Challenge
हिमालय or Himalaya literally means 'abode of Snow' in sanskrit - There is a lot of it in Nepal, perfect for skiing. Although many foreigners come to the Himalayans to ski, only few Nepalis are able to ski and snowboard.
About us
We are a grassroot Nepal based NGO that aims to educate Nepalis in skiing and snowboarding. We are about 15 Nepali tourism students and five mountainguides who decided, that after the earthquake of 2015 the time was ripe for something new. Together with ski instructors from Switzerland, Austria and Germany we have conducted the first major ski training in February 2016.
30 local female and male students were trained for 21 days in Rolwaling valley in Dolakaha district for free.The training consisted of basic ski/snowboard courses and avalanche training. At the moment we have 25 sets of skitour equipment and 4 Snowboards. Now its time to scale it up and set up the first permanent ski school for mountain guides and locals in Nepal.
We insist that all skiing activities must be conducted in a sustainable way and in close interaction with the local communities!
The Project
The main target is to provide sufficient training, so Nepali instructors can teach snowsports to Nepali students. Our training plan consists of beginners and advanced courses including avalanche awareness and crevasse rescue techniques. We can thereby profit from the mountaineering experience of local mountainguides and climbing sherpas that do already have incredible skills in operating in glacial and high mountainous terrain.
This is the first Skischool in Nepal and the highest in the world. After the earthquake in 2015 we decided to set new incentives for future of Nepal. We are highly motivated to encourage and educate more boys and girls about skis.
We concentrated on the Rolwaling valley, due to the major damage by the earthquake and landslides the year before. The valley offers excellent ski opportunities and skitouring could seriously improve the living conditions of the whole community.
Your support will go directly in the development of our ski school. So far the expenses of our first training were taken of by our private capital and by the european ski instructors. Now its your time to support us:
Firstly we will invest the majority of funds into a house in Khare based right on the bottom of Mera Peak (6416m). The house is in a good shape, welll insulated and only 2 years old. The family who sells it wants to migrate to the US.
The house is located on 4800m in a village called Khare and has 7 small double bedroom, one kitchen, one living room and costs 27000$. The owners are selling climbing equipment, worth 8000$, too. So this would be a package deal that all of us would benefit. On the glacier we could train 24/7 during the whole year while sleeping in our ski school, offering training, guided tours and equipment rental. So this is a perfect opportunity and a fair deal. We will inspect the house and the climbing gear during our mountain guide ski training in September on Mera Peak.
Second of all we neeed to continue to explore the best spots for
skitouring and ski mountaineering in Nepal and aquire more ski
equipment. Therefore we would need another 5000$ to scout in Nepals far
Western region and Dolpo which lacks roads and is only accesible by air.
Third off all, we need more skis. Collecting them in Europe and US is no problem. However, cargo fees are extremly expensive. We will use another 5000$ for cargo fees for collected equipment.
We can offer skimountaineering races, freeride events and snowboard competitions to promote skiing in Nepal and generate income for our running expenses.
In two years, our mountain guides will be ready to guide foreigners on various peaks in Nepal for skitouring or splitboarding to expand their season and generate revenues for their respective families and other stakeholders.
If we cannot raise sufficient funds to buy a house for our ski school we will use it for seasonal ski/snowboard training sessions, rent and equipment. However it would be a lot more efficient, if we could train all year in the mountains on the glacier.
By supporting us you can become part of our NGO, join us on the slope or
for a first descent of a 5000m or 6000m peak with our mountain guides!
Our Partners
We are cooperating with the Khumbu Climbing Center (KCC) that was founded 10 years ago and offers courses to young climbing Sherpas in ice and rock climbing. Their educational work has helped thousands of guides to work more safly in the mountains. KCC has a tremandous experience in working with locals from Khumbu valley and many of their trained guides are interested to learn how to Ski. (http://alexlowe.org/p/projects/item/1/the-khumb...)
In addition were are supported by Ski Dubai which has trained 4 Nepali Ski instructors, who want to help teaching in their home country during the winter.
We are affiliated with the Nepal Mountaineering Association (NMA) and cooperate with the Nepal Tourism Board to develop new possibilities for Nepal.
We are a full member of the World Snowboard Federation (WSF) and provisional member of the International Ski Mountaineering Federation (ISMF).
