Myagdi, April 1: Climbers have started reaching the base camp for climbing the Annapurna Himalayas. The base camp for climbing the 8,091-meter-high Annapurna Himalayas is located in the geography of Annapurna Rural Municipality-4, Narchyang, Myagdi.
Shyam Purja, a ward member of Annapurna Rural Municipality-4, said that the base camp of climbers, Sherpas, guides, workers and tourists who have come to climb the Annapurna Himalayas in the current spring season has increased. “The climbing team has pitched tents at the Annapurna Base Camp and made it like a village,” he said. “In addition to the climbing team, domestic and foreign tourists have also started arriving.” According to him, climbers and tourists have also started coming to the 4,100-meter-high mountain above sea level for sightseeing.
According to the latest data released by the Department of Tourism on Tuesday, 30 men and 12 women from five groups have taken permission to climb Annapurna in the spring season this year. So far, 58 people have taken permission to climb the five mountains in the spring season, with the highest number of tourists climbing Annapurna, informed the department’s director, Aarti Neupane.
According to her, climbers from different countries of the world through Pioneer Adventure, 8K Expedition, Email Nepal, Seven Summit, 14 Peaks Expedition, Makalu Adventure and Bochibochi Peaks have reached the base camp and started preparations . Pemba Sherpa of Seven Summit, who reached the base camp to help the Indian climbers climb, said that they plan to complete the Annapurna climb within 20 days and go to Everest. “The Sherpas have started building a path from the base camp to the peak of the mountain. After resting and preparing for a few days at the base camp, the climbers will go to climb the mountain,” he said.
Spring is considered suitable for climbing Annapurna, the tenth highest mountain in the world. According to the Department of Tourism, 488 people have successfully climbed Annapurna so far. In 1950, Frenchman Maurice Hergoz climbed Annapurna for the first time. Three years after Maurice climbed Annapurna, Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzin Norgay Sherpa climbed the highest peak, Mount Everest, in 1953.
Annapurna is also called the ‘elder’ mountain because it was the first mountain to be climbed by humans above eight thousand meters. The Annapurna Rural Municipality Office has stated that the Mauris Herzog trekking route connecting Narchyang-Base Camp has been prepared by identifying the route used by the first climber Mauris Herzog during his climb. He mentioned that this trekking route, which was identified in 2067 BS(2011 AD) under the leadership of Tej Gurung, the leader of Narchyang, has become a favorite of domestic and foreign tourists after basic infrastructure was prepared. After the trekking route was made systematic, this time laborers carried the luggage to the base camp, said activist Gurung.
“Until last year, both luggage and tourists used to go to the base camp by helicopter,” he said. “This time, even though tourists went by helicopter, the luggage has been carried by porters.” He said that the use of the trekking route has reduced the expenses of climbers and created employment opportunities for porters.
Gurung said that it has become easier for tourists to eat and stay after constructing temporary structures like tents in the trekking route and base camp areas and making arrangements for serving food and snacks. Earlier, those going to the Mauris Herzog trekking route and Annapurna climbing camp, which did not have hotel and lodge facilities, had to provide food, snacks, utensils, gas, clothes and other materials on their own.
According to Gurung, the temporary camps at the foot of the waterfall, Sadhikharka, Guphanphant, Bhusket and Panchkundtal of the Annapurna base camp have become easier for tourists to eat and stay. According to him, the compulsion to travel with heavy luggage has been removed and employment and income-generating opportunities have been created at the local level.
Up to 50 tourists can stay in these temporary camps daily. Since there is a legal provision that permanent structures cannot be built in the area falling under the Annapurna Conservation Area Project (ACAP), permission has been given to set up camps in an area that can be operated during the tourist season, according to ACAP. Ganesh Gurung, a journalist from Myagdi who returned from the base camp on Monday, emphasized the need to maintain a natural balance and uniformity even though the facilities of the temporary camp and restaurant are convenient.
One can reach the Annapurna Base Camp, which is located at an altitude of 4,100 meters above sea level, observing the banks of Mistrikhola, tall waterfalls, beautiful mountain ranges, unique geography, mountains, rare flora and fauna.
From Humkhola, which can be reached after a two-hour vehicle journey from Narchyang, one can reach the base camp in two days and return on the third day. Locals say that the Annapurna Base Camp is a favorite among tourists because it can be reached in a short journey. The peaceful and secluded environment, wildlife, animals, forests, high mountain gorges, gushing waterfalls, and the blue Panchkunda Lake at the foot of the Annapurna Himal are the attractions of the base camp.
