Peak Fees in Nepal

[Nelly]

If peak fees are keeping you from climbing in Nepal............politics, however, are troublesome!

Govt. waives peak fees

Government has waived peak fees partially or wholly for expeditions climbing 60 Himalayan summits in Nepal for three years beginning March this year to attract foreign teams to the kingdom that boasts of the world's tallest peaks, including the 8848 metres high Mount Everest, a Tourism Ministry announcement said Wednesday.

Spring heralds the beginning of the spring climbing season in Nepal. The government, through a cabinet decision, has waived by 75 percent royalty to climb 40 peaks in Rasuwa, Kaski, Taplujung, Dolakha, Mustang, Gorkha, Humla, Solokhumbu and Dolpa districts; the peaks were open for expeditions but had few takers, the Ministry said.

Peaks include Dhaulagiri II, III, IV, V and VI ranging in height from 7751 to 7268 meters. Royalty has been completely waived to attempt 20 peaks in the far west region in Darchula and Bhajang districts.

Peaks in the region include the 7132 meters high Api and the 7031 meters high Saipal. "The move should make Nepal more attractive to expeditions as mountaineering becomes increasingly competitive. "The initiative should also help develop the more backward regions of the country," the Tourism Ministry said.

Darchula and Bhajang are in the Maoist affected backward regions of the country. Nepal has to compete with Tibet, India and Pakistan to attract expeditions to challenge peaks in the Himalayan and Karakoram range. nepalnews.com br Feb.6

[Donkeykong]

Nastiness in Nepal

Maoists Bomb Lukla Airporttest

February 8, 2002

February 8 - The British Mountaineering Council is warning climbers and trekkers to stay out of Nepal after Maoist rebels detonated a bomb just outside the Lukla airport. Lukla is the gateway to the Everest region for foreign visitors. The US State Department has not released a new warning since its January 24th advisory that travelers to Nepal "exercise caution" due to rebel activity.

The bombing occurred on the evening of Monday, February 4th. It did not cause major damage to the airport, but local authorities are concerned that the rebels are planning more attacks.

Maoists are also being blamed for a February 5th attack that killed 16 policemen in Katmandu. According to Reuters News, that was the worst single episode of violence in Nepal since the attack on the royal family a year ago. It’s estimated that 2,300 people have died in Maoist-sponsored attacks over the past six years.

The April/May issue of Rock & Ice will feature a comprehensive report on the political climate of Asian climbing ranges.

— Mark Eller

 

This was on Rock$Ice today. My Stepmother still thinks the Eastern Nepal Himalaya is safe and is going this spring. She needs to put down the bong. She seems to have forgotten the '94 elections. I have not been in Nepal for a few years and there are a few peaks on the new list that might make me tempt fate!