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The past week in Nepal has been a painful and tense one for everyone. When the earthquake struck early in the day on Saturday I was just about to sit down for lunch at the Pilgrims Hotel in Kathmandu. The earthquake was so strong that it literally knocked me over as I ran up the steps from the basement and I found myself crawling out of the door. Once outside there was no place to run. Today, I just found out that the village of Langtang was completely destroyed by an avalanche two days after the first earthquake. My wife and I just came back from trekking in Langtang a few weeks ago and we stopped in the village of Langtang to play with the kids and take pictures of them. These little girls in the photo were so sweet and kept throwing kisses at us in the air after Ann gave them just a small piece of candy each. They lived in Langtang and now who knows what. Our first concern at Himalayanwonders after the earthquake was making sure that all of our clients and staff and their families were safe. Fortunately no one has been hurt seriously but […]
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The Langtang trek is a good option if you are looking for a relatively short trek with easy access from Kathmandu. The trek has a number of good quality tea houses that are spaced every few hours along the trek making it easy to find a comfortable place to sleep and a good meal. Here are some quick facts about Langtang Tea Houses and a village by village run down.
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If you have a limited time for trekking but still want to see some of the Himalayas here are what we think are the 5 best short treks in Nepal. Note: Some of our itineraries on the website for these treks are longer as they include extra days in either Kathmandu or Pokhara. The times given here are the minimum requirements. Please ask us for more details ( click to inquire ). 1) Poon Hill Trek : Starting Point: Pokhara and one hour taxi to Nayapul. Minimum Day Required: 4 or 5 This trek starts from Pokhara and if you want to see some of Nepal’s big peaks up close it’s the best option for a short trek. The view from Poon Hill (3210m/10531ft) takes in Annapurna South, Annapurna I and Dhaulagiri. The first few days the trail makes a steady climb between the small Sherpa villages. The second night can be spent in Tadapani which offers great views of Annapurna II, Annapurna South, Hiunchuli, and Machapuchare which is also known as “Fish Tail.” If you bring some swimwear you can make the short hike down to the river to enjoy the hot springs in Tadapani. It’s another days climb […]
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Most trekkers heading out to Everest or Annapurna save at least one day on the end of their treks for Kathmandu. If you are wondering what are the best sightseeing options here are 6 great ideas to get you started. 1. Swayambhunath or Monkey Temple The Monkey Temple lies on a hill top about 20 minutes walk from Thamel. Walk-up the 365 steps to the stupa at the top which is a important pilgrimage place for Buddhist and enjoy the birds-eye views of Kathmandu. The stairs are home to numerous monkeys that are said to be holy and are quite used to humans. Make sure to keep a safe distant as monkey bites are serious, but you can certainly get some great pictures. It takes no more than a few hours to enjoy the Monkey Temple. When you reach the top of the stairs you need to pay an entrance fee of 200 Rs. If you are coming from Thamel in a taxi the charge should be no more than a few hundred Rupees. 2. Kathmandu Durbar Square and Freak Street The Durbar Square of Kathmandu is one of the easiest places to visit in Thamel and one of the […]
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If you are looking for something to do in Kathmandu before heading out trekking the Monkey Temple is a good way to spend a few hours. Laying just to the west of Kathmandu it’s only a 30 minute walk from Thamel. To reach the Monkey Temple it’s a steep climb up a series of 365 stairs. It’s one of the highest points in Kathmandu and offers expansive views across the city. The site itself is situated on a small hill top and consists of a large central stupa surrounded by a myriad of shrines, temples and small shops that specializes in paintings, singing bowls and a variety of religious artifacts. Also known as Swayambhunath the site is a popular pilgrimage spot for Buddhists. If you get up before dawn you might catch a glimpse of the many Buddhists and Hindus alike who climb to the top to make homage.
