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.