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HimalayaNet #99 (October 2002)Welcome to the latest edition of HimalayaNet, the online newsletter of the Himalayan Explorers Connection.Rapid changes in the Nepal political system, as he king has now appointed a new prime minister. Also, we're seeking feedback from HEC members that have used our Nepal Volunteer Handbook. Have you volunteered for any of the organizations in the Handbook? We'd like to include updates and first hand accounts in the new addition. Please contact us if you have any feedback. Remember send all contributions to himalayanet@mountainexplorers.org, and remember to include your membership number if you'd like to post a message. Scott Dimetrosky Executive Director, HEC IN THIS ISSUE: HIMALAYAN NEWS 1.NEPAL KING DISMISSES PRIME MINISTER AND TAKES POWER 2. NEPAL PROTESTERS DEMAND KING RESTORE DEMOCRACY 3. NEPAL KING NAMES NEW PM 4. OLN CHOOSES 50 PARTICIPANTS TO COMPETE FOR EVEREST CLIMB 5. GORAN KROPP DIES IN CLIMBING ACCIDENT 6. MONTVIEW VOLUNTEERS NEED SUPPLIES FOR NEPAL 7. CLMBERS AVOID EXTORTION EFFORTS 8. NETHERLANDS HIMALAYA FILM FESTIVAL 2003 9. ASIA FELLOWSHIP 2003-2004 ASIAN STUDIES IN ASIA HIMALAYAN EXPLORERS CONNECTION UPDATES 10. HEC PORTER ASSISTANCE PROJECT 11. VOLUNTEER NEPAL HIMALAYA UPDATE 12. HEC SEEKING FEEDBACK ON OUR NEPAL VOLUNTEER HANDBOOK 13. HEC FUNDRAISER CLIMB OF KILIMANAJARO 14. HEC MEMBERSHIP DRIVE AND FUNDRAISER MEMBER POSTINGS 15. HELP WITH U.S. VISA APPLICATION MONTHLY FEATURES 16. INTERNET CONNECTION: WHAT'S NEW ON THE WEB (NEPAL OREGON) 17. UPCOMING EVENTS CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING SECTION VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES HOW TO POST ON HIMALAYNET HIMALAYAN EXPLORERS MEMBERSHIP INFORMATION ********************************************************************** HIMALAYAN NEWS ********************************************************************** 1.NEPAL KING DISMISSES PRIME MINISTER AND TAKES POWER By DAVID ROHDE http://reuters.com/news_article.jhtml?type=worldnews&StoryID=1536242 NEW DELHI, Oct. 4 - The King of Nepal dismissed the country's elected prime minister tonight and assumed direct power, setting off a political crisis in the impoverished Himalayan nation already beset by a Maoist insurgency. "By using the authority vested in me by the Constitution, I remove the prime minister, who proved unable to hold elections on time," King Gyanendra said in an address to the nation. "I also assume all executive authority until further arrangements are made." For months, rumors have circulated that King Gyanendra, backed by the army,would remove the civilian leadership if it failed to curb growing insurgency modeled after the Shining Path guerrillas of Peru. At least 5,000 people have died since 1996, half of them this year. In an interview with a Nepal newspaper tonight, Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba accused the king of violating the country's Constitution and said he would call a meeting of the country's political parties. After widespread demonstrations in 1990, the country's royal family gave up most of its power and declared Nepal a constitutional monarchy. Since then, the country has been a multiparty democracy."There is no provision for the king to sack a duly elected prime minister," Mr. Deuba said in the interview, with The Katmandu Post. "He can only be replaced by Parliament." The king's move came a day after the Mr. Deuba recommended that parliamentary elections, scheduled for Nov. 13, be delayed for a year. The government said threats of violence from Maoist insurgents were too great for elections to be held now. But the king announced tonight that Mr. Deuba's inability to hold the elections meant he should be removed from office. The king said he Remained committed to the ideals of a constitutional monarchy and asked political parties to nominate politicians who could serve in a new government that would hold the elections. He did not say when the balloting would occur. ********************************************************************** 2. NEPAL PROTESTERS DEMAND KING RESTORE DEMOCRACY By REUTERS Filed at 10:55 a.m. ET, Oct 8, 2002 KATHMANDU, Nepal (Reuters) - Nearly 3,000 people marched through the Streets of Kathmandu Tuesday demanding the restoration of democracy in Nepal after King Gyanendra dismissed the prime minister and assumed power last week. The rally, organized by the All Nepal National Free Students' Union, a wing of the Communist Party of Nepal (UML), was the first major demonstration