50th Anniversary Weekend Sunday Lecture 2 – by Himalayan mountaineer David Nightingale
Knighton
1.30 pm HIMALAYAN HIGHS: Trekking and climbing in Nepal for the adventurous fell walker
By David Nightingale (from the charity Community Action Nepal)
The magnificent peaks of the Himalaya are the greatest mountain range on earth. Breathtakingly beautiful and heart in the mouth terrifying at the same time.
Surely this is no place for a fell walker with bobble hat, butties and a flask?
In the slide talk ‘Himalayan Highs’ David Nightingale tells why in fact the world’s highest peaks are the perfect place for the fell walker to explore.
David explains, “Weaving through the Nepal Himalaya is a spider’s web of footpaths and trails in deep valleys and over high passes. They have linked mountain communities for centuries, making living in the mountains possible – from trade and farming, to love and marriage! It’s these very same paths that give the adventurous the opportunity to discover the world’s highest mountains”.
His talk, illustrated with great mountain photography, features treks and climbs of varying difficulties. It covers most aspects of trekking in Nepal, from trip planning and enjoying the chaos of Kathmandu to the joys and challenges of trekking and climbing through the varied landscapes of Nepal from lush lowland forests up to icy summits. David’s talk also explains the work of charity Community Action Nepal, which works with mountain communities building schools and health posts.
David has completed eight Nepal treks and climbed seven ‘modest’ Himalayan peaks up to 6,500 metres (known as Trekking Peaks). He admits to not really having a head for heights and to feeling the effects of altitude on all his treks. David has trekked and climbed in the shadow of peaks including Everest, Kangchenjunga, Makalu and Annapurna.
“My interest in Nepal began as a school boy in the 1970s, when I read the book ‘The Ascent of Everest’ by expedition leader John Hunt. The story of Hillary and Tenzing’s climb to the top of the world still enthrals me today!”
David is currently planning his 60th birthday celebrations for October this year – a Nepal trek visiting Manaslu (8,156m) the eighth highest mountain in the world, with his wife Lynne and friends. Donations received for David’s talk will go to Community Action Nepal