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If you have a few extra days in Kathmandu before your trek to Everest or Annapurna you are probably wondering how to best spend your time. A great option is a day trip to the ancient city of Bhaktapur which lies only about 20km east of Kathmandu and can be reached in 40mins from Thamel by car. Visiting Bhaktapur reminds me of visiting one of Europe’s medieval cities as it’s actually a place of “living history.” Over 200,000 people still inhabit its narrow streets and ancient brick buildings decorated with elaborate carvings. A number of both Hindu and Buddhist shrines can be found in Bhaktapur although the population is 90% Hindu. In practice most of the inhabitants practice both religions with equal intensity. Bhaktapur is the most Hindu of the three main cities of Kathmandu Valley (Patan is more Buddhist and Kathmandu a mixture of both). Bhaktapur was the capital of the Malla Kingdom from the 12th to 15th centuries and after the 15th century became an independent kingdom alongside Kathmandu and Patan. As the capital of the Malla Kingdom it was clearly an important and wealthy city judging by the architectural richness of the many buildings, temples and […]
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If you want to experience one of Nepal’s most lively and colorful festivals you can think of planning your trek to Everest Base Camp at the same time as the spring festival of Holi. One of the most important festivals celebrated during the year by Hindus in both Nepal and India. The festival marks the start of spring and the triumph of good will. Nepal is dominantly a Hindu country so this is one of the most important festivals of the year as well as an official holiday. The night before Holi starts with bonfires which are lit right on the city streets. If you are in Nepal you won’t see this so much but if you happen to be in Mumbai or some cities in India these are quite common and quite impressive and some estimates that over 30,000 fires burn across India lighting up the night sky in anticipation of this event. I remember one time taking off on an airplane from Mumbai and seeing the impressive site of all the fires in the streets below and smoke rising from the city. The fire is lit to celebrate the death of Holika a demoness who is said to […]
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Last Updated: Saturday, March 7, 2015 – 7:20pm Most Recent: Its Saturday now at 7:20pm and local news is indicating the runway is clear. Flights should resume shortly according to television coverage in Kathmandu. ———Full Story The only international airport in Kathmandu has been closed since Wednesday morning when a Turkish airliner partially missed the runway. Fortunately, all the passengers on the Turkish flight were evacuated safely but a portion of the wing remains on the runway forcing its closure. Flights won’t be resumed until this aircraft has been removed from the runway. Currently a specialized aircraft removal team from India is making some progress and expects to clear the runway by noon today with flights resuming several hours after. For our guests travelling into the country and those looking to leave one of the most frustrating aspects of this ordeal is the lack of information and what appears to be a poorly organized response by the authorities. The first plan on Wednesday was to remove the Turkish airliner with two large bulldozers that were in close proximity to the airport. However, Turkish airlines objected to this procedure and the plan was called off after in the late afternoon. A […]
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If you have not been to the Himalayas before you might make the mistake of thinking the climate is fairly uniform across the entire mountain range but nothing could be further from the truth. If you’re planning a trip its key to understand how the weather changes throughout the year in each part of the Himalayas. The Indian monsoon is the main driver of climate and the impact of the monsoon or lack of it is of key importance for predicting the weather. A monsoon is best described as a seasonally reversing wind system. It works because during the hot part of the year the sun warms up the earth’s surface causing the atmosphere to rise and as it does it pulls in moist air from the ocean. When the sun is no longer heating the surface during the winter this mechanism reverses and a generally dry subsiding air mass dominates. The monsoon first reaches the Himalayas in far eastern India, Bhutan and Nepal in early June and remains over these regions for the longest time. For this reason, the western Himalayas in contrast to the eastern Himalayas are much drier and the monsoon starts later in the year. When […]
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Bhutan’s long standing policy of isolationism has preserved traditional lifestyles and cultures in this part of the Himalayas. Something must be different in a country that aims to put “Happiness” ahead of “Capitalism”, a long term goal of policy makers. The policy is more than just words, and regulations on the tourism industry limits the number of visitors to Bhutan at around 40,000 whereby nearby Nepal receives just shy of a million visitors. Bhutan is a country almost untouched by the cultures of begging and touting that spring up around modern tourist hotspots offering trekkers a unique experience if they are willing to accommodate to policy. For westerners, Bhutan has always been difficult to visit and the government has set not only minimum spending requirements but also requires all treks to be arranged through a local agent. Situated in the eastern Himalayas it’s a small country both geographically and population wise. The climate is dominated by the influence of the Indian Monsoon with the best trekking months being from March to May as well as September and October. On every trek in Bhutan you will be accompanied by your own staff consisting guide, cook, camping assistant and a few horsemen […]