against the king's decision to sack Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba. The king had been due to meet senior political leaders on Tuesday to discuss restoring democracy. But leaders of mainstream political parties said they had yet to hear from the palace about the meeting. ``There is no possibility of a meeting today. I hope it will take place tomorrow,'' Arjun Narasingh K.C., spokesman of the Nepali Congress, which has ruled Nepal for most of the past 12 years, told Reuters. Kathmandu and other towns in the Himalayan kingdom have seen marches in support of the king, who has called for an interim government to oversee elections to replace a national parliament dissolved in May. Students and supporters of the Communist party walked through downtown Kathmandu whistling, waving party flags and shouting slogans against the king, whom Nepalis believe is an incarnation of Vishnu, the Hindu god of protection. ``People's rights cannot be snatched away,'' and ``Restore democracy immediately,'' the demonstrators shouted as they marched through Kathmandu's narrow streets, clogging traffic. ``The king has taken away our democratic rights. We condemn and oppose his unconstitutional step,'' Bhim K.C., a member of the Democratic National Youth Federation of Nepal, told Reuters. Deepak Jung Biswakarma, secretary of the Nepal Society for the Liberation of Oppressed Classes and a management student, said Gyanendra's actions were completely illegal. ``What the king has done is totally against the spirit of the mass movement that resulted in Nepal adopting parliamentary democracy,'' Biswakarma told Reuters after the end of the three kilometer (two mile) march. ``We will watch what he does during the five days he has set for starting the process to form an interim government. ********************************************************************** 3. NEPAL KING NAMES NEW PM BBC News, Friday, 11 October, 2002 http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/2319517.stm Nepal's King Gyanendra has named a new prime minister a week after he sacked the government and assumed power to run the country himself. Former Prime Minister Lokendra Bahadur Chand - a pro-monarchist - takes over as prime minister of an interim administration. The new cabinet under Mr Chand was sworn in on Friday in the capital Kathmandu. The move comes in defiance of six main political parties in the country, who had urged the king to include them in any new administration. The 63-year old Mr Chand began his political career about 40 years ago and served as the chairman of the legislature under a non-party system. He has served three times as prime minister in the 1980s and 1990s. After the king gave up absolute power in 1990, Mr Chand floated the Rashtriya Prajatantra Party which is seen as more supportive of the monarchy than other parties. A trained lawyer and the father of seven children, Mr Chand the author of several novels and other literary works. Mr Chand's appointment followed the surprise dismissal of Mr Deuba and his government by the king last week. The king said he had acted in accordance with the constitution - but mainstream political parties described the move as undemocratic. ********************************************************************** 4. OLN CHOOSES 50 PARTICIPANTS TO COMPETE FOR EVEREST CLIMB Fifty contestants, evenly divided among men and women, were chosen by the Outdoor Life Network to compete for a chance to climb Mount Everest. The television network is filming a reality series, "Global Extremes: Mt Everest -- 4Runners of Adventure," that pits contestants in challenges like backcountry skiing, rock-climbing, desert racing, mountain biking and ice climbing. The 12 contestants who do best on the challenges will then attempt to Climb the world's tallest mountain.The contestants range in age from 22-year-old Jessica Casas, a medical student at Brown University, to 61-year-old Jim Berry of Greenwood Village, Colo., a doctor who has completed the Ironman Triathlon 10 times. The series premieres in January and culminates with the attempted climb of Mount Everest next May. The winner of the contest gets $250,000 ********************************************************************** 5. GORAN KROPP DIES IN CLIMBING ACCIDENT http://www.tribnet.com/news/story/1878826p-1993305c.html Swedish adventurer Goran Kropp, who in 1996 rode a bicycle more than 7,000 miles from Stockholm to Nepal before climbing Mount Everest alone without bottled oxygen, died Monday afternoon in a rock-climbing accident in Central