Hello and thank you so much for your message! That's great that you are doing Mera Peak next year, and I'm so glad that the video could help a bit. Let me know if you have any other questions or wanted any help organizing your trip!
Your comments about the weather, your feelings, your approach to trekking go together so well with shots of the people, the lodges, the food, the path, and the views. I felt as if I was really experiencing each day's walking. Great video!
Thank you so much zongoid, for watching and for your super thoughtful comment! So glad you enjoyed the video and it could give you a feel for what the trek was like :)
Bravo Bravo...So well done Steph as I enjoyed every moment of this Vlog of your Adventure. I did EBC in October of 2023 and hope to have that Vlog on my channel by May 1st. I am heading to Mera Peak in October of this year and look forward to the Trek and of course, The Vista's. Thanks for sharing your Trek and I look forward to viewing your other Video's. Namaste.
Thank you for bringing back so many memories. So many years have passed. So many changes have happened to the place that forever chaged my life. I loved sharing the experience through your lens. Namaste
Hi Edward! Thank you so much for your comment. Must have been something special to do this trek back before it was as developed. And special to hear that it had such an impact on you, too. Namaste :)
Thanks a million for sharing. Your wonderful videos and the real life advise got me to tears. Thank you, Thank you, Thank you. I am encouraged to do this trek now too. Have the Everest Base Camp set for next April. God Bless you ! You are so good.
Thank you so much for your kind message, I’m so happy that you enjoyed the video :) That’s great you’re going to be doing EBC trek in a few months, and maybe Mera Peak someday too! Will this be your first time trekking in Nepal?
Thank you so much Gary! Yeah, since living in Nepal I've been able to do a fair bit of trekking, but still so much more I'd love to do! That's great you've had the chance to come and do EBC. What did you think? And awesome you're planning to return to do Mera Peak next. Great choice!
A friend of mine suggested me to go this place and he sent me your video, I felt the trip and really enjoyed your postive attitude. I can’t wait to experience this
Thank you so much for watching and I'm so glad you enjoyed :) And thank you to your friend for sharing! Are you planning on coming to Nepal to do Mera Peak??
First of all, Congrats!!! Your video is probably the best among the few I have seen of Mera Peak, where I will go this coming October. Many thaks for advices and your smile. Good Mountain ahead!!!
Thank you so much Javier, I appreciate your kind words :) so great you’re are coming to do Mera Peak in August, you’ll have an amazing trek! Again, let me know if you have any other questions ;)
Stunning video! Such a great reminder that it’s best to appreciate each day as it is and be grateful to be where you are as it is. The scenery is seriously beautiful and omg you are brave!! I defs would’ve been scared on that last trek. ❤️❤️❤️
Awwww thank you Marie xoxoxo! You would have been totally fine on the summit part, especially since you are a skier. Some people even ski down from the top! Anyway, can't wait until you and Erik are here to see it here in person!! xoxoxo
Great video, truly captured some of the splendor of the Mera Peak trek. Brought back great memories of the three weeks my son and I spent in Nepal doing this same trek. Snow up on Mera La made filming difficult for us. Weather cleared and we had the same, fantastic views that you had of those great mountains. Well done and thanks for sharing.
Hi Philip and thank you so much for your message! Glad it could bring back memories of your time on the Mera Peak trek :) When did you and your son do Mera Peak?
April of 2018, I was 59 at the time. Starting to look at a return trip, perhaps Lantang Valley or Jiri to EBC. Do you have a recommendation for a return trip? Will definitely take a Gopro this time to capture some video.
Oh, you did it not too long ago! That's great that you are planning to come back. Both Langtang Valley and Jiri to EBC are great options, and there are definitely plenty more depending on what kind of trek you are looking to do! I'd be happy to help you with any of your Nepal trip planning, I love brainstorming trek options with folks. Feel free to email me at StephThorntonNepal@gmail.com if you'd like, it's a bit easier to communicate there!
Thanks for sharing! I may do Island peak or Mera peak this summer, this video gave lots of much needed information about Mera Peak Trek, thanks again !!
So glad you liked the video and it was helpful! And great that you’re planning to do Mera Peak coming up. Let me know if you need any help with your logistics or planning!
Thank you so much Richard! That's great that you are considering doing Mera Peak in December. Will definitely be a bit colder than it was for us in May, but should hopefully be clearer skies in the winter months. Although you never know in the mountains! Happy trekking to you too :)
19:56 Did that bird poop on you? Thanks for sharing your adventure with us. I did EBC in 2019 and now the mountains are calling me back. I was scheduled for Island Peak for November 2023 but I've decided to do Mere instead!
haha no, I believe that was snow! Thanks for watching with such a careful eye ;) That's great that you've had the chance to do EBC and are coming back to Nepal for more trekking! I've never done Island Peak, but I can obviously highly recommend Mera, so I'd say you've made the right choice to do Mera Peak. Our guide, Dafuri, who has done a done a lot of trekking, including Island Peak and Lobuche East (and even Everest a few times!), says Mera Peak is his favorite, because the views are absolutely spectacular! Have a great time on your upcoming adventure in Nepal! Please let me know if you have any questions or need any help with connecting with a trekking company to help you get your permits, guide, etc :)
Thank you so much Ruvan, and so happy to hear that you are also doing this trek in October! Will you be coming from somewhere in Nepal, or from another country? In any case, have a wonderful journey and please let me know if you have any questions about the trek before you go :)
@@StephThorntonNEPAL Thanks for your response, Stephanie. I'll be coming there with a group from Belgium. It'll be my 4th trip to Nepal. Previously I've done the ABC & EBC trekking, but this time it'll be bigger challenge... Yes, I do have a few questions on preparation, but is it ok to raise them in this channel? Thanks. TC
@@ruvanvitharana1739 Oh cool, so you've been on a number of treks in Nepal already! And sure, if you have any general questions, please feel free to ask here if you'd like :)
@@StephThorntonNEPAL Dear Stephanie, sorry that I didn't come back on this before, I was busy with other activities... In early Oct I'll be visitig Nepal for the Mera Peak climb, so I'm busy now getting ready for this trip. Regarding the climbing materials... Some of them could be hired in Khare, but we've to organised the other items such as mountain boots that are required for the summit, a sleeping bag which can go up to -20°C etc. When you did this climb, did you've your own materials or did you hire/rent them? Is it possible to hire them in Kathmandu/Thamel? Thanks.
@@ruvanvitharana1739 Exciting that your Nepal trip is only a month away! For gear, we carried our own sleeping back with us the whole way, but we rented all the climbing equipment needed for the summit in Khare (mountain boots, crampons, harness, ropes, zoomer, etc). In Khare we stayed at Mera Alpine Lodge, where we also rented the gear, and all was decent quality and worked well for us. I'm sure it is possible to rent all the gear in Kathmandu, but then you have to 1) pay for renting it for the full trek when you only need it for the two days of the climb, and 2) you have to carry it all the way from Kathmandu, or hire porters to carry this extra weight. So if you are planning to rent the gear anyway, I would probably suggest renting it in Khare, although if you have a big group it might be good idea to call ahead of time to make sure they can reserve all the correct boot sizes for everyone. Are you working with an agency to get all your permits and guides/porters arranged for you?
This is indeed a stunning video of Mera Peak trek. Really enjoyed your commentary through the hike. Having done ABC and EBC, I am now inspired to do this one day too!
I love the super technical. Just sitting here chilling. Isn't that all adventure is and trekking is? Beautiful video. Enjoyed it! Good on you guys. Ouch it's better than my Contiki tour days. Take Care
@@vivekbisht7122 Yes, May is definitely a good time to climb Mera Peak! It is usually just ahead of the start of monsoon and you have warmer temperatures than other times of the year when you could climb. I would aim for as early May as you can just to have a better possibility of good weather. Although every year is different! We did the trek in early May as well, and as you can tell from my video, the weather wasn't always ideal as monsoon seemed to arrive a bit early last year. But it was still an amazing trek, and we managed to get clear skies for the peak :) Hope that helps and let me know if you'd like any help setting up any of your permit and/or guide or anything!
Thanks again Stephanie for your prompt reply and valuable input. Will surely revert should I need anything more help / advise. Looking forward to this amazing trek. Till then, best wishes and regards.
Hi Steph, absolutely stunning vlog. Did EBC last month, now planning my next adventure in Nepal. Mera seems awesome but i have ZERO technical climbing experience. You think the guides can help along the way with how to use ropes etc or one needs prior experience. Thanks so much
Hello! Thank you so much for watching and for your comment. That's awesome you just did EBC and that you've already caught the Nepali trekking bug ;) I was also hesitant about doing Mera Peak at first because I also had ZERO technical climbing experience. And it was absolutely fine and I 100% recommend going for it! It is one of my favorite treks I've done in Nepal. And of any of the trekking peaks in Nepal, this is a great way to get up to a high altitude without it being technically challenging or scary. When you make it to Khare you have a day to acclimatize there, and you can rent all your gear there and your guide will do a training with you to show you how to use the harness, ropes, zoomer, etc. You can see a clip of this in the video @ 16:21. Please let me know if you have any other questions and if you'd like any help in organizing your eventual next trip to Nepal! Feel free to email me at StephThorntonNepal@gmail.com :)
Mera Peak is recorded 6, 654 m / 21,825 ft on the list of NMA (Nepal Mountaineering Association) the governing body of most trekking peaks in Nepal, and not 6,474 m as mentioned above.
Apparently the official altitude of Mera Peak is a bit unclear, as one person has told me it's actually lower than I've mentioned! There are several different summits at Mera Peak, so I think that is where the discrepancy lies??
Out of 4-5 Mera Peak videos, yours was the best. I got stuck in Lukla for 5 days around the election day. One question: After you summited your highest peak till date, what does it feel like and what's NEXT? My assumption is after you summit a mountain, you only want to go back and attempt a bigger one.
Thank you so much, glad you enjoyed the video :) And we must have been in Lukla around the same time since we left for Kathmandu on election day! Were you also out trekking during this time? It was definitely a feeling of accomplishment getting up to a higher altitude, and I was grateful we were healthy and it didn't feel dangerous or risky. We don't have any plans to climb anything else, we really enjoy just trekking as well, and still so much we haven't seen in Nepal! It would be nice to get to 7000m though...We will see!
