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HimalayaNet #82 (May 2001)Namaste, and welcome to the 82nd edition of HimalayaNet, the online newsletter of the Himalayan Explorers Club. Sheri Nepal is currently in the U.S. (should we call her Sheri US?), so I'm filling in until she returns in August. Look for her "Did you know..." and calendar columns when she returns.Note the HEC still has space in our trip to the Everest region this fall, plus we've added a new trip to the Annapurna region. More information is included below. Please send all communication regarding the HimalayaNet to himalayanet@listbot.com. If you'd like to "post" a message, remember to include your membership number. Any travel information, updates or publishing requests you have are always welcome. Pleasant Reading and Happy Travels... Scott Dimetrosky Executive Director, HEC IN THIS ISSUE: LOCAL NEWS 1. NAMCHE CONFERENCE FOR PEOPLE, PARK, AND MOUNTAIN ECOTOURISM 2. MOUNT EVEREST GOLDEN JUBILEE CELEBRATION 3. BABU CHIRI SHERPA DIES ON EVEREST 4. NINE MORE PEAKS OPENED FOR MOUNTAINEERING IN NEPAL 5. WEB PAGES FOR HILLARY TRUST 6. BOOKS FOR NEPAL EVENT IN SEATTLE 7. PERMISSION GIVEN FOR ASCENT OF HOLY MT. KAILASH. 8. DAVID BREASHEARS REMEMBERS EVEREST DISASTER 9. LUKLA AIRSTRIP BACK OPEN 10. OTHER EVEREST NEWS: OLDEST, YOUNGEST, AND BLIND CLIMBER SUMMIT HIMALAYAN EXPLORERS CLUB UPDATES 11. THANKS FOR NEW NAME IDEAS 12. HEC PORTER CLOTHING BANK UPDATE 13. VOLUNTEER NEPAL HIMALAYA UPDATE 14.HEC TRIPS TO EVEREST AND ANNAPURNA MONTHLY FEATURES 15.INTERNET CONNECTION: WHAT'S NEW ON THE WEB MEMBERS POSTINGS 16a. SEEKING FEEDBACK ON MT. KAILASH 16b. TRYING TO SEND MATERIALS TO THE INSTITUTE FOR SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE 16c. DOCTOR SEEKS JOB IN NEPAL 16d. LOOKING FOR INFORMATION ON TRIBHUVAN UNIVERSITY CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING SECTION VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES HOW TO UNSUBSCRIBE TO HIMALAYANET HOW TO SUBSCRIBE TO HIMALAYANET HOW TO POST ON HIMALAYNET HIMALAYAN EXPLORERS MEMBERSHIP INFORMATION ********************************************************************** LOCAL NEWS ********************************************************************** 1. NAMCHE CONFERENCE FOR PEOPLE, PARK, AND MOUNTAIN ECOTOURISM In conjunction with the International Year of the Mountains and the International Year of Ecotourism, 2000Bridges-PRTD and Prof. Teiji Watanabe (Laboratory of Geoecology, Hokkaido University, Japan) jointly announce a global conference to be held in Namche Bazar on Dec. 5 - 8, 2002. If you are interest in co-sponsoring this event, or supporting it in other ways, please contact us as soon as possible: nc@bridges-prtd.com. Location: Namche Bazar (3450 m) is the gateway to Sagarmatha National Park, 4-5 days from Everest Base Camp. It is accessible by air, generally by way of Lukla airstrip, one and a half days below Namche. We will also organize treks from the trailhead at Jiri; this trek takes 9 or 10 days, and we will depart from Kathmandu on Nov. 24. Focus: Presentations and workshops will cover a range of topics, according to the interests of participants. These may range from high altitude waste disposal to the viability of introducing South American camelids (llamas and alpacas) in other mountain environments. However, special attention will be given to the role of parks in mountain ecotourism. We should take advantage of the expert opinion of the local people as well as their guests (trekkers and mountaineers) in considering the experience of Sagarmatha National Park. We will also hear reports from other parks, both in Nepal and around the world: our intention is to generate results that will be useful to Sagarmatha stakeholders and to stakeholders in all remote mountain ecotourism destinations. Costs: Citizens and permanent residents of Nepal: no charge Students and citizens of Himalayan nations other than Nepal (Bhutan, China, India, Pakistan): $20 Others: $40 for early registration (by Dec. 31, 2001); afterwards, $55 More details will be posted as they are available -- see Update page on Bridges-PRTD website (http://www.bridges-prtd.com) Seth Sicroff namche@bridges-prtd.com fax: (708) 575-6620 ********************************************************************** 2. MOUNT EVEREST GOLDEN JUBILEE CELEBRATION Nepal is celebrating the 50th anniversary of the ascent of Mount Everest by the late Mr. Tenzing Norgay Sherpa and Sir Edmund Hillary in 2003 (the original ascent was on May 29, 1953). To commemorate the Golden Jubilee of that