The majority of these were between Kanchenjunga Base Camp and Hilsa on a variation of the High Route of the Great Himalaya Trail. The issues raised had a direct implication to my claims. Trekkers have to walk 157 days. The Nepal-Tibet border roughly follows the line of the highest part of the Himalayan mountain range. The Great Himalayan Trail is a combination of different spectacular section of mountain ranges of Nepal starting with Kanchenjunga on east and Hilsa on Far West Section of Nepal. At that time that I started out, I was not aware of anybody having completed a completely solo GHT. This is a formal declaration of such, as well as the reasons behind this. This website is designed to help you design your own Great Himalaya Trail experience and learn more about the Himalaya – the GHT is there to be experienced whichever way best suits you!". Grate Himalayan trail is not easy then other short route in Nepal. This is a dramatic change of heart, so let me explain what has changed in the interim. crossed all the himal of Nepal from Kanchenjunga in the east to Hilsa on the border with Tibet in the west - the idea being to take the highest possible route along the Great Himalaya Range. Interactive Map for Great Himalayan Trail. With this in mind, my adjusted claim this thus as follows: I completed a crossing of Nepal that included 7 5000m passes and parts of the high route. Kanchenjunga, Taplejing and came to end at Humla at border with Tibet. See here a database maintained by Seth Wolpin, www.himalayanadventurelabs.com/2018/03/14/on-open-letter. I had fun every day, and it shows in the photos. What is the Great Himalaya Trail? Here is more information from http://www.greathimalayatrail.com/, "The Great Himalaya Trail is more than a line on a map: it is a way to enjoy the beauty of the Himalaya while helping the people who live there. There are 5 technical passes that need mountaineering equipment such as ropes to pass safely. While I was out there, I became aware of Lizzy Hawkers attempt. "The Great Himalaya Trail is more than a line on a map: it is a way to enjoy the beauty of the Himalaya while helping the people who live there. I WILL THUS WITHDRAW MY CLAIM TO HAVING COMPLETED A GHT. Full Story; March 8, 2020 Frequently Asked Questions. The Fastest Known Time Running The Himalayas | Lessons From The Edge - Part 3 - Duration: ... Great Himalaya Trail GHT GRANDE TRAVERSEE HIMALAYA du Népal haute route - … The low route passes as a lower altitude, in theory through rice paddies and jungle, but in modern Nepal this section has become a network of dirt or tar roads. In 2017, Lizzy Hawker returned for a second solo crossing of Nepal. However, you don’t have to hike the whole thing if that’s a bit too much time to take off of work. Remember Appalachian Trail Girl? Giving benefit of doubt in his favour, he did roughly: 280km or so for the stretch through the Manaslu and Annapurna Circuits through to Charkka Bhot and a little beyond and 160km of High Route between Gamgadhi and Hilsa. It features other numerous treks of long duration and difficulty. Jamie McGuinness plotted a route and wrote the initial report for the Nepal Government. Read More Trip reviews I first became aware of concerns being raised about the validity of Ryan and Ryno’s claim to beat the FKT on the GHT in March 2018, once they had already started out. Distance: 800-1000 miles/ 1300-1600 kilometers; Time: 3-5 months; Accommodations: Guesthouses and camping; Budget: $1000/ month average; Guides & Permits: Some regions are guide mandatory, most aren’t. Many expeditions have walked great distances across the Himalaya including: I had wanted to do more high ground. I thus did over 500km of high route and about 350km of low route, in my 1400km. More a concept than a tangible trekking trail per se, the Great Himalaya Trail (GHT) is a network of existing trekking trails that run through the low, mid, and high Himalayan mountains. Given that the GHT isn't an actual set route (at least not yet), we echo the comments of TrailRunningNepal above - you need to be clear about what you actually did if you want your "FKT" to be recognized! The Nepal section of the Great Himalaya Trail was officially opened in 2011 and covers a staggering 1,700 kilometers – separated into ten sections. We have a confirmed expedition for the most challenging Nepal section for April-July 2018. This is the pink line on the GHT Route Planner map - the High Route. Those few who have trekked the entire 1,700 km have described it as a spiritual journey. The concept of Great Himalaya Trail was walked for the first time in 2008 and 2009 by a team led by Robin Boustead. For reference here are links to an older edition of the GHT Route Planner map (. ) Any thoughts from other posters? The Grate Himalayan Trail is newly built chain trail, which together form a longest and highest alpine hiking track in the world. TrailRunningNepal added