Future of Rolwaling Valley- From Austrian Hut to Ferrata Project

Despite holding potential as an attractive stop for several important trekking and expedition route, Rolwaling Valley had been shrouded in anonymity till now. Although home of many brave Sherpas who either assisted many record breaking personalities to the top of the Everest or hold records of their own, Rolwaling has always been a Cinderella of tourism destination. But, thanks to the effort of Phurba Tenjing Sherpa and his foreign associates, Rolwaling Valley may now get the attention that it deserves. Phurba Tenjing Sherpa was born and raised in the hills of Dolakha district. Shortly after his adolescent years, he was pushed towards the mountains by a compulsion to run his family. Having lost his elder brother to a blizzard in the higher mountains, he was hesitant at first. However, he heard a calling. He embraced the life of a Sherpa and began making connections outside the country. Josef Einwaller, an Austrian Businessman was a family friend of his. After some time, Phurba was acquainted with Davide [Insert Surname Here], an Italian Citizen with immense love for the mountains.

Davide was in Nepal in 2011 and he was heading to the Tashi Lapcha Pass after having crossed the Rolwaling Valley. Even in the spring, the weather was harsh as if it were winter. Davide took a look at two potters who were barely seventeen years old and were scared to death having faced such a difficult weather. Davide and his team went through a lot of troubles but finally managed to cross the pass and safely reach Namche Bazaar. After the journey was over and Davide was back in Kathmandu, he met the secretary of the Ministry of Tourism of Nepal and expressed his intentions to work for the people of Rolwaling area. It was right then, when he came in contact with Phurba, who was making attempts on his own to make Rolwaling less remote. Phurba wanted to do something for his homeland, and Davide was moved by the fate the inhabitants of Rolwaling were suffering because of geographical complications. Davide thought that he had found the perfect accomplice, someone who knew the mountains as and was willing to work for betterment of Rolwaling. It is when Davide came up with the Feratta project.

Davide contacted his friends and associates back at Europe and managed to get some high standard steel cables. Those cables, once fixed, could last for many years and help nearby residents and tourists tread safely in perilous areas. Once they get fixed, they offered safer and more lasting alternatives to ordinary climbing ropes. Feratta Project has finished fixing steel cables in Tashi Lapcha Pass that acts as an alternative route to Namche Bazaar, the gate way to Everest. With assistance of Phurba and approval from the Government of Nepal, Davide hopes to continue this project in many other places. After Tashi Lapcha Pass, Tengi Ragi Tau – a mountain that separates Rolwaling Village and Khumbu Region – is on the line to be equipped with such steel cables.

Josef Einwaller had already begun yet another campaign named the Austrian Hut Project in Rolwaling Valley when Ferrata project began. Austrian Hut Project was started with the aim of providing a proper shelter for anyone from local inhabitants to tourists during their journey through Rolwaling and Tashi Lapcha Pass. In the narrow terrains of the high mountains, it is difficult for people to find a proper shelter. The land is generally very steep and the Gore-Tex tents don’t offer any protection from rocks falling from higher grounds. Hence, Josef Einwaller began a project that aimed to import high strength Biwak Shelter and install it at the height of 5700 m. Installation of such a hut would ensure trekkers and expeditioners safety during their passage of Rolwaling and Tashi Lapcha Pass. Since Tashi Lapcha is an alternative route to Namche Bazaar, commencement of project like Austrian Hut and Feratta will really help attract significant number of tourists, increasing economic activities in Rolwaling Valley and raising the life standard of its inhabitants. 

 

The interview with Davide Peluzzi is presented below.

Q: What is the project in Rolwaling? From where the idea came from and why?

