3-4 week trek beg. of Nov.

[mberkesch]

I am looking for companions who would like to begin a trek starting Nov. 8 or so. I am interested in the EBC trek or something less well known. I have much backpacking experience in the states but no trekking abroad experience. I plan to carry my own pack and want to go without a guide.
Anyone interested?

[pvm]

Hi,
I am a solo traveller and I have about the same plans (it seems that my original plans to see Tibet by my own are impossible to fullfill). I am a beginner in mountains, but independent travelling insn't new thing for me. I will be in Kathmandu 6.11 and I have about a month to see the places. I am from Finland. If interested, please contact me pvm24h at hotmail dot com

[Michael Sunkist]

Nameste Mberkesch, as a fellow yank I'll give you a few pointers about trekking in Nepal. No need for a guide or porter. The villagers will respect you more in high elevations if you have the balls to hump your own pack. The trails are ancient and well maintained, if you get lost the villagers will point you in the right direction as they know where you are heading even if you don't. Should you come to a Y in the trail and you are miles from the nearest village and haven't seen a fellow trekker in hours, just follow the litter as that is the main trail. It's a shame but trekkers and locals don't think much of throwing their litter by the wayside. When in Kathmandu purchase some diamox for altitude sickness. It's cheap and you don't need a prescription. Also get some pain pills. Keep in mind this is not a cure, it will relieve the symptoms should you be foolish enough to take too much altitude in a 24 hour period. Retrace your steps back down to the last altitude you felt good at and stay there for 24 hours. A hint: after 12,000 ft. try not to exceed more than a 1000 feet in elevation per 24 hour period. Example:start your day at 12k, trek to 15k but when you hit the ups and downs of the trail try to sleep somewhere around 13k. Pay more attention to this as you get higher as altitude sickness is no fun, and if you get high enough you can get brain swelling which can seriously mess you up. Take a good water filter, I use MSR and it works great for Nepal and India water. Easy to clean and I've never gotten sick on the water. Sleep with it at high altitudes so your ceramic filter does not crack as you will not find a replacement, gaurenteed. Don't take large rupee notes with you. The teahouses have an extremely hard time cashing them. I stuff my pack with huge amounts of 10,20,50, and 100 rupee notes. I trek alone and have for decades. You can do the same as you will meet loads of people on the trails and in the teahouses where you crash. Take a good sleeping bag as it is cold at high altitudes and there is no heat where you sleep. I use one that is rated -20 f. Layer up to keep from sweating. Happy trails

[Laurynissa]

Hey.. . any chance you have a change of plans?? I saw Everest from Tibet side and so I'm going to go with the Annapurna trek beg. of Nov.

Let me know if you're interested.

Lauryn