Rimo's Chewang Motup on the approach to the first ascent of Padmanabh (7,040 metres) via the Teram Sher Plateau

Rimo Expeditions was quoted in a feature article in The Economic Times recently with the provocative headline “Why India lost out to Nepal, Pakistan, China in mountain adventure.”

In the article Yangdu said:

India still has the maximum number of unclimbed and technically challenging peaks in the world in east Karakoram and Garhwal regions. International climbers find these very exciting but often shy away because of the amount of paperwork.

At Rimo Expeditions, we’ve been pushing the boundaries of exploration in the Indian Himalaya for almost two decades, always advocating for a more streamlined approach to the amount of paperwork, permits and various visas that often accompany an attempt to climb our mountains.

Despite the challenges we’ve succeeded and pioneered many first ascents on mountains such as Padmanabh (7,040 metres) on the Teram Sher plateau and Chongkhumdan II (7,080 metres) and glaciers such as the South Terong, Shukpa Kunzang and Arganglas. We were also involved in the first ascent of Saser Kangri II, until last year, the second highest unclimbed mountain in the world.

Rimo Expeditions camp during the first exploration of the Teram Sher Plateau in Ladakh

We’re happy that the ministry of tourism, the Indian Mountaineering Foundation and the Adventure Tour Operators Association of India  are coming together to promote the Indian Himalaya as part of the Incredible India campaign.

Much work remains to be done.

Ladakh batholith in the foreground with Buddhist monastery and the Indus Group in the background. Photo and information from http://www.travelinggeologist.com

Our clients include people from all walks of life and they ask us all kinds of questions which we are usually happy to answer. But rock formations and geology can be tough one sometimes!

We were happy to discover, however, that Christopher Spencer, part of a group of geologists who went rafting with Rimo Expeditions on the Zanskar River a few years ago put together a very helpful blog post at  http://www.travelinggeologist.com

So next time someone asks us what rock formation that is or what to expect on one of our treks or expeditions – as far as geology goes – we can say stuff like this:

Our journey to Ladakh will traverse a cross section of a classic volcanic arc complex. Beginning with the Indus suture zone and the Ladakh oceanic arc proceeding through the Shyok suture zone and all its ophiolite goodness to the Karakorum continental arc. This transect covers nearly 100 million years of subduction magmatism and accretion and over 50 million years of continent-continent collision …

… The Ladakh batholith is characterised by coarse-grained granite and granodiorite with abundant diorite enclaves concentrated at the margins and nearly absent towards its core. In the core of the batholith, large potassium feldspar dominate the mineralogy. The main part of the Ladakh batholith comprises the Late Cretaceous-Eocene (102-50 Ma) granitoids which is bounded on its southern and northern margin by the Indus Group and the Shyok suture zone, respectively …

…Across the Karakorum fault is the Shyok suture zone (my favorite part of the trip). The Shyok suture zone is a thick mélange considered by many to be a remnant of a Cretaceous back-arc basin separating the Ladakh island arc from the Karakoram continental arc and thus the Asian margin. The suture zone is primarily an ophiolite mélange, with mafic volcanics and minor amounts of sediments incorporated in the mix.  Within the Shyok suture zone we find many of the classic parts of a supra-subduction ophiolite complex with exception of the sheeted dikes and layered gabbros. However, like many ophiolite complexes the lack of these components might imply either that they did not form as part of the oceanic lithosphere or that were removed during tectonic erosion during continued subduction and collision, which appears to be the case in the Shyok suture zone.

Thank you for the great post!

For the full blog post, please click here.

Some more photos from their blog:

Prayer stones with Indus formation in the background. Photo by http://www.travelinggeologist.com/

Geologists rafting on the Zanskar with Rimo Expeditions. Photo by http://www.travelinggeologist.com/

Rather than fly to Lukla, the famous airport village which is the starting point for most expeditions, the Indian Army team and the seven female officers decided to hike much of the journey and left via bus and truck from Kathmandu, Nepal on 26 March 2012 for the road head destination of Jiri. It was a bumpy 13 hour ride and from there the team travelled to Shivalya, the start of the 17-day long trek towards Everest.

“We are yet to decipher who jumped more, the bus or us,” a team member emailed us!

Some photos of the hike included one passing by the town of Junbesi and crossing the Lamjura pass.

Rimo Expeditions Nepal which is organizing the logistics for the ascent will be providing regular updates on the expedition on our blog.

Closing down camp at Lamjura Pass

Camping enroute to Everest

Trekking towards Phagding

Feet inspection time

First glimpse of snow by the expedition

Before the expedition left for Nepal, they were flagged off in New Delhi by Lt. Gen. Ramesh Halgoli.

Capt. Namrata Rathore at Flag Off for the expedition by Lt. Gen. Ramesh Halgoli. Photo by Rangnath Tiwari

The team before their departure in New Delhi. Photo by Rangnath Tiwari

Yangdu and Motup on the summit of Stok Kangri (Ladakh) circa 1990

Time flies.

