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HimalayaNet #88 (November 2001)Namaste, and thanks to the many of you that have responded to our recent postal mailing. Remember, those that join, renew, or make a donation before December 31, 2001 will be entered into a drawing to win a pair of LEKI Super Makalu Trekking poles (valued at over $120, and we have four pairs to give away)!Also, please note that the BBC documentary about porters - "Carrying the Burden" - was recently selected for the "Best of Banff" world tour (see #8 below). Please contact your local sponsor to request the film (http://www.banffcentre.ca/cmc/film_tourall.html), and if you can help distribute flyers on "tips for caring for your porter" please contact us at info@mountainexplorers.org Thanks again for your support, Scott Dimetrosky Executive Director, HEC IN THIS ISSUE: LOCAL NEWS 1. NEPAL'S MAOIST REBELS BREAK FOUR-MONTH TRUCE 2. PRINCESS PREKSHYA, THREE OTHERS, KILLED IN CHOPPER CRASH 3. NEPAL'S NEW KING NAMES HIS SON PARAS AS HEIR 4. NEPAL TO OPEN 60 NEW PEAKS FOR MOUNTAINEERING 5. CORNELL OFFERING INTENSIVE NEPALI PROGRAM 6. UPDATE ON TRAVEL TO PAKISTAN 7. TERRORISM LEADS TO TOURISM LAYOFFS, QUIETER TRAVEL HIMALAYAN EXPLORERS CONNECTION UPDATES 8. PORTER ASSISTANCE PROJECT: HEC INVITED TO 2001 BANFF MOUNTAIN FILM FESTIVAL 9. VOLUNTEER NEPAL HIMALAYA UPDATE 10.JOIN THE HEC KHUMBU REFORESTATION PROJECT MONTHLY FEATURES 11. INTERNET CONNECTION: WHAT'S NEW ON THE WEB CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING SECTION VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES HOW TO POST ON HIMALAYNET HIMALAYAN EXPLORERS MEMBERSHIP INFORMATION ********************************************************************** LOCAL NEWS ********************************************************************** 1. NEPAL'S MAOIST REBELS BREAK FOUR-MONTH TRUCE By REUTERS KATHMANDU (Reuters) - Nepal's Maoist rebels, fighting to topple the constitutional monarchy, have broken a four-month-old truce and killed at least 37 people in a series of attacks across the kingdom, officials said on Saturday (November 24, 2001). The rebels raided police and army posts, kidnapped a top district official, looted banks and ransacked government offices in the attacks in western Nepal late on Friday, police and witnesses said. Forty people were wounded in the raids. Prachanda, the head of the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist), claimed responsibility for the raids. ``Revolutionary fighters have carried out successful and courageous attacks on the royal army and police posts,'' he said in a statement. But he added: ``We are still in favor of peaceful resolution of the problem through talks.'' Home (Interior) Minister Khum Bahadur Khadka told reporters the centrist government also wanted peace ``but the government will not lag behind in taking any step to maintain the law and order situation in the country.'' He said the ruling Nepali Congress party would hold an emergency meeting on Sunday to discuss tough steps against the rebels. Two days before the raids, Prachanda said the truce was no longer justified and the peace process had failed. The Maoists, who launched their rebellion in 1996 and who are strongest in western Nepal, indicated in recent talks that they might drop their demand for a republic but still wanted a new constitution. A government statement said 14 soldiers and nine police officers were killed in raids on security posts in Dang district, 280 miles west of Kathmandu, and 14 policemen were killed in Syangja, 140 miles west of the capital. Private Kantipur radio station said two civilians were also killed in Dang but there was no official confirmation of this. Officials said 13 policemen and 26 soldiers were wounded in the attacks, but there were no immediate reports of casualties among the rebels. A police official said the rebels detonated a bomb at Surkhet airstrip in west Nepal, destroying a parked helicopter operated by the private Asian Airlines. Witnesses in Dang said the raid began just before midnight with coordinated attacks on the district administration office, the police station and the military barracks. Police said the rebels captured the district administrator. ``Government offices were ransacked by the rebels, who also looted cash from the banks,'' Shankar Gautam, a witness speaking from Dang, told Reuters. Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba came to power in July on a platform of peace with the Maoists, after the rebels stepped up attacks on remote police posts following the June massacre of most of the royal family, including the popular King Birendra. Both sides then agreed on a truce and exchanged several prisoners in the run-up to the talks. The government said it was ready to accommodate some rebel demands through amendments to the constitution but would not compromise the constitutional monarchy established in 1990. Read more about the attacks at www.nepalnews.com or www.nytimes.com ********************************************************************** 2. PRINCESS PREKSHYA, THREE OTHERS, KILLED IN CHOPPER CRASH Kathmandu Post Report KATHMANDU, Nov 12 - Five and half months after a Royal massacre wiped out Nepal's entire Royal family, another tragedy has befallen the family. Her Royal Highness Princess Prekshya Rajya Laxmi Devi Shah, 49, died today when a Fishtail Air helicopter carrying her and five other people crashed into Rara Lake in Mugu district immediately after take off, said a statement issued by Tribhuvan International Airport. A search and rescue co-ordination cell has been set up at the airport. Three other persons - Ishwor Basnet, an acquaintance, Dan Bahadur Shahi, Royal Palace official and the pilot, Rabin Kadaria are missing and presumed dead. The remaining two - Lt Col Dr Rishi Khatri and Sharada Singh Suwal, the personal physician and the personal attendant of the Princess respectively, were injured and flown to Kathmandu for treatment. The TIA statement said the Royal Nepal Army, Nepal Police and the district administration have launched an intense search and rescue mission for the missing three. At the time of the filing of the report, the three were still missing. A six-member fact-finding team led by the Minister for Tourism, Civil Aviation and Culture Bal Bahadur K.C. toured the crash site to take stock of the situation, said the statement. According to details emerging later in the day, the 9N-AFP Fishtail Air Ecureil helicopter was chartered by the Royal party early today in Nepalgunj for what appears to be a sight-seeing tour of Rara and surrounding areas. The chopper first flew to Shey Phoksundo Lake in Dolpa district and then went to Rara Lake in Mugu. From there, it took off at 11:25 a.m. for Surkhet, but crashed immediately into the lake, adds the statement. Reports from Nepalgunj said that an army personnel who saw the crash, told the reporters that the chopper that had taken off from the nearby army helipad and within two minutes one of its propellers hit the water and crashed. Princess Prekshya was married to the late Dhirendra Shah, the youngest brother of King Gyanendra. The couple, who have three daughters, were divorced in the late 1980s which led the late King Birendra to strip his brother of the Royal title. Dhirendra Shah was one of the 10 Royal family members killed in the June 1 Royal palace massacre. However, the Princess had not attended the family gathering on that day at the Narayanhiti Royal Palace. Before the fatal crash today, Princess Prekshya escaped unhurt in an accident that took place at Ekantkuna in Lalitpur district two weeks ago. Prior to that, while on the way to Muktinath, she became sick and had to be hospitalised, palace sources said. Meanwhile, our reporters from Nepalgunj said that the late princess had been in Nepalgunj for a few days with her two daughters. She had gone there to settle a dispute in the Laxmi Rosin and Turpentine Industry, which she owned. She sent her daughters to Kathmandu yesterday and planned to return herself on Wednesday after visiting Bhairahawa. The report added that the Princess had appointed Shahi, one of the missing three, as Managing Director of the company. The report also said that the rescue operation for the three missing persons and the helicopter has been hampered due to inclement weather. At 7.20 p.m., the Princess' body was brought to the TIA. She was later taken to her residence, Gyankunj, at Lazimpat. She was later cremated at the Aryaghat. Meanwhile, the government today ordered that the National Flag be flown at half mast atop all the government buildings and offices in honour of the late Princess. ********************************************************************** 3. NEPAL'S NEW KING NAMES HIS SON PARAS AS HEIR KATHMANDU, Oct 26 (Reuters) - Nepal's new King Gyanendra on Friday named his son, Prince Paras, heir to the Nepali throne, state television said. "His Majesty the King has named his son Prince Paras, as the Crown Prince," state-run Nepal Television said without giving any details. Gyanendra became king of Nepal in June after the then Crown Prince Dipendra shot and killed his parents and seven other members of the royal