Annapurna & Everest treks good to go!

In a good news report by a California-based structural engineering company Miyamoto International of California, US commissioned by the Nepal Government gave the good to go “green light” to trekking around the Annapurnas and also Everest two of the most popular trails in the Himalayas.

It reopened the famed trekking trail to tourists after experts said it was safe following two devastating earthquakes in April and May led the government to close most hiking routes. Miyamoto International said in a report that quake-related damage in the Annapurna region “was very limited” and similarly assessed Everest area was safe to trek with few sections of the lower trail listed to avoid with detours recommended.

Less than 1 percent of the route and 3 percent of guest houses along the Annapurna circuit were damaged.  The report for the Everest region also spoke of more damages on the lower trails leading upto Lukla in the Solu area though these are since designated safe to trek.

Nepal had asked the company to assess the safety of its most popular tourist trekking trails, including in the Everest region after the twin earthquakes killed almost 9,000 people and shook mountains triggering avalanches.

Annually the Annapurna and the Everest region receive more than 140,000 hikers, or 70 percent of all climbers and trekkers to the country.

The 240-km Annapurna circuit starts from midhills of central Nepal at 1,000 metres going upto Thorongla pass 5,416 metres the highest point taking almost three weeks to complete. Currently only the Langtang trek route remains closed after the devastating earthquake destroyed a village on its main trail.

Nepal’s trek season begins from mid September to May and other months are good for “trans Himalayan regions” in the rain shadow areas of Mustang and Dolpo Shey Gompa.

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