Nepal 2012
Informational Meeting:
Wednesday, October 12, 6pm, Gerlinger
Hors d'oevres and coffee
Nepal
Dates: March 10-27, 2012 (Travel is during one week of class and Winterim. Return is in the middle of spring break.)
Trip leaders: David Ellenberg, Becky Wynne, Nance Leonhardt
Eligible students: 9th-12th grade, no language requirement
Number of students: 13-15
Estimated cost: $3,600
Come to Nepal with an open mind and an open heart, and your trip will be an unforgettable experience.--comment from a 2010 trip participant
Nepal's diverse culture and phenomenal scenery will astound you.
The trip starts in the capital, Kathmandu. Nepal combines the burgeoning energy of a modern developing democracy with the serenity of medieval temples and public squares. Kathmandu Valley, at the heart of the country, is home to seven UNESCO World Heritage sites. These cultural and architectural gems remain in daily use. Pilgrims abound at the Hindu and Buddhist sites, and shopkeepers set out wares amid the stone and wood pavilions first built in the 12th and 13th centuries.
The Nepal trip includes a seven-day trek in the central part of the Himalayan range. The hiking is challenging, yet geared for all students in good physical shape. The maximum altitude is about 12,000 feet, and the mountain peaks rise an additional 15,000 feet above that. The startling scenery is best appreciated at walking pace. Overnights will be in lodges or homestays, sometimes with basic amenities as you experience real life at the village level. The drama of the trek is incomparable as the route goes from sub-tropical lowlands to alpine heights.
Don’t doubt yourself. You will, at times. For example when you take your first close-up look at the mountains, and realize you’re going to climb them. The important thing is to not to doubt your abilities. On this trip, you will be surprised at your capabilities. --comment from another 2010 trip participant
Please be in touch if you're interested. We're happy to tell you much more about the trip.
Cows are sacred in Nepal
High in the mountains
On the trail
Mountain Views
Boudhanath Shrine in Kathmandu
Children in Mountain Village
Students at Swayambu Shrine in Kathmandu
Collaborating with Napali teens in Kathmandu
Students in Bhaktapur
Playing hacky sack with Gatlang villiage kids
At Changu Narayan, Nepal's oldest temple
Monkeys!
Moving chickens
Pushupatinath Temple on the Bagmati River
Carrying vegetables to market in Bhaktapor
Bhaktapor
Pushupatinath
Dawn in the Langtang region
The whole group at 13,000 feet