A trekking peak- by any other names

The single biggest climbing accident in the Nepal Himalaya just took place on a 'trekking peak'. What's in a name…

The tragic accident on Pisang Peak (6091m) in the Manang Himal during the 1994 post-monsoon season in which eleven climbers were killed highlights the dilemma of calling a Himalayan mountain a ´trekking peak´. The name seems to imply something non¬technical, as if they were suitable for non-mountaineers without an experienced, qualified mountain guide to lead and look after them. It is a name that seems to suggest that they can be climbed by any strong walker—not so. The truth is they are all serious undertakings and given the wrong conditions or lack of skill can be as difficult and dangerous as any other Himalayan mountain.

I have never felt easy about the term ´trekking peak´. In the introduction to my book The Trekking Peaks of Nepal, I stated it was a misnomer and that Non-Expedition Peak or Himalayan/Alpine Peak would be better alternatives to distinguish these mountains from the higher Expedition Peaks like Ama Dablam, Everest, Annapurna and Makalu which are open to mountaineers, at a price. Expeditions to these higher peaks demand a liaison officer, sirdar and a lot of bureaucratic hassles. The joy of the trekking peaks is that they are ideally suited to small groups wishing to enjoy some interesting climbing, perhaps doing a new route, at relatively low cost, without a lot of red tape.