KATHMANDU: A group of 28 trainees, including five women, and five instructors successfully climbed the 6,220-meter Danga Peak in the Kanchenjunga region.
The ascent marked the conclusion of the ‘Professional Mountain Guide-Summer Skill’ training program organized by the Nepal Mountaineering Association (NMA).
The NMA has been conducting this training for the past three years, based on a 1,696-hour curriculum approved by the Council for Technical Education and Vocational Training. The comprehensive program covers fundamental mountaineering, summer and winter skills, first aid, skiing, canyoning, and rescue operations. Thirty-four trainees, including one foreign national, participated in this session, which was held in partnership with the Sustainable Tourism Project.
Lead instructor Sarki Sherpa noted that the team underwent approximately 40 days of practical and theoretical training in Kathmandu and on the mountain. ‘The trainees lead the ascent entirely on their own. Instructors observe and evaluate their performance and skills, intervening only if mistakes are made,’ Sherpa said.
Dawa Tashi Sherpa, an NMA central committee member and instructor, described the successful summit by such a large group as a significant achievement for Nepal’s mountain tourism. Instructor Sanjeev Gurung added that the training aims to produce skilled professionals capable of handling peaks up to 8,000 meters, thereby making the sector safer and more reliable. Upon successful completion of the program, trainees are issued a ‘blue book,’ qualifying them to work as professional mountain guides across Nepal.