Washington. Kropp died about 3 p.m. Monday when he fell at Frenchman Coulee's Sunshine Wall, a popular rock-climbing area about six miles north of Vantage, said Grant County officials and Kropp's publicist. Kropp, 35, was born and raised in Sweden but moved to Issaquah six months ago with his girlfriend, Renata Chlumska. He was considered Sweden's most famous adventurer. "He was really a household name. Absolutely everyone knew about Goran Kropp," said Mattias Lundell, a reporter for Aftonbladet, Sweden's largest daily newspaper. Kropp was about five feet from the top of a climbing route called Air Guitar when his protective equipment pulled loose from a crack in the rock. The route, set amid a cluster of towering basalt columns, has no artificial anchors and is rated a very difficult 5.10a by climbers. Kropp fell about 60 feet, struck a rock ledge and continued down to the ground, Grant County Sheriff Mike Shay said. Kropp was pronounced dead at the scene. Erden Eruc, 41, of Seattle, who was climbing with Kropp, told The Associated Press he felt the climbing rope go slack and heard Kropp hit the ledge. The fall shattered Kropp's climbing helmet and left him bleeding. Eruc said he could not find a pulse, but cardiopulmonary resuscitation only made Kropp's bleeding worse. "It all happened very quickly," Eruc said. "It was a sad day for humanity. We lost an exemplary human being who had impacted the lives of many of us." Eruc was treated for injuries Monday at Yakima Valley Memorial Hospital. Kropp began climbing high peaks in 1988 when he scaled Russia's Peak Lenin. He followed that climb in 1989 and 1990 with climbs in South America, including the Mustagh Tower. He reached the summits of Himalayan peaks Cho Oyu in 1992 and K2 in 1993. On K2, the world's second-highest peak, he climbed alone from high camp to the summit and became the second person to reach the top without bottled oxygen. Kropp carried a satellite telephone during his 1996 climb on Everest, and his dispatches to Sweden were broadcast live on radio. His expedition inspired a generation of Swedish adventurers, Lundell said. "He became like a national hero," Lundell said. "We hadn't had adventurers of that type before Goran Kropp." Kropp was a popular motivational speaker. National Geographic Adventure magazine named him "Most Entertaining Adventurer on Earth" in 2002, and Outside Magazine's current issue lists him as "a role model for the next 25 years." The documentary film "I Made It: Goran Kropp's Incredible Journey to the Top of the World" won the Best of Banff Award in 1998 at the Banff Mountain Film Festival. He co-authored a memoir, "Ultimate High: My Everest Odyssey." Chlumska was guiding a group of climbers near Mount Everest when Monday's accident occurred. She is expected back in the Puget Sound area soon. The pair had planned a 10,000-mile hiking and kayaking trip starting in Issaquah that would circumnavigate the United States. Kropp also planned to sail solo from Seattle to Antarctica, ski alone to the South Pole and back, then sail home. ********************************************************************** 6. MONTVIEW VOLUNTEERS NEED SUPPLIES FOR NEPAL Volunteers from Montview Boulevard Presbyterian Church are returning for their second "worktrip" to Nepal in November to work at HRDC (Hospital for the Rehabilitation of Disabled Children) and at a Montview Sponsored clinic in Sunakothi. They will be constructing outdoor therapy equipment at HRDC. Donations of therapy-style swings, therapy balls, rubber balls, etc. would be very helpful If you have access to this type of equipment at cost or by donation, please contact Lynn at hetterich@thedenversite.com At the clinic they will offer a medical camp/health fair. With an emphasis on health education, including personal and dental hygiene and environmental concerns, they are looking for donations of: Toothbrushes, especially children's Medicine (please contact Lynn - address above - to get a list) Hair combs and brushes The group has also acquired thirteen laptop computers that are going to Patan Hospital and other local doctors. Still needed are peripheral modems that are compatible with a PCMCIA card slot. For more information or an address for sending donations, please contact Lynn at the email address noted above. Thanks for your assistance! The Montview Nepal 2002 Worktrip ********************************************************************** 7. CLMBERS AVOID EXTORTION EFFORTS October 28, 2002 Renowned British climber Stevie Haston was among eleven mountaineers that