It’s hard to believe that we turn 20 this year!

So here’s our story:

Rimo Expeditions was founded in 1992 by the husband-and-wife team of Chewang Motup and Yangdu Goba who combined their expertise and love for trekking and mountaineering to build an innovative and renowned trans-Himalayan adventure travel company synonymous with excellence and quality.

Over a 20 year period Rimo Expeditions, with our home base in Ladakh, has developed a worldwide reputation as the specialists and go to company for trekking, mountaineering and family adventures in the East Karakoram mountains of Ladakh and across the Himalaya.

In recent years we have been responsible for opening up dozens of climbing and trekking peaks in Ladakh.

We operate treks, cultural and sightseeing tours, mountaineering expeditions, mountain biking excursions, Jeep safaris and whitewater river rafting adventures in India, Bhutan, Nepal and Tibet.

It all began on the banks of the Indus River in Ladakh when Motup, who was born in the remote Nubra valley of Ladakh and Yangdu, who comes from Darjeeling and is the daughter of mountaineer Nawang Gombu Sherpa, ran a modest two-person whitewater rafting camp for day trips.

Motup was the guide and Yangdu was the cook.

It was the start of a lifelong adventure for them; a way to earn a living and spend time in the outdoors they loved.

Over a 20 year period Rimo Expeditions has developed operational strength with stores and offices across India and Nepal and a team of guides and cooks that come from across the Indian subcontinent, famous for their ability to deliver safe and memorable journeys.

Today Rimo Expeditions has a global reputation for its ability to handle both big and small groups through fixed departure trips and customized adventures both for the novice seeking an introduction to the outdoors and the experienced adventurer who wants to push the limits of endurance.

Our backyard is the magnificent and spectacular Himalaya and East Karakoram, a region that stretches from the remote north-eastern state of Arunachal Pradesh to Ladakh which lies at the tip of India, along the Pakistan and China (Tibet) border.

Rimo organized expeditions were the first to set foot on remote and unexplored glaciers such as the Shukpa Kunzang glacier and Teram Shehr plateau and pioneered white water rafting on the upper Indus River.

The top 20 trips listed in the National Geographic Ultimate Adventure Bucket List for 2012 includes two of our signature expeditions; a chance to raft down the mighty Brahmaputra River in Arunachal Pradesh, India and climb Mount Everest in Nepal.

WHY US?

Throughout our evolution Rimo Expeditions has remained true to what has made the company a success that is emulated and followed.

The key to our success has always been the hands-on approach of Motup and Yangdu who are involved in every detail of a trip.

We have a network of offices and guides who are trained to international standards and know how to make sound judgement calls to ensure the safety of our clients.

Rimo has also set the gold standard for other local companies using only the best available equipment on its treks and high altitude mountaineering expeditions.

Our clients constantly remind us through their testimonials that the trail meals prepared by our expert staff are culinary miracles in difficult circumstances because they contain the three ingredients most important to them; they are delicious, hygienically prepared and nutritious. First time and returning clients rave about the meals we provide on our trips and for good reason. Our ability to provide both western and Indian cuisine on the road is unrivalled and our cooks and kitchen staff delight in being able to meet every request.

Whether it’s Mount Everest you want to climb, run the mighty Brahmaputra river, mountain bike on the roof of the world, take a Jeep safari through some of the most challenging terrain and the highest motorable road in the world, trek rarely trodden trails, one thing can be assured; Rimo Expeditions has a proven track record to make your holiday adventure safe, enjoyable and memorable.

One note: Rimo Expeditions will not compromise on your safety. Hyperbaric chamber bags are provided on treks involving high mountain pass crossings. Portable oxygen cylinders are also taken on all high altitude treks apart from first aid kits. All clients are briefed on possible hazards including high altitude sickness and our guides are trained to handle emergency situations.

SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY AND BEST PRACTICES

Rimo’s reputation and staff skills are such that when rare flash floods tore through Ladakh in 2010 killing dozens and leaving thousands homeless, western embassies from countries such as Spain, France and Italy called on us to help rescue stranded tourists and recover the bodies of those who had tragically lost their lives.

Our community responsibility includes our own ice hockey team in Ladakh which has won several national championships in India, helping raise funds for schools in Darjeeling and Ladakh and organizing medical camps in remote villages.

We take on the social and economic responsibility of hiring locally and provide work to help build capacity among young people who want to enter the adventure travel world. We abide by the International Porters Protection Group (IPPG) and outfit our porters in our high altitude treks and expeditions based on their guidelines.

We’ve also taken on a leadership role in being environmentally sustainable.

