Mr. Gerold Biner, Chief Pilot and Operation Director of Air Zermatt and Mr.Bruno Yelk, renowned Rescue Mountain Guide from Switzerland also presented their reports. Their reports were based on the missions performed during the Spring of 2010 at Mt. Manaslu, Annapurna, Dhaulagiri and Everest in which several  lives were saved. Accordingly, famous Italian climber, Mr. Simone Moro presented his experience of flying in the Nepal Himalaya together with Fishtail Air. Several other climbers expressed building of Mountain Rescue Operation system in Nepal as a positive step.

Italian climber and living legend of the mountaineering world, Reinhold Messner also expressed his thoughts on the subject. According to him, availability of the technology is a positive step but the Government of Nepal should make rules on who should be using these services. He elaborated that these services should be available only for those in need and not for sightseeing purposes. He also stressed that due to big budget required for the transfer of such kind of technology, big organizations like UIAA (International Mountaineering & Climbing Federation) and others from USA, Japan, European Union should help with the funding, so that within next five years, the facility could reach up to the local Nepalese people as well.

Everest Region- White snowy peaks  transformed into rocky bare pinnacles

The scenario is no less frightening in the Himalayas. Flanked by some of the tallest peaks in the world, including Mount Everest, Nepal’s snowy pinnacles are losing their snow cover. The glaciers are melting, creating mountain lakes that threaten to sweep away villages situated at the base of the mountains. According to a report on BBC, there are 3,250 glaciers in the Nepalese Himalayas, and 2,315 of them contain glacial lakes that are increasing in size at varying rates. The disappearance of glaciers also mean that the rivers fed by the glaciers may run dry in the near future.

To bring into focus how Global Warming is adversely affecting  our mountains and glaciers the, Nepal Government decided to hold a cabinet meeting at the Everest Base Camp.

Ten years before, this place used to covered with snow year round, according to locals – An impact of global warming on our Mountain Environment

Press Conference at NTB, Kathmandu
At a press conference held on 29th November at NTB’s auditorium hall, members of the press and media were briefed about the climate themed Cabinet Meeting to be held in Gorakh Shep, Everest Base Camp on 4th December 2009. The special climate- themed meeting was scheduled ahead of the UN summit on Climate Change at Copenhagen. Attended by members of the press & media, tourism officials, Everest summitteers and mountaineers, the main speakers during the conference  were Minister of Tourism – Mr. Sarat Singh Bhandari, Minister of Forests – Mr. Deepak Bohara, Minister of Environment Mr. Thakur Prasad Sharma and Planning & Operation Coordinator of the event, Mr. Suman Pandey ( President, Explore Himalaya).
Answering to press queries honorable Minister of Forests, Mr. Deepak Bohara said that the entire cost of the highest Cabinet Meeting will be borne by private sector companies.

R-L : Deepak Bohara (Minister of Forests), Mr. Sarat Singh Bhandari (Tourism Minister), Mr.Suman Pandey (Planning & Operation Coordinator)

Mr. Suman Pandey – Outlining the programme schedule for the Highest Cabinet Meeting

Reports on the Preparation for the Event

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/11/30/2756807.htm

http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/world/view/20091204-240093/Nepalese-cabinet-to-hold-Everest-meeting

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/8385170.stm

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2009-11/30/content_12564225.htm

http://southasia.oneworld.net/todaysheadlines/nepali-private-sector-to-fund-everest-cabinet-meeting

World’s Highest Cabinet Meeting,EBC- Kala Patthar (17,192 ft/5242m) – 4th December, 2009
Nepalese cabinet ministers held a special cabinet meeting at Kala Patthar (17,192 ft/5242m) plateau, at the base of Mt. Everest on December 4, 2009. Nepalese Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal and 23 other ministers were flown by helicopters for the meeting. During the meeting, a 10-point ‘Everest Declaration’ which calls for concerted actions to minimize adverse effects of climate change in the Himalayan region was released. The meeting, which had cost around NRS 6 million to organize, was funded by private agencies and organizations from the tourism sector. Mr. Suman Pandey, Planning & Operation Coordinator of the event, said that organizing the meeting at such a high altitude was a big achievement.

World’s  Highest Cabinet Meeting in progress – At Kala Patthar Plateau (17,192 ft/5242m)

PM Madhav Kumar Nepal wearing an oxygen mask

This meeting received worldwide media coverage and it showed the commitment of the Nepalese Government towards Climate Change and the mountain environment. This event gained an estimated  1.7 million  media coverage!

The Guardian, BBC, CNN, ABC News, Telegraph, The Age

Summiteers Summit to Save the Himalayas, Copenhagen- December 11 2009
Following the World’s Highest Cabinet Meeting, Summiteers Summit to Save the Himalayas was organized by the Government of Nepal in Copenhagen to mark the International Mountain Day on December 11, 2009. Summiteers from Nepal and around the globe, in full summit gear, marched on the streets of Copenhagen. The march was organized to celebrate the ‘International Mountain Day’ as well as to draw global attention to the impact of climate change in the Himalayas. Five ministers from Nepal and the Danish foreign minister participated at the march.This rally was an accompanying event in the 15th session of UNFCCC conference.

Copenhagen, Denmark

Since then , there have been joint efforts from individuals and organizations to highlight the impact of climate change on the Himalayan mountains.

100 ways to save the  environment

Nepal has remained a favourite destination among travellers and adventurers. The country’s many trails and exotic locales continues to work its magic as magazines and travel guides vote the myriad experiences to be had in this country as some of the best in the world, year after year.It’s no surpise that Nepal has made it once again to Time magazine’s “Best of Asia 2010″ list. According to the magazine ‘Best of Asia’ is an annual guide about “the region’s best experiences for mind, body and soul“.

