The DoT said that it was seriously concerned on the dissemination of false news, which talked about prohibiting mountaineering on the 414 mountains including Mount Everest.

Issuing a press release on July 10, 2019, DoT explained that discussions on the said issue have not even been informally discussed at the department.

The Department has asked stakeholders to not give into such false news and believe such rumors.

Furthermore, he assured that the Department will be collaborating with the stakeholders to make mountaineering well-managed and safe.

The Department also said that a committee has been formed to study issues related with mountaineering in Nepal and suggest ways of dealing with these problems with the ultimate goal of establishing systemized and safe mountaineering tourism.

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This time it’s the Shey Phoksundo Lake of Dolpa that is known for its deep blue waters, serenity and ever-fresh beauty.

It’s unfortunate that the lake is reportedly losing its unique features that make it beautiful, majorly because of the pollution and resultant environmental impact.

‘Wastage Dumps by Tourists Causing Concern’

As the reports say, the lake is now under serious threat caused by lack of conservation efforts, soil erosion and waste dumping activity Yarsagumba collectors.

“The lake is very wide, and though you cannot figure out how it is getting polluted, its water is not fresh as it was earlier. Visitors have been dumping garbage in its vicinity,” says Lotai Lama, a member of Thasung Chhorling Gumba, located on the eastern side of the lake.

“People who come to collect Yarsagumba dumb a lot of garbage in the area. Along with them, tourists have also been adding to the pollution and making the lake dirty,” Lama adds.

The lake lies at an altitude of 3,635 meters above the sea level and the surrounding region is famous for rare and very-costly herb caterpillar herb called Yarsagumba (usually found in similar high altitudes of Dolpa).

Given this fact, thousands of tourists including women and children visit this place for collecting that herb and dump non-decomposable and harmful waste during their stay, leaving heaps of garbage in the region.

“Nobody cleans the wastes. Visitors and Yarsha collectors are only making the area dirtier every year. The water of the lake, whose color is presently like dark ink, will someday change to something horrible,” says Lama.

Lama adds that the lake is known for its deep blue water, which is now visible only in its middle portion, while the lake has turned green with fungi on its banks.

“But you can also see how the lake is now getting polluted by garbage. It is unfortunate to see such irresponsible behavior from the visitors,” says Lama with deep concern.

Besides, a river formed out of the water running through the lake’s stream, Phoksundo stream, has also turned muddy!

“Since around a decade, garbage has been gradually dumped here, and the area is now polluted like never before. If serious attention is not given, we will lose this wonderful asset. Authorities concerned should stop people from collecting Yarsagumba in this area,” says another local named Rabi Lama.

‘Need to Act on Conservation’

Meanwhile, Water Resource Management Expert, Ang Bahadur Lama says the landslides and climate change impact are also the reasons for Lake’s diminishing beauty.

“The climate pattern seems to have changed; we are experiencing harsh weathers these days. This puts natural resources under threat in one or the other way. Landslides and imbalance in water flow from the mountains can be noticed. On the other hand, people are not sensitive towards waste management; they have littered the lake,” says Ang Bahadur.

There is a need to research the issue while also taking concrete action to conserve it, adds Bahadur.

‘Govt. Been Negligent’

Rigjin Aadgyal Budha, Chairperson of Phoksundo Lake Conservation Committee, says the government has been negligent towards the conservation and research on the Lake.

“We always believed that depth of the lake is 650 meters. But in 2004, the government came up with different fact. We are not satisfied with it,” says Budha.

Following the controversy over the research study, the government has decided to remeasure the depth of the Lake. Locals are eagerly waiting for the next results, adds Budha.

Meanwhile, hotels around the area are also causing a serious concern by dumping their wastage into drainage holes. “We are trying to find a permanent solution for dumping wastes coming out of the hotels,” says Neema Lama, President of Ward-8 of Shey Phoksundo Rural Municipality and a hotel entrepreneur.

Considering the above facts, one can gauge the seriousness of the damage being caused to the ‘Shey Phoksundo Lake of Dolpa’. Its high time for the government to act upon and take necessary measures for conservation of the Lake.

