Start of the Great Himalaya Trail at Kanchenjunga Base Camp. Return to Ghunsa where we will meet with the guide/portes and do our first resupply. Togegher we will then cross the Nango La Pass at 4,300 m which will include the first two camping nights. After that, there is only one hut accommodation before reaching Olangchung Gola, away from the usual trekking routes. Duration: 6 days from KBC.
Overview
Days
P2T1 Pangpema - Lhonak
Pangpema (5,043 m) to Kambachen (4,080 m). About 6-7 hours. This is the reverse of the previous day. Preferred to hike the way to Kangpachen in one day so that we do not need to stay at Lhonak overnight.
P2T2 Lhonak - Kangpachen
Back to Kangpachen on a realative easy paths. Descend in about 4-5 hours. According to plan we want to do this in one push together with P2T1 Pangpema - Lhonak.
P2T3 Kangpachen - Ghunsa
Kambachen (4,080 m) to Ghunsa. This is the reverse of P1T6 Ghunsa - Khangpachen. After several days in rather simple guesthouses, looking forward the the great guesthouses in Ghunsa.
P2T4 Ghunsa - Kharka
In the Plan called High Camp. First Camping
Dave mentions that the trail is tricky trail to follow, other trekkers say that there has been build a new trail since Dave was there.
P2T5 Kharka - Yangjong Kharka
Trail was almost non existent and obscured with snow for much of the day. However above the tree line the terrain was open so the route was easy to follow without a trail on the ground.
We will cross the first pass Nango La Pass (4,770 m). On the descent down from Nango La there is a basic shelter at Yangjong Kharka that can be used, otherwise second camping.
P2T6 Yangjong Kharka - Olangchun Gola
Tricky trail to follow, especially the first half before the new bridge. I suspect this trial will be changing regularly, because it was relatively new (spring 2019). Update from Kate (summer 2022): "Deviation - the new trail Dave took is no longer visible. We took the old trail further north. Very overgrown and difficult to follow. The 'new' bridge is still there, but we could not find any trail on the east side of the river. Bridge on the route I took is further upstream than the river crossing shown on GPS." I've added a new waypoint "North Bridge" showing where Kate found the bridge.
- TODO Double Check the GPX tracks from Mike Dixon, think he took a more northern route on the
Deviationpoint to cross the river.
There is the option to get fresh water at the river crossing or at the lunch place (steam).
Today's destination, Olangchung Gola, lies in the upper part of the Tamur Valley, and the village’s inhabitants are of Tibetan origin. At first glance, Olangchung Gola seems to come from another era, but this impression is misleading. The villagers have been passionate traders for generations, and their modest prosperity allows families to send their children to private schools in Taplejung or even Kathmandu.
Staying in a teahouse, or camping next to it. Option for resupply.