historic day, events and programs will be held for one calendar year starting from June 1, 2002 to May 31, 2003. The final event of the Golden jubilee will be the gathering of the Mount Everest climbers and expedition members, with Sir Edmund Hillary as honorary president. Other activities include: A cricket tournament, mountain bike race, classic car rally (London to Kathmandu), and even elephant polo (this is not a misprint!). To get more information or if you would like to participate in one of the activities please visit the web site at www.mteverestgolden50.com If you have further questions or need more details, please contact me directly. Bikram Vaidya, Coordinator Mount Everest Golden Jubilee Celebration Committee Phone (503)284-8448 MysticADV@aol.com *********************************************************************** 3. BABU CHIRI SHERPA DIES ON EVEREST [From the American Alpine Club (AAC), www.americanalpineclub.org] Babu Chiri Sherpa was on Everest and left Camp II on the afternoon of April 29 to take photographs. He was noticed missing at that evening's dinner and a search party was dispatched. His body was found at midnight at the bottom of a crevasse. In May 1999 Babu spent 21 hours on Everest's summit in a specially designed tent, breaking the record for duration spent atop the world's highest peak. The following spring he broke the record for fastest ascent of the mountain, climbing from Base Camp to the summit in just 16 hours and 56 minutes. This season Babu hoped to break the current record of eleven ascents of the mountain, having successfully climbed Everest 10 times. Perhaps more important than his mountaineering accomplishments was Babu's love for life, leadership, and dedication to improving the lives of the Sherpa people. Babu recently raised funds for, built, and opened the first elementary school in his native village in Nepal's Solukhumbu region. "To climb Everest is easy, like boiling a egg, but dangerous work. Much more difficult and important is to get education for my six daughters." Babu Chiri Sherpa Contributions to help Babu's school can be made through: Alex Lowe Charitable Foundation (ALCF) PO Box 6666 Bozeman, MT 59715 Phone: 406. 585.7643 alcf@mcn.net Mountain Hardwear will hold a fundraising event to keep Babu's school open in August at the Outdoor Retailer trade show in Salt Lake City.Donations can also be made in Babu Chiri Sherpa's name to a Wells Fargo Bank account set up by Mountain Hardwear. Mountain Hardwear made an initial deposit of $5000. For more information on the event or donations, contact Paige Boucher at Mountain Hardwear: 510.558.3000 x2976. Note also that the HEC sends English teachers to schools throughout the Solukhumbu region. If you are interested in sponsoring an English teacher at Babu's school or a surrounding school please contact the HEC at (303)998-0101 or e-mailing scott@mountainexplorers.org *********************************************************************** 4. NINE MORE PEAKS OPENED FOR MOUNTAINEERING Kantipur Online Report (www.kantipuronline.com) KATHMANDU, May 16 - The government has announced the opening of nine more peaks for mountaineering effective from the spring of 2001, a Tourism Ministry announcement said here on Tuesday. With these, the total number of Himalayan peaks opened for mountaineering has reached 160. The new peaks opened for climbing include, 8,413-meters high Lhotse Middle, 7,590-m high Peak 38, 7,036-m Hunchi, 6,677-m Numri, 6,500-m Tengkangpoche, and 5,927-m Nheserku peak in the Mahalangur mountain range of Solukhumbu district. Also opened are 6,251-m P2 in the Mansalu range, 6,012-m Thapa peak in the Dhaulagiri range and 5,751-m Thorang peak in the Annapurna range. The newly opened peaks are located in the districts of Gorakha, Mustang, Manang and Solukhumbu. "We are of the hope that this would help attract more mountaineers from around the world, and contribute to the growth of mountain tourism in Nepal," Joint Secretary at the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation, Shankar Prasad Koirala, said in a press release. ********************************************************************** 5. WEB PAGES FOR HILLARY TRUST Thanks to Greg Mortenson of the Central Asia Institute (www.ikat.org) for pointing out that those wishing to donate directly to the Hillary Trust can do so through contacts in the U.K and in Canada: Hillary Himalayan Trust UK: http://www.eshopone.co.uk/Himalayan/Himalayan_trust.html Hillary Foundation Canada: http://kilby.sac.on.ca/sassin/New/hillary.htm People can