| |
 |
| |
Mera Peak |
The Mera
peak
trek
(6476m)
is famed
for the
being
the
biggest
trekking
peak in
Nepal,
though
there is
little
technical
difficulty
required
to
climb.
Mera
Peak
rises to
the
South of
Everest
and
dominates
the
beautiful
and
remote
valleys
of Hinku
and
Hongu.
The
ascent
of Mera
Peak is
made
from the
Mera La
pass
(5415m)
on the
Northern
Face,
which
connects
the
unpopulated
valley
of Hongu
to the
Hinku
valley.
The late
Jimmy
Roberts
and Sen
Tensing
were the
first
climbers
to do
the Mera
Peak
Trek,
following
this
very
route on
20th May
1953.
The Mera
Peak
Trek
begins
in Lukla
(after a
short
flight
from
Kathmandu).
From
Lukla
six days
of
trekking
will see
you
through
fascinating
Sherpa
Villages
to Mera
Base
Camp
(5099m)
situated
at the
base of
an
immense
glacier
leading
to the
Mera La
Pass.
As the
ascent
of Mera
Peak
continues
two more
High
Base
Camps
are set
up at
5385m (a
little
below
Mera La)
and a
higher
one at
5800m,
from
where
the
summit
ascent
can be
attempted.
Mera
Peak has
two
distinct
summits,
the main
one
being
the
Northern
Summit
(6476m),
which is
reached
by
skirting
the
Central
Summit
(6461m)
and
following
a
classic
snow
ridge to
the top.
Even
though
the Mera
Peak
climb is
technically
straightforward,
there
are some
crevasses
to
manoeuvre
around,
and the
route
can be
long and
demanding
after a
fresh
snowfall.
The
climb
from
Mera La
to the
Summit
is
gradual
with an
outstanding
mountain
panorama
of the
Eastern
Nepal
Himalayas
always
in
sight.
The
peaks
visible
include
Mt.
Everest
(8848m),
Cho-Oyu
(8201m),
Lhotse
(8516m),
Makalu
(8463m),
Kangchenjunga
(8586m),
Nuptse
(7855m)
and
Chamlang
(7319m)
amongst
many
others. |
| |
Facts
OF
CLIMBING |
Duration :
17 days
Trek Type :
Camping House
Max. Altitude :
6654 m .
|
Minimum Pax : 1+
Mode Of Travel : Flight
Grade :
Strenuous
|
|
| |
Itinerary
In
Details |
Day
01 :
|
Fly from
Kathmandu to
Lukla (2800m.).
Trek Lukla to
Chutanga
(3050m.), and
you camp. This
morning we take
the short but
spectacular
flight to Lukla
where we meet
our crew. We
then begin
walking for 3 to
4 hours due east
from Lukla,
passing through
a number of tiny
hamlets before
entering thick
forest on the
hillside below
the Kalo Himal
Ridge. Be
careful to stay
with the group
on this section
as there are
many trails
leading away
from the main
path. There are
many streams
with numerous
places for the
first camp, all
of which are
loosely referred
to as Chutanga.
|
Day
02 :
|
Trek from
Chutanga to
Zatrawala Pass
(4610m.) to
Zatrabok
(4704m.) and you
camp here. You
trek steep
ascent path to
cross Zatrawala
Pass. From here
you can enjoy
the spectacular
views of Numbur
Himal, Kongdi
Ri, Karyolang
peak and many
other mountains
and peaks. Now
you walk along
the leveled
trail for almost
one and half
hours and then
the trail turns
downhill and you
trek through
this descent
path all the way
to Zatrabok.
This is campsite
surrounded by
hills.
|
Day
03 :
|
Trek from
Zatrabok to
Kothe (m.) and
you camp here.
To reach Kothe
you trek steep
descent path all
the way. En
route, you pass
forests of
juniper,
rhododendron and
other local
vegetation. The
views you can
enjoy are of
Mera peak,
Nauleku peak and
many other
mountains and
peaks.
|
Day
04 :
|
Trek from Kothe
to Tangnang
(4356m.) (Sabal
Tsho-Lake)
following Hinku
Valley (4600m.)
You trek along
the bank of
river and find
bush on both
sides. The path
is gradual
ascent and you
can enjoy the
views of Kusum
Kanguru peak and
many more.
|
Day
05 :
|
Rest day at
Thangnang. This
is an
acclimatization
Day at Tangnag.
This will be a
rest day to let
your bodies
recover from the
past days of
hiking. You will
relax and soak
up the beautiful
views of peaks
and glaciers
surrounding the
head of the
Hinku Valley.
|
Day
06:
|
Trek from
Tangnang to Dig
Kharka (4659m.)
and you camp
here. We now
walk towards the
mountain as the
trail swings to
the east. We
gain height
gradually until
we find
ourselves at Dig
Kharka (4,650m),
close to the
foot of the
Hinku Nup
Glacier. This is
a pleasant,
grassy camp in
an impressive
situation.
|
Day
07 :
|
Trek from Dig
Kharka to Khare
(5045m.) and you
camp. Today we
will climb above
5,000 m
(16,400ft) for
the first time.