Yeah, just about as steep as the final little ascent to Mera Peak (which I didn't film because my hands were too cold haha). Definitely was glad to be clipped into a rope in both cases :)
Thank you so much and so happy to hear you are coming to Nepal in April to do the Mera Peak Trek! Take your time on the way up and I’m sure you will make it to the top :)
Hello! No, you need to arrange everything for High Camp with a hotel in Khare, the place you stay before going up to High Camp (I recommend Mera Alpine Lodge). At your hotel in Khare, you can rent a tent for the 1 or 2 nights you will be at high camp, and this includes meals (snacks, tea, dinner, breakfast, lunch) prepared by a cook that goes up there with you. The tents are already all setup at High Camp, with sleeping bag and sleeping pad and everything (quite warm and comfortable). You can get all the way up to Khare without a guide if you want, but you will need to hire a guide in Khare to go up to High Camp and then up to Mera Peak and back down. Hope that helps, please let me know if you have any other questions, or want any help in setting up your trek!
Great video. So humble and appreciative of what you experience on a daily basis. I’ll be hiking to Annapurna Base Camp in October. Will be my first time in the country and i’m so excited.
Thank you so much Shaun, I really appreciate your comment :) That's awesome that you'll be coming to Nepal for the first time and doing Annapurna Base Camp! ABC is a beautiful trek as well. Let me know if you have any questions or need any recommendations or anything for your trip - I'm happy to help!
Hi Raulis! You need a climbing permit to do Mera Peak (and a trekking agency registered with Nepal Mountaineering Association will need to help you get this), and the price varies by season: Spring ($250), Fall ($125), Winter and Summer ($70). You'll also need an permit for Makalu Barun National Park (~$30). Hope that helps and let me know if you have any other questions! Looks like you just did the Gokyo Ri + Cho Lo trek?? Beautiful views as well!
Hello! Since we live in Nepal, we organized most of trek ourselves. Our wonderful friend and guide in the video helped us get the permits, etc. I can highly recommend his family’s company to help you book the trek, if you are interested. If you like me to connect you to them, please email me at StephThorntonNepal@gmail.com
This is so beautifully captured! Thank you so much! May I ask what camera you were using + which lens? How many batteries were you carrying as the cold at that altitude drains the battery very quickly. Thanks again for this visual treat :)
Thank you so much Arl, I really appreciate you watching and taking the time to comment :) I was using a GoPro Hero 9 and an iPhone Xs camera, so nothing too crazy. I just had one extra GoPro battery, but brought a 30,000 mAh power bank. It is a bit of extra weight, but I was so grateful to have it, as there weren't a lot of opportunities for charging along the trail. Batteries definitely drain quick up in the cold and high altitude, but my bigger issue is my fingers get way too cold, so I can't take them out of my big gloves haha.
@@StephThorntonNEPAL Wow, that's great, the quality made it look as if you were carrying a big Sony/Canon type camera haha. Hope you keep making these to bring us wonderful views from faraway beautiful valleys. Wish you the very best!
How long did you stay at the summit? Did you have any rope training/experience before your training on the mountain? And which month did you go? Thanks!
Hello and thanks for writing! To answer your questions: 1) we stayed at the summit for probably like 15-20 minutes I believe. 2) We did not have any prior experience with any sort of mountaineering or using ropes to climb. When we had our rest day in Khare, we got all our gear and our guide did an hour-long training with us to show us how to get up and down a line with the zoomer. That was plenty of training to feel comfortable in the couple spots you need to do this to get to Mera Peak from High Camp. 3) We did this trek in May. Hope that helps and please let me know if you have any other questions or would like any support in planning/organizing your trek. I'm always more than happy to help! Feel free to email me at StephThorntonNepal@gmail.com
So beautiful! And not even too technical, just a little bit of harness and rope work, that is no problem for a non-technical climber if you have an experienced climbing guide with you :)
Thanks so much quality content...What camera did you use to film this? I am considering doing something similar but on a solo trip. Thanks for Colorado
Thank you so much for your comment :) I used a GoPro Hero 9 and my iPhone to film. Are you considering coming to Nepal to trek, or are trekking back home in Colorado?
@@StephThorntonNEPAL I am planning a solo trip to Nepal...Thinking this upcoming March. Ideally I would like to do Mera Peak and Island Peak 🙏 So excited planning this trip now. Your video was very inspiring and your energy is magnetic! Loved how you described why you enjoy hiking towards the end. I feel the same exact way 🥰
Hi Stephanie and Khadak :D First of, amaaaazing video! Super informative and lovely shots overall. My two brothers, father and I are planning on doing the Mera Peak trek in a couple of months (July), and we have some questions we thought you perhaps could help us with. Did you need to purchase any trekking permits (or national park permit) in order to do the trek, and if yes, how much did you pay for the permits? Second question, how much did you pay for the rental equipment for the peak climb? thank you in advance!!!! :D
Hi Christian and thank you for watching and for your kind praise :) Very cool that you and your fam are planning to do Mera Peak coming up and I'm happy to answer your questions. I do want to say first though that July is unfortunately not a great time to do this nor most treks in Nepal, as it is during peak monsoon time (June - September), when rains are at their heaviest. This website covers a bit about why it's not the ideal time: www.himalayanglacier.com/best-time-to-climb-mera-peak-in-nepal/#4_SummerMonsoon_Season_June-August So if you all have some flexibility with your timing, might be best to push the trip up or postpone by a month or so. It's not impossible to do in July, just maybe not ideal. To answer your questions though: 1) Yes, you do need to have a couple permits to do this trek, first and foremost a climbing permit, which can only be obtained by a local trekking agency (I can recommend a company if you need help with this). You will also need a Makalu Barun National Park permit. For the route we did, we did not need it, but some route options may require Sagarmatha National Park permit as well. A good link to find a summary of permit and costs is here: www.thirdrockadventures.com/blog/mera-peak-climbing-permit#required_documents 2) As for renting the full set of equipment in Khare (mountain boots, crampons, harness, ropes, zoomer, helmet, ice axe, etc) for 2 days/1 night, it costs ~$100 USD per person. For the tent rental at high camp + the food + cook, it's an additional $60-80 USD per person (depending on your guide's relationship with the hotel ;) ) We stayed at Mera Alpine Lodge in Khare and they arranged all this. They had good equipment and really nice staff! You can contact them on WhatsApp as well if you would like to ask any other questions. +977 984-7697121. Are you all planning to have a guide with you the full trek or just get a guide to go up to the summit with you from Khare? Hope this help and please feel free to ask any other questions :)
Did you have ANY mountaineering experience or knowledge before going? I have done zero mountaineering by the would over to do it. ( I did Chula pass and EBC last year)
Hi Charlotte! No, I do not have any mountaineering experience. I had done a fair bit of trekking in Nepal prior to doing Mera Peak, and have been up above 5000 meters a number of times (including Cho La Pass and Kala Patthar as well!), but that's it. That is part of why we chose to do Mera Peak as our first "trekking peak", because it really is the perfect option if you love trekking, want to get up to higher altitudes, and don't necessarily want a technical climb that requires lots of experience. As you may have seen in our video, for the summit climb, you do wear a harness and are linked up with your fellow trekkers and guide, and there are a few times where you clip into a fixed line while stepping over a narrow crevice and then for the final ascent to Mera Peak. You get some practice on these basic skills in Khare, before you do the climb, and it's completely doable without any prior experience. Hope that helps and please let me know if you have any other questions!
@@StephThorntonNEPAL Thank you so much! I knew hat most companies said no experience needed but I didn't want to Risk holding anyone back etc. That makes me feel a lot more confident about it :) Again, thank you so much for the reply . I look forward to future videos
Yes! We flew from Kathmandu to Lukla on Day 1 and started trekking, and on Day 10 we arrived back in Lukla. Day 11 we flew back to Kathmandu from Lukla. Hope that helps!
@stephaniethorntonNEPAL Thank you for your response. The reason I asked is that I contacted a couple of guides, and they are saying that 11 days is not enough unless helicopter back from Khare!
@@ahmadvahab968 Well 10 days is possible, but it does really depend on your fitness, how you do with altitude, and the weather conditions. We are all relatively fit and had recently been at higher altitude prior to this trek, so we were able to ascend over the Chakra La pass on our 2nd day, and walked longer days on our way back as well. The weather for the summit also just happened to be good the day we had planned to go to the summit so we didn't need an extra day there. So while you could very well do the trek in 10 days, it is a good idea to give yourself at least 12 or 13 days, just in case you need to take a bit more time to acclimatize, or if you wait a day for good conditions to summit. You've probably found this itinerary, but this is a good, standard Mera Peak schedule: www.thirdrockadventures.com/trip/mera-peak-climbing-itinerary-14-days . 14-days includes arrival/departure day from KTM. Hope that helps and let me know if you have any other questions or want help finding a guide, trekking company or anything like that!
This is awesome video and adventure is amazing and what an experience!! This is gonna sound ridiclous I wanna do this two years time but I can't have gluten could ya get the food taken up? Because all looked like dumpling and noodles? And happy new year
Hi Dan and thanks so much :) Happy New Year to you too, and that's great that you're planning on Mera Peak in a few years! I think you might consider bringing some gluten free snacks with you, but you can actually find quite a bit of gluten-free options on the trail as well. Nepalis eat a LOT of rice as you may know, so lots of rice dishes available. As with almost all Nepali treks you'll also find various potato dishes, non-gluten soup and egg options too.
Mera Peak is one of the highest trekking peaks not number one highest. The highest trekking peaks is Chulu East at 6,584 m / 21,727 feet. For your kind information needs correction please.
Thank you for making this video. It was incredibly fun to watch an informative! I'm inspired to follow your footsteps and climb this peak. You did not seem to have that much trouble with the altitude. I'm just wondering how that went for you?
Thank you so much for writing and I’m so glad to hear you found the video informative :) And great you’re considering doing this trek! In general, I don’t seem to have too much trouble with altitude, but we also always go up at a good pace so our bodies can adjust. Same with Mera Peak, we acclimatized well and the higher elevation felt quite manageable! It definitely made for a good challenge and we were moving slowly on our way up to high camp and then up to peak, but aside from Khadak getting a minor headache, we felt pretty good!
@@tylergabrielle3260 Yeah! And please let me know if you'd like any help with organizing any part of your trek or trip to Nepal :) You can email me at StephThorntonNepal@gmail.com
Beautiful and well made video with a zen narrative of what life should be about - being in the moment and accepting whatever one's situation is in. So happy for you that it was clear at the summit. I am planning to do this trek in November (without guide or porter) this year and was wondering if would be able share Dafuri Sherpa's contact details. Many Thanks
Thank you so much Narendra, for taking the time to watch the video and for your thoughtful comment. And very exciting to hear that you are planning to do this trek this fall! I would definitely recommend taking a guide with you, at least for the portion of the journey from Khare to High Camp and up to Mera Peak and back to Khare. Even if you have experience in some mountain climbing, guides like Dafuri have done this route many, many times, and can really ensure that you have a safe and fun journey! Please email me at stephthorntonnepal@gmail.com if you'd still like me to put you in touch with Dafuri.
