Kangchenjunga

The Five Great Treasures Revealed

KANGCHENJUNGA is the third highest mountain in the world. Rising to 8,595 metres or 28,205 ft., it is the culminating point of a proliferation of summits and ridges that form the borders of Nepal, Tibet and the once independent, and now Indian protected, state of Sikkim. It is a sacred mountain and its translated name ‘The Five Great Treasures of the Mountain Snows’, appropriately describes the summit and its satellites when seen from afar.

Bounded in the west by the Tamur River, in the north by the Lhonak Chu and Jongsang La, and in the east by the Teesta River, this great mountain massif stands both in Nepal and the state of Sikkim. The main summit and its satellites encompass 16 peaks over 7,000 metres (23,000 ft.). The main ridge of the massif runs from north-northeast to south-southwest and together with ridges running roughly from east to west they form a giant cross.

These ridges contain a host of peaks over 6,000 metres (19,685 ft.) in height. The western ridge culminates in the striking outlying peak of Kumbhakarna, also known as Jannu, 7,710m.,( 25,300 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 the handsome if smaller summit of Siniolchu, 6,888m., (22,598 ft.), whilst the southern section which includes Kabru runs southwards along the Singalila Ridge and the Nepal-Sikkim border.

Four main glaciers radiate from the main peak; the Zemu glacier in the northeast and the Talung glacier in the southeast drain to the Teesta River; the Yalung glacier in the southwest and the Kangchenjunga glacier in the northwest drain to the Arun and Kosi rivers. These glaciers spread over the area above approximately 5,000 metres and the glaciated area covers about 314 square kilometres in total.

The Kingdom of Nepal formally opened its borders to the outside world in 1949 but for political, cultural and economic reasons it continued to restrict access to several important areas. In 1988 the authorities finally conceded to mounting pressure and allowed trekking groups to visit Kangchenjunga. Their decision was significant not only because Kangchenjunga is a very desirable objective located in a remote part of Nepal, but also because it was the first major trekking area to be opened up for nearly a decade.

The mountain’s eastern aspect was, however, a familiar sight to visitors to Darjeeling and until 1849 Kangchenjunga was thought to be the highest mountain in the world. Early attempts to climb Kangchenjunga were made from Sikkim to the east, but the more recent activity has been on the Nepalese side. British climbers have played a significant role in the climbing history of the mountain; Joe Brown and George Band made the first ascent from the south via the Yalung Glacier in 1955 and then Doug Scott, Peter Boardman and Joe Tasker made the first oxygen free ascent from the Kangchenjunga Glacier to the north-west in 1979.

These two climbs were the inspiration for a small expedition I led whose objective was to explore and photograph the Yalung and Kangchenjunga Glacier systems. The absence of detailed and accurate maps made route planning difficult but the aim of the trip was to approach the mountain from the south via Phidim, cross the 5,350 metre Lapsang Pass to return along the Ghunsa valley and Milke Danda ridge to Basantpur.

The Kanchenjunga massif as seen from Sikkim - the main summit is to the right of the picture

Farmer's House in the Kabeli Khola Valley

First view of the Kangchenjunga massif from Gopetar

As our packed local bus made its way out of Biratnagar on route to Phidim, I questioned the wisdom of my decision to avoid the potentially quicker but notoriously unreliable flights to Taplejung airstrip. For twenty hours it rattled, roared, squeaked and shook its way up and down the hills of the Mahabaret Lekh on a partly constructed dirt track road.

In contrast, beyond Phidim, the first days on foot followed a peaceful trail which meandered its way through sub-tropical forest, tiny settlements and terraced paddy fields above the tributaries of the Tamur River. The local people, who were mainly Rais and Limbus always welcomed us into their villages; the children were fascinated by our cameras and other western paraphernalia and they occasionally asked us to read to them from their English language schoolbooks.