foiled the extortion efforts of a group of gunmen in Nepal. According to British news reports, Haston, his wife Laurence Goualt, and nine others were making an attempt on 22,146-foot Ramtang Chang when they were seized at gunpoint by heavily armed men believed to be Maoist rebels. The gunmen demanded a large cash sum for their release-reports of the amount range from U.S. $4,000 to $8,000-but then agreed to let them establish a camp further up the peak with the understanding that the payment would be made after the money was brought in by the climber's colleagues. The climbers began up the mountain, then doubled back and made their way to a remote village, where they hid and called authorities via a satellite phone. On Monday, the 45-year-old Haston, who has made first rock and ice climbing ascents around the globe and led some ten expeditions in the Himalayas, told the London newspaper The Times that his party was afraid to move from the village. "We are now in the situation where we don't want to go down because we do not want to meet those chaps with guns, " he was quoted as saying. "We are up the mountain at the moment and we can't go down because the valley is very narrow and if they want to stop us they can. We are kind of stuck here." Latest reports indicate that a private helicopter began shuttling the climbers to safety on Tuesday. Ramtang Chang, in the Taplejung region, is one of 103 peaks above 5,000 meters Nepal's Tourism Ministry opened for the first time last December as part of an effort to lure climbers and trekkers back to Himalayan kingdom following a year in which the Crown Prince massacred the royal family and Maoists launched repeated attacks on police forces. Maoists have demanded "donations" of cash and equipment from foreigners in recent years but have never targeted them for violence. ********************************************************************** 8. NETHERLANDS HIMALAYA FILM FESTIVAL 2003 Aim: The general aim of the Himalayan Film Festival is to promote documentary cinema and to give credit to films or videos dealing with the Himalayan region in a wide sense of the term. The festival provides an opportunity for exchange of films and videos and for seeking ways for their broader use. The festival is meant to be a chance for authors, owners and distributors, but also for users to exchange their views at the screenings and following discussions, as well as at additional specialised events which may be an integral part of the festival. Date: The exact date has not yet been set as it primarily depends on the submission response. Statutes: 1. The submission of films from all parts of the Himalayan region is encouraged. 2. The festival is organized Himalaya.pagina.nl and by other institutions as partners. 3. A Festival Organization Committee will be appointed. 4. The Selection Committee decides which films and videos are accepted for entering the festival program. Members of the Selection Committee will be nominated by the Festival Organisation Committee. The Selection Committee will consist of five persons. 5. If sufficient funding becomes available Himalaya.pagina.nl will provide accommodation and limited compensation of travel costs for filmmakers of selected films. Himalaya.pagina.nl may request from the producers of submitted films the right to have these films available as preview cassettes in a video library during the festival. 6.The preview copies will remain with the organising institutions as part of their research collection (for internal screening purposes only). Inscription: 1. For the festival all films are eligible which are Himalayan film and documentaries in a wider sense, as this is the first of its kind in The Netherlands we welcome old and new material. 2. Acceptable formats: 35 mm, 16 mm, Betacam-SP, Digital-Beta, DV, U-matic, S-VHS, VHS, High 8. 3. There is no submission fee for entries. 4. Entries are to be submitted not later than February 1st 2003 (postmark). 5. Films and videos can be submitted by their producers, owners, distributors, directors and other organisations and responsible bodies. 6. All submissions must be accompanied by the following material: - a preview-copy of the film on VHS-PAL videocassette only; - a transcript of the dialogues, subtitles or commentary in English, if the film is not in English; - English synopsis (150 words); In addition, three still photographs and any available press-clippings of interviews or reviews of the film are kindly requested. 