Trailblazer Guide Books

I've said it before and I'll say it again, Trailblazer guides take some beating.
 - Adventure Travel

KANCHENJUNGA      [pp116-124]

Kanchenjunga is the most easterly of the Nepal himals and forms a
natural border with the Indian state of Sikkim. Incredibly lush tem-
perate rainforest surrounds the third highest mountain on earth, with
its many sentinel peaks providing dozens of remote glaciated valleys
to explore. In Nepal, the southwest face, south ridge and west ridge
of Kanchenjunga form a massive horseshoe-shaped valley system
around Yalung, and are rarely visited. The main trekking route heads
to the mountain’s north face and Base Camp at Pangpema. The iso-
lated communities of Olangchun Gola and Yangma are adventurous
side trip destinations that can be used as bases to visit some of most
far-flung corners of Nepal. There are many ethnic groups in the
region, including Limbu, Rai, Sherpa and Lhomi as well as Tibetan
nomads who cross the border to trade.

MAKALU                   [pp125-134]

Sandwiched between Kanchenjunga and the Solu-Khumbu (Everest
Region) this is perhaps the most stunning and challenging of the com-
mercial trekking areas. The standard route to the base camp of the fifth
highest mountain in the world, Mt Makalu, is reached after an arduous
trek over the Kongma Danda to the incomparable Barun Khola valley.
The Makalu-Barun National Park and Buffer Zone is also home to Rai,
Lhomi and Sherpa people, but many think its really big attractions are
the high, dangerous passes to the Everest region: Sherpani Col
(6180m), West Col (6190m) and Amphu Labsta (5845m).

EVEREST REGION                  [pp135-142]

The Everest Region, known locally as the Solu-Khumbu, is currently
Nepal’s premier trekking location. Tens of thousands of tourists visit
each year, mainly in the post-monsoon months of October and
November; come out of season and the well-maintained trails are
almost empty. This is a region where you can stop at any point for stun-
ning mountain scenery that will rival anywhere and, of course, there’s
Everest, the world’s highest peak at 8848m. Add the famous hospital-
ity of the Sherpa people, comfy teahouses and plenty of culture and
history and you can see why some trekkers keep coming back.