family before killing himself. Little is known about Paras, 29, who has been in the news in the past for his rowdy behaviour and rash driving. He was one of 580 people who were conferred state honours earlier this month for special contributions during and after the tenure of slain King Birendra. The King also named Paras' wife Himani as Crown Princess. ********************************************************************** 4. NEPAL TO OPEN 60 NEW PEAKS FOR MOUNTAINEERING By Satyendra Timilsina KATHMANDU, Nov 23 - With the celebration of International Mountaineering Year, 2002 approaching near, Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation is preparing to open around 60 new peaks for mountaineering. According to the Ministry officials, the opening of the peaks is targeted at the climbers during spring season that begins from March. "Though the Ministry has finalised the peaks to be opened for next spring, the final approval would be made jointly by the decision of Ministries of Home, Defence and Tourism," says Ganesh Raj Karki, under secretary at the Ministry. The height of the peaks that are being opened range from 6,000 metres to 8,000 metres and are mostly situated in Kanchenjunga, Annapurna, Khumbu, Lamtang and Mustang Himalayan region. The five peaks that were not opened last year despite the recommendation of the Ministry are also included in the new list. Tika Datta Niraula, joint secretary at the Home Ministry, says, "Recommendation of Tourism Ministry to open the peaks is generally accepted without any obstructions." And it is likely that the recommended peaks would be opened for climbers, he said. The government had opened nine peaks including 8,413-meters high Lhotse Middle and Hunchi, Peak-38, Numri, Tengkangpoche, Nheserku, P-2, Thapa peak and Thorang peak for mountaineering last May. At present, there are 160 Himalayan peaks opened for mountaineering. Out of which, 140 peaks are opened for expedition and 20 for trekking. There are 1,310 peaks above 6,000 metres in Nepal that includes world's highest peak Mount Everest, with 8848 metres. "The opening of new peaks would increase the tourists that come for trekking by more than 35 per cent," says Ang Tshering Sherpa, the first vice-president of Nepal Mountaineering Association (NMA). "We can scale the peaks with the heights less than 6,500 for trekking in international market." This is good news for tourism entrepreneurs who have been going through difficult times, he said. Even the travel trade groups throughout the world were requesting to open the peaks for trekking, he added. The opening of these peaks of varying heights is mainly based on the report entitled "Inventory of Nepal Himalayan Peaks" submitted by Central Department of Geography, Tribhuvan University. The study had proposed to open 65 peaks for climbing. ********************************************************************** 5. CORNELL OFFERING INTENSIVE NEPALI PROGRAM This six-week six-credit program includes four hours of in-class instruction daily, plus language lab work, as well as additional weekly lectures (with language support materials) on central topics in contemporary Nepal Studies, a Nepali film series, and various other special events. Instruction is available to both undergraduate and graduate students at all levels from beginning to advanced, with materials to support study in a wide range of disciplines. Instructors include Shambhu Oja (Senior Lecturer in Nepali at Cornell University), Banu Oja (Director Cornell-Nepal Studies Program, Kirtipur, Nepal), and visiting faculty from Tribhuvan University, under the direction of Kathryn March (Asociate Professor of Anthropology, Women's Studies and Asian Studies, Cornell University). The 2002 program will run from June 3-July 12. The cost is $4110 (plus a $30 registration fee). Scholarships are available through the Cornell Intensive Summer Nepali Program to help cover tuition and, in some cases, living costs. In addition, this program has been approved for most forms of federal and state funding, so applicants are strongly encouraged to begin seeking financial support from their home institutions as well. More information is available on the South Asia Program website (www.einaudi.cornell.edu/SouthAsia). Application materials and information are available from Kim Steber kp16@cornell.edu ********************************************************************** 6. UPDATE ON TRAVEL TO PAKISTAN In the last few weeks, there has been a lot of focus on Pakistan by international and the US media, beaming images of people on streets protesting against