What's New in the World of Adventure Travel?!

JULY 1, 2008: NEWS UPDATES FROM TIBET
LHASA, China (Reuters) - Tibet is planning an "ecological security" plan to counter threats from global warming and rapid development to glaciers and grasslands on the roof of the world, its top environmental official said. Tibet is facing environmental strains on the vast highlands that span the region and much of neighboring Qinghai province. The most immediate sign of global warming's impact is the fast-shrinking glaciers. The glaciers around Mount Everest, which spans Tibet and Nepal, have shrunk 170 meters in the past decade.

Chinese scientists concluded last year that Tibet is warming up faster than anywhere else in the world. The average annual temperature in Tibet was rising at a speed of 0.3 degrees Celsius every 10 years, Xinhua reported.

Also, this past week, the Chinese authorities have opened Tibet (including the capital city of Lhasa) back up for tourism after being closed for the spring trekking and climbing season. In 2008 and 2009, One World Trekking will be offering the Mount Everest Advance Base Camp Trek. This is the world's highest trek where you can hike (no climbing) to 21,000 feet on the Tibetan (north) side of the world's highest peak.


THE KARAKORAM MOUNTAINS OF NORTHERN PAKISTAN
Summer is the time to trek in the world's wildest mountain range
For trekkers looking for that out of the way mountain experience, few places on earth can match the grandeur, remoteness and sheer overwhelming scale of the Karakoram Range of northern Pakistan. Just flip through the new book by Kenneth Hanson called Himalayan Portfolios. Ken has some incredible shots of the Karakoram Range.

Our roots in Pakistan go back to 1988 when we took our first trekking group to the Gondoro Valley. From Hushe Village we trekked over the Gondogoro La pass (17,880 feet) and dropped into Concordia Camp - "The Throne Room of the Mountain Gods". My vision of the world changed on this trip, as I have yet to travel to an area of such immense and overwhelming scale. To stand 6 miles from K2 and have to tilt my head all the way back to see the top is still a mind-blowing image.

Despite the State Department's travel warning and all the negitive press that comes out of Pakistan, trekkers and climbers from all over the world still (fortunately) flock to this amazing mountain area. As of June 23, 2008, Everestnews.com reports that 74 expeditions have applied for climbing permits this year.


NEPAL: THE LOST VALLEYS OF NAAR AND PHU
Tucked away in the northern reaches of Nepal's district of Manang sits the remote and little-visited regions of Naar and Phu. Closed until recently, this area sits northeast of the Annapurna Range and offers a chance to get off the beaten path, cross 5000 meter passes, visit several monasteries and villages and explore an area that has truly changed little since first settled. One World Trekking has just returned from our research trip in this area and the trek is superb. Read the Spring 2008 Trek Report here.

ONE WORLD TREKKING'S HIMALAYAN CLASSIC TREKS
In response to a large request by you for trips with low minimum required group sizes and flexible departure dates, we will now guarantee to run almost all of our trips with a minimum of 1 or 2 people and will arrange your trip to begin on any day of the week. For further details, please see the individual trip page on this website and feel free to contact us for a detailed trip itinerary or to ask any questions. We are striving to make it easier and more convenient for you to take that adventure of a lifetime.

2008 AND 2009 EPIC HIMALAYAN JOURNEY SERIES
Our Epic Himalayan Trek Series represents an outlandish program of unique, off-the-beaten-path trekking journeys. These treks were created to cure the 'been there done that' syndrome and provide the experienced and the first-time Himalayan trekker with an epic mountain trekking and cultural experience.
These are the gourmet offerings of the great Himalayan range. Inner Dolpo, Around Dhaulagiri, Manaslu Circuit, Makalu Base Camp and the Lost Valleys of Naar Phu.
Spring 2009: Makalu Base Camp Trek
Fall 2009: Around the Annapurnas and Dhaulagiri



HIMALAYAN PORTFOLIOS
Journeys of the Imagination by Kenneth Hanson
Over 100 photographs taken in Pakistan, India, Nepal and Tibet, plus maps and an interpretive essay. Fold-out panorama 11"- 46” of the Biafo Glacier. Forward by Greg Mortenson, mountaineer and builder of schools in Pakistan. “Ken Hanson's photographs… bring joy down from the mountains” Mortenson. Duotone photographs, 190 pages, 11x13.5 inches. Limited edition: signed and numbered. Now available (May, 2008): $85.00 plus shipping ($8.50 USA ). Fields Publishing, www.charlesfields.net. Tel: 508-487-5901. Also available through Amazon.com. Photographer and author: kenhanson@cshore.com

MAY 29, 2008: TENZING-HILLARY EVEREST MARATHON
Deepak Raj Rai has just won his third straight Tenzing-Hillary Everest Marathon in a time of 3:53:14. You can check out the website for the full 2008 race results and for details on the 2009 event. This high-altitude trail marathon, from Everest Base Camp to Namche Bazaar, takes place every year on May 29 to commemorate the first successful summit climb of Mount Everest.

FEMALE GUIDES GAIN GROUND IN NEPAL MOUNTAINS
Female trekkers are gaining ground in the mountains of Nepal. This in turn is spurring demand for female guides. Women in the guiding ranks remain a tiny minority in the massive Himalayan trekking industry, but in recent years female trekking guides and porters have been gaining ground here among the more moderate tourist treks thanks to three sisters: Nicky, Dicky and Lucky Chetri. The Chetri women, natives of Darjeeling, India, opened a restaurant 14 years ago in Pokhara, Nepal, in the foothills of the Annapurna mountain range, and catered to trekkers returning from long hikes. Before long, she and her sisters recognized an unmet business demand. We knew what we needed to do," she says.

FREE MEMBERSHIP TO THE INTERNATIONAL MOUNTAIN EXPLORERS CONNECTION
The IMEC was founded in 1996 in Boulder, Colorado to promote responsible and sustainable connections between travelers and the people of developing mountain regions of the world. IMEC provides and coordinates education, assistance, and cross-cultural experiences for members, volunteers, trekkers, and local communities. According to the World Tourism Organization (WTO), Nepal and Tanzania are among the 10 poorest countries in the world, yet of the least developed countries are in the top three in terms of tourism revenue. The IMEC, through volunteer placement, homestays, tourist education, and "off the beaten path" trips is actively following the WTO Sustainable Tourism Eliminating Poverty (STEP) program to promote responsible, sustainable tourism that facilitates benefits from tourism "trickling down" to all members of the local population. Everyone who signs up for a One World Trekking adventure, will receive a free 1 year Single or Couple Basic Membership. We encourage you to please visit the IMEC Website and support their efforts.

ONE WORLD TREKKING 1012 Blake Avenue, Glenwood Springs, CO 81601 Telephone: (970) 945-2601 Email: info@oneworldtrekking.com