Editorial Board Romnath Gyawali Contents Co-ordinator & Editor Ang Norbu Sherpa Introduction 7 Member Nepal Mountain Academy 7 Bachelor Program in 11 Uttam Babu Bhattarai Mountaineering Studies (BMS) 11 Member Secretary Tourism Education and NMA 15 Aaditi Khanal Politics, Economics... 21 Associate Editor Mountain Economics 34 Becoming a Trekking Guide... 39 Er. Sampurna Acharya Under a Female Leadership 48 Management Understanding the Mountains 50 Samip Mainaly The Mystic Mountains of Nepal 52 Cover Picture Mountaineering Training in Nepal 54 (Pharilapcha Peak (6017m.) and it's The Sherpa 56 reflection on Gokyo Lake) To the Prospective Students 58 Layout / Printed at When in Poland… 60 Speedline Printers Pvt. Ltd. The Rock Climbing Experiecne 62 Samakhusi, Kathmandu Embellishing the Career... 67 Tourism as a Profession in Nepal 69 Publisher Study on Search and Rescue... 71 Government of Nepal Ministry of Culture Bhrikuti Peak (Sail) 6361m. 113 Tourism & Civil Aviation Feasibility Study 113 Nepal Mountain Academy Activities 128 Tutepani, Lalitpur, Nepal Faculty 131 Tel.: 977-1-5151915, 5151904 E-mail: [email protected] Website: www.man.gov.np Message From the Executive Director academy as the chief hub for conducting search and rescue operations. At present, the academy has been operational for some of the imperative projects and programs that are all directed towards the furtherance of the mountain and tourism sector. The course titled 'Bachelors in Romnath Gyawali Mountaineering Studies', a first of its kind Executive Director & Editor in the world has been started by the Academy in which 23 students are enrolled With the vision to create a niche for in the first cohort. Similarly, the Academy production of skillful and capable human is also in the progression to coordinate resource in the field of mountain and with Tribhuvan Univerisity for the adventure tourism, tourism based commencement of 'Masters in Adventure education and research, Nepal Mountain Tourism Studies' which will be another Academy (NMA) has been conducting milestone for Nepal in the global arena in various short and long-term programs/ the pitch of mountain based tourism. courses in order to develop, expand and Along with this, workings are at promote the notion of mountaineering headway as per the Master plan approved based tourism and adventure sports. by the Government of Nepal to establish To accomplish this grand foresight, the college and related set-ups at Dudhkunda major goal to undertake for the academy is Municipality-7 of Solukhumbu with a to endorse Nepal as a destination for premise of around 3000 Ropani of land. mountain based studies by founding the Likewise, with a view to minimalize the long worked upon concept of the mountaineering and trekking related 'Mountaineering University' which will mishaps, NMA in the deficiency of any pertain the capacity to deliver the such appliance to forecast the weather, has educational programs, trainings and taken the initiative to make available a research center of an international well-timed and detailed information of the standard. weather to the concerned authorities Another crucial aim in this regards for through SMS from the mobile phones and the academy is to promote ski in particular email. So as to fluently carry forward this as an adventure sport and develop the initiation in the upcoming days, the 4 VOICE OF HIMALAYA Academy plans to technologically enhance Academy shall always be dedicated the capacities to deliver better and faster towards exploring novel prospects along information. with expanding its prevailing horizons. With the realization of a genuine gap in The future also holds a lot of scope for gender, particularly the lack of involvement the academy in terms of internationalizing of females as professionals in this field, the the academic courses of both Bachelors Academy has initiated the Female Trekking and Masters level, execution of the Guide Training since 2014 with a very approved Master plans, establishing Nepal subsidized training charges for as a 'High Altitude Ski Destination' for economically empowering the females to development of the Ski based tourism, pursue trekking guide as a profession that institutionalization of the mountaineering helps them become self-dependent. Nepal research center of international standard does not only have potentials in and excellence, environmental sensitization mountaineering but ski is also an equally for the sustainable development of alluring prospect. To promote ski in Nepal, mountain tourism, formation of policies to NMA has actuated a 3-leveled ski training comply with the provincial model of Nepal. and till date has produced 30 skilled In these reputes, NMA absolutely and personnel. positively seeks cooperation and The