Women’s high altitude trekking guide training

FEMALE GUIDE TRAINING 2021, 2022 and 2023:

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.

The second and third editions of the female guide training course were conducted in the Langtang and Gosaikunda region. 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 these editions, 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 (20 total) in each of these courses.

FOURTH FEMALE GUIDE TRAINING 2025:

The fourth edition of the 15-day female guide training course will be conducted January 05 – 18, 2025.

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:

05/01/2025 1. Kathmandu Sherpa Gaun
06/01/2025 2 Riverside
07/01/2025 3 Langtang
08/01/2025 4 Kyanjing Gompa
09/01/2025 5 Kyanjing Gompa
10/01/2025 6 Langsisakharka
11/01/2025 7 Lansisakharka
12/01/2025 8 Near airport
13/01/2025 9 Lama hotel
14/01/2025 10 Thulo Syabru
15/01/2025 11 Gosaikunda
16/01/2025 12 Ghopte
17/01/2025 13 Thadepati
18/01/2025 14 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:

Last date for submitting application: 25 December

28th December – in-person Interview
31st December – result announcement

• 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