Upon reaching the crest of the first major ridge on route at the village of Ghopetar we obtained the first unobstructed view of our objective. Fifty miles away, rising like a cluster of diamonds against a deep blue sky, was the whole Kangchenjunga massif; on its western flank the striking peak of Jannu captured much of our attention in favour of its loftier neighbours.

Our route now descended into and then followed the valley of the Kabeli Khola. Yamphudin was the last permanent settlement on this approach and from here the tenuous trail crossed the remote Omje Khola valley; its dense and unspoilt forests of bamboo, rhododendron or pine provided welcome shade during the heat of the day, but attracted billowing clouds in the afternoons.

We left the valley over the 3,310 metre Lasiya Bhanjyang and then descended and followed the trail along the bank of Simbua Khola river to its source at the snout of the Yalung Glacier. With increasing altitude the valley opened out and the forest was reduced to rhododendron thickets; the view ahead improved and was dominated by the great ice wall of Kabru, 7,353m., (24,125 ft.).

Lapsang, 4,432 metres, was the first of many idyllic grassy campsite locations we came upon over the trip. The trail between Lapsang and our top camp at Rhamze, 4,560 metres, was a sheer delight as the mountains ahead rose in stature with every step we took. Tiny stone monuments and glacial lakes provided foreground for photography of the surrounding peaks, the most stunning of which was Rathong, 6,678m., (21,910 ft.), whose form was so reminiscent of the Khumbu giant Pumori.

The Yalung Glacier at Lapsang. Rathong Peak is on the left of the picture. The snow peak to the right is Koktang.

The Yalung Face of Kangchenjunga from Oktang

Throughout our ascent of the Yalung valley the main summit of Kangchenjunga had remained hidden behind enclosing ridges. In order to get a close view of the peak we walked beyond Rhamze, along the lateral moraine of the Yalung Glacier to Oktong. Our day’s excursion provided an unobstructed view of Kangchenjunga, its south face, and the satellites of Yalung Kang, 8,505m., (27,905 ft.), Kambachen, 7,903m., (25,930 ft.), and Kangchenjunga South, 8,491m., (27,859 ft.). On one flank of the glacier were giant ridges descending from Jannu, on the other, a wall of ice supporting the peaks of Talung, 7,349m., (24,112 ft.), and Kabru, 7,353m., (24,125 ft.).

We stopped beside a small stone shrine on the lateral moraine and, following the example of our Sirdar Sonam Chotter and Sherpa Ang Nima, who lit a small juniper fire, we gave thanks for the success of our trip and left small offerings of money and food. Upon our return to Rhamze our thoughts turned to the task ahead, the crossing of the Lapsang La pass.

The Yalung and Kangchenjunga valley systems are separated by a long ridge that runs south west from Jannu for some twenty miles. To link the two valleys without returning to their confluence at Hellok it is necessary to make one of two pass crossings, the Mirgin-Sinion La or the much higher Lapsang La. In anticipation of obtaining closer views of Jannu from the foot of the Yamatari Glacier we chose the more challenging Lapsang La, but did so with only limited information about its height and of the terrain we were likely to encounter.

We moved camp to a grassy hollow at the foot of the steepening pass and spent the late afternoon watching the sunset. From our elevated position we looked over the glacier at the mysterious interplay between banks of cloud and sun drenched peaks. Dawn was equally impressive and our situation benefited from the early arrival of the sun’s warming rays.

We left camp in confident mood; fit, well acclimatised and in the belief that it would not take long to reach the pass. The reality turned out to be very different as we struggled for four hours to complete the 1,000 metre climb. The entire ascent was over glacial debris comprised of sand, scree and sharp angular blocks of varying size and stability.

The view from the summit of the pass, at about 5,350 metres, was disappointing. The mountains to the east remained clear, but the clouds enveloping Everest and Makalu to the west heralded a change in the weather. We hurried off down, initially across easy angled snowfields that provided temporary relief, but then back onto the interminable moraine. Three hours later we reached camp located on a soft grassy bank at Lumba Sumba Kharka. The sherpas, bless them, had camp ready and greeted us with mugfulls of hot sweet tea.

