White Mountain is one of 15 summits in California over 14,000 feet. Along with Shasta it is the only other 14,000+ mountain in California outside of the Sierra Nevada mountains. One of the oldest permanent settlements in North America was located 12,600 feet up one of the sides of White Mountain. This is the highest of the former permanent Indian settlements; there are several encampments slightly lower in elevation. The dirt White Mountain road … [Read more...]
Mt. Whitney, CA – Whitney Hike
Introduction When you first drive out of Lone Pine you will see several mountains that look very tall. In fact Lone Pine Peak to the far left of Whitney looks much taller then Whitney itself. This is an illusion stemming from the fact that Lone Pine Peak is much closer in the foreground. Lone Pine Peak in actuality is about 13,000 feet. Mt. Whitney is the spire situated on the right side of all the other sharp jagged spires. It is 14,494 feet … [Read more...]
Nepal
The format of this guide differs slightly from the others. This guide is partly a journal of the author's experience in Nepal. Highlights covered in this guide include the capital city of Katmandu, Royal Chitwan National Park, and a hike to near Everest Base Camp, on a 18,200 foot mountain called Kala Patar. Nepal is a country that I will never forget. It is the land of the rising mountains, mountains that rise so high, you can not imagine … [Read more...]
Nepal – Temperatures
The following is a list of average temperatures for Katmandu which is at a low elevation and Namche Bazaar which is around 12,000 feet in the Himalayas. The temperatures are in degrees Celsius. KATMANDU - Month (Max/Min) Jan (17/2) Feb (21/3) Mar (25/9) Apr (27/11) May (28/16) Jun (28/19) Jul (28/20) Aug (27/20) Sep (26/19) Oct (25/12) Nov (21/8) Dec (19/3) NAMCHE BAZAAR - Month (Max / Min) Jan … [Read more...]
Nepal – History
The recorded history of Nepal began in the 7th or 8th century when a group of people called the Kiratis arrived from East of what is now present day Nepal. Buddhism was the religion during this time period, but by 200 AD Buddhism was declining in popularity and was being replaced by Hinduism. Hinduism was introduced by Licchavis who invaded from northern India. A period of turmoil called the "Dark Ages" happened around 880 AD. A few centuries … [Read more...]
Nepal – Climate
October through November is probably the best time to visit Nepal. The weather is balmy, the air is clean, and the visibility is at its best. There are two main times of the season in this country, the rainy, and the dry season. October through November is the dry season, just after the monsoons. Our group went in December and the weather was a bit colder, but the big advantage that we had was that it was off season and there were very few … [Read more...]
Nepal – Travel Facts
All foreign nationals except citizens of India need visas. Single entry visas are issued for up to 30 days. However, they can be extended for up to 3 months. Trekking permits on the other hand are needed if you plan on hiking in the Himalayas. These permits can be obtained from immigration offices in Katmandu. The time zone is GMT/UTC plus five hours and 45 minutes. Electricity is 220 volts. Weights and measures are in the metric system. The … [Read more...]
Nepal – The Flight
We flew from Los Angeles in the early morning. The total flying time is about 19 hours from LA to Katmandu. We flew Thai Airways. As far as I am aware there are still no nonstop flights between those two cities. We made stops in Seoul, South Korea, and a 12 hour layover in Bangkok, Thailand. On the connection flight to Katmandu make sure you request tickets for the right side of the plane because then you will be able to see the Himalayas. There … [Read more...]
Nepal – Helicopter Flight
From Katmandu we took an old Russian military helicopter to our base hiking elevation of 9000 feet, in a small town called Lucla. I am glad that we took a helicopter because the runway in this town begins on the edge of a steep cliff, with nothing but hundreds of feet of air between you and the bottom of the ravine. At the time of our trip this runway as gravel at best (since paved) and is situated on a fairly steep slope. The runway is steep … [Read more...]
Nepal – Porters
Once you reach Lucla and step out of your plane or helicopter you will be greeted by many people, mostly porters. The porters will surround you and ask if you need some help in carrying your packs. Porters can be hired for a few American dollars per day. Sometimes they will request that you pay for their dinner at one of the many lodges scattered along the trail. I was surprised to see that the porters were quite short and wiry. I was also … [Read more...]
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