also write and fax to make donations to Sir Ed himself in New Zealand: The Hillary Himalaya Trust 278a Remuera Road Auckland New Zealand Fax # in New Zealand: 09 520 7847 ********************************************************************** 6. BOOKS FOR NEPAL EVENT IN SEATTLE Join Books for Nepal for a party to raise funds to build at least two Seattle-sponsored schools and libraries in remote Nepalese villages. Enjoy a visual presentation by Books for Nepal founder and president John Wood that combines the beauty of the Himalayas with the hope inspired by promoting education in poor villages. When: Wed. June 13, 2001 Where: Mountaineers Building: 300 3rd Ave. West Schedule: 7:00pm - Wine/Cheese Social 7:30pm - Presentation 8:00pm - More Socializing/Door Prizes Books for Nepal is a non-profit organization dedicated to bringing literacy to Nepal's children. BFN has sent more than 30,000 books to Nepal, built six schools and established more than 50 libraries. RSVP and for more info: www.booksfornepal.org/event.html ********************************************************************** 7. PERMISSION GIVEN FOR ASCENT OF HOLY MT. KAILASH. From the Observer, 1 April 2001 It is the holiest mountain on Earth, Mount Kailash, a beautiful pyramid which stands alone in a remote corner of Tibet, sacred to millions of Buddhists and a billion Hindus, inviolate and venerated. But less than a month after Afghanistan's rulers ordered the destruction of the 2,000-year old statues of the Buddha at Bamiyan, Chinese authorities in Tibet have given permission for a Spanish expedition led by Jesús Martínez Novás to conquer the holy mountain. If successful, Novás and his team will be the first men to reach its summit since the 11th Century Tibetan poet and mystic Milarepa was carried to the top on the rays of the morning sun. The decision has led to a deep sense of concern among Buddhists and accusations of cynical political propaganda against the Chinese. Migyur Dorje, the Dalai Lama's representative in London, told The Observer: "Mount Kailash should not be made a sporting arena. It won't just offend Buddhists, it will offend Hindus as well." Hindus believe Kailash, 6,714 metres high,to be the home of Shiva and, according to the Sanskrit tradition of Vishnu Purana, an earthly representation of Mt Sumeru, the cosmic mountain at the centre of the universe. Alison Reynolds of the Free Tibet Campaign believes that the timing of the climb is deliberate, coinciding with a renewed determination by the Chinese to suppress Tibetan independence: "If the Chinese authorities were to allow this climb to go ahead, it would be profoundly symbolic of their attempts to crush Tibetan culture and religion, which they see as obstacles to economic progress and political control. Granting permission to climb Kailash would demonstrate how China has abandoned all pretence at respecting religious sensibilities and believes it has crushed Tibetan nationalism." Other mountaineers both in Spain and around the world have distanced themselves from the climb. Doug Scott, the first Englishman to climb Everest and current President of the Alpine Club, urged the Spanish to be cautious: "How will they feel later in life about diminishing this mountain? Once that sanctity is destroyed, it will be gone forever. They're playing into the hands of the Chinese." Reinhold Messner added: "If we conquer this mountain, then we conquer something in other people's souls. I would suggest they go and climb something a little harder. Kailash is not so high and not so hard." ********************************************************************** 8. DAVID BREASHEARS REMEMBERS EVEREST DISASTER Despite an ill-fated effort to avoid being "Everest-centric" a number of readers sent us the link to the David Breashears report on National Public Radio about returning to Nepal for the five year anniversary of the worst-ever climbing disaster on Mount Everest. The report is quite moving. http://www.npr.org/programs/RE/archives/010510.everest.html (You'll need a copy of real player to listen: www.real.com) ********************************************************************** 9. LUKLA AIRSTRIP SET TO REOPEN Kathmandu, May 24: Tourists can now fly by fixed wing aircraft to the foot of Mount Everest anytime of the year after the black topping of Lukla airport was complete this week. "A dry run was successful Tuesday. Flights will now commence any day," said a senior official of the Ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviation. (Note the HEC has learned that flights may