It will also be a great opportunity for the Nepal Tourism Board and Visit Nepal Year 2020 campaign authorities to take up tourism destinations like this as part of their development measures.

Stay tuned for more updates on many such interesting news and feature updates about Nepal!

Also Read:

• Rara Lake – Nepal’s Largest Lake with Growing Tourism

The post ‘Shey Phoksundo Lake’ of Dolpa Losing Out, Govt Urged to Act! appeared first on Nepali Sansar.

Yes! The country decided to scale the height of the mammoth mount only to measure its height.

In an expedition that begin in February 2018, Nepal’s Department of Survey (DoS) sent a team of 27 members to conduct this operation.

According to DoS, it is measuring the mount’s height after the massive 2015 earthquake devastated Nepal. Many countries have conducted expeditions on the mount bringing out different results on its height. However, Nepal has never been on an expedition to the tallest mountain within its boundary.

Height Scaled Until Now

DoS said, so far the measurement is complete up to 2,800 m from sea level.

Additionally, the team has installed temporary benchmarks within a gap of every 200 m and permanent ones in every 2 kms to eliminate any scope for error in measurement.

At ground level, the team has measured 170 km in distance from Madar in Siraha district to the southern edge of Sulukhubu district that is home to Mt. Qomolangma.

“We completed the work of precise leveling in 170-km-long distance from Madar to Solukhumbu. Now, we have to work on the 78-km-long distance to complete the work,” said Sushil Dangol, Coordinator, Everest Height Measurement Secretariat, DoS.

Rain Obstructs Survey

The progress of the mission was hindered due to rainy season throughout July, August, and September.

Resuming works on October 24, 2018, the Department sent the 27-member team with two tasks— continue precise leveling in Solukhumbu district and gravity observation works in several locations in districts surrounding Mt. Qomolangma.

“The work of precise leveling will be performed up to the height around 4,000 m from the sea level. Another mythology–trigonometrical leveling will be performed above the areas from 4,000 m because human and equipment cannot be taken there for the precise leveling easily,” said Bibek Nepal, Engineer at Everest Height Measurement Secretariat.

DoS has established a deadline of 2019-end for measurement competition and results.

Following are the height estimates made by several countries and survey groups:

• According to India’s 1954 survey, Nepal has so far recognized 8,848 m as Qomolangma’s altitude
• China which first estimated the mount’s height in 1975, reassessed its height at 8,844.43 and further 3.5 m with snow
• US National Geography and Museum of Science, Boston measured the height of the peak at 8,850 m including snow in 1999

 
DoS has planned to measure the height of the mountain with and without snow and rope in an international expert during data processing to claim international recognition for the achievement.

The post Nepal Scales World’s Tallest Mountain, Mt. Qomolangma appeared first on Nepali Sansar.

One such incident recently happened on the country’s Mount Gurja!

A heavy snowstorm followed by a massive landslide hit the base camp of Mt. Gurja claiming lives of nine climbers including five South Koreans and four Nepali guides.

Surprisingly, the veteran trekker Kim Chang-ho known for his record of climbing 14 of the world’s highest mountains was also among them!

The accident was reported to have happened on October 11-12, 2018, informed Suraj Paudyal, an official associated with a helicopter company that was involved in rescue operation to bring back the dead.

 “A massive block of ice, probably 100 metres (330 ft) tall, likely fell from the mountain along a gorge, sending strong winds that hit the camp, threw the climbers off a cliff edge and into a ravine. Some bodies were by the side of a cliff, while others lay in the ravine,” reads Paudyal’s statement.

Though the nearby villagers spotted the dead on October 13, 2018, bad weather conditions did not allow rescuers.

Finally, the rescuers brought eight of the dead to Kathmandu on October 15, 2018, leaving one at the disaster site.

The trekking team was led by Chang-Ho, who is known for his record as the fastest climber to summit world’s 14 highest mountains above 8000 meters without supplemental oxygen.

Meanwhile, another team of French, Canadian and Swiss climbers led by Nepali mountaineer Rajan Bhote had already left for the base camp to scale Gurja West (6,465 mt.).

The post Landslide on Mt. Gurja Claims Lives of 9 Climbers appeared first on Nepali Sansar.