some perspective: There are so many route options, and people have different ideas about what constitutes a trail crossing the "Great Himalaya" range, at least in the bounds of Nepal. I strongly believe an FKT needs a definite line to be followed or a specific goal. These access restrictions were eased or lifted, and in 2002, with further restrictions being lifted in border areas of Nepal, it became feasible for the first time. the Great Himalaya Range. And finally, if you do a FKT, don't call it a world record. The aim of trail is to connect the six south Asian countries along with Tibet. [For the sake of completeness, Ryan and Ryno skipped about 40km of high route and a 4000m pass between Simikot and Gamgadhi and also took the same line as Burch through the Dolpo region. The Great Himalaya Trail - A Pictorial Guide, by Robin Boustead Himalayan Maphouse, 2009 ISBN: 9789993347408 Pages: 167 which does include the second green line, the Cultural Trail. The Great Himalaya Trail (GHT) is a network of existing treks and trails which together form one of the longest and highest trails in the world. That would be silly. Assistance of certified travel consultants. The heart of the matter is that the GHT (at the time of my crossing at least) consisted of both a high and a low route, and in practise some ground in-between. ], I then took a break from running, carried on with my life and largely forgot about the GHT. Further, also in 2017, a race was held during which 11 competitors completed the GHT taking various high lines in a 45 day stage race. Permits are required. Given the variability within options for the High Route or Cultural Trail it's really important to state start, finish points and to name the 5000m passes crossed. She took what is likely to be the highest route thus far that excludes the technical passes. Time to trek Great Himalaya Trail T he Great Himalayan treks can be done solo or in the group. Now, this is not a universal belief and I understand that everybody is free to make their own choice. The Great Himalaya Trail "high route" has tended to finish are the north basecamp of Kanchenjunga - as far to the top west corner as you can go. In Nepal the trail starts from the shadow of Mt. For now we are providing for High and Cultural Route variations, though it seems like interest in the Cultural Route is waning due to development (roads). You can trek, run or bike the trail, take the high route and challenge yourself with some mountaineering, or try the lower route and travel from village to village. You go to Nepal to be in the mountains. It’s the wildest and most rugged trekking route in a country famed for wild, rugged trekking routes, and is truly one of the world’s great long distance trails. I could not start out today, follow the same route and then claim to have completed the GHT. I “improved” on it by including 3 extra 5000m passes (Bagala La, Numala La and Chan La). Great Himalaya Trail is a mountain walking adventure that exceeds all expectations. You can trek, run or bike the trail, take the high route and challenge yourself with some mountaineering, or try the lower route and travel from village to village. The Nepalese section of the Great Himalaya Trail is just over 1,000 miles and to walk the entirety of it would take average hikers around 152 days to complete. Since it’s inception in 2009, the Great Himalayan Trail(s) has been trodden by an adventurous few, due mostly to it’s difficulty, length and remote nature. This is the most adventure trail sketch over a distance of about 1700 km (1050 m) in hilly area ( which mean trekkers have to pass through 6100 m of altitude) region of Nepal. Trekkers have to walk 157 days. In 2002 Nepal demilitarised its border regions with Tibet and its himals were finally opened to permit based trekking. From this came the development of the Great Himalaya Trail as surveyed and described by Robin Boustead and his team. This is the pink line on the GHT Route Planner map - the High Route. They all started at Kangchenjunga base camp and included significant portions of the high route, including some of the technical passes. And as such, Lizzy Hawker with her journey in 2017 is the true queen. I hope that future attempts at a crossing of Nepal will take some of these lessons to heart. You can hike a part of great Himalayan trail section with different choice and option including highlight treks of Nepal 2020/2021. She took a much higher line to me and was also solo. This would pass through India, Nepal, Bhutan and Tibet. The term is also used to refer to a subset of those trails spanning the width of Nepal. From this came the development of the Great Himalaya Trail as surveyed and described by Robin Boustead and his team. The history of the Great Himalayan Trails starts in the 1980 and imagines a future when the trails will open up over approx 4,500 km running from Namche Barwa in Tibet to Nanga Parbat in