be limited to one flight per day until the black topping of the parking area is completed over the next few weeks). Only helicopters were flying in and out of one of Nepal's most popular destinations inconveniencing tourists for the last six months. The Asian Development Bank funded the renovation of the now all-weather airport; the ADB funded modernization of six airports including airstrips at Jomsom and Jumla soon to be completed. The Lukla airport is 527 meters long and 20 meters wide. Sir Edmund Hillary helped construct the Lukla airport in the 1960's several years after he climbed the 8848 meters world's tallest peak for the first time with Tenzing Norgay Sherpa in May 1953. ********************************************************************** 10. OTHER EVEREST NEWS: OLDEST, YOUNGEST, AND BLIND CLIMBER SUMMIT It's been a busy few days on Mt. Everest as over five dozen climbers have stood on the summit, including: *The oldest climber - Sherman Bull, 54 - who summited with his son Bradford Bull, 35 (also becoming the first father-son team to stand on the summit together) *The youngest climber - Eight grader Temba Tsheri, 15 - finally made it to the top after losing 5 fingers the previous year to frostbite. *First blind climber - Congratulations to Erik Weihenmayer, the first blind climber to stand on the summit of Everest. You can read more about Erik's climb at www.2001everest.com and more about other Everest news at www.everestnews.com ********************************************************************* HIMALAYAN EXPLORERS CLUB UPDATES ********************************************************************** 11. THANKS FOR NEW NAME IDEAS Look for the HEC to announce our new name shortly, plus the new name for the Porter Clothing Bank. And congratulations to Jil Winburn of Baltimore, MD for winning our "submit a name" contest! ********************************************************************** 12. HEC PORTER CLOTHING BANK UPDATE (From Ben Ayers) April was a great month up here in the wilds and pool halls of the Khumbu. The CB is gaining some significant momentum and awareness is spreading among the porter population here. Some porters guess that 75% of porters in town know about us by now. We taught a total of 14 English Language Classes, and gave 2 lectures on Altitude Sickness Prevention. There were also many empowerment/discussion meetings with porters while making baskets for the Cottage Industry programs. From these classes and meetings we had a total of 196 'porter visits' which brings the total for this season up to 363. We also showed the BBC documentary 14 times to as many as 30 tourists a sitting. The Clothing Bank outfitted a total of 124 porters - 33 of whom were with organized treks, and 91 took clothing out themselves. April saw a great increase in awareness among both tourists and porters. Thanks to the doctors at the HRA Aidpost in Pheriche, as they gave daily plugs for us as well as arranged helicopter rescues for sick porters! The "Proud, Tough, Vulnerable" posters as well seem to be doing the trick, as folks often wander in wanting to buy one. A group of porters from Chewa, Lokhim (2 long days south of Lukla) have decided to start a small porter/farmer's group in their town to do small development projects such as building toilets, rubbish pits, roads, etc. - an idea discovered and fostered during our empowerment meetings. Hopefully their work will become an example for other porter groups as to how porters can take an active role in their own development. We have received (thanks to Ben's mum and dad, and a group of students from Laconia High School in NH) 500 toothbrushes. English class now involves a short lecture on proper toothbrushing practice and a free toothbrush. We are working on a Porter's Handbook to be used as a textbook for English classes in the office. The book will include basic English-Nepali translations as well as cultural tips and information on AMS, frostbite, health & hygiene, and environmental awareness. We hope to have it completed by the fall. The cottage industry program is rocketing forward, and we have made over 60 baskets this year. It's been a lot of fun, and the basket-making sessions have been incredibly productive as empowerment meetings as well. Nigma Noru Sherpa of Gumela, Solu-Khumbu is now on board (as of May 9th) and learning how to run the program in Lukla. He will only work part time during the off season, making sure the clothing comes in and stays mold-free. Next fall we are excited to have him working full time and helping with