The consequences
At the moment there is an huge dynamic with young people in Nepal and in particular mountain guides. New nepalese companies are competing now with international Trekking and High altitude climbing companies. Many guides are doing solo climbs, first ascents and are taking alpinism in the Himalayans to the next level. Young people that are fed up with top down politics and corrupt
structures want to start something from scratch to rebuild their country
in a new, sustainable and comprehensive way.
Our NGO supports guides and local youngsters by giving them new opportunities, creating new jobs and a new season for skiing in their traditional communities. In many valleys, youngsters move to Kathmandu because they do not see any
opportunities in the mountains. This leads to a major demographic
problem and deserted villages. In the long run, many communities in the high valleys and in particular remote valleys with only little infrastructure, like Rolwaling or Dolpo region, could profit of a sustainable green ski tourism and convince young people to stay in their communities.
Due to the concentration of tourism on Everest and Annapurna Base Camp, the benefits of tourism are not spread evenly but create local grievances. We want to overcome this project by promoting forgotten valleys and peaks that are perfectly suited for skitouring and splitboarding.
Schedule
In September we will conduct an advanced skitraining on Mera Peak (6476m) for mountain guides. This is the first Nepali Ski expedition and we will train several days before we will attempt to summit and descent on skis. Climbing Sherpas from Khumbu Climbing Center will join us for the first time. In addition we will train crevasse rescue, avalanche theory and excercises.
From 18th december until 06th January we will conduct a major beginners Ski training in Langtang valley, which was hit by the earthquake like no other village. More than 60 students already signed up! We will conduct a ski race and attempt some first ski descents with our mountain guides and aspiring ski instructors.
In February 2017 will organize another ski training in Rolwaling valley in the village of Na. A few Ski and Snowboard professionals from Austria will support our Ski instructors and shred some Nepali powder. There are slopes for beginners, advanced and professionals and many opportunities for snowboarders, too.
Similiar projectsThis is not the first Ski development project. The most famous project is probably the Afghan Ski Challenge that promotes skiing in Bamiyan, Afghanistan (
http://afghanskichallenge.com). Annually the Bamiyan Ski Club organizes a skitour race with hundreds of Afghan and international participants.
Skitouring became popular in Kyrgyzstan, after a couple of Europeans helped to set up the first ski school and thereby set an incentive. Soon, several tour operators and new ski schools and skitour resorts sprouted from the ground and skiing became quickly popular with vast parts of the population.
(
http://www.returntokyrgyzstan.com)
Those examples proof the feasibility, joy and the socio-economic benefits that ski deveplopment projects can achieve.
Risks and Challenges
Skiing and Snowboarding in the Himalyans is quite different compared to the Americas or the Alps. The highest mountains in the world are majestic but dangerous at the same time. High altitude sickness (HAPE/HACE) can be a deadly risk if not treated correctly.
However, it is possible to acclimatize accordingly to the respective heigths by ascending slowly and sleeping at lower altitudes. Mitigating the risks of altitude sickness by taking the necessary precautions is possible and part of the job.
Our mountain guides and ski instructors have the required experience and skills to overcome those risks and to ski safley in high altitudes.
The variability of snowfall in the Himalayans and in particular the central Himalayans is another challenge to overcome. Early or late snowfall can fluctuate dramatically and is a challenge for ski projects in the Himalayans.
Despite the fact of varying snow conditions, we found several places with a decent snow cover where seasonal skiing is possible for several months. In addition, our future Ski school in Khare is right on the bottom of Mera glacier. Theroretically we can ski the whole yeare
Avalanches and crevasses can create a major risk while skiing in the Himalayans. We donated six avalanche beacons to the Air rescue service during the summer. In the winter we always use those systems if we go skiing and offer enhanced avalanche awareness and rescue training to our guides and students. Appropriate skills in theory and experience can ease the existing risks of skiing in the highest mountains of the world.
Alternative ways to help usIf you cannot afford to help us financially, you are heartly welcome to donate your old skitour or snowboard equipment or to join us as additional ski/snowboard instructor.
We need: ski, splitboards, bindings, skins, boots and more avalanche devices.
Please spread the word and help us to promote Ski and Snowboarding in Nepal!
Cheers and Dhanyavad!!!
Utsav Pathak (Chairman)
Shristi Sainju (Vice-chairwoman)
Julius Seidenader (Head Ski Instructor)
Kunga Sherpa (Climbing Instructor)