Jammu & Kashmir. The most recent edition of the map (see bottom of the page) doesn’t include the Cultural Trail given the amount of road / jeep track that has developed over the last decade. The GHT links the world's highest peaks, visits some of the most remote communities on earth, passes through lush green valleys, arid … It is possible to trek towards Karakoram Range in Pakistan passing via Indian Himalayan Range of Ladakh. The Great Himalaya Trail is a life time opportunity and it is one of the longest trekking routes in world. But, to me an FKT can only be about SOMETHING. Or head south of there on the old Everest base Camp trail - longer, but populated, low altitude etc etc. As such, I only gained and will lose nothing by denouncing the claim. www.himalayanadventurelabs.com/2018/03/14/on-open-letter. Grate Himalayan trail is not easy then other short route in Nepal. She posted something of a photo journal of her 2016 effort here, and a write up here of the 2017 trip. The Nepal-Tibet border roughly follows the line of the highest part of the Himalayan mountain range. The 'Great Himalayan Trail' (Nepal) Virtual race covers the width of the Nepalese Himalaya taking in 763 miles of the highest trail in the World. Many of them who want to walk on this trail, we organize trail section wise. I understand them fully and thus quietly withdrew my claims and started the process of ensuring that the websites proclaiming my record were reworded. Jamie McGuinness plotted a route and wrote the initial report for the Nepal Government. Ryan Sandes & Ryno Griesel take on the Great Himalaya Trail’s fastest known time attempt. Great Himalaya Trail High Route . Treks in the region ranges from 12 to 20 days with certain parts being restricted areas so the rule of compulsory guide and minimum 2 trekkers is applied. Now, looking at the numbers again: Only a third of my trip [500km out of 1400km] was on what is now recognised as the GHT. So you can pass through the most of snow capped mountain of Nepal along with magnificent landscaped, breathtaking view of mountain and high altitude Lakes. You take on passes that are upwards of 18,000 feet. The GHT as currently understood was thus described only from 2009. I apologise as she took the better line. All have valid arguments. In 2010, Sean Burch made a crossing of Nepal and claimed a World record for his attempt. Lizzy Hawker provided some thoughts & history: The Great Himalaya Trail was originally proposed to be the highest feasible route along the length of the various himals that combine to form the full range of the Himalaya dividing India and China (crossing Bhutan, India, Nepal, Pakistan). It is thus very apparent that it is possible to do significantly more high ground that I did, at speed either solo or as part of a small team with minimal support. It transverse the entire Nepal from East to West crossing high passes, interacting with multicultural community, observing the exploring different ecosystem and ,culture. You might not get lodge or hotel so camping is required in most of the part of trail. Going the distance – Trekking the full Great Himalaya Trails March 28, 2017. Please see the ‘Route Information and GPX Notes’ below for more information on these tracks and way points. One of the team is currently in Pakistan putting together that expedition and it will run in summer 2017. So needed physically fit and more adventurous and off course proper trekking equipment and mountaineering equipment is compulsory. It seemed fair at the time to claim a record - I not only went faster but did it in better “style” (getting in more of the actual trail), and going solo instead of expedition style with a team of porters. Early efforts (pre 2002) to make east-west crossings of the Himalaya / Nepal were restricted from the Nepal-Tibet border regions requiring frequent detours away from the himals (the Himalaya range) and into the pahir (mid-hills) which lie to the south of the Great Himalaya Range itself. To this Robin added a lower Cultural Trail across the mid-hills of Nepal, this is/was the (now discontinued) green line on the map. For reference here are links to an older edition of the GHT Route Planner map (East and West ) which does include the second green line, the Cultural Trail. Early efforts (pre 2002) to make east-west crossings of the Himalaya / Nepal were restricted from the Nepal-Tibet border regions requiring frequent detours away from the himals (the Himalaya range) and into the pahir (mid-hills) which lie to the south of the Great Himalaya Range itself. South basecamp would not be to dissimilar as you're staring at an 8000m peak there too i.e. Follow them live. (The girl behind the pseudonym is American solo trekker Megan Maxwell. So, now that I have no longer run the GHT, and have “merely” crossed Nepal, I am going to withdraw my claim to an FKT as well. In fairness to her, I now realise this was a mistake. Simply