7. Selected films will be shown in their original format. Only prints perfectly fit for projection will be accepted. Films should be shown in an English version. 8. Himalaya.pagina.nl as the organiser of the Himalayan Film Festival will take every reasonable care to protect the submitted films. In the event of loss or damage while on the Festival, Himalaya.pagina.nl will assume responsibility only for the replacement value of the print or the cassette. However, Himalaya.pagina.nl will not be responsible for any loss or damage to films caused outside the festival. 9. Inscription for the festival implies full acceptance of the above regulations. Glenn Mitrasing himalaya@pagina.nl ********************************************************************** 9. ASIA FELLOWSHIP 2003-2004 ASIAN STUDIES IN ASIA Applications are invited from citizens and residents of South Asian countries for the ASIA Fellowship 2003-2004 awarded by the Asian Scholarship Foundation (ASF) which is funded by a grant from the Ford Foundation. Its office in Bangkok administers the ASIA Fellowships in the region with assistance from partner offices in Beijing, New Delhi, Manila, Hanoi,and Jakarta. The ASIA Fellowships offer opportunities for outstanding young and mid-career Asian scholars and professionals to conduct research in a participating Asian country for six to nine months. Fellows should identify preferred placements in host countries. The ASF Board of Directors select the fellows, oversees the program and makes policy decisions. Citizens of and residents in Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Pakistan, the Republic of Maldives, Sri Lanka are eligible. The program is not open to applicants from countries in West and Central Asia, Afghanistan, Singapore, Japan,Hong Kong, North Korea, South Korea, or Taiwan. All application material must be received by January 10, 2003. For Applications Forms and further information, please access the Asian Scholarship Foundation Website: http://www.asianscholarship.org ********************************************************************** HIMALAYAN EXPLORERS CONNECTION UPDATES ********************************************************************** 10. HEC PORTER ASSISTANCE PROJECT Article in American Alpine Journal The 2002 AAJ has an article about the Porter Assistance Project and the work being done in Nepal and soon in Kilimanjaro. Please pick up a copy and read about the HEC project as well as all the great climbing and mountain stories. Thanks to American Alpine Club and John Harlin AAJ Editor. Nepal Porter Assistance Project The HEC office is loaning clothing to porters and providing education to porters and tourists. If you're in Kathmandu stop by the office to learn more about the program and view the BBC documentary "Carrying the Burden." If your trekking in the mountains, make sure your aware of proper care for you porters, visit www.mountainexplorers.org for details. If your porters need clothing, come to our offices and we can provide loaned clothing for your porter. Nearly 100 porters are currently trekking in equipment loaned from our office! We want to thank the companies that support this program by donating clothing, visit www.mountainexplorers.org to see all the companies that help. Kilimanjaro Porter Assistance Project Plans are underway to start the Kilimanjaro Porter Assistance Project in Moshi which is located at the base of Kilimanjaro. The plan is to open an office late this year, an HEC trek to support the program is scheduled for Jan 2003. Several bags of clothing from Nike, Montrail, Mountain Hardware, Smartwool and Thorlos have been sent over to the area to open the porter clothing lending program. Classes for porters and education to tourists will also take place at the offices. Donations are now needed to help support this program, please contact HEC if your interested in supporting this new program in Africa, all donations are tax-deductible. HEC will be looking for volunteers in 2003 to help teach classes and staff the offices in Moshi, please contact HEC if you're interested in helping with the program. Couriers Always Needed Do you plan to go to Nepal Kilimanjaro (Tanzania), or the Inca Trail? Are you from Oregon, Washington, Colorado, or N.E. United State? Would you like to help transport clothing needed for our Porter Assistance Project? HEC and Porters' Progress have clothing in these locations that needs to be transported to Nepal, Kilimanjaro or Peru. We will provide you with a duffel of clothing, within airline specifications, that you can take as baggage on your trip. All U.S. based trips allow 2 checked bags. You