Lovely video. Thanks for sharing. I enjoy watching it. I plan for Mera Peak in April next year. May I ask you a few question? 1. How long will it take from High Camp to the summit? 2. Did you make directly from the Summit to Khare or stay another night in High Camp? If you walked directly from the summit to Khare, what time did you arrive? Thanks a lot.
Hi Sarawoot, Thank you so much for watching and that's great to hear that you are planning to trek Mera Peak this coming spring! To answer your questions: 1. How long it takes to get to the summit from high camp totally depends on your pace. We held a pretty steady pace and didn't stop too much, and it took us about 4 hours. We left at 3am and reached at around 7am. I think it usually takes people from 4 to 6 hours. 2. From the summit we actually went past Khare and onto Thagnak, and we arrived at around 3pm. After the summit it took us only about 1.5 hours to reach High Camp again, where we had some food and rest. Then we continued down to Khare, packed up, had a snack, and then continued the short way down to Thagnak. You can see the summit day in this video, starting at 23:34 ;) Hope that helps, and let me know if you have any other questions!
@@StephThorntonNEPAL Hi Stephanie. Thank you so much for quick, detailed and practical response. I really appreciate. You and your husband are very strong to make 4 hours and later passing Khare and to Thagnak all at once. Hat off. My plan is to trek in up to summit, trek down to Khare and took helicopter back to Lukla. I would love to trek all the way back - but not enough time though. Thanks again and keep watching your adventure in Sagarmatha.
@@sarawootch No problem at all Sarawoot! Your plan sounds like a good option if that's the only way you will have time to do Mera Peak. It seemed like a lot of people too helicopter from Khare, although the weather definitely delayed some folks for a few days I think, so that's something to anticipate. I think they probably still got to Lukla sooner than if they had trekked though. Have such a great trek and let me know how it goes when you finally do it!
Beautiful video and your positive attitude is so uplifting. I was wondering if you carried your mountain boots and crampons with you all the way, or were you able to hire them at Khare?
Thank you so much Christopher, I'm glad you enjoyed the video :) We hired our equipment (ropes, harness, boots and crampons) in Khare at the Mera Alpine Lodge, and that worked out great for us. Good quality stuff and we found a good fit. There happened to be a porter that was going back up to High Camp the day we were climbing up there, and he helped us carry the climbing gear from Khare to there, which was helpful. Those boots are not light as you probably know!
@@StephThorntonNEPAL Oh that's great news. I hope to do this trek one day, and not having to bring all the equipment with me from Kathmandu will help! I look forward to your next video :)
@@christopherb1823 Yeah, it was so convenient being able to rent it all in Khare :) And hope you have the opportunity to do this trek soon, definitely one of my favorite ones yet!
Dherai kuhiro chha ;-) Thank you for the video, I am a big fan of your channel btw. 🙂 I have been to Nepal two times so far (Jiri to EBC in 2018; Pikey Peak and Three Passes last year), so I am merely a trekker not a climber, but I always wondered how hard it would be to climb one of those 6,000m peak. What I hear is that Mera is the least technical of the popular climbing peaks (Island Peak and Lobuche East) but of course it is also higher. Did you have to cross crevasses with ladders etc. or was there other challenging technical climbing involved? Maybe some time in the future I will try to tackle one of the peaks but I am still wondering which one and if should choose indeed Mera, which of the three different routes to Mera Peak I should take (Lukla via Zatrwa La, or further down via Kharikhola or - the most ambitous one - via Amphu Labsta). You see, I still a lot of research to do haha!
Thank you so much Karl, I really appreciate your support :) Ani, tapaailaai nepali bolna auchha?? That's awesome, sounds like you are a veteran Nepal trekker, and have some good treks under your belt! Before doing Mera Peak, I was in a similar situation as you. I had done quite a few treks, and was curious about doing something over 6000m. I am also very much a trekker, and not a mountaineer by any means. I do not have any technical experience and while I love the physical challenge of trekking and going up to higher elevations, I don't enjoy anything even remotely treacherous. So with that, Mera Peak couldn't have bee the more perfect option! As compared to Island Peak or Lobuche East, Mera Peak was described as the least technical AND it was higher elevation (and with the best views!). And indeed, it was a rewarding challenge of getting up to 6,400+ meters, but not scary by my standards (and my risk aversion is quite high!). You wear crampons from just above Khare, and harnesses and stay roped together the entire way up from High Camp to Mera Peak. There were a few foot-wide crevices you had to step over, and one that was a bit wider, but there was a fixed line you hooked into as you did a small jump over it. Then the final 50-100 feet to the summit, it's a steep climb up a rather narrow ridge, but you are hooked into the fixed line once again and use your zoomer to get to the top. So it felt secure! And in Khare you do a short training on all this, with getting up and down fixed line, so you are already familiar with all the gear and how to use it before you head up. The crampons of course make you also feel very firm on snowy trail as well :) As for the route options approaching Mera Peak, I think the first two depend on how prone to altitude sickness you are and if you are already acclimatized. We took the most direct route because we had recently done other treks, but the route down from Kharikhola would be a good option if you needed a few more days to get adjusted to altitude, or simply wanted a bit of a longer trip and a chance to see a couple other nice villages. As for Amphu Labsta, I've heard this is a fairly technical pass and of course would be a much longer journey. But as long as you have good guides and gear with you, I'm sure it could be manageable! Hope this helps and please feel free to send along any other questions you have! And keep in touch about your Mera Peak plans, would be interested to hear what you decide to do! All the best Karl :)
Wow, thank you so much for your detailed answer Stephanie! Maalai ali ali nepali bolna aauchha ;-) (Seriously tho, I just want to impress Nepalis with a few words other than thik ccha, dhanyabaad & namaste - so I try to learn some basic grammar and words for everyday use, nothing special or near the level of your language skills haha :-) I wouldn't consider myself a 'veteran' just yet, but I love Nepal too much so I always come back for some more experiences and trekking! Thanks for confirming that Mera Peak is indeed not so technical compared to the other climbing peaks. To be honest, I think I am really good at acclimatizing to high altitude (so far at least) as I always take my time, don't rush things, take enough rest days and go bistari bistari ;-) That's also the reason I went solo and without a guide/porter so far, and be my own guide basically. I like the smaller, more authentic villages in the lower Khumbu more than the big tourist hubs above Lukla. I also love researching new regions on my own, taking different approaches and alternative routes, and thus avoiding the 'main trekking crowd' along the way as much as possible. Of course for a climbing peak I'm gonna need a guide and staff. I am planning another trip this fall/winter to Nepal with a whole month trekking in the Khumbu, so if I ever decide to try a climbing peak I would do so at the end of my itinerary when I am really well acclimatized to the height. Oh well, we will see :-) Thanks again for responding and all the best with your farm as well!
Looks like you speak more Nepali than you give yourself credit for! I think that's so wonderful you've dedicated time to learning Nepali and it fits with the approach you seem to have for traveling and trekking too. I very much admire those who take the time to research the place they're visiting, try to dig a little deeper into the culture, take the road less traveled to know the places that are off the main tourist trail. Takes more time and effort for sure, but certainly makes for a much richer experience in many ways, doesn't it? Your plan sounds great, and I'm sure it will be an incredible trip no matter what your final itinerary ends up being. Would love to hear what you end up doing! Thanks for commenting and sharing and all the best to you too :)
Hi AlienTravels! Yes, I can give you a rough estimate. And feel free to email me at StephThorntonNepal@gmail.com if you'd like any other information or would like any support in organizing your trek :) My husband and I didn't go through any travel agency, as our guide was our friend and his family's company helped us get the mountaineering permit. So we pretty much paid the baseline of what you need to pay to do Mera Peak without any frills - just guide, permits, food and accommodation, and gear that we rented in Khare (the last village before you climb up to High Camp and then Mera Peak). Here is a breakdown of about what we paid per person, which came out to around $1,300 USD. 1) Mera Peak Climbing Permit in Spring (March - May) = $250 2) Makalu Baron National Park Fee = $30 3) Food/Lodging (~$30/day x 10 days) = $300 4) Guide (~$40/day x 12 days) = $480 5) Optional Insurance (for possible days above 5000m*) = $100 6) Gear Rental (ropes, boots, crampons, etc) for Khare - High Camp - Summit - Khare = $100 7) Tent + Meals for High Camp (1 night) = $80 Most treks are organized with a trekking agency that provides your guide(s) (and porters if you need them), and sorts out all your logistics and permits. We paid for all our food and accommodation along the way, but you can also choose to have that included. Also note that in addition to the costs listed above, there is usually a logistics fee and the 13 % Nepal VAT (tax) that companies need to add. As well, if you are planning to fly in and out of Lukla, that round-trip ticket from Kathmandu is usually around $300 USD. Hope that helps and please let me know if you have any other questions! Happy to help :)
Mera is not the highest trekking peak in Nepal, Singu Chuli in Annapurna Sanctuary is 6501m and Chulu Central near Manang is 6558m high. Easy to find on the trekking peak lists, do not believe the trekking agencies on this. You did not climb to the highest 6474 summit but the middle one at 6461m like all do. You can see that the true summit is higher as it reaches over the horizon at the left side of the frame at 24:33 and also other frames after that.
Thank you for providing all this information. Seems that there is a lot to conflicting information out there, and I was just basing “highest trekking peak” on what I found online at the time. I certainly wasn’t trying to claim anything I thought was untrue! A question I have had though, is what exactly is the definition of trekking peak anyway?? In any case, I have updated my title to “one of the highest” trekking peaks of Nepal.
@@StephThorntonNEPAL Nepal Mountaineering Association (NMA) has a list of peaks classified as "trekking peaks" which basically are mountains between 5800 - 6600 meters in height and can be climbed without too much paperwork and without a liaison officer, certified guide is enough. Some of them are easy like Mera, Imja Tse and Lobuche East, some are extremely difficult and have been climbed only a few times, ever. Best description can be found at Jamie McGuinnes' website "Project Himalaya" listing and describing all 27 permitted peaks. The reason Mera is still often called the highest stems from the fact that in the original peak list from the seventies Mera was erroneously given the coordinates and height belonging to nearby Peak 41 (sharp triangular summit between Mera and Everest) which is 6653 m or something. The error was found already 25 years ago but news travel slow among the trekking agencies...
