Endurance Marathon organized in Great Buddhist Master Trail

                    Endurance Marathon organized in Great Buddhist Master Trail

Sacred Himalaya Treks & Adventure – a member of company of Trekking Agencies' Association of Nepal (TAAN) -- organized a sporting event on the 'Great Buddhist Master Trekking Trail' on April 10.

TAAN, which explored the trail four years ago, promoted the event.

Altogether 23 athletes including 19 foreigners participated in the 'Sacred Himalaya Endurance Marathon' which started from Manegaun in Bhimkhori VDC of Kavre and ended at the same place. Athletes participated in three events – ultra marathon (64 km), full marathon (42 km) and half marathon (21 km). British runner Mark Berry, who holds the world record for running the entire South West Coast of the United Kingdom, which is more than 1,000 km long, in just 11 days, eight hours and 15 minutes, also participated in the event.

However, Berry could not repeat the feat in Nepal. Justen Neagle won the ultra marathon, while William Hancock and Mark Wretford finished second and third, respectively. Similarly, Raju Magar of Nepal won the full marathon, while Khusamng Tamang and Adam Bennett stood in second and third position, respectively. Likewise, Daniell Simon won the half marathon, while Diane Newton finished second. Similarly, British couple Lee Sampson and Melaine Cage who ran with their nine-month old daughter Amelia in a baby carrier finished the race in the third position.TAAN President Chandra Prasad Rijal handed over medals, certificates and Buddhist statue as souvenirs to all the winners, runners-up and all the participants. Speaking at the program, Rijal thanked Sacred Himalaya Treks & Adventure for promoting the trail explored by TAAN four years ago. "This is a new product in the Mahabharat range. If our member companies do not promote it, there is no point wasting millions of rupees to explore new routes," he added. He also thanked all the foreign athletes for their active participation in the event. "I hope you will help to spread the message throughout the world that Nepal is a safe tourist destination," he added.

Similarly, TAAN General Secretary Karna Bahadur Lama urged Sacred Himalaya Treks & Adventure to give continuity to the event in future as well. "The Great Buddhist Master Trail passes through places believed to have been travelled by Guru Padmasambhava. It holds great religious significance," he said, urging foreign athletes to relay the message that Nepali is now safe for travelers.Likewise, Binaya Lama, managing director of Sacred Himalaya, said he chose The Great Buddhist Master Trail to hold the event as it is rich in culture, sceneries and passes through places of great religious significance. "We plan to continue the event in coming years as well," he added.The Great Buddhist Master Trail passes through Mahabharat range in Kavre and Sindhuli districts. source bye TAAN.

Dhaulagiri Icefall

                                                             Dhaulagiri Ice Fall

A two day side trip up the side of the kali gandaki valley will take you to the foot of the Dhaulagiri Ice fall and provide great views of Dhaulagiri I and provide great views of Dhaulagiri I and the Annapurna range. It’s a 1200m climb so it’s a bit tough to climb up and back in a single day. There is no accommodation on this route, so you need camping arrangements in order to spend the night. There are a few potential dangers to this trip if it’s cloudy route finding is a problem there is a danger of altitude sickness especially if you have just started your trek from beni or Naya pul and there are avalanches in and sometimes near the ice fall itself. The mountaineering route up the ice fall is a hazardous climb. Herzog’s expedition explored this approach in 1950 and abandoned it because it was too dangerous. In 1969 an avalanche in the icefall killed seven members of the US Dhaulagiri expedition. The route starts just south of larjung village at the Ghatta khola with its wide gravel bed. Look for a small trail up through the forest on the south bank of the river. Make a short steep ascent in trees to some overgrown fields. Follow a small trail through these fields. Follow a small trail through these fields. Follow a small trail through fields. Follow a small trail through these fields, follow a small trail through these fields then alongside a stream to reach a small lake. There is a clearing above the lake suitable for a camp site. 

  

               

Dhaulagiri Icefall

                                                             Dhaulagiri Ice Fall

A two day side trip up the side of the kali gandaki valley will take you to the foot of the Dhaulagiri Ice fall and provide great views of Dhaulagiri I and provide great views of Dhaulagiri I and the Annapurna range. It’s a 1200m climb so it’s a bit tough to climb up and back in a single day. There is no accommodation on this route, so you need camping arrangements in order to spend the night. There are a few potential dangers to this trip if it’s cloudy route finding is a problem there is a danger of altitude sickness especially if you have just started your trek from beni or Naya pul and there are avalanches in and sometimes near the ice fall itself. The mountaineering route up the ice fall is a hazardous climb. Herzog’s expedition explored this approach in 1950 and abandoned it because it was too dangerous. In 1969 an avalanche in the icefall killed seven members of the US Dhaulagiri expedition. The route starts just south of larjung village at the Ghatta khola with its wide gravel bed. Look for a small trail up through the forest on the south bank of the river. Make a short steep ascent in trees to some overgrown fields. Follow a small trail through these fields. Follow a small trail through these fields. Follow a small trail through fields. Follow a small trail through these fields, follow a small trail through these fields then alongside a stream to reach a small lake. There is a clearing above the lake suitable for a camp site. 

