Government issues guidelines for mountaineering and trekking activities

 The government has asked the foreigner to carry with themselves a PCR test report conducted not more than 72 hours ago – for trekking and mountaineering purpose – apart from seven-day mandatory hotel quarantine before they will be allowed to hit the trail. The travelers need to get tested for Covid-19 at the beginning and end of the isolation period, according to the government guideline issued today.

Issuing health protocol today for foreign tourists to follow in order to minimise the possible spread of coronavirus infection while conducting trekking and mountaineering activities, the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation also asked the tourists to secure an entry-visa, or an entry-permit in absence of visa-provision in their countries in co-ordination with respective agencies. “Travellers have to secure visas before they arrive in Nepal,” the ministry said, adding that the government will not issue on-arrival visas at Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) like before.

If the visitors are unable to secure visas through the Nepal embassies and diplomatic mission abroad, they should make a prior request through their trekking or travel agencies in Nepal. The Department of Tourism that issues mountaineering permits, and the Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) that issues trekking permits, will recommend to the Department of Immigration to issue visas to the applicants.

The government is allowing the foreign trekkers and mountaineers to visit Nepal from October 17.

The tourists must carry with themselves a PCR test report conducted not more that 72 hours ago, attesting that the person has tested negative for Covid-19. “Along with the report, the traveler must have booking-documents for the hotel wherein they will stay for at least seven days in quarantine.”

They must also undergo a PCR test at their own expense on the fifth day of being quarantined. They may proceed for the purported activity at the end of quarantine period only on testing negative for the disease. “If the test results in a positive, the person must stay in quarantine for as long as they do not test negative,” the guidelines read.

The travelers must provide papers proving they have an insurance of $5,000, it reads. “The ministry has also asked the trekking or mountaineering agency to insure travelers from Nepal against coronavirus for a sum of Rs 100,000 prior to applying for permit.”

Apart from the guidelines, the travelers must also abide by all the protocols laid out by the Health Ministry.

However, the travel experts criticised the government guidelines saying that the travelers will not come to Nepal to stay in the hotel for a week. They also requested the government to withdraw the decision.

The government – on March 12, a day after the World Health Organisation (WHO) declared the Covid-19 outbreak a pandemic and urged countries to take precautionary measures – had decided to temporarily stop issuing on-arrival tourist visas to nationals of all countries, and cancel spring mountaineering expeditions including Mt Everest missions.

The government also stopped international flights from March 20 and imposed lockdown from March 24. Though, the lockdown was lifted after 120 days, on July 21, the government continued with the restrictive order with restrictions on movement.

Tourism Secretary commits to resolve problems in tourism sector

Tourism secretary promised to resolve the problems faced by the tourism sector.
During a meeting with a delegation of Trekking Agencies’ Association of Nepal (TAAN), who paid a courtesy call on secretary at the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Kedar Bahadur Adhikari today at the latter’s office the secretary committed to working together with private sector to resolve burning issues in tourism industry.
Responding to the delegation, he said that implementation of single payment system can be operated through a systematic planning of permits. Adhikari also assured to carry out necessary actions for infrastructural development in Ramecchap.
The delegation led by TAAN president Khum Bahadur Subedi also handed over 9-point memorandum to the secretary Adhikari apprising the latter about existing problems faced by the tourism industry. The delegation pointed out the impractical imposition of expensive and double trekking permit fee as well as the need to make it mandatory to have at least two trekkers for trekking.
Stating the importance of TIMS in controlling illegal trekking operation, ensuring trekker’s safety and security and labor welfare, Subedi urged the secretary to take necessary initiations for effective implementation of TIMS and make guide and assistants compulsory for trekking above 3000m.
TAAN, on the occasion, also submitted a record of comments and negative experiences of tourists on Ramecchap–Lukla flight and requested with the secretary to facilitate a hassle-free travel for tourists on Ramecchap–Lukla route, while calling for a complete halt of Kathmandu- Lukla flights.