Hi , Amazing video Hope you don't mind a question , We are planning Mera peak oct 23 , We have been told you can hire Mountaineering double boot in Kare , Is it worth hiring or be best to spend the money and buy many thanks
Hi Scott! Ahh so sorry I'm probably getting back to you too late. Hopefully you figured out that you can just rent mountaineering boots in Khare (which is what we did!). Hope you're having a great trek!
Hi! Around 13-14 kg. Although a bit lighter when we climbed to high camp, since you can leave most of your things at the hotel in Khare, as you will be returning the following day after you go to Mera Peak.
@@ngochungnguyen2150 Yes, I believe the route we took is the most direct. As I mention in the video, we had done other treks at higher altitudes just before we did Mera Peak, so we were already pretty acclimatized. I think there is a route that is longer and more gradual that skips the Chakra La Pass, and another option in which you first go below Lukla and around before you start your ascent towards the Hinku Valley. Hope that helps!
This looks amazing and congratulations on your summit. We are in the process of deciding whether to do the EBC and I came upon this video. This could be considered instead of the EBC. How did you get the guide without porters and can this be done without any guide or porter ? Must be such an amazing feeling to accomplish a summit.
Hi Marlene and thanks so much for your comment! It is certainly a great experience getting to Mera Peak, and you are well-rewarded with amazing views! Great you are coming to Nepal to trek and considering Mera Peak too! I think Mera Peak is a great alternative to EBC, although definitely a different type of experience - so really depends what type of trek you are looking for and what you feel ready to tackle. Here are some differences that I see: 1) Compared to EBC, Mera Peak is a much more off-the-beaten-path trek, which is something I love. EBC is the most popular trek in Nepal and is often pretty crowded in high season. On the Mera Peak trek, on the other hand, don't see hardly any other trekkers on the trail, although we still did enjoy the company of a few others at several of the tea houses. For this reason, you get to hang out a bit more with the folks who run the tea houses, and it's a bit less business-ey feel. In my opinion, this means more time to be at peace in this beautiful natural place and more time to get to know the local folks up there running their hotels. 2) On the Mera Peak trek, you do reach quite a bit higher altitude (~6400 m as compared to ~5400 m with EBC), so it's good to have had some prior experience trekking at altitude to know how you handle it. That being said, as with any trek, you can take it slow and add in acclimatization days as needed. Mera Peak also requires that little bit of training in Khare to get used to clipping into ropes and using a zoomer, and you will use the rope on your way from High Camp to Mera Peak. This does not mean Mera Peak is scary (I am quite risk averse, so I'm the first to vouch that it wasn't scary), but it's good to keep in mind that you will be stepping over a few (very narrow) crevices, and you will use a rope in some spots (which is really just an added sense of security!). Finally, 3) Reaching Mera Peak versus EBC really feels quite climactic, as you can imagine! It is very cool to reach EBC of course (and getting up to 5400 m is no joke), and you also have Kala Pattar peak to climb on the EBC trek as well, but reaching the summit at Mera Peak feels much more like this epic goal that you reach, which is such a nice addition to the beautiful journey that you already take getting there and back. Anyway! Long-winded way of saying that I absolutely recommend Mera Peak if you feel ready and it sounds like the things you are looking for on a trek! You can definitely get a guide without a porter if you prefer (this is what we did, and you can email me at stephthorntonnepal@gmail.com if you'd like my amazing guide Dafuri's information). I would recommend having a guide with you the whole time, but it is possible to arrange a guide and porter in Khare if you wanted to to do the climb from Khare to High Camp to Mera Peak (although I'd make sure to arrange this ahead of the trek to ensure there's someone ready for you). Absolutely you should take a guide past Khare! Guides know the trails like the back of their hand and are very important to ensure your safety and provide you peace-of-mind. Please let me know if you have any other questions - I'm happy to help as much as I can! And thanks again for your message :)
First of all, what an amazing video, i really love it! Very good and positiv vibs in this viedo. And my full respect that you made it up to a 6000m high mountain without any mountaineering experience!! We also want to do a trek on a 6000er in october! Now i am curious, do you booked your tour/guide in lukla or do you booked it before your journey in your hometown? Because we actually don‘t know whats the best way to do it! Thanks 😊
Hi Michael! Thank you for watching and for your kind, supportive message :) And that's great that you are planning to do Mera Peak this October - it's definitely one of my favorite treks and experiences! I live in Nepal and we happened to know our guide, Dafuri Sherpa, so we hired him directly and got all our permits through a trekking agency that is registered with Nepal Mountaineering Association. In general, I would say it is best to arrange your trek before you arrive to Nepal. You connect with a trekking agency that can arrange your permits and guide, and then once you arrive in Kathmandu, you can meet with them and be ready to set off to Lukla and start the trek. I can connect you with the trekking agency who helped arrange all our permits and recommend a guide for you as well. You can email me at stephthorntonnepal@gmail.com if you'd like me to help you with this!
Hi Vikky! Please email me at stephthorntonnepal@gmail.com, and I would be happy to share Dafuri's contact details. We know Dafuri personally, so it was a personalized trek, just me, my husband, and Dafuri.
Do you mean person who was our climbing instructor? If so, Dafuri was our guide that came with us for the trek and he did the climbing instruction in Khare as well - we knew him through a personal connection.
Amazing video guys ! Im currently planning a nepal trip - how many days in total was this trek (to the peak and back) and how did you go about sorting a guide ? Love the positive vibes !
Thanks so much for watching Andy, and excited to know you’re on visiting Nepal! Will this be your first time? For the route we did, from Lukla to Mera Peak and back to Lukla, it tool 10 days for us, although as I mention in the video, we had all done other treks just prior, so didn’t need as many days to acclimatize on our way up to the higher altitudes. If you needed to take more time to acclimatize, you could take more days on the route we did, or there are other routes that are a bit longer that are a bit more gradual of a climb to Hinku Valley. We happened to already know our guide through a personal connection, and I would be happy to connect you to him or other guides we know are amazing, if you’d like!
Could you please share guide names as I am looking forward for this trek. Many tour operators provide 21 days trek which seems a bit excessive for some experience with altitude. Many thanks 😊
I'm also planning to go to Merapique next year, and this video helped me a lot.
Hello and thank you so much for your message! That's great that you are doing Mera Peak next year, and I'm so glad that the video could help a bit. Let me know if you have any other questions or wanted any help organizing your trip!
Your comments about the weather, your feelings, your approach to trekking go together so well with shots of the people, the lodges, the food, the path, and the views. I felt as if I was really experiencing each day's walking. Great video!
Thank you so much zongoid, for watching and for your super thoughtful comment! So glad you enjoyed the video and it could give you a feel for what the trek was like :)
Hello Steph, can you please recommand a guide for me. I intend to go to Mera Peak this year. Thanks!
Hello! Yes, definitely. Send me an email at StephThorntonNepal@gmail.com and I’ll help connect you to the right people :)
Enjoyed your video. You have captured the essense of the mountains and the Nepalese people. Well done!
Thank you so much, I’m so glad you enjoyed it!
Wonderful! I’m going this october!
Awesome, have an amazing time! If you need a guide by chance, I have a good recommendation ;)
Bravo Bravo...So well done Steph as I enjoyed every moment of this Vlog of your Adventure. I did EBC in October of 2023 and hope to have that Vlog on my channel by May 1st. I am heading to Mera Peak in October of this year and look forward to the Trek and of course, The Vista's. Thanks for sharing your Trek and I look forward to viewing your other Video's. Namaste.
Timestamp: 34:26
Thank you for visiting Alpine Mera Lodge! @Steph Thornton Nepal
We moved the alpine mera lodge! Thank you for hosting us in Khare and High Camp :)
My country Nepal is beautiful. This video is from Kathmandu Lukla to Mera peak. I also went in 2010/11. Thank you for reminding me of the video❤.
Thank you for bringing back so many memories. So many years have passed. So many changes have happened to the place that forever chaged my life. I loved sharing the experience through your lens. Namaste
Hi Edward! Thank you so much for your comment. Must have been something special to do this trek back before it was as developed. And special to hear that it had such an impact on you, too. Namaste :)
Thanks a million for sharing. Your wonderful videos and the real life advise got me to tears. Thank you, Thank you, Thank you. I am encouraged to do this trek now too. Have the Everest Base Camp set for next April. God Bless you ! You are so good.
Thank you so much for your kind message, I’m so happy that you enjoyed the video :) That’s great you’re going to be doing EBC trek in a few months, and maybe Mera Peak someday too! Will this be your first time trekking in Nepal?
So fun! Glad the weather cleared up for you on the summit!
Yesss we were very surprised and happy for the clear skies that morning :)
Enjoyed your video and commentary. You’ve done a lot of trekking in Nepal by the looks. I’ve done EBC hopefully Mera next.
Thank you so much Gary! Yeah, since living in Nepal I've been able to do a fair bit of trekking, but still so much more I'd love to do! That's great you've had the chance to come and do EBC. What did you think? And awesome you're planning to return to do Mera Peak next. Great choice!
A friend of mine suggested me to go this place and he sent me your video, I felt the trip and really enjoyed your postive attitude. I can’t wait to experience this
Thank you so much for watching and I'm so glad you enjoyed :) And thank you to your friend for sharing! Are you planning on coming to Nepal to do Mera Peak??
First of all, Congrats!!! Your video is probably the best among the few I have seen of Mera Peak, where I will go this coming October. Many thaks for advices and your smile. Good Mountain ahead!!!
Thank you so much Javier, I appreciate your kind words :) so great you’re are coming to do Mera Peak in August, you’ll have an amazing trek! Again, let me know if you have any other questions ;)
Stunning video! Such a great reminder that it’s best to appreciate each day as it is and be grateful to be where you are as it is. The scenery is seriously beautiful and omg you are brave!! I defs would’ve been scared on that last trek. ❤️❤️❤️
Awwww thank you Marie xoxoxo! You would have been totally fine on the summit part, especially since you are a skier. Some people even ski down from the top! Anyway, can't wait until you and Erik are here to see it here in person!! xoxoxo
Great video, truly captured some of the splendor of the Mera Peak trek. Brought back great memories of the three weeks my son and I spent in Nepal doing this same trek. Snow up on Mera La made filming difficult for us. Weather cleared and we had the same, fantastic views that you had of those great mountains. Well done and thanks for sharing.
Hi Philip and thank you so much for your message! Glad it could bring back memories of your time on the Mera Peak trek :) When did you and your son do Mera Peak?