Often described as a PhD in mountaineering, the course run by the Swiss-based International Federation of Mountain Guides (IFMG) has so far been awarded to 6000 people across the globe and to just 50 Nepali men.

Dawa completed the course in January 2018.

Belonging to the Sherpa ethnic group famed for mountain guiding, Dawa had no doubts about her choice of profession right from the beginning. “I knew what I wanted to do. My passion was to be outdoors, to climb. And my family did not discourage me,” says Sherpa.

Expeditions to Everest and Other Peaks

Dawa scaled her first mountain, Nepal’s 5,500-meter Yala Peak, at the age of 17.

After that, she has never looked back. Subsequently, she became part of various successful expeditions to the summits of other mountains before climbing the world’s highest peak Mount Everest in 2012.

Upon her return from the Everest expedition, Dawa registered to become a certified mountain guide. She then scaled one of the world’s toughest climbs, the K2 peak in Pakistan, as part of the first Nepali women’s team in 2014.

Dawa’s attempt to climb the Kangchenjunga, the world’s third highest peak, was curtailed by inclement weather in 2017.

Future Plans

The 27-year-old Dawa is looking forward to guiding an expedition to Denali, North America’s highest peak, in June 2018. She will also continue her work as an instructor at a couple of climbing schools in Nepal.

“She was already moving forward to become one of the top women mountaineers not just in Nepal but in the world, but this certificate will open many new opportunities for her,” says Sunar Bahadur Gurung, President of the Nepal National Mountain Guides Association.

Dawa Yangzum Sherpa’s success is undoubtedly an inspiration to all other girls and the entire women community of Nepal and the world in making their dreams come true and progress in life.

The post Dawa Sherpa, First Nepali Woman to Earn Prestigious IFMG Certification appeared first on Nepali Sansar.

Many inspirational stories have proven this and on the same lines, here comes another interesting one.

Upon his love for Nepal and its people, Stratford-born Hasely Lobb called for a mission to ensure water facilities to a Nepali village called Musey, badly hit by the 2015 earthquake.

Hasely, President of New Plymouth Mountain Bikers Club New Zealand, has created a challenge of climbing 8,848 m, the height of Mt Everest, within November 2017.

According to Hasely, various participants from Wellington, Christchurch, Taranaki and Australia have also joined the challenge that is expected to raise a USD 20,000 fund.

The fund, being raised through the Everyday Hero page online, will go to the Himalayan Trust’s Musey Water Appeal which eventually works for safe water facilities to communities living in the Everest region.

A Love-driven Cause!

                        (File Picture: Hasely Lobb)

Expressing his love for Nepal, Hasely says he has visited the country twice so far and always loved it.

He feels concerned for not being able to help the country at the time of the 2015 earthquake disaster due to lack of proper means, however, has finally stepped ahead in the form of the present challenge.

“I would love to see this challenge become an annual event so that we can keep on raising money,” Hasely adds.

Ride, Run and Jump

The participants can finish the challenge in any way, either by walking, running, climbing, riding or jumping.

According to Hasely, the participants need to climb an average of 295 m per day to finish the challenge.

“One lady has already finished it, she did it in around 12 days. I am trying to do something different every day as much as I possibly can,” he adds.

Hasely mission for the ‘8848m For Nepal challenge’ includes walking the Mangorei Track to the Pouakai Hut, Maude Track to Mangakotukutuku Falls, climbing Paritutu Rock and running up and down the Liardet Street steps 66 times.

Musey, a Small Remote Village

Musey, Nepal is a small village with just 287 people and is reachable after a 40-minute trek from Lukla, the gateway to the Everest region.

The 2015 earthquake has affected Musey very badly, destroying many homes and the village’s water tank.

Since then, the community has been working relentlessly to rebuild homes. Replacing the water tank tops the priority list as the village depends mostly on agriculture for their livelihood and income generation.

Success of the Lukla Drinking Water Project (LDWP), a joint mission of the Himalayan Trust, Action for Nepal and the community of Lukla finished in 2014, forms a strong basis for the latest initiative. The Project is currently serving 200 homes and businesses including many tourist lodges.

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