Sign Up, Upload your Profile Picture and Add your distance after each run to the link provided at online registration and you'll move along the Great Himalayan Trail. Divided into ten connecting treks, the Nepal section of takes 60 to 160 days of walking. As she discusses on a page laying out her route, Hawker is specifically not claiming an FKT. The aim of trail is to connect the six south Asian countries along with Tibet via a route covering more than 4500 km of the Great Himalaya range. To date close to 100 people have completed a crossing of Nepal or made a significant effort on the Great Himalaya Trail (one variation or another). World Expeditions has been the pioneers of the Great Himalaya Trail and is the only company that offers the full GHT. The map shows the entire trekking route of Tso Rolpa Lake and connects to Langtang & Helambu region to the west visa Tilman Pass. A brief mention has been made in a few places that I have revoked my claim to an FKT on the GHT. It is thus the highest route that can be done solo, and without mountaineering equipment such as ropes, harness and helmets. In addition to any FKTs listed here, Lizzy Hawker took a logical mix of the high route and cultural route - staying as high (north) as possible while avoiding glaciated passes that require technical gear - in approx 35 days in 2017, after her 42 day effort in 2016. Beware of rockfall, crevasses and difficult, maze-like navigation, be prepared to carry crampons, and take 24 hours to get to the next shelter. The trail has been replaced by a set of roads. The numbers speak for themselves. The 'Great Himalaya Trail' is a theoretical long-distance network of trekking trails which have been proposed to span the entire Greater Himalaya Range from Namche Bawa in Eastern Tibet to Nanga Parbat in Pakistan at the western end. Great Himalayan Trail is newly built chain trail, which together form a longest and highest alpine hiking track in the world. The Great Himalayan Trail is a route across the Himalayans in Nepal from east to west. And thus is you are going to make a FKT attempt of the GHT (in Nepal) then the selected route should have a name and be published, just to be clear what the person is undertaking, and which specifically difficulties they decided to include and exclude from the menu of choices available, and nice if the reasons are stated too, as that is helpful for others. The GHT as currently understood was thus described only from 2009. Fast Stats on the Great Himalaya Trail. The high route seems to be the path most Great Himalaya Trail hikers plan to walk. The remaining ground was used up crossing space between the routes, or south of it completely (in the eastern side of Nepal). Read More Positive Impact Travel Because time frame, physical condition, budget and personal reason quite less people will choose whole great Himalayan trail. In 2017 alone there were at least 19 complete crossings of Nepal (on foot and continuous without a diversion to collect permits etc). Thus, the highest line that can be done fast by a trail runner. If you are going to hit the highest parts of Dolpo, where you won't see any habitation for 3 to 5 days (and many villages are too poor to even raise a simple meal for you), then that is a very different undertaking (navigation, preparation, mental strength, load carried) to the (lovely) route slightly south. Views of snow-capped mountains regularly dominate the horizon. So needed physically fit and more adventurous and off course proper trekking equipment and mountaineering equipment is compulsory. The main appeal to the high route is the incredible scenery. In light of my inexperience of the area, the definite dangers of trying to cross glaciated terrain on the 5 technical passes, a possible danger in trying to cross flooded rivers with no bridges so soon after the monsoon, and a lack of imagination on my part whilst looking at the map, I missed out on large parts of the high route. Resources for people planning the Great Himalaya Trail. This is mostly because the low route as a concept no longer exists. Spend 5 days or 5 months on your GHT: whatever takes your fancy. But currently this remains a … How long is the Great Himalaya Trail. Bir Singh Gurung - Bir Singh is one of our senior and most versatile leaders from escorting private special interest groups and family treks in the Annapurna region, to leading groups along challenging sections of the Great Himalaya Trail, Everest Base Camp and our mountaineering expeditions on Mera and Island Peak. You might not get lodge or hotel so camping is required in most of the part of trail. Swiss Nepal Family Trekking offers nine sections of the Great Himalaya Trail ranging from 26 to 36 days. I mentioned her briefly in my detailed writeup, but not in the short summary. They thus did about 400km of high route in a total distance of 1500km. 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