The piece on Nepal has been written by Krista Mahr.She takes the trail to Annapurna Base Camp and in the middle of nowhere(Chomrong actually), the writer gets to indulge in a heavenly delight: a generous slice of chocolate cake. The article is aptly titled “Best Chocolate Cake”.

Read the full article.

Trek with us to Annapurna Base Camp

Read the full article “A Weekend in Kathmandu“.

With an objective of extending expertise in Alpine Rescue Operations in the Himalayas, Air Zermatt has organized a week long observation training programme to the Nepalese team. The Nepalese team comprises of Fishtail Air’s CEO Mr. Suman Pandey, Capt. Sabin Basnyat – Chief Pilot, Mr.Pradip Gautam- Manager Operations and Mr. Purna Awale – senior technician. The team had had arrived on 3rd of March. Mr. Binod Giri, Chief of Air Safety Department is also accompanying the team as an observer from the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal.

Air Zermatt’s rescue operations have saved millions of lives. The company is known as an expert in conducting Human Sling Operations (a difficult aerial rescue maneuver involving dropping an expert mountain guide at an inaccessible point to lift stranded people using ropes). It is hoped that the transfer of this special skill from Swiss Alps to the Nepal Himalayas will not only help in saving lives at risk on the high mountains, but also enhance level of safety and instill confidence in adventurers. The company plans to organize more training programmes in future.

Capt. Sabin Basnyat of Fishtail Air on the cockpit

Fishtail Air’s Mr. Purna Awale (on the rope) undergoing training in ‘Alpine Rescue Operations’ at Matterhorn (4478m), Switzerland.

If you happen to attend the fair, then please do visit our stall. We look forward to seeing you at WTM from 9th to 12th November. Please do let us know if you would like to set up an appointment.

E-Mail: enquiry@explorehimalya.com

October 29, 2009: Explore Himalaya Travel & Adventure is pleased to announce the successful completion of the Everest Skydive 2009 program.

On October 28, 2009 a skydiving event was held at Gorak Shep. During the event, world skydiving champion Wendy Smith from New Zealand, Global Angels ambassador and tandem master Tom Noonan and Wing Commander Jai Kishan from the Indian Air Force, made a successful landing at the Gorak Shep, Kala Patthar plateau, lying at an altitude of 17,192 feet (5,242m), right beside Mt. Everest. This is believed to be the highest skydiving stunt performed over highest drop zone in the world.

The operation was carried out from Fishtail Air’s AS 350 B3 helicopter flown by Capt. Sabin Basnet and Capt. Deepak Rana. The dives were performed in the morning of 28^th Oct, 2009 between 7:30 to 9 AM. The helicopter took off with the skydiving team from Shyangboche airport and flew to a height of 23,000 feet before dropping from 21,000 feet at right air layer.

Prior to this event, seven skydivers from the Explore Himalaya skydiving team had performed solo and tandem jumps at Shyangboche (12,350 feet) on 16^th and 17^th October, 2009.

On 16^th October, Five members skydived from a height of 25,000 feet .Tom Noonan (USA), Ian Bishop (Australia) and Jai Kishan (India), made solo jumps at 10:30 AM (local time). In the second group, , Wendy Smith (New Zealand) jumped solo, while Ganesh Pandey (Nepal) made a tandem jump with tandem master Tom Noonan (USA) at 12:30 PM (local time).

On the second day, ie 17th October, Wendy Smith (New Zealand), Jai Kishan (India) and Mery Noonan (USA) made solo jumps from a height of 27,500ft at 8:30 AM (local time). While Everest summitter, Pujan Acharya (Nepal) made a tandem jump from a height of 29,300 feet, with tandem master Tom Noonan (USA) at 10:30 AM (local time).

The jumps over Shyangboche were made from Tara Air’s Pilatus Porter aircraft, flown by Capt Jack Sparrow (UK) and Praful Baidya (Nepal). Capt Jack Sparrow, an experienced pilot, has performed more than 4,000 lifts (flights for skydiving) for skydivers in Europe and is preparing to launch a skydiving club in Thailand, which will be the first in Asia.

As a continuation of the Everest Skydive 2008, the Everest Skydive 2009 program was organized by Explore Himalaya with the help of Nepal Tourism board to promote Nepal Tourism Year 2011.During the event, all the skydivers sported the logo of Nepal Tourism Year 2011 on their jumpsuits. The visuals of the skydiving event will be distributed worldwide.

After the success of Everest Skydive 2009, Explore Himalaya is planning to establish Skydiving as a prominent tourism product of Nepal. More events shall be launched to mark the Nepal Tourism Year 2011.Very soon, skydiving tests and commercial operations will be performed in Pokhara. With due support from all concerned, we are planning to organize a team of Nepalese Civilian Skydivers for aerial events to be held in 2011′s Nepal Tourism Year.

Finally, we would like to thank the Ministry of Tourism, Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal, Ministries of Home, Defence, Forest, Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation, Tara Air family , Fishtail Air family, Sagarmatha National Park, members of the Skydiving ground team from Explore Himalaya and all concerned who have contributed in making the Everest Skydive 2009 a grand success. I would also like to thank the companies Javelin Suntath , Aerodyne, and Performance Design from the US and Vigil from Belgium for providing parachutes and equipments. Summit Oxygen from United Kingdom for supplying the oxygen system and Capt Jack Sparrow who flew all the way from UK to perform the skydiving flights.