⛰ DR’s Gokyo Ri & Renjo Pass Big Adventure ? - During the worst of the Pandemic lockdown, I found the best remedy (for me) was to be out in nature and improving my cardio/endurance. But after making the same... read more circuit, time after time, I found I needed a more ‘lofty’ objective to strive for. A goal. That’s when I set my sights on the Himalayas. I had been to Nepal twice. Once for charity work after the 2015 earthquake and once to visit Chitwan National Park. I had always wanted to return for a major hiking trek. Unfortunately, the Pandemic delayed my plans. Ganga of the Nepal Hiking Team changed all that. Ganga patiently stayed in touch, responding in a timely manner, helping me in every step of the planning for my high altitude expedition. He took into account my demanding criteria. Namely, that I wanted to:
- avoid the more crowded routes (EBC)
- Focus on seeing more flora & fauna
- Pass through rustic villages, visit monasteries
- Witness changes in terrain and elevation
- Understand the Sherpa and Tibetan cultures
- And all times, safety first
All this was achieved and more! Ganga and his team fulfilled my ✨wishlist✨ and threw in additional surprises (high suspension bridges, yaks, musk deer, Himalayan goral and what I believe was small groups of Himalayan tahrs.
I also could not have achieved this without my competent, experienced, knowledgeable guide and porter. Sincere thanks to Santosh Sapkota and ‘Man’. Santosh always managed our pace and speed, knowing full well that the last 2 hours of an 8 or 10 hour trek/climb would be the most demanding. Always allowing me to keep something in reserve for when I needed it or knowing when was a good time to take a ‘breather’. He also knew the entire route, every turn and when there would be fascinating diversions. What can I say about Man (my porter)? He was equally knowledgeable, absolutely tireless, sure footed and always a happy, cheerful disposition . What, if anything, would I change? Because everything (particularly Lukla flights, both in and out) went smoothly, I was left with +3 buffer days at the end. I would have liked to have stayed at high altitude - visit or linger at another village. Again, to Ganga’s credit, he was able to arrange a last minute tour of discovery for me of the old town Kathmandu & Bhaktapur with a highly knowledgeable and congenial guide (who’s name escapes me). Many thanks to Ganga, Santosh & Man for creating an adventure of a lifetime - I am already trying to determine my next expedition with Nepal Hiking Team Don
