Thanks to WAVE for writing about my trip on feature page on July 2011(187) issue.

ACROSS THE HIMALAYAS IN 128 DAYS

-TseringDolkarGurung

At eight, he ran away from home, walked two straight days to attend a JanaiPurnima festival in GosainKunda after his parents didn't permit him to do so. That may have been the worst nightmare for his parents but for Sunil, it was that trip which developed his love for adventure." I think that was the day I discovered my true passion," says Sunil Tamang. Since then Sunil has been trekking and exploring various places and in October, 2010 scaled Island Peak (6189m) in the Everest region. But the biggest feat for this 20 year old has to be his latest achievement-trekking solo across the Himalayan region in 128 days.

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"I had just finished my S.L.C when the thought of travelling across every Himalayan district struck my mind. Back then I neither had the experience nor the financial means to make my dream come true," says Sunil who spent the next two years planning his trip all the while studying I.Sc at St.Xavier's college. At first he was disappointed when he couldn't find any sponsors. Most of the organizations and the people that he approached shunned him. Many even called him 'crazy' for attempting such a risky trip. After all how many teens do we come across willing to carry 30-40 kilos of weight and go on a solo adventure? Danielle Marchal of Belgium and Thomas Junker and Group of Germany however were among the few who believed in his dream and financed the trip. With their help and support from his parents and sponsors Andrew and Barbara Haxby, Sunil was able to achieve his dream this June.

A native of Rasuwa, Sunil first came to Kathmandu some nine years ago. Till date he is baffled by the laziness and irresponsibility of Kathmandu youth. "I compare the youngsters here to those outside Kathmandu and feel like the youth here are simply wasting all the opportunities that they have. Most of them are too busy partying to even bother about education and social duties," expresses Sunil which is why he says one of his main reasons behind the trip was "to inspire youth to explore and do something out of their comfort zone." Another cause that Sunil wanted to focus was climate change. "Everyone talks about the impact of climate change on Himalayas, I wanted to experience it myself," he explains. And experience he did.

To see the difference in the size of Gangapurna Glacier Lake which he first visited as a twelve year old up close made him realize that climate change was undeniably happening. Wherever he went, locals complained about the problem in crop production due to changes in weather patterns. "Seeing first hand the impact of global warming is a totally different experience. It is sad to know that the locals living in these (Himalayan) regions who will be affected the most are the ones who are least aware of the possible damage," shares Sunil. Rather than playing the blame game Sunil believes it is time people started accepting responsibility for their actions. "The reason I chose to go on a solo trek was to make people believe that a single person can do anything and make a difference."

Although he may make trekking solo for 128 days seem like a cakewalk, there were times when Sunil himself thought he wouldn't be able to complete his journey. "When I was crossing the Tashi-la pass, I fell 2-3 metres down and thought I wouldn't make it. I was hurt and tired. But I thought about the faith my parents and friends have in me and there was no way I was going to give up so easily." The biggest gift perhaps was the warm welcome he got when he reached his village, SyapruBensi. "People treated me like a local hero. I was invited to lunches and dinners; it was amazing to see how proud they were of me. This motivated me even further," shares Sunil who wants to study Environmental Science in the future.

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With the motto 'Trek for Change', Sunil Tamang set on a journey to inspire the youth, encourage environmental awareness among the locals and make a change. Sometimes walking sixteen hours a day with nothing but a glass of juice in his stomach, Sunil has successfully completed his trek. But he says there's a lot more to be done."Our government doesn't really think when they carry out actions. Roads are now being constructed in the Annapurna and Manaslu trek routes in the name of development but they are not foreseeing the consequences it will have on tourism," he laments. He feels nothing has been done to promote tourism year. "When I visited Kanchanjunga, I couldn't find any signs. Ironically, it was declared a tourist region few years ago. Rather than spending millions on the glitzy inauguration ceremony, it would have been great had they done something that would actually benefit the tourists and locals alike."

