Yala Peak is probably going one of many hottest ‘trekking peaks’ inside the Langtang Valley Space. At 5,500m in peak, it presents an issue for newcomer climbers and a terrific acclimatization different. The expedition begins with three days of trekking alongside the Langtang Valley Trek sooner than a two-day summit strive of the peak itself. The highlight of climbing Yala Peak is catching a view of Shisapangma (8,027m) from the summit.
On this weblog submit, I am going to cowl the whole thing you need to know regarding the logistics of climbing Yala Peak. I’ve already created a protracted data for the Langtang Valley Trek and shut by viewpoints akin to Kyanjin Ri and Tserko Ri.
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YALA PEAK CLIMB DETAILS
- Distance: 18km return journey from Kyanjin Gompa
- Days required: 2 days with in a single day hold at Yala Kharka Basecamp
- Full Incline: 1,560 meters from Kyanjin Gompa
- Full Decline: 1,560 meters from Kyanjin Gompa
- The perfect stage of the climb: 5,500m
- Challenge: Yala Peak is a ‘trekking peak’. There’s no technical gear or technical ability required. You may journey all through snow and scramble up rocks nevertheless we didn’t need ice axe, harness or helmet for our ascent. It relies upon upon the time of yr for what circumstances you will encounter but it surely certainly was easier than completely different comparable peaks akin to Island Peak.
- Permits: You should have a TIMS card and Park Entrance Enable for the Langtang Valley Trek, every is likely to be purchased when coming into the park. There’s no enable required for climbing Yala Peak.
- Info: A data is simply not required for this climb. However, the route is simply not clear when coated in snow and the guides are able to deal with a safe route counting on the circumstances. Moreover they deal with all of the logistics, distances, meals, campsite and directions.
- Lodging: After leaving Kyanjin Gompa, we camped one night time time at Yala Peak Base Camp.
TRY THE 3 BEST TREKS IN NEPAL
Manaslu Circuit: My personal favorite 2-week trek by Tibetan villages and lovely environment with a lot much less crowds.
Annapurna Circuit: Primarily probably the most beautiful & scenic 2-week trek in Nepal although is likely to be crowded at situations.
Everest Base Camp Trek: Primarily probably the most iconic 2-week route reaching the well-known (EBC) Everest Base Camp at 5,300m.
YALA PEAK EXPEDITION ITINERARY
The expedition begins with a six-hour drive from Kathmandu to Syabrubesi. To reach Yala Peak, climbers would possibly need to first observe the Langtang Valley Trek to Kyanjin Gompa on a three-day trek. From there, there are only a few acclimatization day-hikes akin to Kyanjin Ri and Tserko Ri. As quickly as Acclimatized, climbers have a two-day expedition to climb Yala Peak.
A two-day trek once more out alongside the Langtang Valley Trek completes the expedition. The expedition finishes with a six-hour drive from Syabrubesi to Kathmandu.
- Day 1: Drive from Kathmandu to Syabrubesi (1550m) 7 hours
- Day 2: Syabrubesi to Lama Lodge (2,380m) 6 hours
- Day 3: Lama Lodge to Mundu by Langtang Village (3,430) 6 hours
- Day 4: Mundu to Kyanjin Gompa (3,870m) 3 hours
- Day 5: Kyanjin Gompa to Kyanjin Ri to Kyanjin Gompa (4,770m) 5 hour
- Day 6: Kyanjin Gompa to Tserko Ri to Kyanjin Gompa (5000m) 7 hours
- Day 7: Leisure Day
- Day 8: Kyanjin Gompa to Yala Kharka Base Camp (4,750m) 5 hours
- Day 9: Yala Kharka Base Camp to Yala Peak to Kyanjin Gompa (5,500m) 12 hours
- Day 10: Kyanjin Gompa to Lama Lodge (2,380m) 6 hours
- Day 10: Lama Lodge to Syabrubesi (1550m) 6 hours
- Day 11: Drive from Syabrubesi to Kathmandu 7 hours
BOOKING A GUIDE FOR YALA PEAK & LANGTANG VALLEY TREK
The Langtang Valley Trek doesn’t require a data but it surely certainly’s good to have a data managing the logistics akin to directions, tea-houses, distances, medical factors, and the overall group. I’d say 80% of trekkers associate with a data. I did the trek with Himalayan Masters which is probably going one of many excessive trekking companies on the subject of the Langtang Valley Trek.
