Nepals yet untrodden trails KATHMANDU: Trekkers, who have had enough of the beaten trails of Nepal, can now get to enjoy new, challenging and adventurous route, which is yet untouched, through the remotest peaks to the Great Himalayan Range. All thanks to the enthusiasm and love for mountains of an Australian trekker — Robin Boustead. Everest, Annapurna and Langtang are the major trekking regions of Nepal, which attract thousands of trekkers every year. As such, trails here are well maintained and safe which offer the opportunity to explore the Himalayas comfortably. But Boustead is not satisfied with this situation. “The other two-thirds of Nepal’s mountain terrain offer extremely panoramic views and wonderful experiences for trekkers, but these terrains are off the beaten track. Neither are they well researched nor trekked,” he said. This dissatisfaction finally dragged Boustead from Australia to come and research the vast mountain terrain of Nepal. His effort thus made the Nepali section of the Great Himalayan Trail (GHT) become a reality. It begins at Kanchenjunga base camp in the east and joins all major trekking regions of Nepal and stretches up to Api Himal in the far west. The GHT is not limited to just Nepal. It is the longest and highest alpine walking trail in the world winding 4,500 km through the tallest mountain ranges and most isolated communities from Tibet to Pakistan. “The GHT offers an incredible diversity in terms of landscape, flora, fauna, people and culture — from snow leopards to red pandas, from sub-tropical jungle to fragile high-altitude eco-systems, from the famous Sherpas to Shamanism to the ancient Bon Buddhist culture of Humla,” said Boustead sharing his observation about the trail. Boustead, in fact, is a business consultant in Australia and also works in outdoor shops. But for the last 10 years he has been making annual trips to Nepal. “It was my love for trekking that brought me to Nepal for the first time in 1993,” revealed 41-year-old Boustead. And he decided to unveil other trekking trails of Nepal besides those of Everest, Langtang and Annapurna region. “The mountains were really difficult to explore. Information boards put up by the government to inform people about those areas were never complete,” Boustead shared his experience. “Every time locals were the ones who guided us throughout the way. Had we been unable to befriend the locals, we wouldn’t have been able to accomplish our target,” he added. Boustead, who was much touched by the generosity, humility and love of Nepali people expressed, “Though I began to search for new trails due to my love for trekking, Nepali people inspired me to meet my target. They are among the very best of humankind.” After 500 days of walking in order to research different areas, he finally discovered GHT — a trekking trail of 150 days. A few people have already started their journey on this trail. “The trail will commercially start from February of 2011,” informed Boustead according to who, “a lot of tourists have already started to book their tickets to trek through this route.” A book titled Nepal Trekking and the Great Himalayan Trail, written by Boustead and published by Himalayan Map House, Kathmandu will be released this June. “Mount Makalu is the Yosemite of Nepal. If Yosemite can attract millions of tourists every year, why can’t Nepal?” he questioned citing an example of Yosemite, a tourist area of New York. “The trekking companies in Nepal have been offering the same route to trekkers for the last 20 years. This trail thus will be a completely new treat for them. Hence, it will surely attract more and more tourists to Nepal,” he claimed. Boustead is hopeful that he will receive support from the government of Nepal and NGOs and INGOs. He is also of the opinion that the ethnic communities of these places will be largely benefited by this new trail. “Poverty is the major problem of people living in these areas. With trekkers coming to these areas, the locals will get employment and will be able to fulfil their need for food, fuel and other basic necessities,” he opined. “I want to develop a trans-Himalayan trail — a walking trail from Asia to Europe,” Boustead shared whose only aim of life is “to trek more and more”.