Travels in Nepal #22 Himalayan Tahr
Himalayan Thar
On our acclimatisation day in Namche Bazar I thought we would be having a rest day.
Wrong.
We probably did more walking that day than any other day on our trek. The only difference was that it was mostly at about the same altitude. Before breakfast we walked up a very steep ridge to view Mt Everest at dawn. I wrote about that here.
After breakfast we headed up the ridge again and then around the ridge and along a very beautiful track which happens to be the route to Tibet. Mind you, the Tibetan border was still seven days’ walk away.
Along this track we passed through rhododendron forests which unfortunately were not in flower being the middle of winter. We were also fortunate to see a small flock of Himalayan Tahr, a close relative of the wild goat. They actually look like a very large goat. They are native to the Himalayan regions of Nepal, India and Tibet. Feral populations exist in New Zealand where they are a popular target for hunters. For more information click here.
Related articles:
- Travels in Nepal – archive of my travels in Nepal.
Himalayan Tahr
Travels in Nepal #21 Mountain Views
Near Namche Bazar, Nepal
On my trek in the Himalayas last January one of the most impressive aspects of my time in the mountains of Nepal was the constant mountain views to be had in every direction. Possibly the most amazing of all were the views from Namche Bazar. Towering mountains in all directions is the norm. No matter which way one looks the views are worth a thousand photos. Above is just one of many I took during my stay at this village.
I must admit to spending quite some time just sitting in the dining room of the lodge where I was staying and simply staring out of the windows at the scene. I tried to soak up the staggering scenery on show in every direction.
In the late afternoons the dining room is the place to be, especially when the heater is lit. The setting sun sets the surrounding mountains ablaze with light and colour. As the nearest mountain leaves the lodge in its shadows the temperature plummets in minutes. That is when the fireplace becomes a magnet for the trekkers.
Travels in Nepal #20 Namche Bazar
Namche Bazar, Nepal
Namche Bazar is an interesting town in the Everest region of the Himalayas in Nepal. This town is at the junction of the main trekking track to Everest Base Camp (five days walk away) and one of the main tracks to Tibet (seven days walk away). During the mountain climbing season there is a lot of traffic through the town. We were there near the end of the trekking season, but there were still quite a number of tourists in the area.
Namche Bazar has the highest income per capita of any Nepalese village. This is mainly as a result of the trekking and mountaineering groups that move through the area. There are many lodges and shops in the town catering for this trade.
Namche Bazar is built in a natural amphitheatre in the mountains. Steep mountains surround this village and flat ground is at a premium. when I was there last January there seemed to be quite a healthy building boom. Despite the political turmoil, this area seemed far removed from the troubles in other parts of the country. Having said that, there was an army base just above the town.
For people trekking in this area, Namche Bazar is an important staging point. Many groups use this village as a stopping over point for the purposes of acclimatization. Climbing too rapidly at these altitudes can be fatal. It can also be fatal to those who know of the dangers and who live in the area. Soon after our arrival the body of a sherpa was carried past our lodge. A sobering reminder of the dangers up so high.
Related articles:
- Travels in Nepal – an archive of all my articles about Nepal.
- My photo gallery – photos of Nepal, Thailand, Australia and much more.
- Around Namche Bazar – extract from my travel journal
Travels in Nepal #19 Magnificent Mountains
Near Namche Bazar, Nepal
Namche Bazar in Nepal must have one of the most rugged aspects of any place in the Himalayas. No matter which direction one turns there are magnificent mountains. On the morning hike to the ridge above the township we witnessed the sunrise on the surrounding mountain tops. The ice and snow contrasting with the beautiful sky and the harsh rock made the area downright picturesque.
There is one thing that still bugs me, months after the trek. I didn’t ask the question at the time and haven’t found the answer since. In the photo above, and in many of my other photos taken in this area, some parts of the mountains are snow and ice covered while others are quite bare of snow. This seems to be true even if the mountains are about the same height. Why? If anyone can help me, use the comments section and enlighten me.
Related articles:
- Travels in Nepal – an archive of articles about my adventures in Nepal.
- A day in Namche Bazar – excerpt from my travel journal
- Around Namche Bazar – excerpt from my travel journal.
- My photo gallery – photos of Australia, Nepal, Thailand, birds and much more.
Near Namche Bazar, Nepal
Travels in Nepal #18 Everest at Sunrise
Mt Everest from Namche Bazar
On the fourth day of our trek in the Himalayas we were woken early. In the chilly first light we staggered up the ridge above Namche Bazar. It was quite a struggle after the climb of the day before.
We were warned not to point our cameras at the soldiers at the Army barricade nearby. Nepal was very tense while we were there and much fighting occured only a short time after I left. We were also told not to photograph the crashed helicopter nearby. It seems it was a very sore point with the local authorities.
From the ridge we were treated to sunrise lighting up Mt Everest. The above photo seems to show that we were quite close, but it was taken at full zoom (12x) and we were still six days walk from Everest Base Camp. Nevertheless, it was indeed a magnificent vista in all directions as the surrounding mountains were lit by the rising sun.
The photo below was taken at the same time by my daughter, just to prove I was there. It is a pity that Everest does not show up in the background; believe me – it is there!
Related articles:
- Travels in Nepal – my travel journal.
A photo of me with Everest in the background