News From Nepal
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 departed from Kathmandu on 7th 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.
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
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