the local aspects of the program. NEW GEAR DONATIONS: Thanks to Vail Associates for four boxes of ski jackets! Thanks also to the Union Elementary School in Montpelier, VT, for collecting four boxes of assorted sweaters and jackets for the program. COURIERS NEEDED: The HEC continues to accumulate more and more equipment that we need to ship over to our Porter Assistance Program. Live in the Denver/Boulder area and heading over to Nepal? Please contact Billy Fitzgerald at billy@mountainexplorers.org ********************************************************************** 13. VOLUNTEER NEPAL HIMALAYA UPDATE The 11 incredible volunteer English teachers who went with the HEC's VNH Teaching Program have successfully completed their 3 months of teaching in the Solukhumbu region. This was our biggest program to date; each teacher taught between 4 and 6 classes a day; the children ranged in age from 5 to 40(!!), grades 1-8 from Phaplu to Monjo. As a result of our participation in the schools, new students began attending, especially young adults who hadn't received English training but wanted to learn. We were welcomed by the schools and their staff, by the home-stay families, and by the villages. Each participant had very unique, life changing experiences - many attending all night weddings, some being honored at a local village gathering for their contributions to the community by being given the present of a "cabbage or cauliflower", many being invited for tea, dinner, and adventures with both their own home-stay families and other community families. We were immersed in the Nepali culture. We were accepted as part of the community and many tears were shed when the time came to leave. The only complaint I heard from the Nepali people was - can't you stay longer, can't you help more? For myself as a co-coordinator with Pasang Sherpa, who spearheaded this program and has for the last three years welcomed us into his world, I would recommend highly this experience - no matter what age, no matter what life experiences. The only requirements are desire, a bit of flexibility to deal with occasionally challenging situations, and a willingness to give. And what you will get in return is immeasurable - it is difficult to put into words the gifts (non-material) that I received from the Nepali people. I encourage you to consider this experience for yourself, your children or friends. If you are interested in learning more Pasang, Scott or I would be glad to give you additional information. Jane Sabin-Davis, jsd@ucinet.com ********************************************************************** 14.HEC TRIPS TO EVEREST AND ANNAPURNA Pemba Sherpa, who was born in the Khumbu region but currently resides in Denver, will be leading an HEC trip to the Everest region in October 2001. He will lead the classic trek in the Everest region, including Kala Pattar and Everest Base camp, with an optional climb of Island Peak. The trip include an "off the beaten path" excursion to Sewangma, Pemba's boyhood village and site of the HEC Bridge project. Pemba's mother offers a warm welcome to all visitors! Pemba will also organize the classic Around Annapurna Trek, which offers a complete panorama of culture and ecosystems, including high mountain passes, the deepest valley in the world, the desert of the Tibetan plateau, pine forests, rice paddies, monasteries and people as diverse as Tibetan lamas and Hindu farmers. The trip will be led by Paul Lachapelle, who is currently conducting research in Nepal through a Fulbright Scholarship. The trek will also incorporate a cultural component in which clients will live briefly with local villagers and participate in such village activities as basket making, mat weaving and other assorted rural activities. Contact the HEC at info@mountainexplorers.org if you would like more information. ********************************************************************** MONTHLY FEATURES ********************************************************************** 15. INTERNET CONNECTION: WHAT'S NEW ON THE WEB AAWAAZ : The Nepalese Voice On The Internet http://aawaaz.cjb.net From AAWAAZ Webmaster Om Prakash Shrestha: The youngest site among hundreds of Nepali websites...ironical that such a small country has so many Websites...perhaps more Nepali Websites than there might be computers in the whole of Nepal? A fun site with plenty of interesting discussions on Nepali politics, sports, travel, and entertainment, as well as Nepali music. ********************************************************************** MEMBER POSTINGS ********************************************************************** 16a. SEEKING FEEDBACK ON MT. KAILASH Aloha...our group will be journeying once again through Kathmandu in late May. We are on our way to Mt. Kailash, and I would like to post a message here to ask anyone who has been there to contact me with their story or just to share any feedback or necessary information. Thanks and Blessings, Ashleea Nielsen, angelic@maui.net 16b. TRYING TO SEND MATERIALS TO THE INSTITUTE FOR SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE Hoping to send over some books and leaflets to the Institute for Sustainable Agriculture in Nepal. These materials will (hopefully) help them with current issues they are facing. The package measures about 8.5 inches by 11 inches and weighs about 2 lbs. If you are leaving for Nepal soon and can help carry these over, please contact me. Nancy Hazelrigg, nhazelrigg@earthlink.net 16c. DOCTOR SEEKS JOB IN NEPAL I am a 24-year-old doctor who is just coming up to the end of his first hospital year. I am trained in advanced life support, advanced life and trauma support, and am about to embark upon a course in the Highlands in Scotland to train in Outdoor emergency medicine. I would like to use my doctor skills in some sort of outdoors/trauma/expedition type way in Nepal. Any ideas are appreciated. Ed Gold, edgold50@hotmail.com 16d. LOOKING FOR INFORMATION ON TRIBHUVAN UNIVERSITY Is there someone who knows if there is a seminar being organized by the Department of Social Sciences at the Tribhuvan University, Kathmandu, Nepal some time in October 2001? I am looking specifically for the last date of submission of papers/ abstracts to be presented here. Gautam, g13gupta@yahoo.com ********************************************************************** CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING SECTION (UPDATED APRIL 2001) ********************************************************************** ARUN TREKS & EXPEDITIONS. Personal Service. Good Value. Great Times. Trekking, Climbing, Mountaineering, Horseback & Overland Touring. Asia, Africa, S.America, Europe. Customized itineraries and group discounts available. Please contact us for further information. Phone: 888-495-8735 or 512-407-8314 info@aruntreks.com http://www.aruntreks.com EARTHBOUND EXPEDITIONS - Himalayan Adventure Travel. Join us for small group, eco-friendly, impeccably planned treks, tours, climbing, and guide services to the Himalaya, from the high peaks to the lowland jungles. Special SPRING trips to Mustang and Mera Peak. Phone: 716-317-964, www.trekthehimalaya.com damian@trekthehimalaya.comExplore Himalaya: Can arrange individual/group holidays to all destinations in Nepal, India, and Tibet. High altitude treks & climbing, mountain biking, and white water rafting. Contact Suman Pandey, PO Box 4902, Kathmandu, Nepal Fax: 977-1-252 115 adventur@mos.com.np Join the Himalayan Explorers Club in the Himalayas! In October 2001 Pemba Sherpa leads Everest trek with Island Peak and Paul Lachepelle leads an Annapurna trek. All Everest trips include an excursion "off the beaten path" to Sewangma, where Pemba grew up and the location of the HEC Bridge Project. Phone: 303-998-0101. info@mountainexplorers.org KE Adventure Travel. Unique trekking, climbing, mountain biking, and cultural journeys throughout Pakistan, Nepal, Tibet, China, Bhutan, Sikkim, Ladakh, Bolivia, Peru, Patagonia, Ecuador, Russia, Africa & more! Contact us for a free, color brochure. Phone: 800-497-9675 ketravel@rof.net http://www.keadventure.com Africa and Himalaya with Daniel Mazur. Shishapangma, Ama Dablam, plus 7000 meter peaks. Kilimanjaro, Mt. Kenya Rock Climb. Low Prices. All Abilities. Phone: 406-363-7747 africa_inc@cybernet1.com, himalaya_inc@cybernet1.com, www.himalayaclimb.com, www.kilitrek.com, www.kenyaclimb.com Ladakh, India; captivatingly beautiful mountain desert-scapes and Tibetan nomads. Kanchenjunga, Nepal; huge rewards for the intrepid, classic trekking as good as it gets. Everest with Jamie McGuinness, who wrote the guide book to it...Wild treks, but as fun as they come. http://www.project-himalaya.com TIBET BY MOUNTAIN BIKE, SEPT.14-OCT.5,2001 The ultimate biking expedition across the roof of the world traversing the road between Lhasa and Kathmandu. This expedition visits all the monasteries and places of interest plus gives you the chance to ride the Friendship Highway. Phone: 888-568-8924 pemba@sherpaascent.com http://www.sherpaascent.com NEPAL, TIBET, SIKKIM, PAKISTAN, & BHUTAN. Scheduled treks & tours with USA