Team Profile - Pendon

Team Name: Pendon

Peak Conquest: Kyangjen-Ri (4400m)

Group Leader: Wong Pang Kong

Registration Date: 1st September 2008

Conquest Expiry Date: 27th November 2008

Conquest Status: Successful with peak conquered on November 2008

Team Members:

1. Wong Pang Kong (L)
2. Daniel Chang Chan Seong
3. Hon Yiu Tsang
4. Wendy Yeap May Ping
5. Ooi Pei Fang
6. Winnie Neoh
7. Ch'ng Ah See
8. Fau Ah Kau

Lafuma Inventory:

1. Extreme 600 Sleeping Bag
2. Trekking Warm Socks
3. Micro Eco T Zip
4. Voyage Jacket
   

Conquest Log:

Penang Adventurers’ Club (PAC) – 2008 Nov 23-30 Nepal LangTang Trek

Introduction

Namaste! Or the Divine in me recognizes and honors, the Divine in you or simply “Hello” in Nepali. We are a group of 8 hikers, generally from Penang, Malaysia. The trip was organized by
Penang Adventurers’ Club (PAC), Mr. Wong Pang Kong

The entire hiking trip started from Kathmandu, Themal, a tourist populated center. We started the Lantang Trek with a chartered bus. The bus would take us from Kathmandu to Shyabru-Bensi. Journey took a good 6 hours. The bus ride was pleasant in the beginning with proper road. Half way through the journey, the road got narrower, more bumpy and windy. The general effect was as if the bus had just suddenly lost the shock absorbers, with our bodies feeling every nook and crannies on the rocky road. Those prone with motion sickness are well-warned to be prepared for this. Take the pills the morning of the trip to prevent any mishap that could dampen your day. Due the narrow passage, the bus ride could get hairy as well, I was sitting on window seat and I swore that the opposite bus was just 3 inches away when the two buses by-passing each other. However, I have my hat off for the bus driver skills, indeed, we tipped him and the navigator handsomely for bringing us safely.

We reached Shyabru-Bensi in the afternoon before sunset. Our experienced guides, Small Sange Sherpa and Sanam Sherpa briefed us on the trek’s particulars, ie. the weather condition, the hike speed and related info. I would cover those as we moved along. We were assisted by 4 porters whom carried 8 of our 50-Liter backpacks, down-jackets, down-sleeping bag and their own tiny bag (in comparison to ours!). I tried once to carry the porter equivalents, almost 60 KG for about 5 seconds, it simply took my breath away! We are advised to carry our own day pack, which should contain daily necessities like drinking water, gloves, caps, sun-block lotion and lip balms.

Of People and Culture
The folks that lived on the Lantang Trek are of Tibetan descendants.

They came over the Himalaya Mountain range via Lantang valley.

Lantang means in Tibet language is “follow the ox” as their ancestor
followed an ox to the valley. Due to the inaccessibility of the proper

roads, the food and necessities are carried on back of Sherpas
(Hill people famed for mountaineering skill) or burden animals.

The trek which we walked on, was in fact the only path that are used by the highlanders for ages. The religion is closely linked back to

Tibetan Buddhism. Their famous Bodhnath Stupa, has a famous Eyes insignia per shown.

Of Hike and Gears
The trek was a moderate one. Any person who is reasonable fit and had weekly exercise should do well in this trek. 1 or a pair of hiking pole would do wonders even on this moderate hike. On 1st day, where we crossed a rocky patch, the pole would help you to balance yourself. A wind stopper jacket was preferred over a winter jacket. You would be sweaty inside once you started climbing and walking. Gloves/ neck warmer seemed needful at first but I have gotten fine without them. Due to cloudless and dry weather, sun block and lip balm are a necessity and applied generously and frequently. I have seen burns that lasted into the uneasy nights. On duration wise, generally we started walking at 8 am and would reach lunch rest house around 11 am. Lunched and rested and restarted at 1 pm. The next rest area would be reached at 4 pm. So, that is generally 3 + 3, or 6 hours of walking per day. If you slow down and took pictures, the guides would usher us on, for the sunset came early at 5:30 pm. Pretty much we were well taken care of by the guides. I had a feeling like being in a cow herd that are being goaded to move along, eat grass, rest and sleep, but off course with all the pleasantries of the Sherpa manners. Below are the heights of various rest sites along Lantang Trek. We started from 1420 Meters above sea level in Shyabru-Bensi to Kyengjin-Ri (4400 meter).

Of Trail up Kyengjin – Ri.
It was simply a steep climb and steep down hill experience. A zee zaz trail towards the summit was no easy to my fellow hikers, we had to make several stops to catch our breath as air was getting thinner.
Within 2 hours everyone reached the summit exhausted, however the reward was worth it. Blue sky, great mountains, wonderful glaciers, beautiful river and tiny Kyengjin town were all ours at that moment.
Down hill journey was more difficult and dangerous. Steep trail and loose sands all the way, the hiking poles really help a lot in balancing and controlling our steps.

Of Lodging/ Toilets
The rest houses are very clean. We deduced that since there is no entertainment, the only item to keep the “hoteliers” busy is perhaps to work. We are paired in a cosy room. Some times with no electricity. The common toilet facilities are just meeting the minimum requirement. The toilet came with a “view” of either the hills, or the gushing streams, very quaint! Water for washing may be ice cool. We clinically advised wet tissues for the sensitive skinned. No pun intended!

Of Temperature/ Acute Mountain Syndrome (AMS)
Temperature varies by altitudes, day light and shadows. Day time temperature ranged from 16-20°C. As we climbed higher, the weather was indeed cooler, but certain areas were perhaps more cold due to it being in the sun’s shadow. We had braved through certain nights of 6°C in Langtang for example, which was just 3420 Meter above sea. Although were below 5000 Meter of height which required altitude adjustment, all of us had taken pills to prevent any borderline altitude sickness. One of the hiker planned to stay at the lodge while the rest went for a day hike, has trouble during the middle of the night, suffering from shortness of breath and acute headache. Luckily her roommate was available to come to rescue. We are not exactly sure she was suffering from Acute Mountain Syndrome (AMS) but prayed we did that she was well after taken the pill.

Of Goals and Objectives
I observed the magic of goal setting several times first hand during the trek. One of which of course was a dream for all of us to be there. That of the commonality of the dream spurred us on the steepest path. Secondly was the visibility of the rest house in far distance just seemingly pulled us on. I walked perhaps for 2 hours non-stop due to my eagerness to a hot shower. Talk about the vision of the goal! Lastly, the down hill trek was very much expedited by the goal setting by our guides, we came up hill in 6 hours but coming down hill, we just spent 4 hours and reached the destination even before the porters and guides!

Of Scenery and feelings
The scenery was definitely worth every sen of the trip and more. The mossy enchanted forest in the low land, the mountain streams that accompanied us, the sparse landscape of the highland, view at the tip of Kyangjin-Ri, The glacier trail, looking down at Kyangjin Gumba village; I would not swap anything for the feelings of being there. Lantang trek has simply breathtaking sceneries and every view a Kodak moment. You know the cliché of whenever you are in the elementary greatness of mother nature, you feel the smallness of man… It is indeed true.

Conclusion
Some of us are already planning for other treks in Nepal, perhaps one that is closer to Mount Everest. For economical stand point, we spend less than RM5000 per person on a moderate trek and it is indeed a good investment that last a life time. Well, I am off to my training to Everest! Namaste and Dhanyabad or Thank you in Nepali! See you all in them hills!