can examine all the contents to feel comfortable about taking an extra bag. If your interested please contact ken@mountainexplorers.org for more details. We are always looking for more clothing for porters, if you would like to have a clothing drive or help gather clothing contact ken@mountainexplorers.org to find our the current needs for the porters. We are looking for new or slightly used clothing that porters would wear at the high altitudes, such as wool socks, shoes, jackets, pants, hats, and gloves. If you have contacts with outdoor clothing companies that would like to donate to the Porter Assistance Project please let us know. ********************************************************************** 11. VOLUNTEER NEPAL HIMALAYA UPDATE Due to the political violence in Nepal the HEC - along with a number of study abroad programs - was forced to cancel our spring and fall 2002 Volunteer Nepal Himalaya Teaching program. This was a difficult decision for us, and we are extremely disappointed that the schools, families, and participants can't share and benefit from this unique program. We are still hoping to run the spring 2003 program, however, so if you are interested please contact us. If you are interested in going sooner, remember that the HEC publishes the Nepal Volunteer Handbook with leads on over 50 NGOs and volunteer programs, many of whom are still looking for volunteers. ********************************************************************** 12. HEC SEEKING FEEDBACK ON OUR NEPAL VOLUNTEER HANDBOOK Over 300 HEC members have used the Nepal Volunteer Handbook over the past four years. Have you found it helpful? Did you volunteer with one of the organizations in the Handbook? We are looking for feedback to update the handbook and begin featuring information about the different organizations in Himalayan News, the hardcopy newsletter of the HEC. Please contact us soon with your feedback on this important resource for HEC members. ********************************************************************** 13. HEC FUNDRAISER CLIMB OF KILIMANAJARO The HEC is organizing a fundraiser climb of Kilimanjaro in January 2002 for the Porter Assistance Project, which will be opening a Porter Clothing Bank in Africa in December 2002. Chris Morris, an accomplished climber and guide, will be leading the climb. Chris frequently climbs with Erik Weihenmayer (the first blind climber to summit Everest), and has guided on Everest, Denali (21 expeditions), Vinson, and many other expeditions in North and South America. This is a great opportunity to reach the highest point on the African continent, learn about the hardworking men that support the climbers, support a good cause, and join one of America's top climbers and guides. Visit http://www.mountainexplorers.org/club/kiliclimb.htm for more information or contact us at info@mountainexplorers.org ********************************************************************** 14. HEC MEMBERSHIP DRIVE AND FUNDRAISER Look for an HEC mailing in the coming weeks with an update of all our work from 2002, plus plans for our 2003 projects. We'll need your assistance more then ever as we expand our work into Africa, and thank you in advance for your support. Better yet, those that renew their membership or make a donation are entered into a raffle to win LEKI trekking poles, a North Face backpack, a Lowe Alpine backpack, and gift certificate to Mountain Gear. HEC members and nonmembers that live in Colorado are also invited to join us for a showing of "Carrying the Burden" and an HEC slide show on November 21, 2002 at Sherpas Adventurers Restaurant in Boulder. Contact us at info@mountainexplorers.org for more details. ********************************************************************** MEMBER POSTINGS ********************************************************************* 15. HELP WITH U.S. VISA APPLICATION For the past three years a Nepali friend of mine has made unsuccessful application for a U.S. tourist visa. I can see no reason for the rejection save that he is a young unmarried male--exactly the kind the embassy seems to decline. I have tried to intervene with the embassy to no avail. Does anyone have experience/suggestions in this area? Thanks James Norris, Jamesnorris6039@msn.com ********************************************************************** MONTHLY FEATURES ********************************************************************** 16. INTERNET CONNECTION: WHAT'S NEW ON THE WEB (NEPAL OREGON) Live in Oregon and have an interest in Nepal? The Nepali Association of Oregon