leader of 33 Sierra Club Himalayan trips. From $425. Custom itineraries. Off-the-beaten track areas. Environmentally sensitive and porter friendly. Peter Owens' Asian Treks. Phone: 800-223-1813 or 510-222-5307 petertrek@worldnet.att.net http://www.instantweb.com/p/peterowens World of Wonder Adventures, Inc. - specializing in adventure travel - WOW! Takes you to places you've always wanted to go, to do the things you've always wanted to do, at a price you can afford. Our exciting schedule of upcoming adventures includes Nepal, New Zealand, Baja Mexico, Spain and the Oregon Coast. For more details call toll free: 1-888-4-wow-fun or e-mail us at: wowadventure@earthlink.net http://www.wowadventure.com TRAVEL Himalayan Treasures and Travel. We have seats to Kathmandu all the time. Call us for the best price and best service. We book for many HEC members and give HEC discounts! Call 800-223-1813 or 510-222-5307. govindsh@himtrek.com http://www.himalayantrekking.com. Ticket Planet. We are America's leading round the world air consolidator, and also your Nepal airfare experts. We can get seats to Kathmandu when others can't. We broker over 50 airlines. We have over 15 years of experience pricing international airfares. Please contact us at (800) 799-8888, (415) 288-9999, Fax: 415-288-9839 himalayas@ticketplanet.com http://www.ticketplanet.com ********************************************************************** VOLUNTEER/STUDY ABROAD Volunteer Nepal Himalaya offers participants a unique opportunity to teach English in Sherpa villages in the Himalayas, near Mt. Everest. Accommodations are with local families. While not teaching, participants work on community service projects or explore the endless trails and villages of the Khumbu region. For more information, please contact the Himalayan Explorers Club at info@mountainexplorers.org or call (303)998-0101. Bridges-PRTD now accepting applications for Fall 2001 expedition (Sept. 4-Dec 2). This study/volunteer work program focuses on tourism development in a remote valley of Nepal; includes full Everest trek, optional excursion to India. $1800 plus personal expense. Open to students and non-students. www.bridges-prtd.com or e-mail seth@bridges-prtd.comThe Nepal Volunteer Handbook offers potential volunteers everything they will need to know about volunteering in Nepal, including a personal skills assessment, background on the history of foreign assistance in Nepal, tips for ensuring a worthwhile experience, and information on over 50 volunteer leads. Contact the HEC at (303)998-0101 or info@mountainexplorers.org ********************************************************************** HOW TO UNSUBSCRIBE TO HIMALAYANET To cancel your subscription to HimalayaNet, e-mail a blank message to himalayanet-unsubscribe@listbot.com ********************************************************************** HOW TO SUBSCRIBE TO HIMALAYANET To subscribe to HimalayaNet, e-mail a blank message to himalayanet-subscribe@listbot.com ********************************************************************** HOW TO POST ON HIMALAYANET (1) Send your HimalayaNet postings to himalayanet@listbot.com. Be sure to include your membership number in your e-mail. Only members can post on HimalayaNet. If you've lost your membership card, E-mail the HEC at info@mountainexplorers.org. (2) Put your E-mail address at the bottom of your posting. (3) Send responses to postings directly to the author at the address listed. (4) If you receive responses to your posting, please send the moderator (himalayanet@listbot.com) a summary if the topic is of general interest so it can be sent it out to all subscribers in the next issue. ********************************************************************** HIMALAYAN EXPLORERS CLUB MEMBERSHIP INFORMATION The Himalayan Explorers Club (HEC) is a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that seeks to promote a better understanding of and respect for the environment and culture of the Himalayan Region. Members can receive e-mail and postal mail, store luggage, use our Internet phone to call the U.S. (no cost), and browse through trip reports at our Clubhouses in Kathmandu and Islamabad, Pakistan. In addition, members receive discounts with many hotels, restaurants, shops, and travel agents. Members also receive our hardcopy newsletter, Himalayan News. For more information about the HEC please contact us at: Himalayan Explorers Club PO Box 3665 Boulder, CO 80307 Phone: (303)998-0101 Fax: (303)998-1007 info@mountainexplorers.org http://www.mountainexplorers.org |