April of 2018, I was 59 at the time. Starting to look at a return trip, perhaps Lantang Valley or Jiri to EBC. Do you have a recommendation for a return trip? Will definitely take a Gopro this time to capture some video.
Oh, you did it not too long ago! That's great that you are planning to come back. Both Langtang Valley and Jiri to EBC are great options, and there are definitely plenty more depending on what kind of trek you are looking to do! I'd be happy to help you with any of your Nepal trip planning, I love brainstorming trek options with folks. Feel free to email me at StephThorntonNepal@gmail.com if you'd like, it's a bit easier to communicate there!
Thanks for sharing! I may do Island peak or Mera peak this summer, this video gave lots of much needed information about Mera Peak Trek, thanks again !!
So glad you liked the video and it was helpful! And great that you’re planning to do Mera Peak coming up. Let me know if you need any help with your logistics or planning!
Congratulations Stephanie on the trek👌 well compiled video
Thank you so much Ranganathan :)
Thanks for sharing your adventure to Mera Peak.
An epic journey i hope to do in December.
Happy Trekking.
Thank you so much Richard! That's great that you are considering doing Mera Peak in December. Will definitely be a bit colder than it was for us in May, but should hopefully be clearer skies in the winter months. Although you never know in the mountains! Happy trekking to you too :)
Nepal is Love 🇳🇵❣❣
19:56 Did that bird poop on you? Thanks for sharing your adventure with us. I did EBC in 2019 and now the mountains are calling me back. I was scheduled for Island Peak for November 2023 but I've decided to do Mere instead!
haha no, I believe that was snow! Thanks for watching with such a careful eye ;) That's great that you've had the chance to do EBC and are coming back to Nepal for more trekking! I've never done Island Peak, but I can obviously highly recommend Mera, so I'd say you've made the right choice to do Mera Peak. Our guide, Dafuri, who has done a done a lot of trekking, including Island Peak and Lobuche East (and even Everest a few times!), says Mera Peak is his favorite, because the views are absolutely spectacular!
Have a great time on your upcoming adventure in Nepal! Please let me know if you have any questions or need any help with connecting with a trekking company to help you get your permits, guide, etc :)
Congratulations for getting to the top of Mera Peak... Lovely video, enjoyed watching it. I'm planning to give it a try in Oct...fingers crossed... TC
Thank you so much Ruvan, and so happy to hear that you are also doing this trek in October! Will you be coming from somewhere in Nepal, or from another country?
In any case, have a wonderful journey and please let me know if you have any questions about the trek before you go :)
@@StephThorntonNEPAL Thanks for your response, Stephanie. I'll be coming there with a group from Belgium. It'll be my 4th trip to Nepal. Previously I've done the ABC & EBC trekking, but this time it'll be bigger challenge... Yes, I do have a few questions on preparation, but is it ok to raise them in this channel? Thanks. TC
@@ruvanvitharana1739 Oh cool, so you've been on a number of treks in Nepal already! And sure, if you have any general questions, please feel free to ask here if you'd like :)
@@StephThorntonNEPAL Dear Stephanie, sorry that I didn't come back on this before, I was busy with other activities...
In early Oct I'll be visitig Nepal for the Mera Peak climb, so I'm busy now getting ready for this trip.
Regarding the climbing materials... Some of them could be hired in Khare, but we've to organised the other items such as mountain boots that are required for the summit, a sleeping bag which can go up to -20°C etc.
When you did this climb, did you've your own materials or did you hire/rent them?
Is it possible to hire them in Kathmandu/Thamel?
Thanks.
@@ruvanvitharana1739 Exciting that your Nepal trip is only a month away! For gear, we carried our own sleeping back with us the whole way, but we rented all the climbing equipment needed for the summit in Khare (mountain boots, crampons, harness, ropes, zoomer, etc). In Khare we stayed at Mera Alpine Lodge, where we also rented the gear, and all was decent quality and worked well for us. I'm sure it is possible to rent all the gear in Kathmandu, but then you have to 1) pay for renting it for the full trek when you only need it for the two days of the climb, and 2) you have to carry it all the way from Kathmandu, or hire porters to carry this extra weight. So if you are planning to rent the gear anyway, I would probably suggest renting it in Khare, although if you have a big group it might be good idea to call ahead of time to make sure they can reserve all the correct boot sizes for everyone. Are you working with an agency to get all your permits and guides/porters arranged for you?
This is indeed a stunning video of Mera Peak trek. Really enjoyed your commentary through the hike. Having done ABC and EBC, I am now inspired to do this one day too!
Thank you so much! And yes, you should definitely do Mera Peak, it is perfect to do after doing a few other treks in Nepal ;)
Enjoyed watching this. Growth is visible.
Thank you Prabin! Thank you also for your mom’s delicious achaar, we love it 😍
Great vid, Where did you book your guide
Beautiful video. I traveled along as you moved from one place to another. Good luck and all the best.
Thank you so much for watching and for your comment :) all the best to you too!
I love the super technical. Just sitting here chilling. Isn't that all adventure is and trekking is? Beautiful video. Enjoyed it! Good on you guys. Ouch it's better than my Contiki tour days. Take Care
Thanks so much for your comment! Have you been able to do any trekking in Nepal? What is a Contiki tour?
Very nice, Thanks for sharing.
Beautifully shot, experienced, and narrated. Very informative and pleasure to watch. Thanks very much and keep climbing.
Thank you so much Vivek, this wonderfully kind comment made my day :)
Hi Stephanie, there may be a window of opportunity for me away from my work, would May be a good time to climb Mera Peak this year? Thanks
@@vivekbisht7122 Yes, May is definitely a good time to climb Mera Peak! It is usually just ahead of the start of monsoon and you have warmer temperatures than other times of the year when you could climb. I would aim for as early May as you can just to have a better possibility of good weather. Although every year is different! We did the trek in early May as well, and as you can tell from my video, the weather wasn't always ideal as monsoon seemed to arrive a bit early last year. But it was still an amazing trek, and we managed to get clear skies for the peak :) Hope that helps and let me know if you'd like any help setting up any of your permit and/or guide or anything!
Thanks again Stephanie for your prompt reply and valuable input. Will surely revert should I need anything more help / advise. Looking forward to this amazing trek. Till then, best wishes and regards.
@@vivekbisht7122 You will do doubt have an amazing experience! Best wishes to you as well :)
Hi Steph, absolutely stunning vlog. Did EBC last month, now planning my next adventure in Nepal. Mera seems awesome but i have ZERO technical climbing experience. You think the guides can help along the way with how to use ropes etc or one needs prior experience. Thanks so much
Hello! Thank you so much for watching and for your comment. That's awesome you just did EBC and that you've already caught the Nepali trekking bug ;) I was also hesitant about doing Mera Peak at first because I also had ZERO technical climbing experience. And it was absolutely fine and I 100% recommend going for it! It is one of my favorite treks I've done in Nepal. And of any of the trekking peaks in Nepal, this is a great way to get up to a high altitude without it being technically challenging or scary. When you make it to Khare you have a day to acclimatize there, and you can rent all your gear there and your guide will do a training with you to show you how to use the harness, ropes, zoomer, etc. You can see a clip of this in the video @ 16:21.
Please let me know if you have any other questions and if you'd like any help in organizing your eventual next trip to Nepal! Feel free to email me at StephThorntonNepal@gmail.com :)
Mera Peak is recorded 6, 654 m / 21,825 ft on the list of NMA (Nepal Mountaineering Association) the governing body of most trekking peaks in Nepal, and not 6,474 m as mentioned above.
Apparently the official altitude of Mera Peak is a bit unclear, as one person has told me it's actually lower than I've mentioned! There are several different summits at Mera Peak, so I think that is where the discrepancy lies??
Such a great video I really enjoyed it, you guys are inspiring. I really wished I could come and see the Himalayas.
Thank you so much CP :) I hope very much that you are able to come visit the Himalayas one day. From where are you writing?
Very positive and informative video. Thanks
Thank you so much for your message, and I'm so glad that you found the video informative :)
I am at Lama Lodge now.. very good momo.
In Kothe?? The owners are so lovely there and the food was so good! How was the rest of your trek?
You have made a fab video of your journey to mera peak... What month did you go ?
I'm planning on going next year..
Out of 4-5 Mera Peak videos, yours was the best. I got stuck in Lukla for 5 days around the election day.
One question: After you summited your highest peak till date, what does it feel like and what's NEXT? My assumption is after you summit a mountain, you only want to go back and attempt a bigger one.
Thank you so much, glad you enjoyed the video :) And we must have been in Lukla around the same time since we left for Kathmandu on election day! Were you also out trekking during this time?
It was definitely a feeling of accomplishment getting up to a higher altitude, and I was grateful we were healthy and it didn't feel dangerous or risky. We don't have any plans to climb anything else, we really enjoy just trekking as well, and still so much we haven't seen in Nepal! It would be nice to get to 7000m though...We will see!
This is an exceptional video, particularly the commentary, as well as the video.
Thank you so much Christopher, so glad you enjoyed :)
stunning video of Mera Peak. nice to see you on the top of the MERA. who is your guide and how cloud I get him ? what was his demand for Mera peak ?
Thank you so much! My guide was Dafuri Sherpa and if you'd like, email me at stephthorntonnepal@gmail.com and I can help you set him up as a guide :)
Nice to get your feedback Dear stephanie. I am not going by this year. I must Email you after deciding the date. thanks in advance
@@mdmasud-um3xn Yes, please do let me know when you confirm your plans :)
@@StephThorntonNEPAL I will inform you Once I decided.
@@mdmasud-um3xn Sounds good :)
Namasté🤗🙏GREAT video & pictures👍Super😄 Danebath😊 Take life as it comes... Merciii 😊🤗À bientôt ☺️
Merciii Annick :) :)
Excelente documentary
Thank you so much ☺️
oh my, look at the steepness of the slope when they were practicing with ropes.
Yeah, just about as steep as the final little ascent to Mera Peak (which I didn't film because my hands were too cold haha). Definitely was glad to be clipped into a rope in both cases :)
This is the first mera peaks trekking video i have seen. congratulations 🎉 amazing video ❤️
Thank you so much for watching, I'm glad you enjoyed 😊
Amazing presentation, beautiful scenery 🥰🥰🥰
Thank you Dipankar! And yes, it’s such a beautiful place :)
Love this video, I will be there next April, hope can make it !
Thank you so much and so happy to hear you are coming to Nepal in April to do the Mera Peak Trek! Take your time on the way up and I’m sure you will make it to the top :)
Is on High Camp always somebody there who cooks for the people that come there?
And, can you go there without a guide, basically just you ?
