Trailblazer Guide Books

Worth watching out for.
 - John Cleare

GREAT HIMALAYA TRAIL CODE   8
 

INTRODUCTION
 The Great Himalaya Trail (GHT) 10 – How to choose a trek 11
 

PART 1: PLANNING YOUR TREK
 First decisions
 When to trek? 13 – Seasons 13 – Festivals 15 – Hinduism 17
 Tibetan Buddhism 18 – Bon 18
 Trekking styles 18 – Fully independent trekking or independent teahouse
 trekking 18 – Teahouse trekking with a guide 20 – Trekking with a
 camping crew 22 – Choosing a trekking style 23 – Trekking the
 GHT 25 – Treks with a cause 26 – Trek duration 28
 Trekking grades 28 – Trail conditions 29 – Trail difficulty 30
 Trek summary: East Nepal 32 – Trek summary: Central Nepal 34
 Trek summary: West Nepal 36

 Before departure
 Visas and permits 38 – Maps and walking guides 39 – Equipment 40
 Footwear 40 – Trekking poles 40 – Clothing 40 – Packs 41
 Sleeping gear 42 – Tents and shelters 43 – Cooking gear 43
 Miscellaneous 43 – First Aid kit 44 – Recharging on the trail 45
 Typical gear list 46
 Nepal and you
 Choosing a guide and crew 47 – Trekking as a single female 50
 Shopping, tips and money 51 – Your security 52 – Insurance 53
 Communications 53 – Dos and don’ts: how not to cause offence 54
 Community 55 – Environment 56 – Safety 57
 Greetings and blessings 57 – Temple etiquette 59
 Health and wellbeing
 General health issues 59 – Food and diarrhoea 60 – Altitude
 sickness 61 – Looking after feet and joints 61 – Hypothermia and heat
 stroke 62 – First aid 62 – Rescue and emergency 63

PART 2: KATHMANDU
 History 65 – Arrival and departure 68 – Orientation 68
 Where to stay 70 – Where to eat 78 – Nightlife 84 – Services 85
 Getting around 88 – What to see 88 – Staying on in Kathmandu 92
 Moving on 94

PART 3: POKHARA
 History 96 – Orientation 98 – Where to stay 98 – Where to eat 108
 Services 110 – Getting around 111 – What to see & do 112

PART 4: TREKKING ROUTES
 Main trekking areas 113 – GHT Nepal route summary 115
 Kanchenjunga region
 Kanchenjunga Base Camp Trek 117 – The Limbu 118 – Routes from
 Kanchenjunga Base Camp 122 – Other major trails in the Kanchenjunga
 region 122 – GHT Kanchenjunga 123 – Lhomi people 124
 Makalu region
 Makalu Base Camp 126 – The Rai 128 – Routes from Makalu Base
 Camp 130 – Sherpani Col, West Col and Amphu Labsta 130
 GHT Makalu 132
 Solu-Khumbu (The Everest Region)
 Sherpa people 134 – The Himalayan Trust 136 – Everest Base Camp, the
 Cho La and the Renjo La 136 – Other major trails in the Solu-Khumbu 142
 GHT Solu-Khumbu 142
 The Rolwaling
 The Rolwaling & the Tashi Labsta 144 – The Bhotia 151
 Other major trails in the Rolwaling 151 – GHT Rolwaling 151
 Helambu and Langtang
 Helambu to Gosainkund 153 – The legend of Gosainkund 156
 Langtang valley 157 – Other major trails in Helambu & Langtang 159
 GHT Langtang 161
Ganesh and Manaslu Himals
 Tamang Heritage Trail 166 – A Briddim folktale 168 – A local legend 169
 Tamang people 169 – Other major trails in the Ganesh Himal 171
 Manaslu Circuit 172 – The people of Larke & Siar 176
 The Ru-Pa people of Samdo 177 – Other major trails in the Manaslu
 region 178 – Gorkha to Arughat Bazaar 178 – Tsum 178
 Landan Kharka (north face of Ganesh I) 179 – Exit via Begnas Tal 180
 GHT Manaslu 180
 Annapurna, Naar & Phu
 Naar, Phu & the Thorong La 185 – The Gurung 186 – The Manangpa 189
 The price of progress 190 – The Thakali 191 – Annapurna Sanctuary &
 Poon Hill 192 – The Magar 193 – Side trip from ABC 195
 GHT Annapurna 196
 Mustang
 Mustang Circuit 197 – Baragaunle people 201 – The Lopa 202 – The
 Teeji festival 203 – Ghar Gompa 204 – Side trips from Lo Monthang 205
 North of Lo Monthang 205 – Southeast of Lo Monthang 206
 Other major trails in Mustang 207
 Dolpo
 Upper Dolpo Circuit 208 – The Evil Lake of Reng 212 – The Legend of
 Shey 213 – The Dolpopa 214 – Other major trails in Dolpo 217 – GHT-
 Dolpo 217 – Kagbeni to Chharka Bhot 218 – Chharka Bhot to Pho via
 Dho Tarap, Phoksundo and Shey 219 – Bhijer folktale 222 – Other routes
 to Pho 222
 The Far West
 Rara Lake Circuit 227 – The Khasas 229 – Khaptad National Park 232
 Khaptad Baba 234 – GHT Far West 235 – Pho to Mugu, the Higher
 Northern Route 236 – Dolphu to Pho, the Lower Southern Route 238
 Tiyar to Gamgadhi 239 – Gamgadhi to Chainpur 240 – Chainpur -
 Darchula 243

APPENDICES
 A – Bibliography 243
 B – Glossary 244
 C – Nepal Trekking Agencies 246
 D – Wind Chill Chart 250
 E – Heat Index Chart 250
INDEX  251