Best practices have been one of the core values of Rimo Expeditions, something that is part of our DNA, whether we are leading treks, climbing mountains, running rivers or mountain biking in the wilderness,

To us, best practices involve ensuring that our guides are professionally trained, practice no trace camping and we handle complaints and enquiries with equal care.

It includes innovation such as the use of gas, instead of kerosene, on our treks and expeditions for environmental reasons.

It involves building toilets on busy trekking routes.

It means ensuring that we employ locals widely and that we give them a fair wage.

It involves ensuring that we take all the garbage we produce, leaving nothing in the field.

It is making sure that all of our guides are certified from world renowned schools such as the Himalayan Mountaineering Institute and the Mountain Leadership Course we organized with the Petzl Foundation and the UIAA.

As Rimo Expeditions enters its third decade, we remain committed to ensuring the best travel experience you can have as we take you to more uncharted valleys and peaks through the mountains, hills and rivers of the Himalaya and East Karakoram.

So give us call, send us an email or browse through our website.

Julley and Tashi Delek!

The Ultimate Kanchenjunga Ridge trek offers spectacular views. Photo by Rimo Expeditions

The Ultimate Kanchenjunga Ridge trek (20 days) is one of the most spectacular treks in India.

Starting out at the tiny Sikkimese village of Uttarey, you travel along the Singalila ridge until you arrive at the high Himalayan meadow of Dzongri and trek to the high point of Goechala, just kilometres away from Kanchenjunga, the third highest mountain in the world.

It’s a relatively new and challenging trek and travels mostly along a path used by Sikkimese yak herders. The added bonus is that you encounter few other travellers as the route was only opened in 2000.

As you walk along the ridge which straddles the border with Nepal and cross several high passes, trekkers are offered fantastic views of peaks such as Mount Everest, Cho Oyu, Makalu and of course, repeated views of the Kanchenjunga massif.

On a clear day fall day, the best time to visit the region; you can even see the mountains of the Kingdom of Bhutan.

The round trip trek means you don’t have to retrace your steps and trek ends in the village of Yuksom, a place that is historically and religiously significant in Sikkim.

Booking details can be found here.

Dzongri. Photo by Rimo Expeditions

Kanchenjunga. Photo by Rimo Expeditions

Campsite along the way. Photo by Rimo Expeditions

Goodbye. Photo by Rimo Expeditions

On the summit of Nun. Photos by Tarmo and Jane Riga

We are happy to report two successful ascents of the Nun Kun massif (Nun 7,135 m /23,409 ft) and Kun (7,077 m / 23,218 ft) by teams from Germany and Estonia.

Located in western Ladakh in the Zanskar region, not far from the Indo-Pakistan border (line of control,) Nun Kun is a coveted climbing peak and a key part of our mountaineering program.

The expeditions last about two to three weeks and provide the rare opportunity to climb a mountain in the 7,000 metre range in such a short time.

The Estonian expedition for which we only provided logistical support was a non-guided 3 member team.

On Nun. Photos by Tarno and Jane Riga

Nun. Photos by Tarno and Jane Riga

Other successful expeditions included an exploratory trip to the Shukpa Kunzang glacier in the East Karakoram by a joint Indo-French team.

For years Rimo Expeditions has been exploring the remote region and its many glaciers, many of them which are being visited for the first time. More on that later.

Bhutan's ancient capital Punakha. Photo by Rimo Expeditions

There’s no better way to experience the magical kingdom of Bhutan, the land of the thunder dragon, than by doing the Lunana Snowman trek, a rigorous but rewarding 26 day journey through the remote and rarely travelled Laya and Lunana valleys of north-western Bhutan.

Rimo Expeditions has been conducting treks in Bhutan since 1994. Our journey crosses numerous passes, reaches an altitude of 5,600 m/ 18,480 feet and begins in Paro, the second most popular destination after the Kingdom’s capital Thimphu.

It’s often referred to as the world’s toughest trek with far more people having climbed Mount Everest than have completed this trek. We like to point out, however, that we’ve had a 100 per cent success rate since we began conducting this trek 17 years ago. Our clients have included young and old. A new helicopter rescue service that has been established in Bhutan has made the trek even safer, in case of an emergency.

Trekking towards the Bhutan Himalaya. Photo by Rimo Expeditions

Yaks and ponies are used to carry loads. Photo by Rimo Expeditions

An elderly Laya lady weaving with the distinctly conical bamboo hat of the area. Photo by Rimo Expeditions

Woman wearing a bear hair hat. Photo by Rimo Expeditions

A spectacular vista during the Lunana Snowman trek. Photo by Rimo Expeditions

One of many high altitude lakes on the trek. Photo by Rimo Expeditions

A vista of the Himalayan mountains that border Bhutan and China. Photo by Rimo Expeditions

A well earned rest by a mountain river. Photo by Rimo Expeditions

Yaks and ponies are replaced from village to village. Photo by Rimo Expeditions

The trek traverses a wide range of spectacular scenery, from the lush, green valleys of the lowlands to the Himalayas that border China, a region that includes well-known mountains as Chomolhari (7.314 metres,) the second highest mountain in Bhutan and Gangkhar Puensum (7,570 metres,) the highest unclimbed mountain in the world. Climbing Gangkhar Puensum has been banned by the Bhutanese government for religious and cultural reasons.