Hello! No, you need to arrange everything for High Camp with a hotel in Khare, the place you stay before going up to High Camp (I recommend Mera Alpine Lodge). At your hotel in Khare, you can rent a tent for the 1 or 2 nights you will be at high camp, and this includes meals (snacks, tea, dinner, breakfast, lunch) prepared by a cook that goes up there with you. The tents are already all setup at High Camp, with sleeping bag and sleeping pad and everything (quite warm and comfortable).
You can get all the way up to Khare without a guide if you want, but you will need to hire a guide in Khare to go up to High Camp and then up to Mera Peak and back down.
Hope that helps, please let me know if you have any other questions, or want any help in setting up your trek!
Thank you for promoting the same thing about what's in there. Appreciate🙏🙏🙏
Great video. So humble and appreciative of what you experience on a daily basis. I’ll be hiking to Annapurna Base Camp in October. Will be my first time in the country and i’m so excited.
Thank you so much Shaun, I really appreciate your comment :) That's awesome that you'll be coming to Nepal for the first time and doing Annapurna Base Camp! ABC is a beautiful trek as well. Let me know if you have any questions or need any recommendations or anything for your trip - I'm happy to help!
Great. Sister Stephanie . Admire your positivity whatever is the situation. Hope to watch other more trekking videos from Nepal.
Thank you Anil, the trekking trail definitely does reinforce good life lessons ;)
Does this peak require a climbing permit, or trekking permits are good enough?
amazing views!
Hi Raulis! You need a climbing permit to do Mera Peak (and a trekking agency registered with Nepal Mountaineering Association will need to help you get this), and the price varies by season: Spring ($250), Fall ($125), Winter and Summer ($70). You'll also need an permit for Makalu Barun National Park (~$30). Hope that helps and let me know if you have any other questions! Looks like you just did the Gokyo Ri + Cho Lo trek?? Beautiful views as well!
Absolutely loved the narration!
Thank you so much, glad you enjoyed it ☺️
Hello,
Could I please ask how did u book the trek
Please
Thank you
Hello! Since we live in Nepal, we organized most of trek ourselves. Our wonderful friend and guide in the video helped us get the permits, etc. I can highly recommend his family’s company to help you book the trek, if you are interested. If you like me to connect you to them, please email me at StephThorntonNepal@gmail.com
This is so beautifully captured! Thank you so much! May I ask what camera you were using + which lens? How many batteries were you carrying as the cold at that altitude drains the battery very quickly. Thanks again for this visual treat :)
Thank you so much Arl, I really appreciate you watching and taking the time to comment :) I was using a GoPro Hero 9 and an iPhone Xs camera, so nothing too crazy. I just had one extra GoPro battery, but brought a 30,000 mAh power bank. It is a bit of extra weight, but I was so grateful to have it, as there weren't a lot of opportunities for charging along the trail. Batteries definitely drain quick up in the cold and high altitude, but my bigger issue is my fingers get way too cold, so I can't take them out of my big gloves haha.
@@StephThorntonNEPAL Wow, that's great, the quality made it look as if you were carrying a big Sony/Canon type camera haha. Hope you keep making these to bring us wonderful views from faraway beautiful valleys. Wish you the very best!
How long did you stay at the summit? Did you have any rope training/experience before your training on the mountain? And which month did you go? Thanks!
Hello and thanks for writing! To answer your questions: 1) we stayed at the summit for probably like 15-20 minutes I believe. 2) We did not have any prior experience with any sort of mountaineering or using ropes to climb. When we had our rest day in Khare, we got all our gear and our guide did an hour-long training with us to show us how to get up and down a line with the zoomer. That was plenty of training to feel comfortable in the couple spots you need to do this to get to Mera Peak from High Camp. 3) We did this trek in May.
Hope that helps and please let me know if you have any other questions or would like any support in planning/organizing your trek. I'm always more than happy to help! Feel free to email me at StephThorntonNepal@gmail.com
@@StephThorntonNEPAL Noted! Thank you so much! 👍
It is very beautiful and technical climbing peak in Nepal.
So beautiful! And not even too technical, just a little bit of harness and rope work, that is no problem for a non-technical climber if you have an experienced climbing guide with you :)
Thanks so much quality content...What camera did you use to film this? I am considering doing something similar but on a solo trip. Thanks for Colorado
Thank you so much for your comment :) I used a GoPro Hero 9 and my iPhone to film. Are you considering coming to Nepal to trek, or are trekking back home in Colorado?
@@StephThorntonNEPAL I am planning a solo trip to Nepal...Thinking this upcoming March. Ideally I would like to do Mera Peak and Island Peak 🙏 So excited planning this trip now. Your video was very inspiring and your energy is magnetic! Loved how you described why you enjoy hiking towards the end. I feel the same exact way 🥰
Hi Stephanie and Khadak :D First of, amaaaazing video! Super informative and lovely shots overall. My two brothers, father and I are planning on doing the Mera Peak trek in a couple of months (July), and we have some questions we thought you perhaps could help us with. Did you need to purchase any trekking permits (or national park permit) in order to do the trek, and if yes, how much did you pay for the permits? Second question, how much did you pay for the rental equipment for the peak climb? thank you in advance!!!! :D
Hi Christian and thank you for watching and for your kind praise :) Very cool that you and your fam are planning to do Mera Peak coming up and I'm happy to answer your questions. I do want to say first though that July is unfortunately not a great time to do this nor most treks in Nepal, as it is during peak monsoon time (June - September), when rains are at their heaviest. This website covers a bit about why it's not the ideal time: www.himalayanglacier.com/best-time-to-climb-mera-peak-in-nepal/#4_SummerMonsoon_Season_June-August
So if you all have some flexibility with your timing, might be best to push the trip up or postpone by a month or so. It's not impossible to do in July, just maybe not ideal. To answer your questions though:
1) Yes, you do need to have a couple permits to do this trek, first and foremost a climbing permit, which can only be obtained by a local trekking agency (I can recommend a company if you need help with this). You will also need a Makalu Barun National Park permit. For the route we did, we did not need it, but some route options may require Sagarmatha National Park permit as well.
A good link to find a summary of permit and costs is here: www.thirdrockadventures.com/blog/mera-peak-climbing-permit#required_documents
2) As for renting the full set of equipment in Khare (mountain boots, crampons, harness, ropes, zoomer, helmet, ice axe, etc) for 2 days/1 night, it costs ~$100 USD per person. For the tent rental at high camp + the food + cook, it's an additional $60-80 USD per person (depending on your guide's relationship with the hotel ;) ) We stayed at Mera Alpine Lodge in Khare and they arranged all this. They had good equipment and really nice staff! You can contact them on WhatsApp as well if you would like to ask any other questions. +977 984-7697121.
Are you all planning to have a guide with you the full trek or just get a guide to go up to the summit with you from Khare?
Hope this help and please feel free to ask any other questions :)
Super helpful advise Stephanie ........ Christian is my son ........... we are coming to Nepal this coming July ☺
Once in a lifetime mera peak m coming. .....
Hi Suraj! Have you had the chance to do Mera Peak yet??
your video is amazing
Thank you so much CH MAN :)
What jacket model did you wear? :)
Hello! I’m not exactly sure the model, as my jacket is back in Nepal, but I can tell you it’s North Face
Did you have ANY mountaineering experience or knowledge before going?
I have done zero mountaineering by the would over to do it. ( I did Chula pass and EBC last year)
Hi Charlotte! No, I do not have any mountaineering experience. I had done a fair bit of trekking in Nepal prior to doing Mera Peak, and have been up above 5000 meters a number of times (including Cho La Pass and Kala Patthar as well!), but that's it. That is part of why we chose to do Mera Peak as our first "trekking peak", because it really is the perfect option if you love trekking, want to get up to higher altitudes, and don't necessarily want a technical climb that requires lots of experience. As you may have seen in our video, for the summit climb, you do wear a harness and are linked up with your fellow trekkers and guide, and there are a few times where you clip into a fixed line while stepping over a narrow crevice and then for the final ascent to Mera Peak. You get some practice on these basic skills in Khare, before you do the climb, and it's completely doable without any prior experience.
Hope that helps and please let me know if you have any other questions!
@@StephThorntonNEPAL Thank you so much! I knew hat most companies said no experience needed but I didn't want to Risk holding anyone back etc.
That makes me feel a lot more confident about it :)
Again, thank you so much for the reply . I look forward to future videos
Thanks for visiting❤
Wow...
Was it 10 days from the time going to Lukla and getting back to there?
Yes! We flew from Kathmandu to Lukla on Day 1 and started trekking, and on Day 10 we arrived back in Lukla. Day 11 we flew back to Kathmandu from Lukla. Hope that helps!
@stephaniethorntonNEPAL Thank you for your response. The reason I asked is that I contacted a couple of guides, and they are saying that 11 days is not enough unless helicopter back from Khare!
@@ahmadvahab968 Well 10 days is possible, but it does really depend on your fitness, how you do with altitude, and the weather conditions. We are all relatively fit and had recently been at higher altitude prior to this trek, so we were able to ascend over the Chakra La pass on our 2nd day, and walked longer days on our way back as well. The weather for the summit also just happened to be good the day we had planned to go to the summit so we didn't need an extra day there.
So while you could very well do the trek in 10 days, it is a good idea to give yourself at least 12 or 13 days, just in case you need to take a bit more time to acclimatize, or if you wait a day for good conditions to summit. You've probably found this itinerary, but this is a good, standard Mera Peak schedule: www.thirdrockadventures.com/trip/mera-peak-climbing-itinerary-14-days . 14-days includes arrival/departure day from KTM.
Hope that helps and let me know if you have any other questions or want help finding a guide, trekking company or anything like that!
@@StephThorntonNEPAL Thank you very much for all your guidance
@@ahmadvahab968 My pleasure :) Please let me know if you have any other questions!
This is awesome video and adventure is amazing and what an experience!! This is gonna sound ridiclous I wanna do this two years time but I can't have gluten could ya get the food taken up? Because all looked like dumpling and noodles? And happy new year
Hi Dan and thanks so much :) Happy New Year to you too, and that's great that you're planning on Mera Peak in a few years! I think you might consider bringing some gluten free snacks with you, but you can actually find quite a bit of gluten-free options on the trail as well. Nepalis eat a LOT of rice as you may know, so lots of rice dishes available. As with almost all Nepali treks you'll also find various potato dishes, non-gluten soup and egg options too.
Congratulations Dai and Vauju 👏👏👏
Thank you Nir Lama!
