Ford Escape and The North Face gear offered in a print ad published in a Philippine national paper an ultimate weekend in Annapurna Nepal.
Lonely Planet describes the Annapurna Region as the attraction in Central Nepal. You have a 360 degrees panorama of the Himalayan peaks from the Annapurna sanctuary. You walk around the Annapurna massif crossing the 5,416m Thorung La, pass at the Gurung village at the foot of the high Himalayas and enjoy the hot springs and diverse restaurants at Tatopani. It has the world's deepest valley.
Two thirds if the 100,000 trekkers who visited Nepal in 2000 included Annapurna in their itinerary. Gateway is Pokhara. The shortest trek is for 6 days. Annapurna to Times needs at least 16 days.
A Ford Escape will not bring you anywhere there. Buying a brand new one can win you a ticket to Katmandu.
After the successful trek of PALMC to Everest Base Camp in May 2007, another expedition is upcoming. This time it is with an alpine climb.
Target is Island Peak at 6,189 meters ASL. Island Peak also known as Imja Tse was first climbed in 1953 by Charles Evans, Alf Gregory, Charles Wylie and Tenzing Norgay in preparation for their ascent to Everest. On the way down, the team will pass by the Advanced Base Camp at 5,600 meters ASL.
Technical skills are required. Aside from basic climbing know how, one must know basic alpine mountaineering as cramponing on snow and ice 40 degree slopes, rope ascending, self arrest with ice ax and roped glacier travel.
Expedition is targeted to cover 25 days sometime in April 2008 at an estimated cost of over US$100 a day. Leading the pack are Leo Oracion, the first Filipino to summit Mt. Everest, Larry Honoridez, the two time trekker to EBC and Gonz de Almeida.
Help support this expedition. Island Peak is a foot closer to the dream of all dreams, Mt. Everest summit.
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Material lifted from Larry Honoridez' presentation
