|
Kanchanjunga Region
This mountain
range has Kanchenjunga, the third highest mountain
in the world. Besides this main peak, there are West
Peak or Yalung Kang (8,505m), Central Peak (8,478m),
South Peak (8,476m), and many others. “Kanchenjunga”
means “five great treasure houses of snow” in the
Tibetan language. This mountain can be seen from
Darjeeling, a summer resort, and has been well known
in Europe for its grand and graceful configuration
since the early days.
The first
ascent of the main peak was made by a British party
in 1955 from the Yalung Glacier side. West Peak was
climbed for the first time by a Japanese party in
1973. in 1962, a French party succeeded in the first
ascent of the mysterious peak Jannu or Kumbhakarna
(7,710m), which is also called “Sleeping Lion” and
“Sphinx”. They climbed it from Yamatari Glacier on
the south side. The first ascent of Kamhachen was by
a Polish party in 1974 and was done from the Ramtang
Glacier on the west side.
As to trekking
in the southern part of this region, you can reach
the camp site at an elevation of 4,870 meters far
back in the Yalung Glacier. In the north you can go
as far as Pangpema and enjoy a magnificent view of
the Kanchenjunga Glacier down below.
Taplejung to the Yalung
Glacier
This course goes around the eastern flank of Surke
Danda on its upper part, then along the Kabeli Khola,
runs through the villages of the Rai and Limbu
people, and reaches the innermost village in
Yamphudin. From there, it follows the Omja Khola, a
tributary of the Kabeli Khola, crosses Lamite
Bhanjyang Pass of Deurali Danda, goes up the Simbuwa
Khola that flows from the Yalung Glacier, and
reaches Ramze, the Final destination. It will take
six days to trek back from Ramze to the Taplejung
airport. |
