Uros Sever is a Tour Guide from Slovenia. 50-year old Sever is a frequent visitor of Nepal and has done many trekking trips in Nepal. Currently, he conducts trekking trips to Nepal by bringing groups from Slovenia and Croatia. Having recently come back from Manaslu Trek, Sever finds time to share some of his experience in trekking and climbing peaks in Nepal. Excerpts:
The first time I came to Nepal was in 1997. I have always wanted to come and see the Himalayas. Nepal was a transit point for me as my original plan was to cycle across Tibet. During the two weeks’ stay here, I not only went to Gosai Kunda (4380 m) on Langtang Trek, I also traveled to Ladakh in India for eight days.
I hail from the Alps. Back in Slovenia, I do a lot of mountaineering as well as biking. The duration of trekking in the Alps is getting shorter and shorter. One can go and come back from Alps in just two days which is so unlike in the Himalayas where you have to have at least 10 days to go and see the Himalayas.
Nepal was certainly a new experience for me, especially the charm of lodge and lodge trek. In trekking, you live and sleep more often than not in the midst of mountains. The other unique thing about trekking in Nepal is that one week time is too less to get anywhere. In Alps we measure time in hours but in the Himalayas it is in weeks.
I came back to Nepal in 2004 and overstretched the visa period of a total 150 days. This time I went for Round Annapurna Trek for over 21 days and also traveled to Tibet. I have been coming here every year ever since. I come here twice a year, mainly during Spring and Autumn seasons. Since 2005, I am bringing groups of a maximum of 15 tourists from Slovenia and Croatia. I take groups to Ladakh, Sikkim and Tibet besides Nepal.
In 2004, I also trekked to Nar Phu in the Manang region, one of the recently opened restricted areas. The route passes through laps of Annapurna and crisscrosses the Annapurna trek to reach Chame, the head quarter of Manang. The Nar Phu is an exotic and beautiful village in the Annapurna region characterized by narrow valleys, chortens, huge walls, caves and century old monasteries. Obviously this trip was very different from any other I have ever done. People here are still not used to tourists. Other attraction of this route is that it can also be visited during the summer because it is on the rain shadow area.
It was in 2007 that I climbed the Island Peak (6189m) as part of the Everest trek. Island Peak is considered comparatively more technical than others. For me Island Peak is an extension of EBC and with experienced Sherpa’s smooth operation, even people with no experience can also reach the top. It was nice and rejuvenating to stand atop the Island peak especially the feeling of being surrounded by 8000 m and 7000m summits. Moreover you get a sense of satisfaction and unparalleled accomplishment for the genuine efforts you put in. The same year I also climbed the Mera Peak (6476m)
Unlike Island Peak, Mera Peak is very different in its approach and technically challenging. You set up very high camps in Mera Peak so it is rather cold. We have to fix high camps in the snow however this effort is compensated by majestic views magnificent landscape. In addition, there is less number of tourists in this area. For people who would like to have big challenge in the Himalayas, try to attempt Mera Peak followed by Island Peak by crossing Ampu Lepcha Pass. This is a classic feat.
This year, in the spring, I trekked the Manaslu region, one of the remotest and less traveled trekking areas in Nepal. We tried to attempt Chulu East (6,584m) but couldn’t make it to the top. All in all it was a good combination. Once the road comes into operation in other trekking areas, I believe, Manaslu will be a possible option and very good alternative for Annapurna. This trek route is relativel longer than Annapurna as it takes at least 13 days to do the Round Manaslu with big stretches of snow.
Trekking peaks are increasingly becoming part and parcel of many treks. In fact nowadays climbing smaller peaks called trek peaks are added into trekking package. Indeed you do not need to be technically skilled to climb such peaks. The competent staffs and a close cooperation of expert guides make it possible for everyone. This is quite interesting for me as more and more people want to go to trek and climb.
I have been coordinating my trips with the help of Himalayan Glacier Trekking. The trips run by HGT have more added values and its service is reliable and suits the international standards. It is very important to find agencies that meet what tourists expect by building a convenient level of understanding and HGT is one.This year I am also planning to go to Dolpo, climb Pachermo (6187m) and go trekking in the Rolwaling Valley that falls in Manaslu region. Manaslu is very near and easily accessible. Remote areas like Kanchenjunga, Dolpa, Manaslu, Arun Valley are some of the remote and best places to trek in Nepal.
I am interested in each and every trek in Nepal. I enjoy the different and varied landscapes while trekking. I also love indigenous culture and living style of various ethnic groups settled across the remotest corners of Nepal. For me trekking is part of my life. Trekking is a very simple act where you do not have bother about anything and do not have to worry about basic things like food and accommodation.
Between extensive and intensive traveling I would choose the latter, as it involves covering one country and its different attractions and aspects instead of trying to go to all the countries in the world. For me Nepal very much serve my intention. In spite of so many years of traveling, I still do not understand many things about Nepal. I think Nepalese life is different from the west. So it is in traveler’s interest to know about local people and culture as much as possible. | |