The youth, as of now, would like to enjoy his time reading literature, watching documentaries and exploring more of Nepal's unexplored places.

 

 

Thanks to Annapurna Post National Daily

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I would like to thank Annapurna Post National Daily newspaper for featuring about my trip on their newspaper on 8 June 2011. Unfortunately the article is in Nepali so it might be difficult for poeple who do not know Nepali to go through the article.

RASUWA KHABAR WEEKLY

RASUWA KHABAR WEEKLY

-Newspaper from my home districts write about Sunil’s Journey

thanks to RasuwaKhabar weekly and reporter Prem Prasad Paudel for your media coverage on my trip. Here it goes what Mr.Paudel write about my journey.

उदाहरणीय र साहसिक यात्रामा सुनील तामाङ, युवाको लागि गतिलो पाठ

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हरेक मानवका केही न केही इच्छा र आकांक्षाहरू हुन्छन् । इच्छित आकांक्षाहरू प्रस्फुटन भएनन् भने वा इच्छानुसारका गतिविधि गर्न मानवले पाएन भने न त उसको विकास हुन्छ न त समाजको नै । त्यस्तै आकांक्षा अनुसार रसुवा जिल्ला स्याप्रुबेसीका एक युवक सुनील तामाङले अहिलेको जल्दोबल्दो जलवायु परिवर्तनको समस्यामा चेतना जागरण गर्ने माध्यम रोज्दै  पुर्वदेखि पश्चिमसम्मको साहसिक यात्रा गरे ।

जलवायु परिवर्तनको विषय वा विश्व तापक्रम बृद्धि भएकोमा चिन्ता गर्छन् उनी । नेपाली भूमिमा यसको विषयमा चेतना जागरणका लागि उनले नेपालको राष्ट्रिय झण्डा बोकेर हिमालको आरोहणमा हिंडे । जन्म दिन मनाउन धेरैले सुखमय वातावरणमा बर्थ डे केक काटेर मनाउँछन् तर यिनले कठिनपूर्ण यात्राको सुरूवात गरेर जन्मदिन मनाए 'युवावर्गका लागि उदाहरणीय कार्य गर्छुभन्दै ।

केही महिना अघि ठूलोस्याप्रुका वाङछिरिङ तामाङले सुनीलको कुरा गरेका थिए । त्यतिखेरदेखि नै यिनको विषयमा खुल्दुली भइरहेको थियो मलाई । युवा अवस्थामा कति युवाहरू क्यासिनो, डिस्को र दुर्व्यसनीमा आफ्नो जिन्दगी बिताइरहेका छन् । कोही हत्याहिंसामा पनि लागेका छन् । तर तामाङ समुदायका यी युवाले विश्वकै समसामयिक विषयमा चिन्ता गरी चेतनामूलक र उदाहरणीय क्रियाकलापमा सहभागी भएको सुन्दा सबैलाई खुसी लाग्नु स्वभाविक नै हो । बैशाखको पहिलो हप्तामा सुनीलका पिता दोर्जे तामाङसँग चन्दनबारीमा भेट भएपछि अझ बढी उत्साहित भएँ म यिनलाई भेट्नको लागि । तर साहसिक यात्रामा निस्केका यी युवासँग फोन सर्म्पर्क भएन । www.suniltamang.com खोलेर हेरें, अनि आफूले सफलताको लागि कामना गरें । पछि त्यै सुझावलाई हेरेर उनले मलाई इमेल पठाए । गत जेष्ठ २५ गते अन्नपूर्ण पोष्टको 'शैली'मा 'हिमालका फेदी नाप्दै सुनील' भन्ने शिर्षकमा उनको यात्रा  रहेछ । इमेल र फोनमा भएको कुराकानी तथा अन्नपूर्ण पोष्टको शैलीमा छापिएको उनको यात्रा वर्णन आधारमा ती साहसिक यात्राका एक युवाको विषयमा केही अक्षरहरू लेख्दैछु ।