Traffic jam on Mt Everest as climbers make a final summit push

The highest peak of the world has witnessed a traffic jam after more than 200 climbers are making a final push this morning and waiting at the final camp hoping to reach the top of the world by Wednesday morning as the season is expected to close by May 26.
According to a liaison officer at the Everest base camp Gyanendra Shrestha, climbers who have been camping at the 7,900-metre point of the mountain – popularly known as Camp IV – early this morning complained that they have been waiting more than two hours in queues on their way to the summit point.
Some 200 climbers – including high-altitude climbing guides – have headed from the South Col to the summit point early this morning after they found a second weather window to attempt to stand atop the roof of the world. But the traffic jam has created a long queue of climbers above Camp IV.
The increasing high number of climbers aiming to make it to the top on the same morning has however raised fears of overcrowding not only a traffic jam but accidents and deaths, though the officials claimed that huge number of climbers waiting to make a push at the final camp is nothing to worry about.
If all the waiting climbers successfully scale the highest peak on Wednesday, it would be the largest single-day ascent of Mt Everest. In 2012, some 264 climbers stood at the top of the world. That year, 179 climbers successfully reached the top, but not before causing what many referred to as a ‘traffic jam’ on the Hillary Step – a vertical rock with a sharp slope considered one of the most dangerous parts of the climb – due to a small weather window.
This season, the Mt Everest climbing season started on May 14, with a team of eight rope-fixing high-altitude climbers opening a climbing route. The first two-day weather window was closed on May 16 after over 150 world climbers made it to the summit.
According to the Department of Tourism, some 381 individuals have been permitted to climb the Mt Everest this spring. 

Kami Rita Sherpa sets another world-record

Veteran climber Kami Rita Sherpa has conquered the Mt Everest second time in a week – breaking his own record – this morning making it the 24th time on top of the world.
A liaison officer at the Mt Everest base camp Gyanendra Shrestha confirmed that the 49-year-old climber scaled Mt Everest for the 24th time becoming the only mountaineer in the world to hold the record. Earlier, Kami Rita scaled Mt Everest on May 15 for the 23rd time. But after a brief rest, he set off for the mountain on May 18 to repeat the feat.
Kami Rita from Thame village of Solukhumbu district successfully climbed Mt Everest at 6:38 am today morning from Nepal side breaking his past record for most summits on the roof of the world, Shrestha added.
Kami Rita – guiding the Indian Police team from the Seven Summit Treks expedition – has stood atop the roof of the world today morning, Shrestha said, adding that Kami Rita started his summit push from Camp IV on Monday night and reached the summit point on Tuesday morning.
Kami Rita, who is currently working as a senior climbing guide at Seven Summit Treks, has been saying that he wanted to climb Mt Everest for at least 25 times. He climbed Mt Everest for the first time on May 13, 1994.
In 2017, Kami Rita became only the third person to climb Mt Everest 21 times, equalising Apa Sherpa and Phurba Tashi Sherpa's summit record. He set a record for the most number of Mt Everest summits in 2018. Apa and Phurba Tashi have already announced their retirement from mountaineering. But 30-year-old Ngima is young enough to overtake Kami Rita's record.
Born in a remote Thame village in Solukhumbu, Kami Rita – initially a climbing guide – started out in life as a trekking boy at the age of 12 to help support the family.

Khumbu one of the Lonely Planet’s 10 best regions to explore in 2015

Lonely Planet ranked Khumbu region – also known as the Mt Everest region – among the 10 best regions to explore in 2015.

The Australia-based world’s largest travel guide publisher, cautioning the would-be visitors about recent mishaps in Nepal, has placed Nepal in the sixth spot after Gallipoli in Turkey, Rocky Mountain National Park in the US, Toledo in Belize, Tasmania in Australia and Norway Arctic in Norway.