Nice your natural geo❤❤❤❤
Mera Peak is one of the highest trekking peaks not number one highest. The highest trekking peaks is Chulu East at 6,584 m / 21,727 feet. For your kind information needs correction please.
Thank you for the information! Guess a lot of the internet needs to make this correction as well, eh?
WOW SPECTACULAR
Yes, it is indeed a spectacular place!
Beautiful video 😍☺️
Thank you Som :) :) :)
Wow! This was an inspiring video, beautifully filmed and edited. I’m giving this trek some serious thought just because of your video. Thankyou. 🙏
Thank you so much Peter and so glad you’re considering doing this trek :) Do should definitely do it!
Your guide seemed amazing, who did you use and what was the cost?
He is amazing! Send me an email at StephThorntonNepal@gmail.com and I’m happy to provide you more details :)
Thanks for sharing your experience! Throughout the video, I kept on hoping that you guys got clear weather at the summit at least :D
Thank you Harsh! Haha we were hoping the same, and were definitely so grateful for the clear skies that showed up the morning of the summit ;)
Thank you for making this video. It was incredibly fun to watch an informative! I'm inspired to follow your footsteps and climb this peak. You did not seem to have that much trouble with the altitude. I'm just wondering how that went for you?
Thank you so much for writing and I’m so glad to hear you found the video informative :) And great you’re considering doing this trek!
In general, I don’t seem to have too much trouble with altitude, but we also always go up at a good pace so our bodies can adjust. Same with Mera Peak, we acclimatized well and the higher elevation felt quite manageable! It definitely made for a good challenge and we were moving slowly on our way up to high camp and then up to peak, but aside from Khadak getting a minor headache, we felt pretty good!
@@StephThorntonNEPAL Thank you so much for your reply! I am so excited to do this Trek!
@@tylergabrielle3260 Yeah! And please let me know if you'd like any help with organizing any part of your trek or trip to Nepal :) You can email me at StephThorntonNepal@gmail.com
@@StephThorntonNEPAL Thank You So Much!!
Amazing views ❤❤❤🎉🎉🎉
Beautiful and well made video with a zen narrative of what life should be about - being in the moment and accepting whatever one's situation is in. So happy for you that it was clear at the summit. I am planning to do this trek in November (without guide or porter) this year and was wondering if would be able share Dafuri Sherpa's contact details. Many Thanks
Thank you so much Narendra, for taking the time to watch the video and for your thoughtful comment. And very exciting to hear that you are planning to do this trek this fall! I would definitely recommend taking a guide with you, at least for the portion of the journey from Khare to High Camp and up to Mera Peak and back to Khare. Even if you have experience in some mountain climbing, guides like Dafuri have done this route many, many times, and can really ensure that you have a safe and fun journey! Please email me at stephthorntonnepal@gmail.com if you'd still like me to put you in touch with Dafuri.
Beautiful.
Thank you Leslie :) It is such a beautiful place!
enjoyed every bit of it...virtually 😊
Thank you for writing Dawn, so glad you enjoyed it 😊
Amazing 😮
Never clicked so fast before..
Lovely video. Thanks for sharing. I enjoy watching it.
I plan for Mera Peak in April next year. May I ask you a few question?
1. How long will it take from High Camp to the summit?
2. Did you make directly from the Summit to Khare or stay another night in High Camp? If you walked directly from the summit to Khare, what time did you arrive?
Thanks a lot.
Hi Sarawoot, Thank you so much for watching and that's great to hear that you are planning to trek Mera Peak this coming spring!
To answer your questions:
1. How long it takes to get to the summit from high camp totally depends on your pace. We held a pretty steady pace and didn't stop too much, and it took us about 4 hours. We left at 3am and reached at around 7am. I think it usually takes people from 4 to 6 hours.
2. From the summit we actually went past Khare and onto Thagnak, and we arrived at around 3pm. After the summit it took us only about 1.5 hours to reach High Camp again, where we had some food and rest. Then we continued down to Khare, packed up, had a snack, and then continued the short way down to Thagnak.
You can see the summit day in this video, starting at 23:34 ;)
Hope that helps, and let me know if you have any other questions!
@@StephThorntonNEPAL Hi Stephanie. Thank you so much for quick, detailed and practical response. I really appreciate. You and your husband are very strong to make 4 hours and later passing Khare and to Thagnak all at once. Hat off. My plan is to trek in up to summit, trek down to Khare and took helicopter back to Lukla. I would love to trek all the way back - but not enough time though.
Thanks again and keep watching your adventure in Sagarmatha.
@@sarawootch No problem at all Sarawoot! Your plan sounds like a good option if that's the only way you will have time to do Mera Peak. It seemed like a lot of people too helicopter from Khare, although the weather definitely delayed some folks for a few days I think, so that's something to anticipate. I think they probably still got to Lukla sooner than if they had trekked though.
Have such a great trek and let me know how it goes when you finally do it!
@@StephThorntonNEPAL That's very helpful. I sent note to my agency in KTM too. :) I will keep you posted.
Beautiful video and your positive attitude is so uplifting. I was wondering if you carried your mountain boots and crampons with you all the way, or were you able to hire them at Khare?
Thank you so much Christopher, I'm glad you enjoyed the video :) We hired our equipment (ropes, harness, boots and crampons) in Khare at the Mera Alpine Lodge, and that worked out great for us. Good quality stuff and we found a good fit. There happened to be a porter that was going back up to High Camp the day we were climbing up there, and he helped us carry the climbing gear from Khare to there, which was helpful. Those boots are not light as you probably know!
@@StephThorntonNEPAL Oh that's great news. I hope to do this trek one day, and not having to bring all the equipment with me from Kathmandu will help! I look forward to your next video :)
@@christopherb1823 Yeah, it was so convenient being able to rent it all in Khare :) And hope you have the opportunity to do this trek soon, definitely one of my favorite ones yet!
Which month was your trek again?
Hi Sanjay! I did this trek in early May
Dherai kuhiro chha ;-)
Thank you for the video, I am a big fan of your channel btw. 🙂
I have been to Nepal two times so far (Jiri to EBC in 2018; Pikey Peak and Three Passes last year), so I am merely a trekker not a climber, but I always wondered how hard it would be to climb one of those 6,000m peak. What I hear is that Mera is the least technical of the popular climbing peaks (Island Peak and Lobuche East) but of course it is also higher. Did you have to cross crevasses with ladders etc. or was there other challenging technical climbing involved?
Maybe some time in the future I will try to tackle one of the peaks but I am still wondering which one and if should choose indeed Mera, which of the three different routes to Mera Peak I should take (Lukla via Zatrwa La, or further down via Kharikhola or - the most ambitous one - via Amphu Labsta). You see, I still a lot of research to do haha!
Thank you so much Karl, I really appreciate your support :) Ani, tapaailaai nepali bolna auchha??
That's awesome, sounds like you are a veteran Nepal trekker, and have some good treks under your belt! Before doing Mera Peak, I was in a similar situation as you. I had done quite a few treks, and was curious about doing something over 6000m. I am also very much a trekker, and not a mountaineer by any means. I do not have any technical experience and while I love the physical challenge of trekking and going up to higher elevations, I don't enjoy anything even remotely treacherous.
So with that, Mera Peak couldn't have bee the more perfect option! As compared to Island Peak or Lobuche East, Mera Peak was described as the least technical AND it was higher elevation (and with the best views!). And indeed, it was a rewarding challenge of getting up to 6,400+ meters, but not scary by my standards (and my risk aversion is quite high!). You wear crampons from just above Khare, and harnesses and stay roped together the entire way up from High Camp to Mera Peak. There were a few foot-wide crevices you had to step over, and one that was a bit wider, but there was a fixed line you hooked into as you did a small jump over it. Then the final 50-100 feet to the summit, it's a steep climb up a rather narrow ridge, but you are hooked into the fixed line once again and use your zoomer to get to the top. So it felt secure! And in Khare you do a short training on all this, with getting up and down fixed line, so you are already familiar with all the gear and how to use it before you head up. The crampons of course make you also feel very firm on snowy trail as well :)
As for the route options approaching Mera Peak, I think the first two depend on how prone to altitude sickness you are and if you are already acclimatized. We took the most direct route because we had recently done other treks, but the route down from Kharikhola would be a good option if you needed a few more days to get adjusted to altitude, or simply wanted a bit of a longer trip and a chance to see a couple other nice villages. As for Amphu Labsta, I've heard this is a fairly technical pass and of course would be a much longer journey. But as long as you have good guides and gear with you, I'm sure it could be manageable!
Hope this helps and please feel free to send along any other questions you have! And keep in touch about your Mera Peak plans, would be interested to hear what you decide to do! All the best Karl :)
Wow, thank you so much for your detailed answer Stephanie!
Maalai ali ali nepali bolna aauchha ;-) (Seriously tho, I just want to impress Nepalis with a few words other than thik ccha, dhanyabaad & namaste - so I try to learn some basic grammar and words for everyday use, nothing special or near the level of your language skills haha :-)
I wouldn't consider myself a 'veteran' just yet, but I love Nepal too much so I always come back for some more experiences and trekking! Thanks for confirming that Mera Peak is indeed not so technical compared to the other climbing peaks. To be honest, I think I am really good at acclimatizing to high altitude (so far at least) as I always take my time, don't rush things, take enough rest days and go bistari bistari ;-) That's also the reason I went solo and without a guide/porter so far, and be my own guide basically. I like the smaller, more authentic villages in the lower Khumbu more than the big tourist hubs above Lukla. I also love researching new regions on my own, taking different approaches and alternative routes, and thus avoiding the 'main trekking crowd' along the way as much as possible. Of course for a climbing peak I'm gonna need a guide and staff.
I am planning another trip this fall/winter to Nepal with a whole month trekking in the Khumbu, so if I ever decide to try a climbing peak I would do so at the end of my itinerary when I am really well acclimatized to the height. Oh well, we will see :-)
Thanks again for responding and all the best with your farm as well!
Looks like you speak more Nepali than you give yourself credit for! I think that's so wonderful you've dedicated time to learning Nepali and it fits with the approach you seem to have for traveling and trekking too. I very much admire those who take the time to research the place they're visiting, try to dig a little deeper into the culture, take the road less traveled to know the places that are off the main tourist trail. Takes more time and effort for sure, but certainly makes for a much richer experience in many ways, doesn't it?
Your plan sounds great, and I'm sure it will be an incredible trip no matter what your final itinerary ends up being. Would love to hear what you end up doing!
