Kwangde Ri Climb

A stunning new Khumbu trek and climb combination - A fresh perspective on Nepal's most popular region - Fabulous views of Everest - Trek to the "forbidden" Nangpa La on the Tibetan Border. Towering above Namche Bazaar, the triple summited Kwangde Ri (6011m) is a strikingly impressive mountain. This is one of the difficult climb trekking peak. Its northern summit, Kwangde Nup (19795ft.), which is climbed from a base camp in the rarely-visited Lumding Valley, makes a superb trekking peak objective and also provides a simply fantastic vantage point. The summit panorama extends across the Khumbu, from Ama Dablam and Makalu in the East, to Everest and Cho Oyu and includes the spectacular Rolwaling peaks, to the northwest. Just as exciting as the peak, however, is our chosen means of acclimatization, which will involve a week of trekking in the lovely valley to the north of Thame and culminate in an ascent to the high and glaciated Nangpa La (18750ft.). This remote pass is the high point of a historically important trade route between Nepal and Tibet and has, until recently, been off-limits to trekking groups. This mouth-watering new itinerary provides a whole new way of looking at the Khumbu. 

 

Kwangde Ri is also called Kongde Ri and Kwande on various maps. This difficult mountain forms an impressive multi-summited ridge on the eastern end of the Lumding Himal, which in turn can be regarded as part of the Rolwaling Himal. Rising south-west of Namche Bazaar above the Bhote Kosi River, the mountain's northern flank forms an impressive barrier that throws down several steep ridges to the north.

 

It's glaciated southern flank is more aloof. It is hidden at the northern end of the Lumding Drangka, a high and remote valley bounded to the west by the tumbling glaciers of Karyolung (6,511m), Khartang (6,853m) and Numbur (6,959m). The Lumdring valley is rarely visited by trekkers or expeditions. At the northern end of the valley the stream cascades down a natural rocky barrier above which is a moraine-bound lake, the Tsho Og, at the snout of the Limding Glacier. North of the Tsho Og, itself hidden in a huge rocky cwm, is the massive Lumding Tsho Teng (5,151m).

 

All of the routes climbed to date on the Kwangde Peaks are difficult; none have proved suitable for commercial trekking peak expeditions. The routes on the North Face are particularly difficult and reflect recent developments in lightweight Himalayan climbing, with an emphasis on technical difficulty and a high degree of commitment. They have invariably been made by two climbers without support camps or fixed ropes, although in at least one case a subsequent ascent has seen a return to traditional siege style tactics with masses of fixed rope and camps. Even the routes on the South Face are commiting and difficult, although the climbing is more traditional in character.

 

Experienced climbers who are looking for rarely climbed and challenging small peak in the Himalayas will find this peak very attractive.