Dhaulagiri trekking

                              Dhaulagiri

Dhaulagiri is the world’s seventh highest mountain (8167m/26, 795ft). In Sanskrit its name means white mountain Admired by thousands of trekkers from the kali Gandaki and poon hill Dhaulagiri rested the attempts of mountaineers for longer than comparable peaks. In 1950 Herzog’s French expedition had initially hoped to summit it but after lengthy reconnaissance decided it was too dangerous turning their attention to Annapurna I instead six attempts on Dhaulagiri via the west ridge followed but it was not until 1960 that a swiss expedition finally won through albeit in controversial style. They used a light aircraft to ferry won through albeit in controversial style. They used a light aircraft to ferry food, Equipment and even climbers to the northeast col at around 5700m (18,700ft). The Pilatus porter, piloted by daredevils including Emile wick, eventually crashed on the mountain without loss of life . Austrian mountaineer kurt Diemberger a foreigner within the swiss expedition reached the summit on 13 may in company with peter Diener Ernst Forrer  Albin schelbert and the sherpas Nyima Dorji and Nawang Dorji Two other members ( Michel voucher and hugo weber) also reached the top 10 days later. Attempts since then have tried different routes but many have perished on the killer White Mountain particularly in avalanches from the notorious Dhaulagiri Icefall.

Himalayan Flowers in Nepal

Himalayan Flowers

                                Buttercup Family

The buttercup family Ranunculaceae, includes some of the most delicate and beautiful Himalayan flowers like anemone, larkspur marsh marigold monkshood, columbine trollius, pulsatilla, marsh marigold, monkshood columbine trollius, pulsatilla, etc. many of these are indeed familiar garden plants in temperate land and in hill in Nepal.

  

Trollius acaulis with horizontal stout underground rootstock densely clothed with dry bases of old petioles and palmate leaves flowers solitary, with sepals 5-10 or more , golden yellow and petaloid, the petals are minute and also yellow blooms at 3300-4500m.

           

A grassymeadow, near a melt- water stream at elevations of 3900-4200m, crowded with masses of bright yellow flowers of buttercup caltha palustris waving madly in the cold, dry bitter wind.

                

                

 A beautiful masaic mainly Anemone obtusiloba, 3200m.

            

 Ranunculus sp at 3600m in full bloom, close to the ground in summer. 

                 

 Ranunculus with bright yellow flowers, at an elevation of 4200m the sepals are colored yellow like the petals, which are themselves absent.

                  

 A single creamy white coloured flower of buttercup at an elevation of 3600m

                       

 A single bright yellow coloured flower of buttercup at an elevation of 4200m

               

 

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Chhairo Gompa

                              Chhairo Gompa

 This Nyingma- pa monastery originally called tsherok is 400 years old and was founded by Nawang Tiling a Tibetan monk. It is now under the guardianship of the Thakali family of subba Bhatarchan. SO far the restoration has taken eight years with the project highly rated by the National Geographic world volunteer tourism programmed. The gompa has superb imagery, including chenresig sakyamuni and Guru Rinpoche with the donor the golden figure in front. There are many terracotta idols and some tablets. The other chamber has a large, imposing guru Rinpoche with frescoes of ashets. A festival takes place annually in December to placated the powerful local deity Gyalwa puja. Dhekepchey a masked dance festival where astrological predictions are made, is also celebrated here.

           

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Tilicho lake from khangsar

                                    Tilicho lake from khangsar

    This high, lake filled s addle offers a little used route to jomsom that avoids the thorong la, but the risk of avalanche and frequently bitter weather dampen most notions of taking it for the recreational trekker. Crossing to jomsom this way is really the domain of well- equipped mountaineers. However, it is not such an ordeal for trekkers to reach the lake from khangsar. Check that the lodges and trail options en route are open.

    During the season, while good weather continues, two lodges are open at Tilicho base camp, making an attempt on Tilicho lake feasible for well-acclimatized  trekker  (one very fit trekker did it all in one day from khangsar but normal trekkers should plan three or better four extra days for a return trip from manang.)stay in khangsar to acclimatize and then head to Tilicho base camp passing thare gompa. The high trail to Tilicho can be closed by dangerous landslides. The spectacular lower trail is Tilicho can be closed by dangerous landslides. The spectacular lower trail is hard losse underfoot, unstable and potentially dangerous especially crossing sands where oddly designed pinnacles stand like sentinels. Allow 6-9 hrs for this walk.

   From Tilicho base camp it’s an arduously steep climb much on loose moraine to a chorten (5000m) and on to the viewpoint. Tilicho lake (4920m)16,14ft) is a fabulous spectacle with its deep blue waters, tumbling glaciers and the great fluted icy wall of the glistening grand Barrier. Return to base camp and the next day head back to khangsar and or manang .