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The Tibetan Plateau occupies an area four times the size of France and with an average elevation over 4,500m (14,800 ft) is often referred to as the “Roof of the World” or the “Third Pole” in reference to the number of glaciers and volume of ice that lies within the Himalayas. The great treks of Tibet approach the peaks of the Himalayas from the north and give a different perspective then the treks in Nepal and India which approaches from the south. The weather of Tibet is much drier and colder than conditions in Nepal and India both due to the elevation and the fact that the Himalayas block tropical monsoon moisture from reaching this far north. Strong solar forcing across the plateau in the summer and exceptionally cold winter temperatures are thought to amplify monsoon patterns across southeast Asia and before the uplift of the plateau the monsoon was likely much more moderate then it is today. The Himalayas make up the southern boundary of the Tibetan Plateau and geologists estimate that uplift of the plateau began about 20 million years ago as mantle material flowed towards a low pressure area away from the Himalayas. Tibet might be a […]
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Everest or Annapurna Base Camp. If it’s your first time in Nepal you might be wondering which is the better trek? Having done both I would right out the gate say Everest Base Camp. However, if your worried about acclimatization, scared of flying small planes or don’t like colder temperatures then Annapurna Base Camp might be a better option. Here is a short review of both treks and the pros and cons of doing each. Keep in mind at the end of the day this is a bit subjective and that they both deserve to be included in a list of the world’s greatest treks. The first thing to consider is the scenery of each trek. The trek to Everest Base Camp I think wins by a good margin. One of my favorite things about the trek to Everest Base Camp is that from you are almost in direct view of some amazing peaks. On the first few days of the trek you can get a view of peaks such as Thyangmoche, Kusum Kanguru and Thamserku. Once you past Namche Bazaar you are in almost always in direct view of Everest or one of the other giant peaks like Ama […]
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Wondering how to get the best deal on a flight to Nepal? Here are some suggestions based on where you might be coming from. You can save a lot if you have some flexibility and are willing to plan in advance. Even if you have some fixed dates you should still find some great tips in this article. If you have any questions about getting a cheap flight don’t hesitate to ask us. Caution! Read This if you are going through India: A Visa is required to enter India so if you have luggage this option will not work since you have to go through immigration to collect bags. However if you have an Indian visa already in hand it’s a good bet. Also remember you can’t leave the transit area of the Delhi airport without a visa so doesn’t plan a layover longer than 8 hours. Some countries are eligible for visa on arrival but they still need to process this at least 4 days in advance online. North America Option 1 Via India to Kathmandu : If you’re coming from North America the cheapest flights you will find are out of New York’s JFK airport to Delhi in […]
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Kathmandu is a great place to buy camping equipment and outdoor wear if you are not looking for major name brands. The same down jacket that you might buy in the United States for $300 can easily be obtained for $50 in Nepal. In fact, I always wait until my next trip to Nepal to shop for these types of things. That said cheap knock-offs abound and the quality of the gear varies quite a bit from shop-to-shop. If you do buy a jacket that is labeled North Face or Patagonia it’s almost guaranteed to be fake unless you are buying it from the actual outlet in Kathmandu. For the best shopping experience forgot about the labels and focus on the quality of the actual product you are buying. Here are a few things to look at; 1. Zippers – Test the zippers on whatever you buy carefully by open and shutting them a few times. Make a careful visual inspection as to the strength and ask yourself if it will hold up after use. Bigger zippers are usually stronger but not always. Lots of loose stitching around the zipper is also a bad sign. 2. Stitching – Carefully inspect […]
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If you have not trekked in the Himalayas you may not be familiar with “Teahouse Trekking.” This is probably the most popular style of trekking and simply involves going from teahouse to teahouse. Teahouses are essentially small hotels found in local villages that offer both a place to sleep as well as home cooked meals. On routes with sufficient number of tea houses you don’t need to worry about brining a tent or carrying your own food. The actual quality of the teahouse varies quite a bit depending on the amount of foot traffic in the region, number of foreigners and competition. Teahouses in the Everest and Annapurna region are exceptionally nice and many boast of western style flush toilets, hot water showers, a selection of beverages including beer and a wide range of menu items. Teahouses along less popular trekking routes are usually more rudimentary and one might expect to sleep in a common room around a toasty stove after enjoying a meal of dhal bhatt (rice and lentils). Teahouses are pretty great! – If your trekking in the Everest and Annapurna region the tea houses are almost like small hotels but with a much more home-stay feeling. Most […]
