held.
Conforming to the success of Imja Tsho Action Event 2009, Dawa Steven Sherpa and his iDEAS team will organize Imja Tsho Action Event 2010 this year also on 10 June 2010. The run titled Beat the GLOF Action Run will start from Imja Lake (5010 m) and end at Khumjung Village covering a total distance of about 35 kilometers. Following the Action Run on 11 June 2010 will be Save the Himalaya – Khumbu Festival at Khumjung Village to focus on the mountain communities, the mountain environment and the impacts on them due to climate change. Also please visit
I once again hope to receive your support and encouragement for our efforts in the New Year.
Best Wishes,
Ang Tshering Sherpa
Founder Chairman
Dear Friends,
Dear Friends, Date: 10 March 2009.
Tashi Delek and Happy Lhosar. May this New Year bring you all great happiness!
Once again it is almost time for another Climbing Season. With only less than one month left before the Expeditions depart to the mountains, we at Asian Trekking are busy preparing for this Spring Season, as all our expedition will be in the Nepal Himalaya.
Due to the feeling of uncertainty in the North Side of the Himalaya, most of our clients, and other expeditions, have decided to climb from the Nepal side. It seems that Nepal will be very busy this expedition season.
As you may have noticed the Asian Trekking website has been updated and has a new look now. I am personally updating all the news and information. Since this is an ongoing process, I would greatly appreciate your opinions and feedback to make our website effective and informative.
This Spring season Asian Trekking will have internet access on events taking place on Mt. Everest. My son, Dawa Steven Sherpa, will be leading Eco Everest Expedition 2009. Through the News Section of the Asian trekking website, Dawa Steven and I plan to keep you updated about developments taking place during the expedition period.
Apa Sherpa, 18 times(World Record) Everest Summiter, is returning as the climbing leader of Eco Everest Expedition 2009 for his 19th summit bid on Mt. Everest.
While the overall leadership of the Eco Everest Expedition 2009 will be handled by my son Dawa Steven, Pertemba Sherpa who climbed Mt.Everest from three different routes, will be the Base Camp manager for all the Everest and Lhotse Expeditions of Asian Trekking in the Spring.
Eco Everest Expedition 2009 will once again offer cash incentives to all climbers to bring down any garbage left by previous expeditions. We will be offering Rs. 100 per kilo of garbage. As part of the established Eco Everest Model, the Eco Everest Expedition 2009 will be using Clean Mountain Cans and the Restop bags to make sure that no human waste is left on Mt. Everest by the team.
Similarly, all Asian Trekking Expeditions to other mountain will also be using the Restop bags to keep our mountains clean. Dawa Steven will be visiting the other expedition teams at Everest Base Camp to encourage them to use Restops. He is taking extra Restop bags for those who are interested to use them.
We are also pleased to announce that Asian Trekking is partly sponsoring the Imja Tsho Action Event 2009 in June this year. This Event is an initiative by the Sherwi Yondhen Tshokpa (Sherpa Students Group) supported by iDEAS, a non-profit organization established by Dawa Steven to encourage the youth and members of the mountain communities to be more active in taking care of our environment. Asian Trekking hopes that our support will make this event successful and will pave the way for more initiatives by the mountain communities. Please visit our website if you would like to participate in the event (http://www.asian-trekking.com/expedition/home/news-detail-42 ).
We recently conducted a Climbing Refresher course for 28 of our Sherpas here at our own ASTREK Climbing Wall in Kathmandu. The 10 day course has helped them to sharpen their skills and to work as a team before heading off to the high mountains. Some of the topics covered were rescue, technical climbing, rope work and knot making, anchoring, and other important safety issues.
As part of an iDEAS project, three of our Sherpas have undergone a basic filming training course. It is our hope that soon many more of our field staff will be skilled in filming for clients during treks and expeditions. We hope to add this service to our programs so that our valued clients can take their memories home with them on DVD. Of course, the intention goes beyond this: having skills to film will not only help supplement the Sherpa’s regular earning, but will also go a long way towards helping to preserve our culture and heritage. This will help focus the energy, especially of the youth, in something creative and will also open avenues for them to explore possibilities that they may not have thought about, or even imagined, in the past.