academy has its associations at collaboration from the associated France and Swiss to provide the level 2 governmental and non-governmental and level 3 training after the completion of organizations. Hence, while being at the basic level training in Nepal. Along with leading position for the institute, I am very this, NMA has been enthusiastically much dedicated to out-and-out justify my engaging in research based studies to responsibilities and accountabilities to establish level 3 ski based spots here in craft an institutional arrangement that can Nepal itself. greatly partake in the heightening of One more very recent and prominent Nepal's persona as a destination for accomplishment for the academy is the Mountain tourism, studies and research. approval of the Mountaineering Studies as an optional course for 10+2 level all over Nepal under the stream of Management and Humanities which was commenced as a result of the leadership of NMA and advocated by the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation. All these ingenious and resourceful programs have been effective in esteeming the tourism sector and Nepal Mountain VOICE OF HIMALAYA 5 6 VOICE OF HIMALAYA Introduction Nepal Mountain Academy General Background all the required services. Human relation with mountains is as old as Importance of Mountain and the history of mankind itself. Low and mid- Mountaineering Studies hills and high mountains have been the sources Studying about the mountains is a unique of livelihood and safe haven for the human interdisciplinary field of study that aims to beings since time immemorial. In this long promote dialogue about how mountains are course of time, man has shown never ending understood physically, as ecosystems, in fascination towards mountains. The awe- human history, and as part of world cultures. inspiring great and majestic snow-capped Mountain and mountaineering studies is the Himalayan peaks and the lovely yet challenging modern field of advanced studies that responds big mountains have always allured human to the need and arena of interdependence minds to be a part of nature's own integral between man and the mountains. Mountain system. Human beings have accepted all these study is integral to the technical aspects ranging situations and have lived in harmony as well from the mountain climbing to the formulation but the modern mankind have moved quite of policies and decisions about the local ahead and have been trying to not only explore inhabitants and natural resource management. further but also to study in depth the The studies caters the following aspects. interdependence of both parties for their roles. The roles and fascination now have turned in to • Our knowledge of High Mountain and the form of adventure loving nature which has Himalayan life depends in large part on transformed the human attitude towards the what we have learned from mountain high mountains and their special form of life. environments, as does scientific They care, respect, use, and entertain advancement in the area of global warming themselves in various ways. In this perspective • Especially in high mountains and high mountains in Nepal also receive human Himalayan life, mountain study is steps for several purposes. Cultural and foundational to our understanding of how adventure tourism are some of them. leisure and recreational activities, like Nepal's high mountains and especially the alpine skiing, paragliding, sky diving, Himalayan ranges are of immense bungee jumping, canoeing, white water importancefor all those who are concerned rafting, trekking, rock climbing, hiking, with this sector. Ever since Mt. Everest has and mountaineering, intersect with park been scaled by Edmund Hillary and Tenzing management principles, and with the rights Norgey in 1953, the interest of mountaineering and prerogatives of indigenous enthusiasts from all over the world has been communities. attracted to the Nepalese mountains. This • World religions revere mountain regions phenomenon has carved a very special niche in for their proximity to the sacred entities. the field of adventure tourism. Hence, at present As such, Mountain and Mountaineering it is a matter of realization that there is a need Studies proposes to a systematic and scientific of scientific understanding and approach to study of these concerns which need an study this sector so that both the mountains and academic discipline that leads to higher studies people may get maximum benefits. In this of university level education. Nepal is thus the connection, the necessity has been felt to most appropriate place for such kind of higher establish an academic institution that can serve educational programs since the necessary steps VOICE OF HIMALAYA 7 to run such programs are