The next morning it was snowing and the cloud that covered the surrounding peaks denied us our planned close and dramatic view of Jannu from the Yamatari Glacier. However, our consolation was a short and easy walk through pine and rhododendron forests to meet the main valley at Ghunsa. The inhabitants of Ghunsa are of Tibetan origin, and the cattle grazing in the open fields, the mani walls, chortens and the small monastery were once again reminiscent of the Khumbu.

Jannu (left) and Sobithonge Peak from near Kambachen.

Kangchenjunga (far right) from Pangpema. The two smaller peaks are known as 'The Twins'

With the exception of one section across a large landslip, the path upwards to Kambachen and Lhonak rose steadily and easily. The weather remained unsettled but there were many opportunities to see and photograph the peaks. The views of the Jannu Glacier, the Sharphu peaks and Kambachen Peak were impressive, as was our first view up the Kangchenjunga Glacier on the final approach to Lhonak, 4,780 metres. The thinly grassed wastes at Lhonak were popular with Tibetan herders and throughout our time there the sound of yak bells continually punctuated the still and bitterly cold air.

Our final objective was to reach Pangpema, base camp for expeditions climbing Kangchenjunga from this side. The easy trail between Lhonak and Pangpema rose steadily along the grass covered lateral moraine, rising high above the rubble covered glacier several hundred feet below. Kangchenjunga’s summit only revealed itself on the very last stage of the walk to Pangpema, much of the time it was hidden behind Wedge Peak, 6,750m., (22,147 ft.), a bold mountain whose summit ridge was comprised of intricately carved ice flutings.

Pangpema was little more than a grassy shelf above the glacier; a solitary boulder in full view of the summit supported a plaque in memory of the American climber Chris Chandler who died on Kangchenjunga in 1985.

From the grey rubble of the glacier the north faces of Kangchenjunga and Yalung Kang rose up over 3,500 metres in a series of tiers. Each hanging glacier was separated from the next by ice cliffs in a pattern seemingly designed to deter climbers. Whilst Kangchenjunga attracted most of our attention, the supporting summits of Nepal Peak, Tent Peak, Pyramid Peak and The Twins added much to the magnificence of our surroundings.

We said farewell to the high mountains and within two days had retraced our steps to Ghunsa. Further ups and downs through the forests beside the Ghunsa River on a wonderfully engineered path that incorporated a remarkable near vertical descent at Amjilassa brought us to Hellok. Here the waters of the Ghunsa, Simbua and Yangma Kholas converge to form the infant Tamur River. A week after leaving the solitude of Pangpema we walked into the bustling hill town of Dobhan.

We had planned to make the return journey to Basantpur as interesting as possible by walking along the Milke Danda, a great ridge separating the Arun and Tamur valley systems. We climbed the 1,500 metres to the ridge top at a fairly relaxed pace, frequently stopping at chautaras in the shade of a Banyan and Pipal trees to enjoy sweet, juicy and locally grown oranges. Rhododendron forest replaced paddy fields and the villages became more scattered as the altitude increased.

At the top of the Milke Danda the tiny village of Gupha Pokhari is blessed with a 180 degree panorama of the Himalaya. On the western side of the ridge it included Chamlang, Lhotse, Everest and Makalu, whilst to the east were the Kangchenjunga massif and peaks in Sikkim. The view was our constant companion for the last few days of our trek as we walked through grassy meadows along the wide and level ridge. At each sunrise and sunset we found a suitable vantage point to watch the world’s highest mountains unfold their colourful spectacle.

On the morning of our departure from Basantpur we boarded the bus with mixed emotions; looking forward to the comforts of home yet sad to come to the end of a happy and successful adventure. There are so many highlights on this route to Kangchenjunga that it is difficult to single any one out. The majesty of the high peaks fulfilled all expectations, but for me the lasting memory is of the diversity of the country through which we passed and the welcome that we received from its people.

The steep descent from the Ghunsa Valley at Amjilassa