Nepal Elections

[Boulia]

Hi Yakshaver and all

I posted a question a couple of weeks back re elections - I see in the Kathmandu Post as of Jan 10th
"KATHMANDU, Jan 10 - The Election Commission (EC) has said it is in no position to hold parliamentary elections before October.
Talking to the Post, Chief Election Commissioner Keshav Raj Rajbhandari said the EC needs at least six months time to make the necessary arrangements before it can hold polls. Polls also cannot be conducted during the monsoon and festive seasons."

My interest was that if elections were to be held as previously reported in April there could be a increase in disruptions - so for me a couple more ends to tie up and I am back in April for my 4 th trip in 2 years.

[yakshaver]

Fourth trip!! Well done! Where have you been in your previous three?
I will also be trekking in late March and early April.
Only two more months to go!!

[Boulia]

Past 3 trips have all been to either kalapathar or Gokyo or both.. never over Cho la pass though which is the trip i will do this time unless of course I change completely and go to ABC ! Always flexible is the motto. My first trip i had plenty of altitude issues so second was to use that experience and enjoy both Goyko and Kalapathar - handled altitude much better, top fun. Third trip started out as a Simikot to Tibet border trek then into Tibet by car... long story, caught in Maoist 7 day strike, they refused "donation", locked us down, never got to Tibet border then we retreated back to KTM and so the third trip became Everest way as second choice - actually it was May 04 and met the Everest Teams coming down - great time/great excitement.

[yakshaver]

Hm, sounds like you had some adventures..

If you have seen Khumbu (I have done three treks in the region myself - it's amazing), maybe AC + ABC? ABC is very nice indeed, and it takes 7-9 days, depending how fast you want to be and what else you want to include. I enjoyed it imensely. On par with anything you see in Khumbu, plus there are a couple of very nice Gurung villages, espeically the old part of Ghandruk, away form the trekking trail.

[Oli]

Yes Boulia, you must consider going to Annapurna!

Having trekked once in each Annapurna and the Khumbu I have a hard time thinking which is "best". They are both the same only different, go to both and you'll see.

I didn't cross Cho La either, almost did but we decided not to, one of the things for me to do when I return to broaden my comparison between the different regions to different seasons ;)

Re your original point about the elections and disruptions - I'm sure you know Nepal well enough now to realise that is difficult to predict. There may or may not be elections, and there may or may not be disruptions. And regardless of the connection between those two considerations you should go anyway. :cool:

[Unregistered]

Hi all - one input (from a limited set of data) re: Cho La - from Gokyo to Evrest side:

We did this in oct. 2004. Great weather - clear and cold. Only snow was on the glacier at top of Cho La. I won't say it was easy walking - it was a very long day, and steep up and down - but I really did have fun clambering over the big boulders on hands and feet.

Our friends did same trip the previous April - there was a lot of snow and ice on Cho La, and their sherpa guide had to cut steps in the ice at some points to help them get over the pass - they said it was the hardest hiking they'd ever done (of course - that's all relative and depends on your experience and coditioning), but I'm very glad we didn't have those conditions for our trip!

Jane

[Dr Doolittle]

Hi..to all on the board.
Just getting my gear ready to come out there on the 19th of Feb, with flight to Lukla on the 21st..kala Pattar and back to Nache Bazaar for my 50th..
How are conditions out there, and on the streets in KTM.??
regards

neil

[yakshaver]

I have just received this morning a couple of emails, one from a lady who works as a volunteer for one of the West-sponsored orphaneges in Kathmandu, and the other from my friend and usual guide Santaman. The situation is calm, everyone goes about their business as usual, trekkig groups are go on trek etc.
For now the general feel is that it calmer than before.
These emails seem to confirm what Mr. Deepak Mahat, president of the Trekking Agents association, was saying yesterday.

[alpinetourguide]

Dear all

Regarding to all visiters as you wann know the situation here in nepal. politically now it is cool to tourist and some of the rulling system changed though. through out the trekking areas there is not any violencesa nd bloucked by maoist and army. I can not say there is easy from jiri to lukla , midlehill of trekking zone. hmmmm everest ,manag, mustang langtang(kyanjinggumba)are free from violences and blockeds you people can do trekking around these areas.
but you have to decide yourself what you want!
I wish forth by extending for memorable journey in nepal
all the best
alpinetourguide@yahoo.com
thirdpole@wliknk.com.np