I look forward to seeing you in Nepal. If I, my family and my team can be of assistance to you in any way, please don’t hesitate to let me know.
Best Wishes,
Ang Tshering Sherpa
Founder Chairman
Dear Friends,
Namaste and greetings from Nepal.
I am very pleased to let you know that our Eco Everest Expedition 2008, in partnership with ICIMOD (International Center for Integrated Mountain Development) and UNEP (United Nations Environment Programme), was very successful in creating widespread awareness on global warming. As you know the expedition was the brain-child of my son, Dawa Steven who led the expedition. He reached the summit of Mt. Everest on 26 May. Earlier, he climbed to the summit of Mt. Lhotse (8516m) on 21 May. I wish to personally thank all the team members, institutions, and well-wishers for their support.
Apa Sherpa broke his own record by ascending Mt. Everest for the 18th time. Apa said in an interview in Salt Lake City before coming to Kathmandu that his participation in the Eco-Everest effort was an opportunity to talk about the issue of global warming and the threat it poses to the people of the Himalayan highlands. Speaking as the Chief Guest during the ICIMOD workshop on Climate Change Impact in the Himalaya – “Glacier Lake Outburst Flood Awareness” in Namche on 25th April, Apa Sherpa said ".... global warming is melting the ice in our mountains and the ice is turning into big lakes... when Dig Tsho burst in 1985 my neighbors and I lost almost all we had. I am very happy to support in spreading awareness about this problem...."
On 29th May 2008 a special function was organized in Kathmandu by the Nepal Government, the Nepal Tourism Board (NTB), the Nepal Mountaineering Association (NMA), and travel related organizations to declare the 29th of May as International Mt. Everest Day in honor of the first ascent of the world's highest peak by Tenzing Norgay and Sir Ed Hillary on the same date in 1953. At the function Apa Sherpa was the Chief Guest and was honored and felicitated by various organizations. Min Bahadur Sherchan of Nepal became the first person to reach the summit of Mt. Everest at an age of 76 years, 11 months, and 6 days was honored and felicitated by the NTB and NMA at the same function.
Meagan McGrath was honored for her efforts in rescuing Usha Bista on Mt. Everest in 2007. Meagan, climbing with the Dream Everest Expedition was the first to recognize the life-threatening symptoms of Usha Bista below the "Balcony" at an altitude of 8400m. Meagan was the first to initiate rescue efforts. Lhakpa Rita Sherpa, Dave Hahn, Casey Grom, and Michael Haugen were also felicitated for their efforts in rescuing Usha Bista and saving her life. Hundreds of Nepalese and foreign Mt. Everest summitters were awarded the Mt. Everest Commemorative medal.
The UAAA(Union of Asian Alpine Association) Council Meeting was also held on 29 May 2008 in Kathmandu. The UAAA website: www.uaaa-asia.org was launched that day. It has been decided to organize the UAAA Member countries Joint Expedition in the Spring of 2009 to Langshisa Ri in the Langtang region, and to hold the International Mountain Environment Symposium in Nepal in 2009.
Following the revision of mountaineering permit fees by the Nepal Government we have also revised our expedition services rates. The details are our website: www.astrek.com or www.astrek.com/asiantrekking. Please let us know if we can help in any manner to organize your climb in Nepal. Also on our website are the peaks in mid and far western Nepal declared by the Nepal Government's that all permits will be free for all opened peaks in these regions for the next five years. This offers a good opportunity for climbers of the world to discover new and more challenging climbing routes on some of the greatest mountains of the world. Please let us know if you want to climb any of these peaks.
We are still optimistic that expeditions and tours will be permitted in Tibet this Autumn. We have attached revised prices for Tibet for your information should in case the area opens.
In the coming days you will see on our website some new and innovative programs launched by Asian Trekking of the ASTREK Group:
- Special "Off-the-beaten-track" itineraries.
- Community based Eco-projects in the Khumbu
- Interactive Programs for youths and young business executives
In the meantime - please do keep in touch and let us know if there is any way in which can be of assistance.
Sincerely,
Ang Tshering Sherpa
Chairman
ASTREK Group