Mera Peak

Mera Peak (6654 mtrs/ 21825 ft) is a mountain in the Himalayas, in the Sagarmatha (Mt. Everest) region of Nepal. Its first ascent was on May 20, 1953 by Col. Jimmy Roberts and Sen Tenzing. The region was first explored extensively by British expeditions in the early 50s before and after the ascent of Mt. Everest. Members of those teams included Edmund Hillary, Eric Shipton and George Lowe.

The view from the summit is one of the finest in the Himalayas with five 8,000m+ peaks visible: Mt. Everest (#1 at 8848 mtrs/ 29021 ft), Kangchenjunga (# 3 at 8586 mtrs/ 28162 ft), Lhotse (# 4 at 8516 mtrs/ 27933 ft) , Makalu (#5 at 8485 mtrs/ 27831 ft), Cho Oyu (# 6 at 8188 mtrs/ 25857 ft), and other Himalayan peaks as well. The standard route from the north involves high altitude glacier walking and good weather and snow conditions are necessary for safety and success. The west and south faces of the peak offer more technical routes.

For experienced climbers it is a technically straightforward ascent, the main hurdle being proper acclimatization to the high altitude. These reasons make Mera Peak a very popular destination for those with little or no mountaineering experience. All climbers are recommended to partake in intensive preparative fitness before attempting an ascent.

This superb trek takes us away from the more frequented trails, which lead to Everest Base Camp and over a little used pass to the east, through which we enter the sparsely inhabited Linkhu Valley. From here we walk northwards through a beautiful high alpine environment, where Mera Peak, at (6654 mtrs) towers over the valley. Traversing around to the north, we find a softer side to the mountain, and from here it is a non-technical climb which anyone with ice-axe and crampon experience can attempt. If you’ve acclimatized well, and have strong lungs and plenty of willpower, you can reach the summit of this Himalayan peak and obtain stunning views that encompass views of five of the world’s highest mountains on earth standing proud over hundreds of lesser ones, many still unnamed and unclimbed.

Although physically very demanding, the climbing itself is quite technically straight forward, on snow slopes which rarely exceed 30 degrees. Far and above the most rewarding aspect of a trip to Mera is a chance to venture into an isolated and un-spoilt wilderness of massive moraines, glacial lakes and spectacular peaks in Nepal and, also the amazing spectacle of sunrise on Everest and Kanchenjunga, as we slowly ascend Mera’s triple summits, making this one of the finest vantage points in Nepal.

Itinerary
Hotels / Lodge / Camping
Dates: March – April 2014
Trek: 14 Days
Grade: Mountaineering
Food: Included except main meals in Kathmandu
Accommodation: 3 Nights Kathmandu, 8 Nights Lodge, 6 Nights Tent
Season: Spring & Autumn
Climbing Dates: To Be Announced

Day 01: Arrival in Kathmandu airport, meet our staff then transfers to hotel.
Day 02: Free day for preparation and official briefing.
Day 03: Kathmandu – Lukla (2800m) by flight – trek to Chutanga (2835m)
Day 04: Chutanga – Chhetrawa (4155m)
Day 05: Chhetrawa – Kothe (3555m) via Zhatra La (4455m)
Day 06: Kothe – Thagnag (4175m)
Day 07: Thagnag – Khare (Mera Base Camp 4690m)
Day 08: Khare (Acclimatisation, rest and preparation)
Day 09: Khare – Mera La (5415m) Fixed Peak High Camp
Day 10: Mera Peak climbing period (extra day to cover for a bad weather window)
Day 11: Mera Peak Summit (6654m) & back to Mera Base Camp.
Day 12: Mera Base Camp – Khare
Day 13: Khare – Thagnag
Day 14: Thagnag – Kothe
Day 15: Kothe – Chutanga
Day 16: Chutanga – Lukla and overnight at teahouse lodge
Day 17: Lukla – Kathmandu by flight & transfer at Hotel.
Day 18: Last minute, transfer to Airport for onward journey.