There’s more than Everest to explore in this stunning mountainous landscape.

At 36, Hoshner embarked on his first proper Himalayan trek in beautiful Uttarakhand, on his birthday! If you are an amateur or a beginner in trekking, tune in to hear their novice trekking stories and some great options for treks for beginners that will have you hooked. Listen to this show and other awesome shows on the IVM Podcast App on Android: <a href="https://goo.gl/tGYdU1">https://goo.gl/tGYdU1</a> or iOS: <a href="https://goo.gl/sZSTU5">https://goo.gl/sZSTU5</a> You can check out our website at <a href="http://www.ivmpodcasts.com/">http://www.ivmpodcasts.com/</a>

S04 E05: Best Himalayan Treks For Beginners

Nepal is famous for having the world&#39;s highest peaks, the Himalayas, and most travelers know the country is a hotspot for trekking, and likely have such a trip on their bucket list. But Nepal and trekking is much more than just big mountains. This ‘small’ Himalayan nation on the map would actually be about the size of the US if flattened out - it’s huge! In just 230km the country rises from its southern border at 70m to 8,848m in the north. That’s some serious vertical gain! The country has pretty much every climate covered and a lifetime of walking to be done. Our guest today, Robin Boustead, has been working on what must be one of the world’s longest walks for more than a decade, the Great Himalaya Trail. Going through Pakistan, India, Nepal, Bhutan and Tibet, it’s over 6,000km long and looks incredible. We chat with him about how the Trail came about and how travelers can enjoy it.

Talk Travel Asia - Episode 47: Trekking the Great Himalaya Trail with Robin Boustead

Mt. Everest Base Camp, A Surprisingly Achievable Bucket List Expedition
From Kathmandu: 1 hour Panoramic Everest Flight (https://www.getyourguide.com/kathmandu-l101/himalayas-panoramic-mountain-flight-t12143/?partner_id&#61;IT3D2CM&amp;utm_medium&#61;online_publisher&amp;utm_source&#61;travel_radio_podcast&amp;placement&#61;content-middle&amp;cmp&#61;Nepal)
https://i2.wp.com/www.anywhere.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/everest-kilimanjaro-majestic.jpg?resize&#61;1024%2C683&amp;ssl&#61;1
After interviewing Karl Nessler  (https://www.travelradioonline.com/guests/karlnessler)(bio and contact info by clicking his guest profile up top) I am convinced that choosing your expedition guide carefully is of utmost importance when hiking to Mt. Everest base camp.   Without reserve I can say that Karl Nessler embodies the proper proportions of first hand experience, cultural knowledge, wilderness skills and a genuine love for people both Nepalese and tourists.   
Hiking to Mt. Everest Base Camp your body and mind will be taxed and tested.  Choose a guide that is invested in you and aware of the processes you are experiencing.  Karl has a 100% success rate to date.  You will understand why after listening today.
You can accomplish this trek.  Karl might just be the guide for you! 
Topics in Episode Include:
* Karl&#39;s first experiences on Mt. Everest
* Experiencing the avalanche and aftermath in 2014
* Experiencing the earthquake of 2015 on the glacier
* Karl&#39;s commitment to Elevate Nepal (https://www.facebook.com/ElevateNepalInc/), a charity rebuilding villages in and around Mt. Everest (Play to see Karl in action and the beautiful community he is working hard to rebuild.)

Summiting Mt. Everest
How to acclimation works in preparing to climb to the summit of Mt. Everest
Descending (Megan&#39;s version less technical... throw that bag down the Mt!)
Hiking to Mt. Everest Base Camp
Premium Inclusions in the trips Karl leads
Anywhere gear and inclusions
Transportation to include flights in, hiking with Yaks and a helicopter descent
Local Cultural and religious Interactions
A conservative approach to acclimation
Who is this trip for? Can you go with a heart condition? Physical ailments? 
Sherpa vs Porter? Why you should use one
Accommodations
Karl&#39;s role beyond leading guests to the base camp
What surprises hikers about the trek?
What motivates hikers?
Past client&#39;s testimony blogs
Warnings
Training (see links on &#34;long-ass walks with backpacks&#34; below)
Can&#39;t make the trek?  How about a private helicopter tour (https://www.getyourguide.com/mount-everest-l2008/from-kathmandu-everest-base-camp-private-helicopter-tour-t343116/?partner_id&#61;IT3D2CM&amp;utm_medium&#61;online_publisher&amp;utm_source&#61;travel_radio_podcast&amp;placement&#61;content-end&amp;cmp&#61;mteverest)? Special Guest: Karl Nessler.