"Mt Everest was a classic journey following in the footsteps of Tenzing and Hillary into the planet’s most jaw-dropping mountain arena, home to the world’s highest peak," it wrote, adding that trekkers are rediscovering the region’s remoter trails, with Nepal’s Maoist uprising firmly behind it. "We don’t really need to sell one on the mountain glories of the Khumbu region; just a whisper of the word ‘Everest’ and everyone in the room snaps to attention."

The travel guide publisher has also asked to try the high-altitude Three Passes trek or adventurous Mera Peak expedition. "And since 2015 marks a half-century since Major Jimmy Roberts organised the first commercial trek in Nepal, it might be time to dust off those trekking boots,” the guide book further said, suggesting to tread the old-school approach routes to Mt Everest from Jiri and Tumlingtar, along parts of the 1,700-km-long Great Himalaya Trail, if one wants something more authentic. "Already popular, the trails to Mt Everest are only going to get busier in future seasons."

Why trek to Everest, Lonely Planet elaborates, "Well, as Mallory famously quipped, ‘Because it’s there’."

This month’s tragic events in Annapurna region, which killed dozens of trekkers have pushed mountain safety to the top of the agenda. "Extreme weather can occur in the Himalaya at any time, and it is essential to monitor local weather conditions and seek shelter if conditions deteriorate," it suggested, asking the trekkers to be properly equipped – on any trek – and "inform people of where you are going and when you will be back, and seek local advice as you trek.”

Fans of the bizarre will want to hike up to Khumjung Monastery to get a peek at its yeti scalp," it said, adding, "nearby Pangboche Monastery had its famous yeti hand stolen in 1991, but a replica is now on display."

With 60 flights daily at the Lukla airport – the airport at the highest part of the world – in the peak season and 200 people queuing up to attempt Mt Everest on a good day, overcrowding on the trails is an ever-pressing issue. The crowd has also increased waste dumped around. Finding a sustainable way to deal with the waste produced by so many trekkers and porters in such a remote region is a complex problem, though solar-powered technology is making a difference in many trekking lodges, it added.

However, each Mt Everest climber is required to carry eight-kg of waste off the mountain – to clean the garbage – from this year. "Likewise, air safety in Nepal is yet another concern, after air crashes in 2010, 2011 and 2012 killed dozens of trekkers and Nepali staff en route to or from the region," it added.

The Mt Everest region receives around 36,000 trekkers and mountaineers annually. Many of the lodges one stays in will be run by retired summiteers, and most families have at least one member employed as a climbing porter or trekking guide," Lonely Planet wrote.

e-tag device to help protect trekkers

Mahabir Pun, the Magsaysay award winner ITcian, has developed e-tag or tourists tracking device that will help send an encouraging message to the trekking lover around the globe.

As some trekkers have been in the past lost during solo trekking, the new device developed by Pun with Bangkok-based company now will help protect tourists, if they get lost, or meet accident or get attacked.

The e-tag technology – that will help track tourists – is like a pen drive like device that will not keep track with the help of internet of tourists but help relay information to the stations along the trekking routes. "In case of emergency, the tourist just need to press a button and the signal will be reached to the station, from where a rescue team will be mobilised," Pun informed during the launching of the tourist tracking device in Pokhara.

With the new technology, the trekkers – especially the solo trekkers – will feel it safe and can wander according to their will.

The technology has been installed in Annapurna Conservation Area Project (ACAP), the country's largest protected area and a popular trekking destination for foreign tourists.

Besides sending signals in danger, the device will also update location of tourists to a computer network – at the Annapurna Conservation Area Project office – that can be viewed by their friends and relatives across the globe.

Tourists can collect the device from the conservation area office before they set out for trekking by depositing a small sum. They can reclaim the deposit after returning the device when they return from treks.

The technology is however, under test for six months in the conservation area, Pun said, adding that the device will be distributed to other areas depending on its effectiveness. 

Some of the newspapers with vested interest have been tarnishing Nepal's image claiming that the trekkers are not safe in Nepal, but the new device will fail their propaganda.