Nepal Expedition Trips 2009 – Mera Peak OCTOBER 2009.

Mera Peak 6476m – the highest trekking peak in Nepal.

MERA PEAK OCTOBER 2009 with

• Nepal’s highest trekking peak at 6476m
• A great introduction to trekking at high altitude before tackling an 8000m peak
• Excellent success rate thanks to our gradual acclimatisation programme
• A tried and tested circular route, making for an interesting and varied itinerary
• Truly breathtaking views, including 5 of the world’s highest peaks (Everest, Kanchenjunga, Lhotse, Makalu and Cho Oyu)

Introduction
At 6476m (over 21, 000 feet) Mera Peak is the highest trekking peak in Nepal, and is ideal as an introduction to the world of high altitude mountaineering. The view from the top is arguably one of the finest panoramas in the Himalaya – a magnificent spread of 5 of the world’s highest mountains. Whilst a tough and demanding climb, Mera has little in the way of technical climbing. As such it is accessible to most mountain walkers, provided they are fit, acclimatised and armed with determination and strong will-power. Previous experience with crampons and ice axe is necessary, but extensive experience is not essential, and we can organise a refresher course on the glacier before making the ascent. 

Our itinerary has been designed with great care, enabling a slow and safe acclimatisation, but at the same time fitting perfectly into a 3 week schedule. We have chosen a circular route, not only because this makes the trip more varied, but we firmly believe that the key to success on Mera Peak lies in acclimatisation. Our trek in to the Hinku valley avoids the main trail over the Zatrwa La used by most trekking companies, and instead takes us through remote villages, across rugged terrain and into the wilderness of the Makalu Barun National Park. Our clients, instead of being forced into a rapid ascent over the Zatrwa La, benefit from a slow acclimatisation that stands them in good stead for success on the mountain. Our success rate is enhanced further by allowing a spare day in case of adverse weather or illness.

We have one of the best support teams in the Himalaya: an experienced Western leader, local Sherpas, sirdars, cooks and porters. We have worked with our crew for many years, and together we have taken our clients up hundreds of peaks in the Khumbu, from Everest to Mera Peak.

Our leaders
Our trip to Mera Peak will be led by a qualified International Mountain Leader. All of our leaders have a valid first aid certificate, have a wealth of experience at altitude – and are highly versed in recognising and dealing with the symptoms of altitude sickness. We are extremely careful in our selection of leaders, and make sure that not only are all of our staff known personally to us, but also that we choose the right leader for the right trip. With Dream Guides you will be looked after by someone whose experience on Mera Peak is second-to-none, and to whom your safety and wellbeing are paramount.

Altitude
We are confident that our itinerary follows an excellent acclimatisation programme. We make sure we do everything at a slow, steady pace and keep ourselves hydrated. Most people do not experience any problems at altitude, provided they ascend slowly and are sensible about any altitude symptoms. If you do have any problems, we are equipped with a Portable Altitude Chamber (PAC bag) and a satellite phone to aid evacuation.

Itinerary & Highlights :

Trip Grading:
There is a great variety of terrain on this trip: the initial trek into the Hinku valley is straightforward, with rugged trails and strenuous but achievable passes. The paths are in relatively good condition all the way to Khare, where we establish “base camp” for several days. After this we use crampons and ice axes to make our way up the Mera Glacier, where we will rope together as appropriate for glacier travel. We have given this trip a Grade E – demanding – due to the altitude attained and on account of several long days’ trekking. The actual technical aspect of the climb is Easy – but this reflects the technical difficulty of the mountaineering and we are not suggesting that an ascent of Mera Peak is not a tough physical challenge!

Trekkers approaching summit, Mera Peak

Mera Peak Itinerary:
Day 1 Arrive Kathmandu. Airport transfer provided. Meet the group this evening at our hotel. Hotel

Day 2 A free day sightseeing in Kathmandu. Also a kit check and final chance to buy any last minute items. Hotel

Day 3 An early start for the spectacular flight to Lukla, the gateway to the Everest region, where we meet our porters and cook team. Trek to Poyan (2800m). Camp

Day 4 Today we leave the main trade route to Phaplu, and begin a steady trek along the winding path to Pangkongma (2846m). Camp

Day 5 Fantastic views today, including our first view of Mera’s south face, as we head over the Pangkongma La to Nashing Dingma (2600m). Camp

Day 6 From Nashing Dingma we head over the Surke La and make our way to camp at the grazing land of Chalem Kharka (3600m). Camp