Practically all climbers hire a data for climbing Yala Peak to permit them to securely ascend the route. We climbed with native data Galbyu as part of a whole Langtang Valley Trek & Yala Peak Climb package deal deal booked by Himalayan Masters.
The Langtang Valley Trek costs spherical $800 USD with Himalayan Masters as of 2022 and consists of all transfers, lodging, meals, drinks, permits, and even the lodge hold sooner than and after the trek at a high-quality lodge. The Yala Peak Climb & Langtang Valley Trek combination package deal deal is priced at $1200 as of 2022. I really had fun on this trek and I can wholeheartedly recommend Himalayan Masters.
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THE FULL VLOG FROM OUR YALA PEAK CLIMB
MY EXPERIENCE CLIMBING YALA PEAK
Our journey began with the Langtang Valley Trek predominant us to Kyanjin Gompa. As quickly as we settled on this iconic and immensely scenic mountain village, our Yala Peak mission was underway. I’ve written in larger ingredient regarding the Langtang Valley Trek, so on this weblog submit, I am going to give consideration to climbing Yala Peak as quickly as you are based in Kyanjin Gompa.
Our hold in Kyanjin Gompa ended up lengthening to a whole of six nights spent inside the village. We decided to acclimatize slowly by climbing Kyanjin Ri and Tserko Ri with a rest day after day by day hike. We then felt ready to maneuver up for our two-day expedition of Yala Peak. It’s doable to climb Yala Peak in ultimately from Kyanjin Gompa but it surely certainly will improve the difficulty and likelihood of altitude sickness.
We met our data, Galbyu, who is probably going probably the most expert inside the space. After we arrived, there had been two teams attempting the summit and neither had even reached base camp because of snow. However, Galbyu assured us he knew the route that can work and we set off for the first ascent of the season.
Along with Galbyu, one porter carrying the sleeping system and meals joined us to complete our employees of 4. Provided that it’s solely a one-night hold, we traveled pretty gentle. I carried my climbing boots strapped to my bag and hiked as a lot as basecamp in frequent trekking boots.
The trail to Yala Kharka Basecamp begins by following the an identical path as Tserko Ri. We received right here beneath the ridge of Kyanjin Ri, crossed the glacial river, after which began up the switchbacks beneath the Tserko Ri ridge.
There’s an alternate ‘new’ path to Yala Peak that is further direct and heads up the Tserko Ri ridge sooner than traversing the glacial valley. However, with deep snow, we headed to Yala Kharka Basecamp the usual method by following the yellow indicators and lowering all through from the Tserko Ri ridge to make a route beneath the underside of Tserko Ri.
The climb to basecamp is form of cosy because of the gradual incline. We claimed 950 meters of incline all by the sluggish and common journey nevertheless hardly had a steep ascent all by the trek. We undulated alongside the flank, attempting down over the earlier airport and as a lot because the horizon of peaks on our correct. It’s an exceptional trek and had us arriving inside the early afternoon to rearrange camp.
We stayed barely bigger than the distinctive base camp, which was nonetheless coated in snow. A small patch of grass just some hundred meters previous the outlined camp made for a really perfect campsite. After an hour or so, we had been all prepare with our tents and package.
Yala Peak was engulfed by clouds for lots of the day nevertheless peaked out to offer an exceptional backdrop to the campsite. As you may even see, our path to the summit was going to include various snow.
At 4:30 am we set off on our summit push for Yala Peak. With a clear sky and Galbyu to paved the way in which, we had been assured of our potentialities to have a worthwhile climb.
We knew there may be some difficulties because of mild snow. It had been the rationale for failure for the two prior groups and their summit makes an try.
