Myth or reality!!! Yeti is a mystery which lies hidden in the depth of time, amortizing modern technology in its legacy of stories and lore’s. Moreover, with the propagandas surrounding its presence of a furred humanoid image, the yeti still excites people in luring them to the far ends of the Himalayan region of Nepal and Tibet. The existence of this nature’s illusion has been controversial as well as mysterious where it has established itself as a popular icon. The controversies over existence of Yeti are warming the industry with various vague encounters and evidences brought back from the sites of remote alpine villages.
Recently, on October 20, 2008, a team of seven Japanese adventurers photographed footprints of Yeti. Yoshiteru Takahashi, the team leader of the expedition and the Yeti Project Japan, said, “ The footprints were about 20 centimeters (eight inches) long and looked like human’s foot print. We are convinced; it was real, as we saw it walking on two legs like a human and was about 150 centimeters tall.” Takahashi claims to have observed Yeti on a 2003 expedition and is determined to capture the creature on film.
Following the trend, in early November 2007, Joshua Gates an American television presenter and his team reported finding a series of footprints in the Everest region of Nepal claming it to be of Yeti. The footprints measured 33 cm (13 in) in length with five toes that measured a total of 25 cm (9.8 in) across. Dr. Jeffrey Meldrum, of Idaho State University examined the footprints who asserted it to be morphologically accurate to be fake or man made. Meldrum also stated that they were very similar to a pair of Bigfoot foot prints that were found in another area.
In the year 1986 renowned mountaineer Reinhold Messner claimed to have a face-to-face encounter with a Yeti and in his book “My Quest for the Yeti” have actually claimed to kill one. According to Messner, the Yeti is actually an endangered Himalayan Brown Bear that can walk upright.
Similarly, in 1984, famous mountaineer David P. Sheppard of Hoboken, New Jersey, claimed to have been followed by a large furry man over the course of several days while he was near the southern Col of Everest. His Sherpas, however, say they saw no such thing. Sheppard claims to have taken a photograph of the creature, but a later study of it proved inconclusive.
Don Whillans a British mountaineer also claimed to have witnessed a creature while scaling Annapurna in 1970. He had seen a dark shaped creature moving near his camp and the next day, he observed a few human-like footprints in the snow. On the same evening, he had also viewed a bipedal, ape-like creature from his binoculars at a distance.
In 1953, Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay reported seeing large footprints while scaling Mount Everest where Tenzing has mentioned about the encounter of yeti in his first autobiography.
In 1925, N. A. Tombazi, a photographer and member of the Royal Geographical Society, encountered yeti near Zemu Glacier. Tombazi later wrote that he observed the creature from about 180 to 270 M while descended the mountain and saw the creature’s foot prints. He described it as similar in shape to those of a man, but only six to seven inches long by four inches wide.
Analyzing the series, the 1889 foot print discovery is one of the oldest link in the trail of yeti encounter. L. A. Waddell reported his guide's describing a large ape like creature moving in the dark where its existence remains hidden and controversial.
Ang Tshering Sherpa, President of UAAA said, “Yeti is a mysterious creature which has kept its existence hidden for years. To be precise the word Yeti comes from the word meti which means human eating creature. Though, it is believed to be a mystery but in reality for people who live in the region, they have reasons to believe of its existence. When we were young, we use to hear a lot of lore’s and stories of yeti. It’s true that there is an unknown creature hidden in the laps of the Himalayan where it’s completely mysterious and may be that is the reason why its so popular around the world.”
“It can be capitalized in a proper way to benefit the industry and country where it has not been channelized. At first we need to conduct a thorough research about its existence. It’s both cultural as well as scientifically important where it can have a huge financial and scientific benefit for the country,” added he.
He further suggested, “If we could use yeti as the brand for the Nepal Tourism Year 2011 then it would have immense result as yeti is world known and capitalizing its popularity can benefit the country and campaign.”
Contemplating the image, the ethnic Tibetans fear and worship bear as a supernatural being where its lore’s and myth acclimatized the local in developing yeti as a cultural Icon. Whether you call it Bigfoot or yeti or Abominable Snowman, the yeti endures an image of enigma which isolates itself in the hidden valleys with in legacy of its mystery.