Day 7 From Chalem Kharka we continue climbing through grazing country, but on more rugged paths that afford superb views of Kanchenjunga, to our camp at Chunbu Kharka (4200m). Camp

Trekkers walking on thick snow, Mera

Day 8 Chunbu Kharka to Khote. Today we have a shorter day as we contour around the Hinku valley and descend to join the main trail towards Mera. We camp in an area known as Khote (3550m). Camp

Day 9 From Khote we head up the Hinku valley to the village of Tangnag (4356m). Our day is dominated by stunning views of Kusum Kangguru and Kyashar. Camp

Day 10 Acclimatisation day in Tangnag. One option for today is to walk up the ridge towards Kusum Kangguru base camp, reaching an altitude of nearly 5000m. Here we should be able to have a good view of our route up to Mera La. Camp

Day 11 Tangnag to Khare. We cross over glacial moraine, with great views over the turquoise glacial lakes, and hike through the pasture of Dig Kharka, underneath the impressive North Face of Mera Peak, to reach Khare (4850m) – the last settlement before we head onto the Mera Glacier. Camp

Day 12 Acclimatisation day in Khare. There are some excellent walks around Khare, and it is important to spend time acclimatising and recuperating here to maximise our chances of summiting. We may also have a chance to hone our crampon and ice axe skills by climbing up to the tongue of the glacier. Camp

Day 13 Khare to the Mera La. An hour and a half’s walk above Khare, we put on our crampons and head up the 25-30 degree slopes of the Mera Glacier to establish our camp at the Mera La (5300m), where we can enjoy the truly spectacular scenery: including our first glimpse of a 7000m peak, Chamlang. Camp

Mera Peak, Nepal

Day 14 Mera La to High Camp (5800m). This is a short day – 3-4 hours – as we are still acclimatising in preparation for our summit bid. Today you really feel you are in the heart of the giant mountains of the Himalaya: first we see the red pyramid of Makalu to the east, followed shortly by the impressive black rock of Everest peeking out above Lhotse, and it is not long before we catch sight of Cho Oyu to the north-west. The final piece to the jigsaw is Kanchenjunga, 80 miles to the east: a well-earned vista of 5 of the highest mountains in the world! Camp

Day 15 Summit day! An early start for a long day. You should be well acclimatised by now as we set off in the cold, one step at a time. We continue across the glacier at a slow but steady pace, roped up in teams to avoid the crevasses. Most of the climb is at an easy gradient, whilst the last 50 metres are somewhat harder at 45 degrees (we may use a fixed rope for this last section). It usually takes around 4-6 hours to reach the summit, where you are rewarded with a view of some of the most spectacular scenery in the world – from the sunrise over Kanchenjunga and Makalu to the east, to the majestic summits of Everest and Lhotse to the north, every single step will be worthwhile as you breathe in this unforgettable panorama.

We then make the long descent via the same route to Khare, where you will have a hot meal and a much deserved sleep! Camp

Day 16 A spare day – just in case of bad weather, an additional day for another summit attempt. Camp

Day 17 Descend to Khote. We begin our walk out today, descending the Hinku valley, to camp at Khote (3550m). Camp

Day 18 Khote to Tuli Kharka. Our return to Lukla is more direct, and today we climb up through the forest on the west side of the Hinku valley, to the yak herders’ settlement of Tuli Kharka (4300m). Camp

Day 19 Tuli Kharka to Lukla. We ascend to cross the Zatrwa La (4600m), our last climb of the trip! Now we have a 2000m descent all the way to Lukla, and our base at Paradise Lodge – a favourite haunt of Sir Edmund Hillary. Lodge

Day 20 We take the early morning flight back to Kathmandu, and have the afternoon free for sightseeing or last minute shopping. This evening we will go out for a group meal to celebrate in one of Kathmandu’s finest restaurants. Hotel

Day 21 The trip ends today with a transfer to the airport for your homeward flight.

Please note that this itinerary should be taken as a guideline and is not set in stone. This is adventure travel, and bad weather, delayed flights and a whole host of reasons can prevent us from following our intended schedule. Our leader will be able to make any alternative arrangements that are necessary to ensure our trip runs as smoothly as possible.

*Source : – Mera Peak 6475m – the highest trekking peak in Nepal

** Previous story :

– Nepal Expedition Trips 2009 – Baruntse Expeditions.

– Nepal Expedition Trips 2009 – Ama Dablam Expedition.

– Nepal Expedition Trips 2009 – Island Peak Climbing.

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