Thanks for commenting and sharing and all the best to you too :)
Hey.. can u tell how much the cost was? Details if possible
Hi AlienTravels! Yes, I can give you a rough estimate. And feel free to email me at StephThorntonNepal@gmail.com if you'd like any other information or would like any support in organizing your trek :)
My husband and I didn't go through any travel agency, as our guide was our friend and his family's company helped us get the mountaineering permit. So we pretty much paid the baseline of what you need to pay to do Mera Peak without any frills - just guide, permits, food and accommodation, and gear that we rented in Khare (the last village before you climb up to High Camp and then Mera Peak). Here is a breakdown of about what we paid per person, which came out to around $1,300 USD.
1) Mera Peak Climbing Permit in Spring (March - May) = $250
2) Makalu Baron National Park Fee = $30
3) Food/Lodging (~$30/day x 10 days) = $300
4) Guide (~$40/day x 12 days) = $480
5) Optional Insurance (for possible days above 5000m*) = $100
6) Gear Rental (ropes, boots, crampons, etc) for Khare - High Camp - Summit - Khare = $100
7) Tent + Meals for High Camp (1 night) = $80
Most treks are organized with a trekking agency that provides your guide(s) (and porters if you need them), and sorts out all your logistics and permits. We paid for all our food and accommodation along the way, but you can also choose to have that included. Also note that in addition to the costs listed above, there is usually a logistics fee and the 13 % Nepal VAT (tax) that companies need to add. As well, if you are planning to fly in and out of Lukla, that round-trip ticket from Kathmandu is usually around $300 USD.
Hope that helps and please let me know if you have any other questions! Happy to help :)
@@StephThorntonNEPAL Thanks a lot..this will be helpful 🫶🏼
it it possible to go here i January?
Aside from being realllllyyy super cold, I think it might not be possible to get to the summit due to the snow level
Mera is not the highest trekking peak in Nepal, Singu Chuli in Annapurna Sanctuary is 6501m and Chulu Central near Manang is 6558m high. Easy to find on the trekking peak lists, do not believe the trekking agencies on this.
You did not climb to the highest 6474 summit but the middle one at 6461m like all do. You can see that the true summit is higher as it reaches over the horizon at the left side of the frame at 24:33 and also other frames after that.
Thank you for providing all this information. Seems that there is a lot to conflicting information out there, and I was just basing “highest trekking peak” on what I found online at the time. I certainly wasn’t trying to claim anything I thought was untrue! A question I have had though, is what exactly is the definition of trekking peak anyway?? In any case, I have updated my title to “one of the highest” trekking peaks of Nepal.
@@StephThorntonNEPAL Nepal Mountaineering Association (NMA) has a list of peaks classified as "trekking peaks" which basically are mountains between 5800 - 6600 meters in height and can be climbed without too much paperwork and without a liaison officer, certified guide is enough. Some of them are easy like Mera, Imja Tse and Lobuche East, some are extremely difficult and have been climbed only a few times, ever.
Best description can be found at Jamie McGuinnes' website "Project Himalaya" listing and describing all 27 permitted peaks.
The reason Mera is still often called the highest stems from the fact that in the original peak list from the seventies Mera was erroneously given the coordinates and height belonging to nearby Peak 41 (sharp triangular summit between Mera and Everest) which is 6653 m or something. The error was found already 25 years ago but news travel slow among the trekking agencies...
Hi , Amazing video
Hope you don't mind a question , We are planning Mera peak oct 23 , We have been told you can hire Mountaineering double boot in Kare , Is it worth hiring or be best to spend the money and buy
many thanks
Hi Scott! Ahh so sorry I'm probably getting back to you too late. Hopefully you figured out that you can just rent mountaineering boots in Khare (which is what we did!). Hope you're having a great trek!
What a great trek. You should be a pro voice actor.
Thank you so much Linus! Haha, I'm not sure I'm good enough to be a pro. Is that a real career??
@@StephThorntonNEPAL yes. Sign up for some audiobooks with ACX. Soon you’ll be doing video games.
@@LinusWilson Thanks Linus, I appreciate the suggestions, maybe I will check ACX out, ;)
Could you please share your guide details?
Please email me at stephthorntonnepal@gmail.com, and I can provide you his details!
How many weight of backpack do you carry?
Hi! Around 13-14 kg. Although a bit lighter when we climbed to high camp, since you can leave most of your things at the hotel in Khare, as you will be returning the following day after you go to Mera Peak.
@@StephThorntonNEPAL As far as I know, There are 3 routes from Lukla to Khare, Yours is the shortest and the most challenging route, right?
@@StephThorntonNEPAL And lastly, Can you share your background music list, thank you so much!
@@ngochungnguyen2150 Yes, I believe the route we took is the most direct. As I mention in the video, we had done other treks at higher altitudes just before we did Mera Peak, so we were already pretty acclimatized. I think there is a route that is longer and more gradual that skips the Chakra La Pass, and another option in which you first go below Lukla and around before you start your ascent towards the Hinku Valley. Hope that helps!
@@ngochungnguyen2150 You can find the list of all the songs linked at the bottom of the description :) They are all from epidemic sound.
This looks amazing and congratulations on your summit.
We are in the process of deciding whether to do the EBC and I came upon this video. This could be considered instead of the EBC. How did you get the guide without porters and can this be done without any guide or porter ?
Must be such an amazing feeling to accomplish a summit.
Hi Marlene and thanks so much for your comment! It is certainly a great experience getting to Mera Peak, and you are well-rewarded with amazing views!
Great you are coming to Nepal to trek and considering Mera Peak too! I think Mera Peak is a great alternative to EBC, although definitely a different type of experience - so really depends what type of trek you are looking for and what you feel ready to tackle. Here are some differences that I see: 1) Compared to EBC, Mera Peak is a much more off-the-beaten-path trek, which is something I love. EBC is the most popular trek in Nepal and is often pretty crowded in high season. On the Mera Peak trek, on the other hand, don't see hardly any other trekkers on the trail, although we still did enjoy the company of a few others at several of the tea houses. For this reason, you get to hang out a bit more with the folks who run the tea houses, and it's a bit less business-ey feel. In my opinion, this means more time to be at peace in this beautiful natural place and more time to get to know the local folks up there running their hotels. 2) On the Mera Peak trek, you do reach quite a bit higher altitude (~6400 m as compared to ~5400 m with EBC), so it's good to have had some prior experience trekking at altitude to know how you handle it. That being said, as with any trek, you can take it slow and add in acclimatization days as needed. Mera Peak also requires that little bit of training in Khare to get used to clipping into ropes and using a zoomer, and you will use the rope on your way from High Camp to Mera Peak. This does not mean Mera Peak is scary (I am quite risk averse, so I'm the first to vouch that it wasn't scary), but it's good to keep in mind that you will be stepping over a few (very narrow) crevices, and you will use a rope in some spots (which is really just an added sense of security!). Finally, 3) Reaching Mera Peak versus EBC really feels quite climactic, as you can imagine! It is very cool to reach EBC of course (and getting up to 5400 m is no joke), and you also have Kala Pattar peak to climb on the EBC trek as well, but reaching the summit at Mera Peak feels much more like this epic goal that you reach, which is such a nice addition to the beautiful journey that you already take getting there and back.
Anyway! Long-winded way of saying that I absolutely recommend Mera Peak if you feel ready and it sounds like the things you are looking for on a trek! You can definitely get a guide without a porter if you prefer (this is what we did, and you can email me at stephthorntonnepal@gmail.com if you'd like my amazing guide Dafuri's information). I would recommend having a guide with you the whole time, but it is possible to arrange a guide and porter in Khare if you wanted to to do the climb from Khare to High Camp to Mera Peak (although I'd make sure to arrange this ahead of the trek to ensure there's someone ready for you). Absolutely you should take a guide past Khare! Guides know the trails like the back of their hand and are very important to ensure your safety and provide you peace-of-mind.
Please let me know if you have any other questions - I'm happy to help as much as I can! And thanks again for your message :)
First of all, what an amazing video, i really love it! Very good and positiv vibs in this viedo. And my full respect that you made it up to a 6000m high mountain without any mountaineering experience!!
We also want to do a trek on a 6000er in october!
Now i am curious, do you booked your tour/guide in lukla or do you booked it before your journey in your hometown? Because we actually don‘t know whats the best way to do it!
Thanks 😊
Hi Michael! Thank you for watching and for your kind, supportive message :) And that's great that you are planning to do Mera Peak this October - it's definitely one of my favorite treks and experiences!
I live in Nepal and we happened to know our guide, Dafuri Sherpa, so we hired him directly and got all our permits through a trekking agency that is registered with Nepal Mountaineering Association.
In general, I would say it is best to arrange your trek before you arrive to Nepal. You connect with a trekking agency that can arrange your permits and guide, and then once you arrive in Kathmandu, you can meet with them and be ready to set off to Lukla and start the trek.
I can connect you with the trekking agency who helped arrange all our permits and recommend a guide for you as well. You can email me at stephthorntonnepal@gmail.com if you'd like me to help you with this!
Such a wholesome content, loved it! Would it be possible to get Dafuri's contact?
Thank you so much Diwas, glad you enjoyed :) And definitely I can pass Dafuri's info along, can I find you on FB and send a dm?
Amazing 😍❤❤
Also what month did you summit?
It was early May!
I felt like the video
Stephanie, could you share contact for climbing guide? Also was it a personalized or group trek?
Hi Vikky! Please email me at stephthorntonnepal@gmail.com, and I would be happy to share Dafuri's contact details. We know Dafuri personally, so it was a personalized trek, just me, my husband, and Dafuri.
How you found this instructor?
Do you mean person who was our climbing instructor? If so, Dafuri was our guide that came with us for the trek and he did the climbing instruction in Khare as well - we knew him through a personal connection.
How can I find your guide?
Email me at stephthorntonnepal@gmail.com and I can pass along his details!
Amazing video guys ! Im currently planning a nepal trip - how many days in total was this trek (to the peak and back) and how did you go about sorting a guide ? Love the positive vibes !
Thanks so much for watching Andy, and excited to know you’re on visiting Nepal! Will this be your first time?
For the route we did, from Lukla to Mera Peak and back to Lukla, it tool 10 days for us, although as I mention in the video, we had all done other treks just prior, so didn’t need as many days to acclimatize on our way up to the higher altitudes. If you needed to take more time to acclimatize, you could take more days on the route we did, or there are other routes that are a bit longer that are a bit more gradual of a climb to Hinku Valley.
We happened to already know our guide through a personal connection, and I would be happy to connect you to him or other guides we know are amazing, if you’d like!
Could you please share guide names as I am looking forward for this trek. Many tour operators provide 21 days trek which seems a bit excessive for some experience with altitude. Many thanks 😊