Showing posts with label Nanda Devi. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Nanda Devi. Show all posts

Tuesday, November 5, 2013

Trekking The Indian Himalaya To Kuari Pass With Best Hike

My friend Rick McCharles, who writes the Best Hike Blog, has been busy adding to his already impressive resume of trails that he has walked. Recently he's been in the Indian Himalaya, spending the better part of a week trekking the Kuari Pass and writing about his experience there. The trek takes travelers deep into the mountains of northern India where 7000 meter peaks abound, it also affords those who make the walk views of the famous Nanda Devi, a mountain that many believe is the most beautiful on the planet.

Rick starts his travelogue of the trek with a Day 0 post that outlines what to expect on the hike, including the price. The 8 day trek costs $600 apiece for two hikers and includes a guided walk covering 82 km (50 miles) with the highest point reaching 5135 meters (16,847 ft) at Larkya La.

The trek offers some fantastic cultural encounters and amazing views, but of course one of the highlights is Nanda Devi, a 7816 meter (25,643 ft) peak that is the second tallest in India. It features a steep, sharp summit that cuts across the horizon in dramatic fashion. It also happens to fall inside the Nanda Devi preserve, that is off limits to all but a few lucky visitors. On occasion, permits are issued to climb the peak and some of the best climbers in history have attempted to reach its summit. The mountain is so striking that American climbing legend Willi Unsoeld named his daughter after the mountain. Sadly, she would later die trying to climb it.

Rick wrote six posts on the Kuari Pass trek, each of which can be accessed from the Day 0 post linked to above. Each of those posts shares his experience from each day and plenty of photos from the trail, giving us readers a sense of what it is like to make this hike.

After finishing up the Kuari hike in India, Rick has now jumped over to Nepal where he is busy walking the Manaslu Circuit. I'm sure we'll get some great info on that trek soon as well.

Friday, February 3, 2012

Video: Climbing Nanda Devi East

Located in a remote area of India, Nanda Devi is considered one of the most beautiful and challenging mountains in the world. Its companion, Nanda Devi East, stands 7434 meters (24,389 ft) in height and is the subject of the fascinating short film you'll find below. The video was shot a couple of years back by a British team that traveled to India to not only climb that peak, but also a 6322 meter (20,741 ft) unclimbed mountain known as Changuch. The 13-minute film chronicles that expedition, mixing in history, culture, and plenty of amazing views.



The 2009 British / Indian Nanda Devi East & Changuch Expedition from Rob Jarvis on Vimeo.