Our plan was to maneuver strongly early on the laborious snow. This appeared to work properly for in all probability probably the most half nevertheless there have been nonetheless quite a few sections of the ascent the place the snow gave approach to knee-deep or barely further. All by the climb did our best to stay on the ridges and uncover the rocky traces nevertheless sometimes crossing inside the snowy valleys was inevitable.
The first half of the summit push is a zig-zag journey from one ridge to the following as we pushed up the snowy undulation. Yala Peak on a regular basis appeared inside attain nevertheless we not at all appeared to reach the underside of its rocky summit development. It could be deceptive in that method.
Our morning was blessed with beautiful clear skies and purple hues sweeping over the mountain peaks as daybreak got here throughout us.
What are my favorite gadgets of trekking gear?
There are six gadgets of medicine that I merely all the time keep in mind as soon as I am going trekking. These are 5 devices that I using correct now and this guidelines will stand up so far yearly! Listed beneath are my trekking requirements.
- Arcteryx BETA AR Rain Jacket: That’s my go-to rain jacket. It’s large gentle, folds down proper right into a tiny ball, and protects brilliantly in a storm. This one not at all leaves my backpack.
- Salomon X Extraordinarily 3 Mid GTX Mountaineering Boots: For the proper ankle help, waterproofing, and durable exterior I’m a fan of highly effective nevertheless gentle climbing boots like these Salomons for my adventures.
- Black Diamond Head Torch: I can’t let you realize what variety of situations, I’ve arrived once more from a hike unexpectedly late. I on a regular basis protect this lightweight nevertheless strong headtorch in my bag for the sudden.
- Darn Sturdy Socks: These are in all probability probably the most cosy climbing socks I’ve ever worn and remaining for years. Moreover they’ve a lifetime assure and in addition you merely ship them in with a niche and they also alternate it no questions requested.
- Osprey Atmos AG 65L Backpack: I’ve not at all had a further cosy 65L pack than this one. I obtained it inside the Navy Blue and have trekked with it by many a mountain.
- Black Diamond Trekking Poles: They might actually really feel weird at first, nevertheless on an prolonged trek with incline and decline you’ll begin to like these.
- Grayl GeoPress Water Filter Bottle: I’ve used this for 3 years. It filters your water with one press and you will drink immediately from it. Under no circumstances buy a plastic water bottle as soon as extra!
There are seemingly two sections to the summit push. The first consists of the large, snowy methodology and the second is the scramble and climb up the rocky formation of the pointed, Yala Peak. Within the summertime, this second, rocky part of the climb is likely to be completely dry and uncovered.
However, for us, the snow was nonetheless thick, mild, and deep. We managed to maneuver our method up the frequent route with some basic scrambling, sideways traversing, and cautious stepping. Rockfall is the big concern proper right here so sluggish, common steps are key for the safety of your self and your group.
The last word climb of Yala Peak is temporary however moreover in all probability probably the most uncovered part of the route. It’s moreover getting pretty extreme up at this stage of 5,450m so the air is skinny. All of the parts combine for an adrenaline-filled finale. I don’t want to overexaggerate this closing ascent, nevertheless whereas coated in snow it appeared just like the one part of the trek with any imminent hazard or menace of falling.
The chimney climb to the best is at an abruptly steep angle with drops to each side. The first downside proper right here is that half of the rocks are secure and half are in a position to crumble and snap off with any extreme pressure. A sluggish, measured methodology is required. A secure take care of on heights is vital for this closing little climb.
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With no mounted rope, we safely made our approach to the summit, scrambling up the slender path. The view opened up on all sides for a panoramic scene of attractive peaks in all directions. From the summit it’s possible you’ll observe Langtang Lirung (7,246m), Dorje Lakpa (6,990m), Gangchempo (6,388m) and most importantly, Sishapangma (8,027m).
Our guides had been busy establishing various traces of Tibetan prayer flags sooner than we held a short ceremony atop the summit. With fully clear skies and little or no wind, we may very well take inside the view and profit from the environment. This isn’t on a regular basis the case atop peaks inside the Himalayas.
As quickly as making it once more down the slippery chimney, the descent was ‘comparatively’ simple. Had it not been for the mild snow, that was now softening each further because of photo voltaic, we would have made it down in a short time. However, our progress was diminished as we wasted various hours battling the ever-softening snow.
