Mount Kanchenjunga Expedition

Trip Overview

The Kangchenjunga Himal section of the Himalayas lies both in Nepal and India and encompasses 16 peaks over 7,000 m (23,000 ft). In the north, it is limited by the Lhonak Chu, Goma Chu, and Jongsang La, and in the east by the Teesta River. The western limit runs from the Jongsang La down the Gingsang and Kangchenjunga glaciers and the rivers of Ghunsa and Tamur. Kanchenjunga rises about 20 km (12 mi) south of the general alignment of the Great Himalayan range about 125 km (78 mi) east-south-east of Mount Everest as the crow flies. South of the southern face of Kanchenjunga runs the 3,000–3,500 m (9,800–11,500 ft) high Singalila Ridge that separates Sikkim from Nepal and northern West Bengal.
Kangchenjunga and its satellite peaks form a huge mountain massif. The main ridge of the massif runs from north-north-east to south-south-west and forms a watershed to several rivers. Together with ridges running roughly from east to west, they form a giant cross. These ridges contain a host of peaks between 6,000 and 8,586 m (19,685 and 28,169 ft). The northern section includes Yalung Kang, Kangchenjunga Central and South, Kangbachen, Kirat Chuli, and Gimmigela Chuli, and runs up to the Jongsang La. The eastern ridge in Sikkim includes Siniolchu. The southern section runs along the Nepal-Sikkim border and includes Kabru I to III. This ridge extends southwards to the Singalila Ridge. The western ridge culminates in the Kumbhakarna, also known as Jannu.
Four main glaciers radiate from the peak, pointing roughly to the north-east, south-east, north-west and south-west. The Zemu glacier in the north-east and the Talung glacier in the south-east drain to the Teesta River; the Yalung glacier in the south-west and the Kangchen glacier in the north-west drain to the Arun and Koshi rivers. The glaciers spread over the area above approximately 5,000 m (16,000 ft), and the glacierized area covers about 314 km2 (121 sq mi) in total. There are 120 glaciers in the Kanchenjunga Himal, of which 17 are debris-covered. Between 1958 and 1992, more than half of 57 examined glaciers had retreated, possibly due to rising air temperature. 

Outline Itinerary

Day 01    Arrive Kathmandu
Day 02    Rest/Preparation
Day 03    Preparation
Day 04    Fly Suketar; trek Lali Kharka 2220m
Day 05    Trek Kande Banjyang (2240m)
Day 06    Trek Phomphe (1890m)
Day 07    Trek Yamphudin (1690m)
Day 08    Trek Amji Khola (2340)
Day 09    Trek Torontan (2990m)
Day 10    Trek Tseram (3870m)
Day 11    Trek Ramche (4620m)
Day 12    Rest/acclimatization
Day 13    Kanchunjunga Glacier
Day 14    Kanchanjunga Base Camp
Day 15/49    Climbing period
Day 50    Trek Ramche
Day 51    Trek Amji Khola
Day 52    Trek Yamphudin
Day 53    Trek Khewang
Day 54    Trek Lali Kharka
Day 55    Trek Suketar
Day 56    Fly Kathmandu
Day 57    Rest
Day 58    Depart Kathmandu