इमेलमा केही फोटाहरू पठाए उनले । गह्रुङ्गो भारी बोकेको, नेपालको राष्ट्रिय झण्डा बोकेर विभिन्न ठाउँमा खिचेका फोटाहरू देख्दा यिनले सानै उमेरमा अत्यन्त उदाहरणीय काम गरेका हुन् भन्ने सबैले विश्वास गर्नेछन् । विश्व तापक्रम बृद्धिसँगै हिमालमा रहेको हिउँ सकिनेछ भन्ने विषय चर्चामा आएको बेला र वातावरणमा प्रतिकुल असर पर्दै गइरहेको बेलामा यिनले धेरै हिमालहरूको अवलोकन गरे । वातावरण संरक्षणका चेतनामूलक सन्देशहरू बोकेर यिनी मानिस नहुने ठाउँमा पनि पुगे । २० वर्षपुगेकै दिनदेखि यिनले यात्रा सुरू गरेका हुन् । यिनका पिता पनि ट्रेकिङ गाइड भएको कारण उक्त यात्रामा उनलाई प्रेरणा मिलेको थियो । ताप्लेजुङको फुङलिङबाट यात्रा सुरू गरेर खलंगाको रारातालसम्म १ सय २८ दिनमा उनको यात्रा टुङ्गएिको थियो ।

बढ्दो जलवायु परिवर्तनको विषयमा युवाको सहभागिता बढाउन तथा सो विषयमा युवावर्गमा प्रेरणा मिलोस् भन्दै उनले उक्त यात्राको सुरूवात गरेका थिए । आर्थिक अवस्थाका कारण धेरै ठाउँको यात्रालाई छोट्याउनु परेको उनले बताए । यात्राको पुर्व समयमा विभिन्न संघसंस्थासँग यात्राको लागि सहयोग गर्न अनुरोध गर्दा कुनैपनि संस्थाले सहयोग नगरेको र त्यसरी सहयोग गर्न सक्ने प्रावधान कुनै पनि संस्थामा नभएको पाए उनले । विदेशी साथीहरूको सहयोगमा उनले उक्त यात्रा गर्ने चाँजो मिलाएका हुन् । करिव ७ लाख जति खर्च गरी नेपालका धेरै हिमालका चुचुरीहरू चुमेका कलिला सुनीलले नजिकबाट वातावरणीय अवस्था अवलोकन गरेका छन् । उनको यात्रामा मानव जातिले त्यति सहयोग नगरेको बताउँछन् उनी । आइसएक्स, डोरी र क्रम्पनको सहयोगले डरलाग्दा हिम पहराहरू नाघे । यिनले वातावरण जोगाउनको लागि विभिन्न पर्यटकहरूसँग अन्तर्वार्ता लिदै र ढुङ्गा खस्ने भीरमा आइसएक्सले बाटो बनाउँदै टासीलाप्चा जस्ता कठिन हिमालको आरोहण गरे । हिमनदी, हिम खाडल, हिम पहिरो, जंगल, खोंच, पहरा, पहाडमा अनेक दुःख झेल्दै उनले छोटो समयमा सफल आरोहण गरे ।

टेन्टमा सुत्थे, भोलिपल्ट बिहान उठ्दा हिउँले जुत्ता जमेको हुन्थ्यो । ठाउँठाउँमा पर्यटकहरूसँग वातावरण संरक्षणका लागि अन्तर्वार्ता लिदै, सुझाव संकलन गर्दै कञ्चनजंघा, मकालु, सगरमाथा, हेलम्बु, गोसाइँकुण्ड, लाङटाङ, मनासलु, अन्नपूर्ण, मुस्ताङको लोमान्थाङ, उपल्लो डोल्पा जस्ता महत्वपूर्ण पर्यटकीय मार्गको अध्ययन, अवलोकन तथा अनुसन्धान गरे । 

