Rolwaling Himal
Encyclopedia
Rolwāling Himāl is a section of the Himalaya in east-central Nepal along the Tibet
border. It lies west of the Mahalangur
(Mount Everest
) section and east of the Langtang section. Melungtse
7181m and Melungtse II 7023m are inside Tibet and Gauri Shankar
7134m is on the border. There are some 50 additional peaks over 6000m.
The range is bounded on the south by the Rolwaling Valley which contain several small villages and Beding, the largest town in the area. Access to the valley and the mountains of the range is made on foot through an established trail system starting at Charikot
(80 km east of Kathmandu). A western style trek from Charikot to Beding will normally take seven to ten days.
The first western exploration of the area was made by Eric Shipton
in 1951 during the reconnaissance of Mount Everest.
A very fine but strenuous camping-style expedition can be made through the Rolwaling Himal to cross the Teshi Lapcha La (5755m) and into the Solu Khumbu. The trek must be properly equipped for extensive snow and ice work, with at least one climbing Sherpa in the party. The net result will be very rewarding in terms of cultural exposure and visual drama.
Even though you may not intend to climb the mountain, a climbing Permit will be required for Patchamo (beside the Teshi Lapcha) to allow access to the upper part of the valley beyond the Tsho Rolpa. The fee is fully refundable upon return to Kathmandu when you declare that every bit of kit you took into the area has been brought out with you. You will also require a trekking permit for the Everest National Park for the return part of the journey.
The preferred approach is to walk in from the bus terminus at Dolakha (near Charikot), about 7 hours from Kathmandu. The trail is very well defined and used by porters and shepherds going up to the summer kharkas or grazing pastures at Beding. There was a customs check at Jagat where the climbing permit was vaguely inspected. The last habitation is at Na (4180m). From here on in it can and will snow at any time so patience is required )which also will help with the essential acclimatisation). The Tsho Rolpa is an awesome ice lake held back by terminal moraine. The unmarked route goes along the Trakarding Glacier, then climbs steeply up onto the Drolambau Glacier. The scenery is tremendous every inch of the way!On the east side of the glacier is a range of mountains well over 6000m. The Teshi Lapcha La goes through these mountains by the footslopes of Patchamo. The descent on the other side is steep and very rough through boulder fields.Sometimes the trail is difficult to find until you reach Thyangbo Kharka, a very lonely dwelling on the route to Thame, and thence on to Namche Bazaar.
From Kathmandu, over the Teshi Lapcha and down to Lukla airstrip took 18 days, before the interminable wait for a flight back to Kathmandu. It is possible to reverse the route but the climb up to the pass from the Solu Khumbu is very steep and long. The essential acclimatisation days in this wild terrain would be uncomfortable and frustrating and higher up, there is danger from falling rocks loosed off by the sun as it works its way around.
If mountain passes are not your thing a much less ambitious but still very rewarding trek would be up to the Tsho Rolpa. Climbing permit not required.
Tibet
Tibet is a plateau region in Asia, north-east of the Himalayas. It is the traditional homeland of the Tibetan people as well as some other ethnic groups such as Monpas, Qiang, and Lhobas, and is now also inhabited by considerable numbers of Han and Hui people...
border. It lies west of the Mahalangur
Mahalangur Himal
Mahālangūr Himāl is a section of the Himalaya in northeast Nepal and south-central Tibet extending from the pass Nangpa La between Rolwaling Himal and Cho Oyu east to the Arun River. It includes Mount Everest, Lhotse, Makalu, and Cho Oyu) -- four of Earth's six highest peaks...
(Mount Everest
Mount Everest
Mount Everest is the world's highest mountain, with a peak at above sea level. It is located in the Mahalangur section of the Himalayas. The international boundary runs across the precise summit point...
) section and east of the Langtang section. Melungtse
Melungtse
Melungtse is the highest mountain of the Rolwaling Himal in the Himalayas.The peak has a long summit ridge capped by the east summit and the west summit, also known as Melungtse II, 7,023m...
