 Dhaulagiri, the White Mountain was first climbed by the Swiss in 1960.
It’s name is derived from Sanskrit “dhavala- means white” and giri is
mountain – The White Mountain. It is an enormous Himalaya massif located
in the North Central Nepal. It was first sighted by the British surveyors
in India in the early 1800s and it remained as highest peak in the world
till 1848 AD. Later it was mapped by one of the secret Indian surveyors in
1873 AD. But the region remained largely unknown until a Swiss aerial
survey in 1949. The French Annapurna Expedition, led by Mr Herzog in 1950,
had permission to climb either Dhaulagiri or Annapurna but decided on
Annapurna after a reconnaissance of Dhaulagiri. A Swiss team failed to
climb in 1953 as did an Argentine group one year later.
After four more expeditions, an eight member of a Swiss expedition reached
the summit in 1960. The climb followed a circuitous route around the
mountain from Tukuche, over Dhampus pass, French col to approach the
summit from the North – East col. The peak was then climbed by two
Japanese in 1970s, the American in 1973 and the Italians in 1976. There
has been many attempts made by various mountaineering expedition team and
recently an Italian team has successfully climbed the mountain during
spring season 2006. The Indian climbers have many grand successful
climbing to Nepal Himalayas peaks in the recent past but they have not
climb Dhaulagiri as yet.
There was a tragedy struck in 1969 when an avalanche swept away and killed
seven members of an American expedition on the East Dhaulagiri glacier.
Captain Emil Wick airdropped supplies to the US expedition from a Pilatus
Porter aircraft, and among the delicacies he dropped were two bottles of
wine and a live chicken. The Sherpas would not allow the chicken to be
killed on the mountain, so it became the expedition pet. It was carried,
snow-blindness and crippled with frostbitten feet, to Marpha, where it
finally ended up in the cooking pot.
This is the perfect trip for those who want a more intense experience of
the mountains. We will trekking deep into the dhaulagiri region, providing
more spectacular views of Mt Dhaulagiri, Throng Peak, Annapurna I and Kali
Gandaki, the world?s deepest gorge. We may encounter semi wild yak herds,
Mountain sheep or the elusive snow leopard in the remote valleys of this
region.
After a short flight from Kathmandu ? Pokhara & Jomsom, we will spend the
first few days of our walking through cultivated fields connecting
mountain villages, enjoying the shops, tea houses and lifetime of the
Gurung, Chhetri, Magar peoples. We will walk alone cobblestone paths, over
suspensions bridges and through dense forests, taking in the vistas of
some of the world?s most beautiful mountains. We will continue to explore
and fully absorb the beauty of the surrounding peaks. We will climb over
the glaciated French pass and Dhampus pass and then descend a winding
trail to Yak Kharka. We will continue through mountain villages, enjoying
the Hot Springs at the Tatopani and views of the majestic peaks of the
Annapurna (26539?) and Machhapuchhare (22937?) as we make our way toward
Pokhara, visiting several Monasteries and religious sites en route.
Technical:- This mountain is being one of the world’s 14 above 8000der
high mountains, demands the best quality of technical equipments and
highly motivated technically sound climbers team. It has typical weather
conditions which is very difficult to predict. The wind velocity is
tremendous in this area, almost from afternoon to the dawn it is windy
continuously .There are high passes to cross like French pass ht, 5360m.
and Dhampus pass 5258m to reach Base Camp. The Base Camp is located at
the height of 4740m. on Chhonbardan glacier below rocky knob.
|
Day 01: Arrival in Kathmandu - hotel
Day 02: Sightseeing, preparation for expedition - hotel
Day 03: Morning preparation; late afternoon fly to Pokhara- hotel
Day 04: Fly to Jomsom. Rest for acclimatization - tea house
Day 05: Trek to Kagbeni - tea house
Day 06: Day hike to Muktinath, back to Jomsom - tea house
Day 07: Trek to Yak Kharka/Alu bari - camping
Day 08: Trek to Kalo pani - camping
Day 09: Trek to Hidden Valley - camping
Day 10: Trek to Dhauligir Base camp - camping
Day 11-13: Base camp
Day 14 - 52 : Mt. Dhaulagiri climbing period
Day 53: Trek back to Hidden Valley - camping
Day 54: Trek to Yak Kharka - camping
Day 55: Trek to Jomsom - camping
Day 56: Fly back to Kathmandu via Pokhara
Day 57: Kathmandu - Rest
Day 58: Kathmandu. Evening celebration meal
Day 59/60: Final departure to airport |
Day 01: Arrival Kathmandu, transfer to hotel
Day 02: At leisure in Kathmandu, Colletion permit etc.
Day 03: Drive to Beni. Overnight Lodge
Day 04: Trek to Tatopani. Overnight camp.
Day 05: Trek to Ghasa/Lete.
Day 06: Trek to Tukche/Marpha
Day 07: Rest day.
Day 08: Trek to Yak Kharka
Day 09: Trek to Kalopani
Day 10: Trek to Hidden Valley
Day 11: Trek to Dhaulagiri Base Camp
Day 12: Rest day
Day 13: Preparation for climb
Day 14 – 52: CLIMBING PERIOD
Day 53: Base camp
Day 54: Clearance of Base camp
Day 55: Trek to Hidden Valley
Day 56: Trek to Yak Kharka
Day 57: Trek to Jomsom
Day 58: Fly back to Kathmandu via Pokhara
Day 59: Kathmandu. Celebration in the evening
Day 60: Departure. |