Trek to Mt. Everest Base Camp with Expedition Guide Karl Nessler

This week, The Musafir Stories speaks to Shubhangi Jeswal, a traveler and adventure seeker as she takes us with her to one of her most memorable journeys to the mountains!

Today&#39;s destination: Completing the Basic Mountaineering course (BMC) at Himalayan Mountaineering Institute (HMI), Darjeeling

Nearest Airport: Bagdogra, Airport, West Bengal

Nearest Railway Station: Siliguri Junction railway station, West Bengal

Prerequisites - One needs to apply online and via mail to be accepted to the HMI. The pre-requisites also include a full body check up that an individual needs to pass in order to sign up for the BMC. Also, please note that there can be a waiting period of up to 1 year for admission, so please plan accordingly.

Packing - One can pack the necessary winter wear while travelling to the HMI institute in Darjeeling. However, equipment and other gear required for mountaineering will be provided by the HMI. The fee (7-8K INR) covers all the equipment and training.

Time of the year - April

Length of the itinerary: 28 days (10 days training at the HMI, Darjeeling; 5 day trek to base camp; 10 days of mountaineering at the glacier; 2 days for the return trip and Graduation ceremony on the final day!)

Itinerary Highlights:

<li>Shubhangi starts off her journey from Sikkim where she completed a pre-planned itinerary and reaches Darjeeling by a shared cab from Bagdogra!</li><li>The initial 10 day training at HMI has a daily routine consisting of acclimatization, PT (physical training), yoga and a strict diet.</li><li>At the end of the 10 day training, there is a medical check up again after which the participants are cleared to go ahead.</li><li>The traing is split up into 3 areas of importance - Rock craft, snow craft and ice craft.</li><li>Shubhangi advises one to prepare oneself better with yoga, breathing and some strength exercises to be able to carry upto 20kgs of equipment whie trekking.</li><li>The Himalayan Mountaineering institute is one of the first mountaineering institute and it was inaugurated by Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, the first Prime Minister of India.</li><li>The daily routine at the institute is very rigorous with the wake up bell sounding at 4:30AM, breakfast at 6:00AM, dinner at 7PM and sleep by 8PM.</li><li>Daily briefings were given by instructors to the class of 80-90 which was further divided into groups called &#39;ropes&#39;. The rockcraft training was provided over the first 10 days at the institute.</li><li>Once this was completed, the team set out to the basecamp which is a trek of about 5 days where the group learned snow craft while trekking.</li><li>From the basecamp, the team trekked every day for 2.5 hours daily to the Rangthong glacier to practice ice craft. This was done for the next 10 days. Here, the team learns to use the different equipment like ice axe, cramp-ons, harness, ropes, decenders, jumars etc.</li><li>Shubhangi also gives us an insight into the grading system at the Institute, D for distinction, A for above average, B for average and C for below average.</li><li>Challenges faced during the daily training routines from food, to hygeine to family as well as the motivation to keep going.</li><li>Finally, Shubhangi talks about the joy of coming back, the graduation day and bitter sweet moment of leaving friends made over the duration of the course!</li>

Links:

Donate for Kerala relief &amp; rebuilding: <a href="https://donation.cmdrf.kerala.gov.in/">https://donation.cmdrf.kerala.gov.in/</a>

Donate for Kodagu relief &amp; rebuilding: <a href="https://twitter.com/CMofKarnataka/status/1031458830087942144">https://twitter.com/CMofKarnataka/status/1031458830087942144</a>