7181m and Melungtse II 7023m are inside Tibet and Gauri Shankar
Gauri Shankar
Gauri Shankar is an Indian chess prodigy who is a FIDE Master.He has won 27 International junior chess medals at the age of 14 and has also drawn and defeated many International Masters and Grandmasters his chess career so far...
7134m is on the border. There are some 50 additional peaks over 6000m.
The range is bounded on the south by the Rolwaling Valley which contain several small villages and Beding, the largest town in the area. Access to the valley and the mountains of the range is made on foot through an established trail system starting at Charikot
Charikot
Charikot is the headquarters of Dolakha District in the Janakpur Zone of north-eastern Nepal. At the time of the 1991 Nepal census it had a population of 7349 people residing in 1541 individual households.. The town is located at and has an altitude of 1970 metres ....
(80 km east of Kathmandu). A western style trek from Charikot to Beding will normally take seven to ten days.
The first western exploration of the area was made by Eric Shipton
Eric Shipton
Eric Earle Shipton CBE was a distinguished British Himalayan mountaineer.-Early years:Born in Ceylon in 1907 where his father, a tea planter, died before he was three years old. His mother buried her grief by taking Eric and his sister Marge and travelling constantly for the next five years...
in 1951 during the reconnaissance of Mount Everest.
A very fine but strenuous camping-style expedition can be made through the Rolwaling Himal to cross the Teshi Lapcha La (5755m) and into the Solu Khumbu. The trek must be properly equipped for extensive snow and ice work, with at least one climbing Sherpa in the party. The net result will be very rewarding in terms of cultural exposure and visual drama.
Even though you may not intend to climb the mountain, a climbing Permit will be required for Patchamo (beside the Teshi Lapcha) to allow access to the upper part of the valley beyond the Tsho Rolpa. The fee is fully refundable upon return to Kathmandu when you declare that every bit of kit you took into the area has been brought out with you. You will also require a trekking permit for the Everest National Park for the return part of the journey.
The preferred approach is to walk in from the bus terminus at Dolakha (near Charikot), about 7 hours from Kathmandu. The trail is very well defined and used by porters and shepherds going up to the summer kharkas or grazing pastures at Beding. There was a customs check at Jagat where the climbing permit was vaguely inspected. The last habitation is at Na (4180m). From here on in it can and will snow at any time so patience is required )which also will help with the essential acclimatisation). The Tsho Rolpa is an awesome ice lake held back by terminal moraine. The unmarked route goes along the Trakarding Glacier, then climbs steeply up onto the Drolambau Glacier. The scenery is tremendous every inch of the way!On the east side of the glacier is a range of mountains well over 6000m. The Teshi Lapcha La goes through these mountains by the footslopes of Patchamo. The descent on the other side is steep and very rough through boulder fields.Sometimes the trail is difficult to find until you reach Thyangbo Kharka, a very lonely dwelling on the route to Thame, and thence on to Namche Bazaar.
From Kathmandu, over the Teshi Lapcha and down to Lukla airstrip took 18 days, before the interminable wait for a flight back to Kathmandu. It is possible to reverse the route but the climb up to the pass from the Solu Khumbu is very steep and long. The essential acclimatisation days in this wild terrain would be uncomfortable and frustrating and higher up, there is danger from falling rocks loosed off by the sun as it works its way around.
If mountain passes are not your thing a much less ambitious but still very rewarding trek would be up to the Tsho Rolpa. Climbing permit not required.
See also
- Mountain ranges
- Geography of ChinaGeography of ChinaChina stretches some across the East Asian landmass bordering the East China Sea, Korea Bay, Yellow Sea, and South China Sea, between North Korea and Vietnam in a changing configuration of broad plains, expansive deserts, and lofty mountain ranges, including vast areas of inhospitable terrain...
- Geography of NepalGeography of NepalNepal measures about along its himalayan axis by across. With it slightly outranks Bangladesh or the state of Arkansas. Nepal is landlocked by India on three sides and China's Xizang Autonomous Region to the north. West Bengal's narrow Siliguri Corridor or Chicken's Neck separate Nepal and...
- Himalaya