the US, sometime getting violent. I am sure this is of a major concern for people who were planning to travel to Pakistan in the future. Please be assured that situation in Pakistan is very normal and life is continuing as usual. The media makes a living out of finding and exaggerating the worst side of a story and this is no exception. Certainly there are some pro Taliban elements in Pakistan, which have become more vocal and visible during this crisis. Fortunately, their strength and reaction continues to be much less than anticipated and well under control. Nevertheless, I am recommending people both in the US and in Pakistan to avoid unnecessary travel. I don't foresee any threat to Americans in Pakistan, but may experience some inconvenience or pestering. It might be prudent to wait until dust settles somewhat. If anyone was planning to come to Pakistan in the summer of 2002, I see no reason to recommend them to change their plans at this stage. Summer is still far and I hope that this crisis will be over much before that. We in Pakistan, as in rest of the world, are hopeful that something good will come out of all this. Pakistan government has slowly started cracking down on extremist elements, something that was long overdue. Renewed American interest in Pakistan and their promise to assist the country has also helped quell any difference of opinion Pakistanis may have had with the US policies in the region. If the US government keeps its promises to get to root cause of the terrorism and keep their commitments to Pakistan this time around, people in Pakistan will look very favorably towards Americans. The situation is still fluid to predict what will happen tomorrow. I will try to update the situation regularly. For those who were planning to come to Pakistan, please feel free to contact me if you have any concerns regarding this matter. I hope when this is all over, more of you will become curious about Pakistan and come visit us to see the country for yourself. Ovais Ashraf, hec@trivor.com.pk October 30, 2001 HEC Clubhouse Islamabad, Pakistan ********************************************************************** 7. TERRORISM LEADS TO TOURISM LAYOFFS, QUIETER TRAVEL (Adapted from JOURNEYS International, Inc., newsletter) Dear Traveler My last post was on the eve of my departure for a 24-day trip to Bhutan, Nepal, Thailand and Cambodia. You won't be surprised to learn that I had no problems keeping other tourists out of my photographs. I flew on lots of flights with empty seats, stayed in hotels with empty rooms and visited numerous sites of interest where it was just my guide and me present to enjoy the experience. The airports were easy to negotiate. Immigration and customs lines were short. I always got the airplane seat assignment I requested. The local Bhutanese English language weekly newspaper noted foreign visitor attendance at the festivals was down about 75%. I was technically on business as I traveled and my first contacts were JOURNEYS partners and representatives in the countries I visited. They all offered me sympathies for the events of Sept 11 and for the anxiety that pervades much of the American population. Clearly, many tourists have stopped traveling, though Americans may be the most conspicuously absent from Asia. They wonder when American travelers will return but they don't feel fear themselves and don't sense their countries are now less safe for Americans or anyone else. I spoke with many Western travelers. They commented that the news on CNN and BBC presented a picture of fear and desperation out of proportion to what they were seeing as they traveled in the very places from which disturbing reports were broadcast. The terrorism has struck hard at the lives of hundreds of thousands with livelihoods that depend on world tourism. An enormous number of people are out of work because of travelers who stayed home. I did not feel particular sorrow for the many empty large hotels owned by wealthy and diversified corporations. They will survive this downturn. I did feel bad for all the hotel staff who have been laid off and for owners of the smaller lodges and guest houses we tend to use. In Cambodia there are dozens of orphaned children who, in good times, make almost enough to survive by selling guide books, souvenirs, soft drinks and postcards to tourists. No tourists translates directly into no food. In Bhutan, the national airline counts on every flight being full in the busy Fall season to support the service over the rest of the year. My flights in and out of Bhutan were only half full. Everywhere that I