  

               

Dhaulagiri Icefall

                                                             Dhaulagiri Ice Fall

A two day side trip up the side of the kali gandaki valley will take you to the foot of the Dhaulagiri Ice fall and provide great views of Dhaulagiri I and provide great views of Dhaulagiri I and the Annapurna range. It’s a 1200m climb so it’s a bit tough to climb up and back in a single day. There is no accommodation on this route, so you need camping arrangements in order to spend the night. There are a few potential dangers to this trip if it’s cloudy route finding is a problem there is a danger of altitude sickness especially if you have just started your trek from beni or Naya pul and there are avalanches in and sometimes near the ice fall itself. The mountaineering route up the ice fall is a hazardous climb. Herzog’s expedition explored this approach in 1950 and abandoned it because it was too dangerous. In 1969 an avalanche in the icefall killed seven members of the US Dhaulagiri expedition. The route starts just south of larjung village at the Ghatta khola with its wide gravel bed. Look for a small trail up through the forest on the south bank of the river. Make a short steep ascent in trees to some overgrown fields. Follow a small trail through these fields. Follow a small trail through these fields. Follow a small trail through fields. Follow a small trail through these fields, follow a small trail through these fields then alongside a stream to reach a small lake. There is a clearing above the lake suitable for a camp site. 

  

               

Nepal promoted in different US cities

             

                         Nepal promoted in different US cities

Trekking Agencies' Association of Nepal (TAAN) has completed its Nepal promotion campaign in five US citieis – Dallas, Chicago, Washington DC, Los Angeles and Philadelphia.

TAAN has been participating in Travel & Adventure Show organized in different US cities on a regular basis for the past three years. TAAN Executive Member Dambar Adhikari led TAAN's delegation in Travel & Adventure Show in Dallas, while Executive Member Pemba Sherpa 'Sangam' was the leader of TAAN's delegation in Washington DC. Similarly, Ngawa Ngima Sherpa, who is also the coordination of Nepal Promotion & Exhibition Department, led the delegation to Los Angeles, while Executive Member Dawa Sherpa represented TAAN In Travel & Adventure Show Philadelphia.

L N Treks & Expedition, Himalayan Yak Trek & Adventure, Exciting Nepal Treks, Adventure Discovery Treks, Corsa Nepal Adventure, Kailash Journeys and Himalayas on Foot participated in Travel & Advneture Show Dallas.

Similarly, Himalayan Friends Trekking and Holy Sherpa Vision Treks participated in Travel & Adventure Show in Chicago. TAAN member companies Himalayan Shangrila Treks and Chomolhari Pilgrimage Trekking participated in Travel & Adventure Show Washington DC. Likewise, Hike Nepal, The Asia Adventure and South Asian Trekking participated in Travel & Adventure Show Los Angeles.

TAAN delegation distributed posters and pamphlets about Nepali tourism products and services as well as informed visitors and buyers that tourism in Nepal is back on track after the earthquakes of 2015 and border obstructions.

According to Dambar Bahadur Adhikari, coordinator of TAAN's delegation to Dallas, most of the visitors wanted to know whether Nepal was safe for tourists. "We told them that only few areas were affected by the earthquake and tourism activities are going on as usual in Nepal," he added.

Similarly, Pemba Sherpa, the leader of TAAN's delegation to Washington DC, said he promoted Nepal as a destination for organic tourism. "This is a new thing in world tourism. I informed the visitors that we are already trying this thing in Nepal. They were quite impressed," he said, adding that he also requested foreigners to help in Nepal's recovery by visiting the country. "I found many visitors who were eager to help Nepal to promote sustainable tourism."

Likewise, Ngawa Ngima Sherpa, leader of TAAN's delegation to Los Angeles, said most of the queries were related to post-quake Nepal and the ongoing reconstruction works. "I informed visitors and buyers at the expo that only a few areas were affected by the earthquake and that Nepal is ready to welcome foreign tourists," he added.

Dawa Lama Tamng, who led TAAN in Travel & Adventure Show Philadelphia, said he informed visitors that they could help Nepal by trekking to the country. "I promoted 'Rebuild Nepal Trek' campaign in the US city. I also informed them that tourism is already back on track," he added. source by TAAN