Shubhangi&#39;s words: <a href="https://www.tripoto.com/profile/shubhangijeswal">https://www.tripoto.com/profile/shubhangijeswal</a>

Link to the blog post: <a href="https://www.tripoto.com/trip/28-unforgettable-days-at-the-basic-mountaineering-course-at-hmi-darjeeling-591aa3f6b015c">https://www.tripoto.com/trip/28-unforgettable-days-at-the-basic-mountaineering-course-at-hmi-darjeeling-591aa3f6b015c</a>

Link to HMI website: <a href="https://hmidarjeeling.com/">https://hmidarjeeling.com/</a>

Link to application form: <a href="http://hmidarjeeling.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/NewApplicationForm.pdf">http://hmidarjeeling.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/NewApplicationForm.pdf</a>

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Instagram: &#64;shubhangijeswal

Facebook: &#64;shubhangi.jeswal

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43: TMS Specials - Himalayan Mountaineering Institute with Shubhangi Jeswal

The world&#39;s highest mountain has long occupied a powerful place in our collective imagination; we talk to a climber who recently reached the summit.

Lost and Found — Everest

For our seventh episode, we head to Tibet. A region on the western reaches of China, commonly referred to as the last frontier, the roof of the world. Home to the sparkling Potala Palace, the vast expanse of the Tibetan plateau, the snow-capped peaks of the Himalayas, the North and Eastern faces of Mount Everest, the seat of Tibetan Buddhism. It also happens to be where WildChina’s first sparks of existence came to be, on the autumn slopes of Mount Kailash.



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For a more detailed write-up on this episode, including links to resources mentioned, please visit our website: wildchina.com

Episode 7: Tibet

On Day 9 of their trek, Jason and Anne Dorthe discuss the trekking seasons with Samir.  At day’s end, Samir and some villagers sing and play music on native instruments.    What is each season like?  What is the most popular month for trekking?  Which month is the greenest?  The warmest?  The quietest?  When will you see the most flowers?  When is your best chance of making it over the high passes?  Which season is driest, and which is rainiest?    Learn all about trekking in different months of the year, about camping along the trail versus staying in the tea houses (as Jason and Anne Dorthe did), how much cash you should carry with you, how meals are handled, and what to do about drinking water.  Have you decided which season you’d like to trek in Nepal?  To access the ultimate resource for hiking adventures around the world and get our FREE gear guide, check out <a href="http://zerototravel.com/trekking">zerototravel.com/trekking.</a> Want more travel? Subscribe to the <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/zero-to-travel-exploring-ways/id778339885?mt&#61;2">Zero To Travel Podcast</a>  To book Samir as your guide, email him at smt.lama&#64;gmail.com

Episode 12:  The Seasons: When to Trek Nepal

Hear about Trekking the Annapurna Circuit in Nepal as the Amateur Traveler talks to the Su Family from sufamilyadventures.com about tackling this well known route.

AT#492 - Trekking the Annapurna Circuit in Nepal

Tucked away in the far eastern Himalaya, Bhutan is arguably the last bastion of the Tibetan Buddhist culture and religion in its truest form. Despite opening up to tourism in the late 70s, it has managed to minimise the effect of outside influences and the country remains virtually untouched. Judy Tenzing joins us today to discuss what she describes as “a modern Shangri-la”.

Bhutan - a modern Shangri-La

Join Rishi and me as we talk about the awe-inspiring country of Bhutan. Bhutan is well known for having a gross national happiness index and you sense that when you are there.   We touch on active adventures, including river rafting into India, horseback riding, and hiking to Tiger’s Nest. And we’ll talk about peaceful pursuits like yoga, a private meditation class, and meeting an eminent monk. We’ll also inspire you with Rishi’s favorite places for live music, cafes and markets.   And we talk about the best classic and new luxury hotels throughout Bhutan including Amankora, &amp;Beyond and COMO Uma Paro.   Visit <a href="https://truvaytravel.com/23">truvaytravel.com/23</a> for a video of today’s show and additional resources.

Destinations

Interests

The Himalayas

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