Area:
Machhapuchare massif in the Annapurna Himal.
Less
than fifteen miles north of Pokhara, as the crow flies,
this mountain is the most southerly of the Annapurna
range. From some viewpoints it seems little more than
an outlier on the south-west flank of Machhapuchhare.
Mardi Himal is the lowest and perhaps least climbed
or visited of the trekking peaks.
Once again it was Col. Jimmy Roberts who, with two Sherpas,
climbed to the summit by a route on its East Flank in
1961. The normal route of ascent reaches a col from
a glaciated amphitheatre that rises above a hidden plateau;
the 'Other Sanctuary', as Roberts calls it. Although
another route has been made on the south-West Face,
Roberts' route is the only recorded line and the one
used on most subsequent ascents.
Obviously,
the peak has commanding view of the Annapurna ranges
and undoubtedly a spectacular one of Machhapuchhare
the "Himalayan Matterhorn," better known as
Fish Tail Peak. Few westerners visit the valleys and
ridges south of Mardi Himal. They are steep sided and
heavily wooded with bamboo and rhododendron. Above the
forest high alpine pastures provide good grazing and
a habitat for undisturbed wildlife. Despite it lowly
altitude the mountain obviously has a great deal of
potential for those interested in small-scale exploratory
mountaineering and the ridges, already mentioned, present
obvious climbing challenges at a reasonable standard.
SUGGESTED
ITINERARY:
Day 01: Drive Pokhara to Mardi Pul. Start trekking.
Days 02-05: Trek to Base Camp on the East Flank of Mardi
Himal.
Day 06: Rest and acclimatization day.
Day 07: Establish High Camp.
Day 08: Summit attempt and return to Base Camp.
Days 09-12: Return trek to Pokhara.
Contact
us for further information: [email protected]
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