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The massive and captivating Kanchenjunga 8,586 m (28,169 ft) situated on the border between Nepal and India is the world’s third tallest mountain. The peak lies in a larger portion of the Himalayas known as the The Kangchenjunga Himal that includes 16 peaks over 7,000m (23,000 ft). Most of the region is protected as part of a large national park that spans both India and Nepal and protects the natural beauty of the region and cultural traditions of a diverse range of ethnic groups. The mountain consists of 5 separate peaks and in Tibetan Kanchenjunga means the “Five Treasures of the Snow.” The peak is considered holy by the people of Sikkim and climbers have always stopped just short of the summit out of respect for the mountain. Four giant glaciers cover the bulk of the terrain above 5000m/16000ft and encompass a vast area that measures over 315 km / 125 square miles. The glaciers, Zemu, Talung, Yalung and Kangchen radiate out from the mountain at nearly ninety degree angles while the main ridges of the mountain run almost north to south and east to west forming a giant cross. On the eastern point of this cross one finds […]
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The Indian state of Himachal Pradesh lies in the heart of the Himalayas nestled between Ladakh one side and Uttarakhand on the other. It’s a land of contrast between the lush and rainy southern portion which encompasses, the districts of Chamba, Kangra, Kullu and Kinnar and the much drier northern region of Lahaul and Spiti which lies in the rain shadow of the Himalayas. It’s a fantastic region for trekking with a handful of well trodden routes and numerous peaks between 6000 and 7000 meters. Access is via the hill stations of Shimla, Manali and Dharamsala. Flights from New Delhi can take you to either Manali or Dharamsala and all three are accessible by overnight bus. One of the most amazing treks in the region is Pin Parvati a 10 day journey that traverses the Himalayan Range from south to north and encompasses the full range of environments from arid landscapes and glacial traverses to towering pine forests. Here is a look at what might be the 5 best hikes in Himachal Pradesh. Pin Parvati is a challenging 10 trek across the Himalayas that covers nearly 100km (60 miles) and tops out at the pass of the same name (17,457 […]
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Mount Everest Advance Base Camp (EABC) not to be confused with Everest Base Camp is approached from Tibet and is the highest that one can go on Everest without a climbing permit. It’s also the world’s highest trek on an established trail. The same route is typically used by climbers attempting to summit who continue on past Advanced Base Camp and follow the North Col and then the Northeast Ridge to the summit. The route has to Mount Everest Advance Base Camp is a challenging but beautiful trek through a stunning mountain landscape. The journey to EABC starts in Lhasa (11,975ft/ 3,650m) the capital of Tibet where it’s best to spend a few days acclimatizing before heading out towards Everest. Lhasa is amazing destination itself with the majestic Potala Palace, the great three monasteries of Sera, Ganden and Drepung as well as the Barkor Square and Jokhang Temple. It’s 627km by road from Lhasa to Everest Base Camp and the Rongbuk Valley that’s best taken over three days both to enjoy the sights but also to assist in the acclimatization process. A possible itinerary is to spend the first day visiting Yamdrock Lake, a beautiful turquoise lake, before crossing the […]
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Often called the “Land of the Gods” the Indian state of Uttarakhand lies just west of Nepal and is the geographic center of the greater Himalayas. Hindus have long made pilgrimages to the source of the Ganga which starts from the Gangotri Glacier glaciers high in the Himalayas. Home to Nanda Devi (7,816 m / 25,643 ft) the second tallest peak in India as well as a host of other 7000m+ peaks Uttarakhand is a fantastic destination for trekkers. Known as the Garhwal Himalayas it is further divided into the western Garhwal division and eastern Kumaon division. Daily flights can be taken to Dehradun from Delhi but it still a few days of travel to get into the mountains via rugged mountains. The small town of Rishikesh along the banks of the Ganges and at the base of the Himalayas can make a good resting point for those on their way into the mountains. The best trekking season is between April and Early June and then again during October and November. Here is a look at some of the best treks in the region. Gomukh Tapovan or Gangotri Glacier Trek : This is a short 4 or 5 day trek […]
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Are you planning a trek and trying to decide between either Everest Base Camp or Kilimanjaro? I have been to both and wanted to put together a bit of a comparison of the experience on each. This comparison looks specifically at the Kilimanjaro’s Marangu Route which is the quickest and also one of the most popular summit approaches. The other routes to Kilimanjaro’s summit take more time and give trekkers a better chance to acclimatize.