visited free lance guides were out of work. Baggage handlers who work for tips in the airports far outnumbered the bags to handle. Curio shops were overstocked and could not sell their new wares. In Nepal it was great to have a dinner in a Kathmandu hotel with most of our trekking staff, but they would really rather be out trekking earning wages and tips. Most of these local people who depend on visitors live by a code that holds courtesy and service to foreign visitors as a matter of sacred duty. Friendliness toward tourists, they almost instinctively believe, creates a climate of warmth, appreciation and income. The friendliness is still there, but the hospitality echos in empty hotel lobbies, restaurants and tourist sites. The travelers who arrived with me harvested exceptional experience of undivided attention, attentive service and exclusive entrée to events and sites. A similar opportunity awaits you if you travel in the near future. Americans traveling now seem to get a special respect and sympathy. Any traveler who ever complained that the destination they wanted to visit has become too popular now has an opportunity to avoid this problem. Phobias about crowded places, standing in lines or overbookings need not be fear factors in your travel plans. Seeing distant places and meeting other cultures unfolds as a more vivid, timely, valuable and personal experience because it seems the world has changed and it is very hard to know either the magnitude or the duration of the change. From my perspective, the special benefits of travel now far outweigh any apparent risks which may actually be fewer than prior to recent events. Sincerely, Will Weber/Editor JOURNEYS International, Inc. http://www.journeys-intl.com/ 107 Aprill Dr, Suite 3, Ann Arbor, MI 48103 ********************************************************************** HIMALAYAN EXPLORERS CONNECTION UPDATES ********************************************************************** 8. PORTER ASSISTANCE PROJECT: HEC INVITED TO 2001 BANFF MOUNTAIN FILM FESTIVAL In the spring of 2000, in Nepal, the BBC filmed a documentary, "Carrying the Burden," that uncovers the horrors that porters face to support their lowland subsistence farmer income. Not all porters are the legendary Sherpas who back up glamorous mountain expeditions. For the 100,000 Nepalese porters, who carry the burden for over 125,000 Western trekkers annually, it's a dangerous and often life-threatening occupation. The film features discussions with porters who have suffered horrendous frostbite, hypothermia and high altitude sickness. The film also highlights programs, offices, and personal of the Himalayan Explorers Connection (HEC), which has established the HEC Porter Assistance Project. These programs are in partnership with the International Porter Protection Group (IPPG) and Porters' Progress (an initiative of the HEC and Nepalese NGO). The Porter Assistance Project provides clothing and education to the porters in their jobs of carrying their heavy loads. You can learn more about the HEC project and tips on caring for your porter by going to www.mountainexplorers.org/clothingbank2.com "Carrying the Burden" was a finalist at this year's Banff Mountain Film Festival. The film is now part of the Banff Mountain Film Festival World Tour (only 20 of 250 entered films receive this honor) and will be seen at select cities as part of this tour. The Banff Mountain Film Festival's Web site lists the schedule and local sponsors for the World Tour. http://www.banffcentre.ca/cmc/film_tourall.html. Contact your local sponsor to request "Carrying the Burden" to be included in the local showing of the films from the Banff Mountain Film Festival. Also, if you can attend the showing please let us know so we can mail you some flyers on "tips for caring for your porter" that you can distribute. For those that can't see the documentary, copies are also available from HEC for $20USD, which covers the cost of duplicating and shipping the film. Contact the HEC at info@mountainexplorers.org to order a copy. Himalayan Explorers Connection would like to thank the people at the Banff Mountain Film Festival for all their help in showing this film that educates travelers who may hire a porter. Please support your local sponsors of these events. ********************************************************************** 9. VOLUNTEER NEPAL HIMALAYA UPDATE As the fall program ends next month we are preparing for the spring program, which begins in February 2002. Please contact us soon if you are interested! Jane Sabin-Davis, jsd@ucinet.com ********************************************************************** 10.JOIN THE HEC KHUMBU REFORESTATION PROJECT The HEC, Manaca.com, and the Everest Foundation are teaming up to help a local community forestry group plant 20,000 trees in the Khumbu region in Nepal. The 16 day trip departs from the U.S. on April 20, 2002, and includes six days working side-by-side with a local community forestry group to collect soil, prepare the soil, and plant the saplings. There is also an optional six day extension to the Tengboche Monastery. For more information please contact us at info@mountainexplorers.org or visit http://www.mountainexplorers.org/club/reforestation.htm or www.manaca.com ********************************************************************** MONTHLY FEATURES ********************************************************************** 11. INTERNET CONNECTION: WHAT'S NEW ON THE WEB Bhutan Women and Children Organization (BWCO) is an independent, grassroots NGO established in 1990 in exile by the Bhutanese women to organize themselves for the protection, promotion and defense of women's and child rights, and advancement and empowerment of women in Bhutan The Web site contains information on the status of Bhutanese women and children, basic information on Bhutan, its people, government, judiciary, legislature, human rights situation activities, women's and children' rights, statistical facts on Bhutan and links to other Bhutanese sites. Visit http://www.geocities.com/bhutanwomen/ ********************************************************************** CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING SECTION (UPDATED NOVEMBER 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: 716-317-4964 www.trekthehimalaya.com damian@trekthehimalaya.com Explore 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 Connection in the Himalayas! In March 2002 Pemba Sherpa leads Everest trek with Island Peak. The trip include an excursion "off the beaten path" to Sewangma, where Pemba grew up and the location of the HEC Bridge Project, and to the Sano-Gomela School project. Phone: 303-998-0101. info@mountainexplorers.org A HIMALAYA, AFRICA, ACONCAGUA INEXPENSIVE climb with Daniel Mazur. Amadablam, Kangchenjunga, 7000m snowpeaks, EVEREST, Cho-oyu, Manaslu, KILIMANJARO-TREK, Kenya rock climb Phone: 206-329-4107 summitclimb@earthlink.net www.summitclimb.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 NEPAL, SIKKIM, BHUTAN & TIBET. Scheduled treks & tours with USA leader of 33 Sierra Club Himalayan trips. From $425. Custom itineraries too. 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 Discover the Himalayas with local expert Pemba Sherpa at Sherpa Ascent International. Cho Oyo expedition September 2002, two spot left. Ama Dablam and Island peak climb in March and October 2002. Around Annapurna trek and more. Proceeds also support HEC projects. Phone: 888-568-8924 pemba@sherpaascent.com www.sherpaascent.com World of Wonder Adventures, Inc. - The adventure travel specialists that personally take you to the places you've always wanted to go, to do the things you have always wanted to do. Visit our website at http://www.wowadventure.com for upcoming adventures including Everest Base Camp and Mt Kilimanjaro - Africa. 888-4-WOW-FUN wowadventure@earthlink.net ********************************************************************** 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. ********************************************************************** 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 Connection at info@mountainexplorers.org or call (303)998-0101. Bridges-PRTD now accepting applications for Fall 2002 expedition (Sep 7 - Dec 10, 2002). 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.com The 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 POST ON HIMALAYANET (1) Send your HimalayaNet postings to himalayanet@mountainexplorers.org 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@mountainexplorers.org) 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 CONNECTION MEMBERSHIP INFORMATION The Himalayan Explorers Connection (HEC) is a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that seeks to promote a better understanding of and respect for the environment and cultures of the Himalayan Region. The HEC coordinates education, assistance, and cross-cultural experiences for members, volunteers, trekkers, and Himalayan residents. 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 Connection PO Box 3665 Boulder, CO 80307 Phone: (303)998-0101 Fax: (303)998-1007 info@mountainexplorers.org http://www.mountainexplorers.org |
