MERA PEAK – Direct Approach–
16 Days.  Max. Altitude  6,654m.
Fully supported and tented on climb and basic teahouses during approach/return.  Flights Kathmandu-Lukla-Kathmandu.
Pre-trek Briefing:  HE Office (Kathmandu Guest House) 3 pm on day prior to Day 1.   Full attendance necessary for briefing with emphasis on individual equipment check (options for hiring etc).

We go to Mera several times each year.  We have the experience, including highly experienced Sherpas virtually at home at these altitudes and in these temperatures well above the 5,000m snow line.  We place proper importance on the logistics, timings, equipment and team-building – but luck with the weather also plays a real part…Let’s just say we’ve had excellent weather on almost every ascent so far and, giddy with satisfaction, the incredible ‘high’ of being that high, finally nothing above you, no more terra firma to climb, you feel on top of the World - and the view is breath-taking…fully that!  Even Everest itself, seemingly quite close, appears hardly higher and is just one of a semi-circle of summits.

DAY TO DAY PLAN –
THE APPROACH ROUTE Teahouse accommodation and meals – Days 1-3

Day 1:  Fly to Lukla (45 mins) and trek to Puyan.
(O/nt  altitude 2,820m/5 hours approx.)   An early morning stunning flight to the gateway to the region of the legendary Sherpas. Start trek to Puyan.  

We descend steeply towards the Dudh Koshi (the torrent that thunders from the flanks of Everest), passing an array of travellers and the first encounters with the extraordinary Sherpas carrying gravity defying stacks of goods to markets up in Namche Bazaar.  We arrive in Surke after approx. 2hrs then climg steeply up from the far side of the valley to where there are spectacular views both upwards to Cho Oyu and down into the plummeting canyon to the river below.  A further 2 hours brings us to our lunch stop.  We continue through rhododendron forest that in the pre-monsoon is awash with reds and pinks. The huge Magnolia trees add their large white flowers to the canvas as we enjoy a level walk to our night stop in Puyan. 

Day 2  To Pangum.
(O/nt altitude 2,850m/6 hours approx.) We set off on a gentle 1.5 hour climb to the Khari La pass (2,860m), with today’s destination already visible in the distance as we pass through dense forest with occasional glimpses of the white peaks emerging above the clouds. A gradual hour-long descent to lunch is followed by a steady climb for 2 ½ hours to Pangum. (B)

THE CLIMB – High Altitude Tented/Bivouac and Meals – Days 3-12

Day 3  To Ningsow.
(O/nt altitude 3,100m/4 hours approx.) A short climb brings us to the Pangum La (3,010m) where we cross over into the fabled, awesome and empty Inkhu Valley and we pass through the village of Bhusme (approx. 1hr on), which is the last permanent habitation we shall see. It’s another 3 hour walk to our night stop at Ningsow; just a name and a couple of shepherd’s huts in a forest clearing.  (B,L,D)

Day 4 To Chhetra Thanga.
(O/nt altitude 3,300m/7 hours approx.)   Today is a long one – climbing and descending the steep and rugged spurs that line the Inkhu Khola valley; the glimpses through the dense forest of the torrent below us are truly dramatic. This is the Himalayan river torrent of steepest descent cutting a jagged incision through this ancient glacial valley while the trail encounters landslides as it clings to the V-shaped valley’s precipitous western edge. The finale to the raw, natural feel of today’s trek is our camp in the only suitable location – a cave under a huge overhanging rock deep in the forest. (B,L,D)

Day 5 To Kothe (Mosom Kharka).
(O/nt altitude 3,691m/5 hours approx.)  A short but steep 500m climb after breakfast offers interesting views; South to the rolling foothills of a few days before, North to Mera Peak itself and our first sight of its dramatic southwest face.  The forest is untouched, beautiful, tall pine and moss, lichen  and rhododendron creating a peaceful soulful feel during today’s walk as we descend to the upper Inkhu Khola and arrive at a few huts and the summer yak pastures that is Kothe. (B,L,D)