Any advice on Mardi Himal & Sickles; Nangi Village & Khopra treks

[nikky]

Greetings fellow dreamers and do-ers.

I’m looking at trek options for the end of this year and have been sent info from the local Nepalese agency that I’ve used in the past. The treks offered are out of Pokhara (roughly in the vicinity of the last part of the AC). Last year I did AC and previously EBC.

I’d appreciate any advice, preferences on variety, quality of scenery etc. They don't appear to be particularly challenging, but the Mardi Himal/Sickles is camping and I’m wondering how cold that would get, compared to a lodge (I’ve experienced a sleepless -10 in a lodge at Gorak Shep). Does camping also mean wet wipes all the way and 30 day underwear?

(Spellings are inconsistent with maps.)

Mardi Himal 8 days, and can be combined with Ghalekharka/Sickles 7 days: Pokhara, Thula Kharka, Forest Camp (?), Lower Camp, High Camp (assume this is ABC), Lower Camp, Siding Village, Mardi Pul, (return to Pokhara or continue): Milan Chowk/Dhiprang, Ghalegoan, Tara View Point, Parje, Lamakhet, Pokhara. MH is advertised as a remote wilderness trek with no villages, and high camp 4100m. Sickles advertised as a newly opened area and ecological (carefully preserved) trek, visiting Gurung villages.

The Nangi Village & Khopra Rural teahouse trek is 12 days: Pokhara, Nayapul, Purnagaun, Lespar, Nangi Village, Mohare Camp, Ghorepani, Chhsitibang, Khopra, Secret Lake, Khopra, Bayeli, Tadapani (not Tatopani), Ghandruk, Nayapul, Pokhara. Advertised as accommodation in village homes with Nangi Village having a vibrant development project providing formal and vocational schooling. Khopra – a remote isolated village offering panoramic views of the A range.

Any thoughts, much appreciated.

[thesilvertops]

I'd go for the Kopra trek. There's a lot of ups and downs so quite tough but it takes you in much closer to the Annapurnas and could present an excellent panorama of the mountains on a clear day. This is a new route and is being heavily promoted. Facilities are fairly basic but then you might experience the real Nepal as opposed to the tourist Nepal.

Perhaps someone on this forum has some photos from this trek and particularly, the view from Kopra ridge.

I've done a search on Yahoo and Flickr and this guy has some nice pics from Kopra and also Lake Khaire. I had a chance to go there in 2008 as part of our Annapurna trip but turned it down. I'm regretting it now I've seen the photos.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/grantmargison/sets/72157594382079658/with/2991308132/
(Just hover your mouse over the thumbnails and you'll pick out the Kopra ones)

[nikky]

Hi Silvertops

Thanks for your thoughts, and also for hunting down those pics. I've been trying to find a trek that's as close to the end of the year as possible, and at least three weeks and not necessarily return to the Annapurna region, unless a particular trek was recommended. I'll give the Khopra trek some thought and also keep looking.

I was interested to read your comment on another post about 'inset crampons' for those treacherous refrozen icy parts. Are they fairly common and easy to come by? I could have used something like that on the snowed-in Thorung La, and wondered why someone hadn't invented a retractable pair - just flick a switch/button to get them to sit up or collpse. What are grippy skins?

[thesilvertops]

Hi

Have you considered Helambu, Goasainkund, Langtang trek? Start from Sundarijal -Kathmandu 45 minutes by car - and finish at Dunche.

Bit of a typo on my part, it's "instep crampons" not "inset crampons". You can get models with 4 or 6 points and they strap on to your boots similar to normal crampons. The great thing is they're lighter and smaller than a full set of crampons. There are also other devices with names like snow grips and ice grabs which are intended to be slipped over shoes/boots and to give extra grip on ice/snow. A google search will give you a good selection to look at.

[marcy]

End November/early Dec in the Khumbu is also nice -- and far fewer trekkers than peak season. You could head out to Thame (a days walk west of Namche) and then go up to Gokyo Lakes.

[andrees]

A good descriptin with photos is from my friend Prem
http://www.facebook.com/?ref=logo#!/album.php?aid=7238&id=100000964284786
enjoy

[schnaxl]

We went to Kopra Ridge in January of this year - hardly any trekkers (except for around Ghorepani), perfect weather every day and the views were spectacular.

Incredible views from Kopra Ridge - you are right in the mountains.

Highly recommend it

[Sujoy]

Does anyone have a route for this Kopra ridge trek and are there tea houses to stay? Am interested for this winter from Pokhara.

[GoNepal]

Langtang-Gosaikunda-Helambu another nice trek. It can be done camping or lodge trek. Some organizers of camping trek provide a bowl of warm water once every day for washing. Langtang (Kyanjin Gompa) is the best place in this route, surrounded by mountains and plenty of side trips, hike up the ridge from hotel, Langtang Glacier, Yala Peak, Ganjala side or take easy one up the valley. you can take short cut to Sundarijal avoiding Helambu in case you run out of time. If you are looking for something harder, go to Gosaikunda-Langtant-Helambu via Ganjala Pass. Second option is a little challenging to do lodge trek since neither side of the Ganjala has lodges unless you make super duper long day from Kyanjin.

[thesilvertops]

The basic route is Ghorepani, down the hill to Chitre, across the valley and up to Kopra, then down to Tatopani. Andrees link to Prem's photos give a good overview of the trek and there is a basic map in one of the pics:

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=7238&id=100000964284786#!/photo.php?pid=90157&id=100000964284786&ref=fbx_album

You need a facebook account to see it. (unfortunately, the link, picture buttons do not want to work on my computer so I can't put the photo in direct!

[nikky]

Hi Andrees, Silvertops and Marcy

Thanks so much for the links and tips. I enjoyed Prem Rai's diary notes and images on Face Book. Some very charming photos and interesting comments. The blackboard map is useful too because I found it hard to match the places on my guide's itinerary with my Annapurna region map of the area.

The ridge looks like an isolated 'peak' and the Khopra area certainly looks worth a visit. In Prem's April visit, there didn't appear to be tourists about.
Nikky

[GoNepal]

Nikky, Nagi & Khopra ? Khopra Ridge is highest point of this trek and it is beautiful. December, be careful trip to Khopra lake. Traversing is on steep slope kind of shady and hair raising while snow on it. I missed the lake still enjoy view and sun bath on the half day ridge walk.

10-12 years ago, some of the camp sites on this trek did not have any tea house. This trek is croses and follows parts of popular Annapurna Trekking route. It was about two weeks trek without Mardi and Siklis. We started walking from Fewa Lake and last night was Dhampus. Hope it helps you.