The first western disturbance arrived in Nepal last week and brought heavy snow showers throughout the country. Here are some impressions from our first lines on Kalinchok. Utsav Pathak and Sukdev Thapa already ventured out to the village of Kuri to inspect the ski lift and the amount of snow that has fallen. Infact it is quite an early snowfall in the season and we expect the snow will disappear within the next week. Nevertheless, it is a perfect start in the new season an we are happy to announce several ski & snowboard events in Nepal.
In January 2020 we will join the Mountain Academy of Nepal (MAN) on a Ski expedition to Mustang. We want to attempt to skin up to Bhrikuti Shail (6361m) which is covered by a wide system of glaciers in upper Mustang. Since the glaciers are not too steep and only have few crevasses in winter, it is technically relatively easy. We are looking forward to be back skiing Nepals glaciers to demonstrate the potential for SkiMo tourism in Nepal together with MAN as an official project of the #VisitNepal2020 campaign.
Brikhuti Shail 6361m and glaciers in Mustang
For February 2020 we will organize another major event in Annapurna Base Camp 4150m in Kaski, Nepal. During a 13 day event we will provide European Ski instructors and teach 35 Nepal students how to ski and snowboard. This event will also be organized in cooperation with MAN and the Nepal Tourism Board (NTB). The training consists of a beginner ski course (Level 1), an advanced ski course (Level 2) and snowboard courses. Furthermore, we will conduct a theoretical and practical avalanche course to teach locals, mountain guides and Skiers about the risks and assassement of avalanches.
In March 2020 we hope to be back in Humla to continue our ski training with locals, students and trekking guides. March is the perfect time to find big amounts of poweder snow in western Nepal. Therefore we are planning to fly to Simikot with European instructors to conduct beginner courses in skiing and conduct skitours to various passes and peaks.
Finally, we want to send a group of our Nepali ski instructor aspirants to Gulmarg for an intensive 14 day training course. The goal is to go really indepth and focus on how to teach skiing to others. We can greatly benefit from the amount of snow in Gulmarg and the vast ski lift infrastructure in India. After the training, a licensed ski instructor will examine the aspirants and if successful, award the international instructor certificate. From thereon, its just downhill. Nepalis will go skiing.
Ski and Snowboarding Foundation Nepal - 