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Mount Everest has captured our imagine and tested the limits of human endurance and capability. Here are just a few of the many firsts and records set on the mountain both by man and nature. If you think we missed some important ones let us know and we will add them to the list! Climbing Facts and Records Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay reached the summit in 1953 for the first time. A Swiss team failed to reach the summit of Everest in 1952 just 250m short of the summit. Sir Edmund Hillary was also the first man to reach both of earths poles as well as the summit of Everest – aka “The three poles.” Willie Unsoeld and Tom Hornbein summited via Everest’s West Ridge in 1963 one of the most difficult routes possible. The last time that a season went by without anyone reaching the summit was 1974 Reinhold Messner in 1978 became the first to climb Everest without oxygen. Peter Hillary, son of Edmund Hillary, scaled the peak in 1990 making Edmund and Peter the first ever father and son combination to climb the mountain. Yuichiro Miura made the first septuagenarian summit in 2003. The same […]
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Sikkim is one of the far northeastern states of India surrounded by the north and east by China and Nepal to the west. Kanchenchunga, the world’s third tallest mountain, defines the border between Nepal and Sikkim and many of the treks in the region skirt the lower portions of this giant mountain. The weather in Sikkim is much wetter than in the other regions of the Himalaya due to its proximity to the Bay of Bengal and a direct flow of moisture during the monsoon months from May to early October. Dense rainforests are common in the lower elevation portion of treks giving away to beautiful Rhododenhdron forests that peak in bloom in early May and light the hills red with fire. The upper elevation feature beautiful alpine lakes as well as numerous glaciers and ice falls. Access to Sikkim is either by rail or plane to Siligiri and then onward either by helicopter (reasonably priced) or half day taxi ride. Foreign visitors need to be properly registered and should plan at least a few days in advance. Here is a look at 4 of the great treks in Sikkim. Goecha La Trek This might be the most exciting trek […]
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One of the best short treks in Kashmir is the Lidder Valley trek to Kolahoi Glacier. My wife Ann and I made this trek in July of 2014 and here is little bit about the experience. This is a great first trek in Kashmir although if you have a little more time the Great Lakes Trek is perhaps the better option. Having spent a few days in Srinigar exploring the old town we decided it was time to get out of the relative heat of Srinigar and hit the mountains. The snows were particularly heavy this year so the Great Lake Trek was still in snow despite it being early July so we decided to make the journey to Kolahoi Glacier. We left Srinagar around 8am and headed by private vehicle to Pahalgam where many locals were preparing for the Amarnath Yatra. This is an amazing pilgrimage taken by more than 100,000 pilgrims every year. It is itself a spectacular 5 day trek to a holy ice cave where an ice stalagmite thought to represent the Linga of Shiva forms every year. Legend says this is the cave where Shiva explained the secret of life and the universe to his […]
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Any 6000m+ peak needs to be taken seriously and Stok Kangri is no exception. It might be called a trekking peak but the final 1000m to the summit is seriously steep and tough going. Don’t belive it – Check out this video showing one of the members in our group reaching the summit. Here’s a recap of my experience on Stok Kangri. My first trekking experience in Ladakh was an attempt on the popular trekking peak of Stok Kangri (6,153m, 20050 Ft). We wife and I arrived in Leh after spending a few days in Kashmir and trekking to Kolahoi Glacier. Just getting to Leh from Srinagar or Manali is an experience if you take the overland route rather than opting for a direct flight. Ladakh is essentially on the backside of the Himalayan Range and lies outside of the influence of the Indian Monsoon so is extremely dry and arid. We spent a casual 3 days in Leh (3524 m / 11,562 ft) the starting point for the trek hoping to acclimatize before we began the assault on Stok Kangri. The trek is possible in 3 days for those who are physically fit and already well acclimatized, but given […]
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The terms “Heaven on Earth” or “Paradise” are often used to describe Kashmir and it’s easy to forget any security concerns while trekking among tall pine trees, wildflower laden meadows and distant snow capped peaks under deep blue skies. The stunning beauty of the region has long attracted visitors from afar and the tourism industry has long been a mainstay of the local economy. A peaceful political situation made the region a popular destination for international visitors in the 1970’s and 1980’s but all this came to a halt with political unrest in the 1990’s. The kidnapping of 6 foreign tourists by militants near Pahalgam in 1995 led to various governments including the US state department to impose strict travel restrictions on the region and the number of visiting tourists declined to almost zero due to safety concerns. The situation is improving albeit slowly. In 2011 the German government along with several other European countries recognizing the improved security situation lifted travel restrictions in the area and the number of domestic tourists visiting has seen a substantial increase. Despite this recognition of an improving situation the US State Department ordered travel restrictions imposed for at least another year in 2014 […]