As quickly as once more to Yala Kharka Basecamp we had a soup, packed up, and commenced the trek once more to Kyanjin Gompa. The complete time for our summit push was twelve hours. However, in situations of upper circumstances and fewer snow, this would possibly merely come proper right down to 7-8 hours comfortably.
I extraordinarily recommend Yala Peak as an expedition for these attempting to get some acclimatization for the upcoming season or some experience in mountaineering. It’s an inexpensive, simple, and pleasurable peak to have an adventurous experience out inside the Himalayas of Nepal.
GETTING TO YALA PEAK: LANGTANG VALLEY TREK DETAILS
- Distance: 77km or 48 miles
- Days required: 9 days along with 2 days of transit to and from Kathmandu (7 days trekking)
- Full Incline: 4000 meters
- Full Decline: 4000 meters
- The perfect stage on the trek: From Kyanjin Gompa it’s possible you’ll attain Kyanjin Ri (4,773m) or Tserko Ri viewpoint (5,033m). Furthermore, it’s possible you’ll climb Yala Peak from Kyanjin Gompa, which has an altitude of 5,500m.
- Challenge: The Langtang Valley Trek is manner shorter than Everest Base Camp Trek or the Annapurna Circuit although relativley similair. You may attain an altitude of 5000m, which may downside many. Altitude sickness is likely to be frequent. The route ascends pretty quickly with various days having larger than 1000m of altitude purchase. Recently of ascent are tiring and likewise require the physique to manage quickly. It is a good beginner trek in Nepal nevertheless not one to be taken frivolously.
- Permits: You should have a TIMS card and Park Entrance Enable, every is likely to be purchased when coming into the park.
- Info: A data is simply not required on this trek. However, the data manages all of the logistics, distances, directions, and tea houses in your group. I used maps.me to navigate from tea-house to tea-house and situated the paths simple to look at. If it’s your first time trekking in Nepal, I would counsel having a data.
- Lodging: Customer Houses, typically referred to as Tea Houses, may be discovered alongside the way in which by which the place you will sleep in a cosy mattress and have entry to showers (further value) and restaurant companies. It was very cosy lodging and good after an prolonged day of climbing. A number of the villages had been Tibetan, which gave us a terrific notion into their distinctive custom.
YALA PEAK PACKING LIST
I packed pretty gentle and managed to wash most of my clothes each afternoon/night time time for the first half of the journey. Throughout the latter phases of the journey, it was pretty chilly so we weren’t sweating as so much and we wore our warmth gear primarily nonstop whereas on the teahouses. There was no precise need for various outfits.
That’s solely a data and it labored pretty properly for me with no complaints from my set-up. You obtained’t need a sleeping bag as there are blankets in each guesthouse and when it obtained chilly I merely wore my down jacket to mattress. This meant I didn’t have to carry a sleeping bag on your whole trek.
- 1 pair of pants that probably convert to shorts
- 1 pair of shorts
- 1 Warmth or thicker pair of climbing pants
- 1 Prolonged sleeve quick-dry shirt
- 1 Prolonged-sleeve thermal shirt
- 2 Fast-sleeve t-shirts
- 1 Thermal prolonged underwear
- 4 pairs of quick-dry underwear
- 1 Lightweight down jacket
- 1 Heavy-duty summit down jacket
- 1 Beanie
- 1 Cap
- Sunglasses
- 1 Neck Buff
- Gloves
- Mountaineering boots
- 6000m boots
- Thick summit socks
- Headtorch
- 1 pair of warmth summit socks
- 2-3 pairs of regular socks
- Sunscreen
- Trekking poles
- Water filter
- Powerbank
All of this might match proper right into a backpack no larger than 50L and have to be decrease than 20kg along with climbing gear. We carried all of our private gear in apart from the tent, sleeping bag, and mat. These further devices had been supplied by our Yala Peak data.