A Lunana vista. Photo by Rimo Expeditions

Faith and the high mountains. Photo by Rimo Expeditions

A high altitude meal about to be served. Photo by Rimo Expeditions

The region is now served by a rescue helicopter. Photo by Rimo Expeditions

Along the way we encounter the Lunana and Laya people, a semi-nomadic tribe, whose women are well-known for their distinctive conical bamboo hats. Unlike other regions of the Himalaya, we also get into the habit of replacing yaks and horses that carry our load at different villages along the way.

This is an epic trek that will reward the ardent mountain pilgrim and good fitness and previous high altitude trekking experience are required to participate on this trek.

Photo by Rimo Expeditions

Potato and chilli, a Bhutanese delicacy! Photo by Rimo Expeditions

These photos are from a recent Lunana Snowman Trek that took place in October 2011 for an Australian group led by Geoff Bailey, his 9^th Himalayan trip with Rimo Expeditions. For more details on booking this trip click here.

Where the Wild Things Are! Photo by Ian Ray

It’s never too early to learn mountaineering.

Just ask 7-year-old Jordan and five other children from the Ray and Strickland families, aged between 10 and 15 years, who spent two weeks this past summer on a memorable family adventure in Ladakh with us.

The highlights of the trip included trekking to remote villages, visiting ancient temples, doing glacier walks and the ascent of a 5,800 metre peak. The children were young, but their enthusiasm was infectious and it helped that they had each other to have fun with.

Rimo Expeditions customized the trip to fit the interests and especially the abilities of the young children who had the time of their life meeting children their age, experiencing village life, riding ponies and generally doing what kids do best, having fun.

Here are some pictures from the Ian Ray’s facebook page that gives you sense of their excellent adventures:

Photo by Ian Ray

Photo by Ian Ray

Photo by Ian Ray

Photo by Ian Ray

Photo by Ian Ray

Getting ready to do a glacier walk. Photo by Ian Ray

Young Jordan strikes a pose. Photo by Ian Ray

Success. Photo by Ian Ray

The six kids Photo by Ian Ray

Photo by Ian Ray

Photo by Ian Ray

Goodbye Ladakh! Photo by Ian Ray

A polo match between Team Shyok and Team Indus launched the 2011 Ladakh festival. Photo by Rimo Expeditions

Polo originated in Persia (Iran) and was introduced to Ladakh, where it is hugely popular today, from neighbouring Baltistan around the 15^th century.

In Ladakh, every major village has a polo ground and the game is an integral part of the cultural fabric of the Ladakhi people where music, especially drums, accompany the scoring of each goal. It is also one of the highlights of the two week long Ladakh Festival every September.

The game as it is played in Ladakh is called wild polo and different from the one played under international rules. It is much more furious and free flowing with two twenty minutes halves of play and a ten minute break in between. The aim is to score by driving a small wooden ball into the opponent’s net using a long wooden mallet.

Ladakhi villages play polo. Photo by Binoy Kumar submitted to http://travel.nationalgeographic.com

The Ladakh Polo Club has seven clubs and is affiliated with the Indian Polo Association. On September 1, 2011 Team Shyok played against Team Indus to launch the Ladakh Festival. Our camera missed the goal but the crowd enjoyed the game. Team Shyok won the game 7-0.

Polo in Leh, Ladakh. Photo by Rimo Expeditions

Young polo fans in Leh, Ladakh. Photo by Rimo Expeditions

Gettting ready to play polo in Leh, Ladakh. Photo by Rimo Expeditions

More photos of Polo in Ladakh on our facebook Page.

Ben Stookesberry kayaks the upper Brahmaputra (Siang) in Arunachal Pradesh. Photo by Chris Korbulic in www.nationalgeographic.com

There are only a couple of weeks left to sign up for Rimo’s Great Brahmaputra rafting expedition starting on 4th December 2011 in Arunachal Pradesh. World renowned extreme kayaker Ben Stookesberry, who ran the Siang as the river is known in Arunachal Pradesh, calls it a “must do” trip.

You will be rafting the river with some of India’s most experienced guides and it promises to be an adventure of a lifetime! It’s a river that made it on to the the 2012 Ultimate Adventure bucket list in National Geographic.

So sign up and come on board for a chance to visit not just an enchanting land but an incredible river. An earlier post on our blog gives you a sense of the trip, and here’s where you sign up. You can also take a look at our events page on Facebook. We are excited about the trip and look forward to you joining us.