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Too many travelers arrive in Leh and then spend the rest of their vacation making long drives to visit all the sites. If you want a bit more adventure and want to spend your time outside enjoying one option is a fantastic day of rafting on the Zanskar which is just an hours drive from Leh and about 3 hours of rafting which includes challenging class III rapids. Rafting trips are organized by a number of tour operators in Leh and should cost no more than 1500 Rs a person. The first trips start in June and the last trips are taken in September. The best time to go is in middle to late July when the river sees its peak flows from glacial run off upstream. It is 28km of rafting from the put-in at Chilling to the take out at the junction of the Indus and Zanskar at Nemo. It’s a speedy ride down the river with almost continuous rapids. Your guide will provide you a rafting helmet, wetsuit and booties before giving you a brief set of instructions on how to oar and safety procedures if you are thrown overboard. The water is cold and silty coming […]
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Khardung La at a height of 18,380 ft is the world’s highest motorable road. The pass traverses the Ladahk Range as it connects the city of Leh and the Indus Valley to the Nubra Valley. The views from the pass of the Zanskar Range across the Indus valley to the southwest and the Karakoram Range to the northeast are superb. Khardung La makes great day trip from Leh and the easiest way to reach it is to join one of the organized biking tours. Several tour operators in Leh will take you to the top of the pass and provide you with a mountain bike to enjoy the 40km (24 mile) ride back to town. The price in July 2014 was approximately 1300Rs. Day trips to Khardung La typically start around 11am but be sure to book a day in advance so that the required permit can be obtained. Most companies take pretty good care of their mountain bikes and will provide helmets and biking gloves as well. It’s about a two hours drive to the top. The only possible stopping point is the military checkpoint at South Pullu at 15,300 feet. South Pullu also has a small dhaba (road […]
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The weather and climate of Mount Everest is one of extremes. Temperatures at the summit are never above freezing and during January temperatures can drop as low as -60° C (-76° F). Despite the low temperatures the biggest issue faced by climbers are hurricane force winds and wind chill. When the jet stream dips south during the winter hurricane force winds may develop reaching more than 285 km/h (177 mph). These winds relax in the month of May and most climbers try to attempt the peak during this short window. The Himalayas house the 3rd largest concentration of ice on the planet after the polar regions are often referred to as the third pole of the planet. Seasons of Everest Mount Everest lies 28° north of the equator and is subject to a typical northern hemisphere seasonal pattern. It lies at the edge of the influence of the Indian Monsoon which brings moisture and clouds from June to September. The cold months are December/January and the best trekking is between these two seasons .during March to May and October to November, when the climate is moderate. 1. Winter Weather at Everest: Winter weather (Nov to Feb) is dominated by the […]
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Travelling between Srinagar and Leh can be an adventure in itself. Of course the easiest option is to book a direct flight between the two cities which if booked in advance can be managed for less than $100. However, if booking a flight one misses out on what might be one of the world’s most amazing mountain drives. Keep in mind when planning a trip that highway generally remains closed for about 6 months starting from November to May due to heavy snowfall (Check current conditions before making any plans). Its a 434 km journey from Srinagar to Leh on National Highway 1D (Leh Highway) which generally takes about 14 hours in total to drive. The highway follows the Sindh drainage on Kashmir side and then the Indus River on the Ladakh side as it crosses three high mountain passes; Zoji La (3528 Mtrs), Namki La (3815 Mtrs) and Fotu La (4108 Mtrs). The route is of prime strategic importance to the Indian army which is obvious by the many check points and numerous guard posts and military convoy trucks. Tourist only have to check in at two points and it’s a quick and painless procedure where only the details […]
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One of the major challenges facing trekkers heading to Everest Base Camp or any other high elevation trek in the Himalayas is dealing with the potential threat of High Altitude Sickness. The primary cause of High Altitude Sickness is a decrease in the amount of available oxygen with altitude. To ensure you have a safe trek it’s important to be aware of this potentially life threatening condition and its symptoms. Everyone is susceptible to High Altitude Sickness and it is just as likely in physically fit persons as those who are unfit. This article is worth a read even if you have been to high elevations before without symptoms. Cause of High Altitude Sickness The primary cause of High Altitude Sickness is that amount of available oxygen in the atmosphere decreases with altitude. While the percentage of oxygen (21%) in the atmosphere remains constant the density of the atmosphere decreases so that the available oxygen when you take a breath becomes less. The decrease in density of the atmosphere is not linear and that density decreases more rapidly with increasing altitude so that the impact of going from 10,000 to 20,000 feet is not as significant as going from 20,000 […]
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