विश्वकै तातो समस्याको सममाधानमा चेतना बढाउनको लागि बीस वर्षो कलिलो उमेरमा नै अत्यन्त साहसिक यात्रा गर्ने सुनीलबाट नेपालका युवाले ठूलो पाठ सिक्न सक्छन् । वातावरण संरक्षण गर्नको लागि गरिने विभिन्न क्रियाकलापमध्ये सुनीलको गतिविधि गतिलो पाठ हुनसक्छ । देशमा वातावरणका लागि करोडौं खर्च गरेर जिम्मेवारी लिएकाहरूले यतिको उदाहरणीय कार्य गर्न नसक्लान् तर सुनीलको यो पवित्र विचार सबैको लागि मार्गदर्शन बनोस् । उनको यो यात्राको क्रममा देखिएका समस्या र समाधानका लागि वातावरण जोगाउनु पर्छ, हिमाल, वन र पानीको संरक्षण गर्न सबैले केही न केही गर्नुपर्छ भन्ने सोचाई सुनीलजस्तै सबै युवामा आओस् । विभिन्न समस्याहरूका वावजुद साहसिक र उदाहरणीय कार्यमा सहभागी भएका सुनीलको सुनौलो भविष्यको कामना सहित ।

Rara Nature Experience Trail

June 03: Rara Lake to Talcha Airport to Nepalgunj

From Rara Lake to Talcha airport it was 2.5 hour of easy walk. For more info of the day click here.

June 02: Neurigad to Rara Lake

Walking on muddy trail.....

Thank God, the weather was good. After tea and biscuits, I walked ahead. In 3.5 hours walking I reached to Daba leaving Chautha behind. From Daba,you could go to Gamgadhi;headqaurter of Mugu or Rara Lake.My destination was Rara Lake so I had to take left route along the jungle and climb up to the hill but didn`t know what exactly the hill was called but it gave rewarding view of Rara Lake. Then descend down in jungle and reach to pastureland at the base of the lake where I saw lots of sheep’s grazing in the field. It was superb view and I felt like I was in heaven. It was 5 hours walking to Rara lake from Daba. Rara is largest lake in Nepal at the altitude of 2990m.Guys don’t miss this place to visit.

June 01: Jumla to Neurigad

The weather was cloudy and slowly it began to rain. The trail was muddy which made me difficult to walk. Till Dhanphe Lagna (3720m),it was steep ascend which took me 4 hours. But descending was much more tougher due to muddy trail and I mistook my foot many time. Not fun…..really its not fun…It was three hours very slow walking not only by my foots but also my two hands supporting my body and heavy bag which made my way to Neurigad.

 

Pastureland nearby Rara lake

Rara Lake(2990m)

Thrilling Talcha Airport, Mugu

Phoksundo Lake to Jumla

May 31: In Jumla

Jumla Bazaar

Jumla is trade center for west Nepal especially for hilly and mountain region. In Jumla you can find good hotel and lodges –very good one. Banking facilities, telecommunication, school, college and many other government authorities. Airport in Jumla is the airport in hilly region getting maximum number of flight. But still cleanliness matters, concern authorities and individual effort should be initiated to keep place clean. Phoksundo Lake to Jumla can be rewarding NATURE EXPERIENCE TRAIL to promote tourism in this sector for benefit of locals and for sustainable development of the place.

May 30:Chotro to Jumla

From Chotro,they trail was easy no climbing up nor steep descend. Walked for 2.5 hours to reach Kudigaonleaving Manisangu behind. There I met a boy who looks after mules and he does transportation of good to different places in west. He offered me help and that was to carry some of my heavy stuffs. I mean his mule would carry some of my weight, which made me very easy to walk. He is really friendly boy and for sure, helpful.We reached Gothichaur where you  can find Sheep breeding center.Till the lunch would be ready,I visited it and talked with staffs there.It is under constructions it was destroyed during civil war in Nepal.It was 1.5 hours walk from Kudigaon.Gothichaur is big flat pastureland..its just amazing. Then it was 4.5 hours walk to reach Jumla.

 

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