A: The Project was born in 2011 and is dedicated to everyone who wants to enjoy the valley. And In Spring in 2011, I was going to pass the Tashi Lapcha Pass via Rolwaling Valley, and it was really hard spring with lots of snow and cold. I thought it is winter not spring. When I and my team arrived Jaboo with all ice and snow, three of our porters are very young and scared due to the risky way. They started to cry because they thought that they definitely will die that day. It was one of the worst day of my life. And I ethically was responsible for them as I was a leader of the Expedition. I and those 16 -17 years old porters hardly made out of that trail and reached Namche Bazaar. Then we safely reached Kathmandu. In Kathmandu, we met the Secretary of the Ministry of Tourism. I precisely remember that on our meeting, he asked me to tell about the mountains and peaks of Nepal. But I cut him short and replied “No. Not the mountains. First of all, I would like to talk about the people who live in the mountains.” I kept talking about the people, Rolwaling Valley, porters on that area and all those people who work in the area of Himalaya. I told them I want to do something for those people. This determination or my promise to myself started the relationship to the Rolwaling. I came back to Nepal again in 2013 with my team, and we meet Phurba Tenjing Sherpa resident of Rolwaling, and after knowing him, I was able to establish a very good relationship with the people of Rolwaling Valley. So far, we have tried our best to help the people and the Valley for good cause. Even after the Earth quake in 2015, we came here again. Phurba Tenjing came over to Italy and he began describing his plans for Rolwaling Valley. Because the mountaineering in the Rolwaling Valley now represent the future to the next generation of mountaineers.  As Sherpas like Phurba who are young and has already been to the summit of many mountains they really can do great thing if they get a chance to show up themselves. Phurba and I, we see each other straight in the eyes we see each other soul and we put our efforts to do something for human and humanity. This is the first step we started in Rolwaling, continuing the Project of Austrian Hut leaded by Josef Einwaller. All these project and effort will be a milestone for the future of Rolwaling Valley as well as for the future of whole Himalaya because this is just a first step. For an example, if we are able to fix the Austrain Hut (Biwak) on Tashi Lapcha Pass then that could be very helpful not only for trekkers, climbers or porters but also for the scientific research, metrology or physiology study. Because of this, Rolwaling could be the center of point for those research or point of general study and research, and would be famous all over the world.

 

Why Rolwaling?

Oh! Why Rolwaling? Because the place I was born in Italy is similar to Rolwaling Valley. And when I first came here, it felt like my home. I found so many friends as well.

The project (Ferrata) was never done before in Nepal, what makes you believe that you could do it in Rolwaling?

We used to go to mountain when our beard was black. Now it’s a little white. And then with Phurba and his team’s help, we were able to fix steel cables on the very technical part. Also I would like to thank my great teammates Marco, Giorgio, Paolo, Marco Sazzini and Giuseppe De Angelis .I believe my team is the main inspiration to complete this project.

 

 

The project seems costly, how did you manage this all?

The materials were donated by the construction company based in Italy. I talked with that company, which belongs to my good friend and explained him about the project. Showing 100% support on us, he gave us good drill machines, cables, points and some other important materials. The members of our team even bought some of the materials at our own expense.

 

 

When did you came to Nepal for first time, Davide ?

In 2011 I was here for trek.

 

This Ferrata and Austrian Hut Project could be very helpful in other high pass or in Himalaya Region, do you have plan to build it in other parts of Nepal?

Yeah! We will certainly do it, if we have the possibility to do it. We need support and teammates like this. Then we will have to ask Phurba Tenjing to figure to the places in Himalayas which is in most need of our project. We will also need to have some permits from Government of Nepal and Valley so everything has to be done in a systematic way. And if all worked well we will of course continue our project. I am preparing the material for the next route on the mountain Tengi Ragi Tau that will connect the Rolwaling to the Kumbu, bringing the alpinists on the future Austria Hut.

The name of the next mission will be called “Sky’s Way to Everest Expedition 2018!

 

How many of you are in a core team?

1) Giorgio Marinelli, 2) Marco Di Marcello, 3) Paolo Cocco,

4) Marco Sazzini, 5) Giuseppe De Angelis, 6) Karma Sherpa, 7) Patang Sherpa and 8) me.