Women’s high altitude trekking guide training

FIRST FEMALE GUIDE TRAINING 2021:

We conducted the first women’s high altitude guide training in November 2021. Five female trail-runners, graduates from the Mira Rai Initiative, received guide training while trekking to Everest Base Camp and over the 3 passes (Kongma La, Cho La and Renjo La) in the Everest region. Of the five trainees, Anita Rai and Nikki Nembang lead a few treks in the Spring of 2022. Others are looking for opportunities and will potentially get work as trekking guides once trekking tourism returns to near pre-pandemic levels.

SECOND FEMALE GUIDE TRAINING 2023:

The second edition of the female guide training course was conducted January 15 – 30, 2023. Participants trekked for 15 days to the Langtang region and up to the Gosaikunda Lakes. This training helped participants augment their trekking guide skills and was a plus in their application for employment either with trekking companies or when they guide individual trekkers. In this edition, we included both a lodge trek and a camping trek component to allow the trainee to gain a clear understanding of what the two formats entail. We had 10 participants for this course.

THIRD FEMALE GUIDE TRAINING 2024:

The third edition of the 15-day female guide training course will be conducted January 07 onwards. Interested participants must submit by email documents and an essay (see below) by December 25, 2023. An in-person interview will be conducted on December 27, 2023.

Teaching components:

1. Nepali Tourism industry
   1. History and introduction to Nepali Tourism industry
   1. Tourism Today, it’s challenges and Future

• Outdoor leadership
  • Leadership, team work and communication
  • Organizational skills
  • Judgement and Decision making
  • Risk/Conflict management and Problem solving
  • Search, Rescue and Evacuation

• Back Country skills
  • Backpacking, camping and Layering
  • Ration Planning and Outdoor cooking
  • Map reading and navigation
  • Basic rope skills
  • Wilderness medicine/First aid

• Environmental Studies
  • Leave No Trace – Leave no trace (LNT)
  • Global Warming and Climate change

Tentative Itinerary:

Jan 07: Drive to Syabrubesi. Lodge.

Jan 08: Trek to Lama Hotel. Lodge.

Jan 09: Trek to Riverside. Lodge

Jan 10: Trek to Kyanjin Gompa. Lodge

Jan 11: Kyanjin Gompa. Lodge

Jan 12: Trek to Langshisha Kharka. Tents.

Jan 13: Explore to Tillman pass. Tents.

Jan 14: Explore to Ganjala pass. Tents

Jan 15: Explore to Yala Base Camp. Tents

Jan 16: Descend to Thangshyap. Lodge

Jan 17: Trek to Bamboo. Lodge

Jan 18: Trek to Cholangpati. Lodge
Jan 19: Trek to Gosaikunda. Lodge

Jan 20: Trek to Sing Gompa. Lodge

Jan 21: Trek to Dhunche. Drive back to Kathmandu.

Objectives of the Training course:

• Develop greater confidence in Outdoor Professionals
• Promote respect for nature, surrounding and fellow travelers
• Build essential outdoor skills
• Foster greater awareness of self, clients and environment.

Requirements for the Female Guide Training course:

• Photo copy of Nepali Citizenship
• Age: 25 – 40 years
• Qualification: Ability to speak and read English or any other foreign language besides Nepali and Hindi. (This will be assessed in the interview)
• Must have been on at least one high altitude trek (submit photo of trek)
• Must have a Trekking Guide license, Tour Guide license or a Climbing guide license
• Along with the above documents, submit a one-page bio data and an essay (fewer than 300 words) explaining why you wish to take this trekking guide course to threesummitsfornepal@gmail.com