aims to strengthen and preserve Nepali cultural heritage and a social bonding among the members of the Nepali community in Oregon through a strong network of support, and to collectively work for the welfare of the people in Nepal. Visit www.nepaloregon.com ********************************************************************** 17. UPCOMING EVENTS November 21, 2002: HEC Fundraiser The evening will include a Nepalese meal, cash bar, a screening of the Banff Mountain Film Festival finalist Carrying the Burden, and photos/slides/video from the Himalayas and the HEC's newest Kilimanjaro Porter Assistance Project. There will also be an auction/drawing for mountaineering gear, including packs from the North Face and Lowe Alpine, gift certificates from Mountain Gear and Mountain Sports, and trekking poles from LEKI. December 10-13, 2002: Himalayan Biodiversity Conference In commemoration of The International Year of Mountains (IYM) 2002 and The International Year of Eco-tourism, 2002, I am pleased to convey you that the Himalayan Resources Institute (HIRI) Nepal in collaboration with Biodiversity Research Group (BRG), Central Department of Zoology, Tribhuvan University, Nepal, Ecological Association of Nepal and Nepal Biotechnology Association (NBA), are going to organize an International Conference on Himalayan Biodiversity on December 10-13, 2002 in Kathmandu, Nepal. We would like to invite you to contribute your working papers in the conference. Mr. Ram Bhandari, President Himalayan Resources Institute (HIRI) E-mail: hirinepal@mail.com.np New Baneshwor, Kathmandu, Nepal January 21, 2003: All Together Now International Benefit All Together Now International, Colorado Friends of Tibet, and the Himalayan Explorers Connection will host a BENEFIT CONCERT that will bring together the spiritual music of R. Carlos Nakai, Native American flutist, Nawang Khechog, Tibetan flutist, and others, at the Boulder Theater on Saturday, 25 January, 2003, at 7:00pm. For more information contact Dan@alltogether.org or visit www.alltogether.org ********************************************************************** CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING SECTION (UPDATED SEPTEMBER 2002) ********************************************************************** Explore Himalaya offers legendry adventure holidays to all destinations in Nepal, Tibet, Sikkim, and Bhutan. Hard or soft Himalayan treks, mountaineering expeditions, mountain biking, Mt. Kailash pilgrimage and Tibet overland by 4WD Jeep. Special discount for HEC members. Fax: +977 1 252115, Tel: +977 1 252990 sales@explore-himalaya.com www.explore-himalaya.com Join the Himalayan Explorers Connection in the Himalayas! In October 2002 Pemba Sherpa leads an 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 NEW INEXPENSIVE HIMALAYAN CLIMBING AND TREKKING with Daniel Mazur. Prices reduced due to recent events. Full service low cost expeditions inside Nepal, Tibet and China: Amadablam, Pumori, Manaslu, Dhaulagiri, Annapurna. Check out our NEWEST "LOW-BUDGET" TOURS: Mustagh-Ata, Cho-Oyu, Everest, Mt Kailash, Tibetan 7000 meter peaks, and 6000 meter trekking peaks in Nepal and Tibet. Phone: 206-329-4107 summitclimb@earthlink.net www.summitclimb.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. 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 Circle the 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 trips@circletheplanet.com http://www.circletheplanet.com 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: Projects in Rational Tourism Development. Join the fourth expedition of our Himalayan volunteer and academic program in Spring 2003. Study tourism development and implement development projects in the spectacular and remote Rolwaling valley, including the installation of the first hydro plant and the inauguration of a climbing school for tourists. Open to students and other interested. http://www.bridges-prtd.com or e-mail sicroff@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 Explore Himalaya has launched a community service project in Nuwakot, 75km northwest of Kathmandu. We are looking for English and science teachers. We are also seeking support to develop a science laboratory. Please e-mail suman@mail.explore-himalaya.com or visit http://www.explore-himalaya.com/community_service.htm for more information. ********************************************************************** 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. Corporate memberships are also available. 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 |