Our hike up to
Khare (5,100m,
16,728ft) is
short, but we
will take it
slowly, with
frequent stops
to soak up the
incredible
surroundings.
The trails heads
eastward out of
Tangnag, along
with the lateral
moraine of the
Dig Glacier. We
will pause to
climb up the
moraine for a
view of the
pristine Sabai
Tso glacial
lake. A drop in
lake level,
caused by a
recent rupture
of the natural
dam the held the
lake, is clearly
visible. We will
arrive at Khare
in the early
afternoon and
have lunch. From
Khare, the
beautiful north
face of Mera
Peak is in plain
view and Mera
glacier spills
steeply down
into the valley.
|
Day
08 :
|
Rest day at
Khare. This is
an
acclimatization
day as you can
prepare yourself
for the Mera
Peak climb.
|
Day
09 :
|
Trek from Khare
to Mera La
(Pass) (5350m.)
and you camp.
Today you will
travel a short
distance, slowly
ascending up
onto Mera
glacier. The
climb is
initially steep,
but flattens out
as you reach the
crest of the
glacier. You
will traverse a
long flat on top
of the glacier
as you make your
way to the pass,
called Mera La
(5,400m,
17,710ft). From
here, the views
are stunning.
Crevasse fields
gently stretch
out in front of
the pass and you
are literally
enclosed by a
ring of jagged
peaks and
blue-green
glaciers. The
remaining route
up to the summit
of Mera Peak is
clearly visible.
|
Day 10 :
|
Trek from Mera
La (Pass) to
Mera Peak High
Camp. This day
you trek gradual
ascent path all
the way. This
area is quite
covered by ice
glacier. The
views make you
speechless as
you can enjoy
the Everest,
Makalu, Baruntse,
Kusum Kanguru
and many other
mountains and
peaks in
panorama.
Moreover you
feel chill by
the magnificent
views of Mera
Glacier.
|
Day
11 :
|
Climb High Camp
(5780m.). Today,
we make the
climb to the
high camp. This
is located at
about 5,800
metres on the
Northern slopes
of the upper
mountain. It
provides an
excellent launch
pad for the
final climb to
the summit.
There is no need
to make an early
start but we
must get our
equipment ready
so that the
Sherpas can help
with carrying
this and the
camp stores to
the high camp.
Having gained
the Mera La, the
route turns left
(south) and
follows easy
angled snow
slopes. After a
short distance
an area of
crevasses is
reached. Under
normal
conditions these
can be walked
around very
easily, although
looking into
their deep, dark
depths is always
impressive. The
crevasses soon
give way to
slightly steeper
but open snow
slopes that lead
without
difficulty to
the high camp.
This camp is in
an excellent
setting with
wonderful views
of Everest,
Makalu and the
Nuptse, Lhotse
wall directly
ahead. The
setting sun
casts an
unbelievably
magic light on
these awesome
mountains.
|
Day
12 :
|
Climb Mera Peak
and return to
Khare and you
camp at Khare.
The climb to the
summit of Mera
starts gradually
and much will
depend on snow
and general
weather
conditions. The
central summit
will soon appear
above the head
of a wide
glacier flanked
by two ridges.
We climb the
centre of this
over open
snowfields and
avoiding
crevasses. The
route then
swings
south-east,
skirting below
and to the east
of the left-hand
ridge before
turning back
rightwards
towards the main
summit ridge of
Mera. Mera
actually has
three summits;
the highest is
our objective.
We reach this by
following a
classic
snow-ridge to
just below the
final wall that
guards the top.
This short steep
snow slope is
easily climbed
but there is a
big effort
required to
climb this last
50 metres. Your
reward, however,
is a feeling of
ecstatic
jubilation as
you survey the
magnificent
panorama from
the top. After
taking pictures
and enjoying the
view, we descend
by the same
route back to
our campsite
below the Mera
La.
|
Day
13 :
|
Trek from Khare
to Kothe and it
takes about
eight hours.
This day you
walk along the
gradual descent
path passing
through Tangnang.
This is a small
village and you
find yak
settlement here.
To reach Kothe
you follow the
same kind of
path. On the way
you pass forests
covered with
fir,
rhododendron and
local
vegetation.
|
Day
14 :
|
Trek from Kothe
to Zatrabok
which takes
about six hours.
The trail goes
steep up all the
way to Zatrabok.
On the way you
pass forests and
green hills.
|
Day
15 :
|
Trek from
Zatrabok to
Chutanga and it
takes
approximately
five hours. Till
Zatrawala Pass
the trail is
ascent and then
you trek descent
path to reach
Chutanga. En
route, you walk
through rocky
path.
|
Day 16 :
|
Trek from
Chutanga to
Lukla and it
takes about four
hours. You trek
through forests
of fir,
rhododendron,
oak, juniper and
local
vegetation. The
trail you walk
along moves
downhill all the
way to Lukla.
You can enjoy
the views of
Numbur Himal,
Kongdi Ri,
Karyolang peak
and many other
mountains and
peaks.
|
Day 17 :
|
Fly from Lukla
to Kathmandu and
it takes about
35 minutes.
|
|
|
|
|
 |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|