INSURANCE FOR THE YALA PEAK CLIMB
Nepal could possibly be a dangerous place for trekking or climbing because of the extreme altitude may end up in many sicknesses, weak level in trekkers, and misjudgments. There’s moreover a menace on trails for falls, avalanches, or completely different mishaps. Your frequent journey insurance coverage protection almost definitely obtained’t cowl you at extreme altitude and obtained’t cowl a helicopter evacuation. There is a decision though.
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Widespread journey insurance coverage protection is good nevertheless obtained’t cowl you for prime altitude hikes or for helicopter evacuation. Yearly, I purchase a World Rescue Subscription.
For decrease than $500 per yr or $100 per expedition, you should purchase a World Rescue subscription and be coated no matter how extreme the hike or how extreme the climb is.
WIFI/ELECTRICITY AVAILABILITY ON THE LANGTANG VALLEY TREK
- Wifi: Costs wherever from $free to $4 to utilize wifi on the guesthouses. Buy an NTC Sim sooner than you go. It labored in most spots after Lama Lodge with a weak signal nevertheless we had been able to ship emails, watch Youtube, and message buddies from Langtang and Kyanjin Gompa.
- Electrical power: You may need to pay wherever from $free at low elevation to $5 to value your power banks, cameras, and telephones. The key’s to get an infinite power monetary establishment. Pay to value it then value the whole thing out of your power monetary establishment. My power monetary establishment lets me value my phone and 4 digital digicam batteries sooner than it dies. A number of the places we stayed enable us to value our gear with out value nevertheless when it is busy they usually value a fee as many teahouses run off gas or photograph voltaic.
DRINKING WATER ON THE LANGTANG VALLEY TREK
I benefit from the Grayl Ultralight Water Air air purifier and it is a game-changer for climbing in Nepal, making this large simple and low-cost. The Grayl Ultralight Water Air air purifier removes 99.9999% of viruses of disease-causing micro organism. The proper issue about it is it solely takes 15 seconds and one press to purify water from any modern water provide. You don’t need to buy bottled water at every tea-house contributing to large portions of plastic waste and costing you $4+ per day.
Alongside the Langtang Valley Trek, we crammed up at tea-houses, rivers, and native village taps. Not like aqua purification tablets which require you to attend half-hour sooner than consuming, you’ll have rehydrated your self immediately with the Grayl Ultralight Water Air air purifier.
GrayL Water Air air purifier
- Under no circumstances pay for water on the trek
- Save 3-4 plastic water bottles a day
- Turns any water into consuming water
BEST TIME AND SEASON FOR CLIMBING YALA PEAK
The peak season for the Langtang Valley Trek and Yala Peak climb is March to April and October to November.
By way of the winter from December to February, this space will get very chilly and there’ll seemingly be snow cowl inside the bigger components of the trek. A lot of the guesthouses actually shut up for the winter and re-open in late February to March. However, it is doable to hike the Langtang Valley Trek on the perimeter of the season in late February/early March and it could be pretty beautiful with snow cowl.
I hiked the Langtang Valley Trek in early March and it was warmth in the middle of the day and obtained pretty chilly at night time time. We expert some heavy snow on Tserko Ri and Yala Peak nevertheless the trekking routes had been clear. Even inside the second week of March, we had been the first Yala Peak climb to attain success for the yr as e opened the route. The snow was nonetheless pretty heavy but it surely certainly modifications yr to yr.
WHERE TO STAY IN KYANJIN GOMPA
I stayed at Mountain View Lodge whereas in Kyanjin Gompa. It’s one in all many smaller, older customer houses and I really cherished it proper right here. Not like plenty of the brand new multi-story lodges inside the village, this lodge merely had two flooring and a cushty consuming room.
Mipsang, the proprietor, is probably going one of many kindest and most caring guys we’ve met in Nepal. Say hiya to him for us if you end up staying there.
At Mountain View Lodge we had had water showers, internet connection from our sim card, good meals, cosy beds and blankets, and electrical retailers obtainable inside the room.
HAVE YOU READ MY OTHER NEPAL BLOGS?
I’ve been lucky ample to have many superior adventures in Nepal, which you will strive beneath the place I’ve listed a number of of my favorite weblog poss from Nepal.
