Accept the Challenge of Climbing Kanchanjungha
If you’re looking to try something new, why not climb the third highest mountain in the world? A climb up this beautiful peak will give you the chance to see a whole new side of Nepal. The abundant natural treasures to be found in the area combined with a rich and fascinating cultural legacy simply cannot be understated.
While most people have heard of Mount Everest or Kathmandu, not too many people know about the beautiful Kanchanjungha. This striking peak was first climbed by a British team comprised of G. Band, Evans & J. Brown way back in 1955, but it has continued to intrigue visitors to this day. Kanchanjungha peaks at 8598 m and is situated on the Nepal/Sikkim border. The mountain not only affords climbers magnificent views of the surrounding Kanchanjungha massif, but will also give you a great view of other striking mountains such as Everest and Makalu. You should definitely bring your camera along for this one!
So exactly what can you expect to find if you choose to spend one to two months trekking across the region? For starters, the Kanchanjungha Himal is not just one mountain – it’s a wonderful collection of five grand spires. No wonder then that the name is roughly translated ‘five treasure houses of the great snows’. Kanchanjungha is somewhat unique since it is surrounded by equitably big mountains on the north, south, east and west. These four summits are known as: South Summit, Main Summit, Middle Summit and West Summit (Yalung Kang). Each of the four summits also measure more than eight thousand meters above sea level. There are currently four different routes to the Kanchanjungha mountain peak with plenty more waiting to be discovered. The route that navigates South Summit is generally considered to be the most difficult.
Apart from these absolutely striking mountains and the views they afford, visitors to the area can also expect to enjoy exploring ancient glaciers such as the Yalung Glacier. The area has plenty of wildlife, such as blue sheep and musk deer and, where there is vegetation it is truly captivating. Entire forests of rhododendron will completely boggle your mind! The Kanchenjungha area is also home to several native communities and you may get to learn much more about the Sherpa, Rai, Gurung and Limbu first hand as you visit remote villages along the way.