Great Himalayan trek begins from Taplejung
Kathmandu, Jan 18: Appa Sherpa, the record-holding Mt Everest summiteer, began the Great Himalayan Trial Climate Celebrity Trek from Taplejung district on Tuesday.The trek that covers the distance of 1,700 kilometers from Taplejung to Darchula is set to be accomplished within 120 days.
The team has started the trip from Ghunsa of Taplejung and will conclude by reaching Darchula via the great Himalayan trail, touching districts of Mountainous region across the country.
The journey would be beneficial to disseminate information about the tourism sites that are full of natural beauty and are shadowed lacking proper knowledge, said team leader Sherpa.
It would also help to draw the attention of the world about the impact of global climate change, the condition of citizens that lies in the Himalayan trail, and other environmental effects, said another member of team, Dawa Stephen Sherpa.
The main features of the trek are the Himalayan trekking routes along Taplejung-Darchula including the famous trekking routes of the country, Annapurna, Sagarmatha, Dolpa, Manaslu, Langtang among others.The trek is likely to be concluded on May 13, 2012.
Earlier the President of The Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal Dr. Ram Baran Yadav flagged off Apa Sherpa, 21 times Mt. Everest Summiter and his team members Dawa Steven Sherpa, Saurav Dhakal and Samir Jung Thapa who will be walking on 1,700 km and 120 days long The Great Himalaya Trail- Climate Smart Celebrity Trek (GHT-CSCT) on Jan 12 at his office in Sheetal Niwas.
The President handed over the national flag to Apa Sherpa and his team which they will carry on their historic trek that begins from Taplejung in Eastern Nepal and ends in Darchula in the Far West. The trek will commence from 15th January to end in May 2012. This event will mark the beginning of this historical trek that would the team to hundreds of villages across 20 different districts of Nepal over a four month period.
Speaking on the occasion President of The Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal Dr. Yadav said, “This trek will help to identify the impacts of Climate Change in the Himalayas, and showcase how sustainable tourism can be used as a tool for poverty reduction and to build climate-resilience among impoverished mountain communities in Nepal”.
The trek is organized to highlight the impacts of climate change in the Himalayas and to promote the Great Himalaya Trail as the best tourism trail in the world which offers trekkers to experience extremely rich cultures, breathtaking landscapes and diverse range of flora and fauna.
In his message, Apa stated, “I appeal the lovers of Nepal to join me on this once-in-a-lifetime journey to support Nepali communities that are bearing the brunt of climate change. My effort to walk from East to West in Nepal is to find places and people that need most attention and help of the world in their climate battle”.
GHT-CSCT is organized by Himalayan Climate Initiative in coordination with Government of Nepal, particularly Office of the Prime Minister, The Ministry of Environment, and The Ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviation, with the support of DFID, British Council, SNV, NTB,TAAN and other GHTDP Partners.
The event has already received support of Corporate partners Geo-Eye, Asian Trekking, North Face and expects to earn the support of several Corporate Partners in the days to come.-thegreathimalayantrail.org