Jyoti Adhikari, President of Trekking Agencies Association of Nepal (TAAN) said, “Yeti is a mystery which lies hidden in the depth of remote areas where its existence survives in just lore’s and stories. Every year numerous propagandas are created with yeti but it’s very controversial to predict its existence as still today we lack proper evidence. On contrary, if it’s true then it should be left alone. Furthermore, it should not be bothered as it’s a creature of its kind where leaving it in isolation seems wise. Besides, Nepal is known in the world for Mountain Everest not yeti. There are only handful number of people who come in quest of yeti so intruding such a mythical creature can bring difficult situation which needs to be understood.”
Yeti has evolved itself as a new marketing and promotion tool which has been drawing scientists, researchers, adventure enthusiasts etc to Nepal.
Yadav Khanal, General Secretary of Nepal Association of Tour Operators (NATO) said, “Yeti is a mystery which lies hidden in the laps of Himalaya where its existence is unknown and mysterious. The government certainly needs to put an effort to know more about its existence where a definite research needs to be done at a professional level.
Today’s marketing is about good promotion and if we could use Yeti as an effective means then we can certainly attract more tourists.”
By Shreedeep Rayamajhi
Canyoning, the new adventure sport is famous among foreigners for its vertex image of drop off and maneuvering techniques of climbing. Perhaps, looking at pragmatic ground, it endows the sport from the exhilaration to the thrill, outreaching the human boundary of courage and strength. Moreover, defining it technically, Canyoning is an adventure activity that consists of walking or trekking up the head of canyon and abseiling down the canyon with the help of a rope. The fascinating aspect of this sport highlights passing along the torrent stream by stepping across the canyon’s blocks sliding or diving into the pool or swimming using equipments such as harness, jumper, carbineer, figure 8 etc. There are basically two aspect of the sport, one is experiencing it and the other is just the spectators’ watch. Like such, devoured with the excitement to see the canyoneers jumping off the 45 meters Hadi Khola currently known as the Jumbo Canyon was a spectacular view. The experience was so overwhelming that seeing such a deed one could be tainted with the adrenal rush. I was invited to report on the workshop and demonstration of Canyoning organized by the Nepal Canyoning Association (NCA) on February 2, 2008. The canyon is located around 100 KM from the Kathmandu situated in the extreme rouged terrain at the Bhote Koshi Valley. After the demonstration and pick up note, my enthusiasm grew its toll, till the time the organizers announced a trial Canyoning experience to the guests in a small feasible canyon. Soon catching the words, it naturally grasped me and I immediately raised my hand to get the taste of the wild sport. Like such, waiting in the queue to face the angst, I had a chance to change my words with one of the French Canyoneers about the sport and when asked about the thrill. He replied me in bold words, “The sport Canyoning is all about freedom that creates enthusiasm to feel the nature as well as to see the scenic views from the top angle but it also challenge you through its drops and slippery rough edges. Once you do this sport there is nothing like such.” Though, I had doubts about my senses of excitement but to some extent, his word literally motivated me to seek a new horizon. I picked up my fear and embraced it to enroll myself in the safety harness, which was strapped below my abdomen. Briefing me, one of the guides told me that the safety harnesses for the first time users makes it feel uneasy but there is nothing to worry, as the rope would certainly hold up. Highlighting more, he stated the rope and other accessory like dry suit, shoe and helmet used in the sport are made from a high density material which can stand violent situation. After the last check up, I was hooked in a safety harness line. Before jumping down, I remembered it was the sense of excitement that forwarded me but at the same time on the back of my mind thinking about the inevitable, I was hesitant. However, putting an end to my fear and dodging it, I jumped in the air. The feeling or the excitement to feel the thin air was awesome and as guided. I reclined on the wall of the canyon forcing my back in the empty air to support my legs on an up right position standing on the wall and the experience was simply enthralling. While descending down, I controlled my speed by the help of the figure eight equipment which hovered my speed where loosing the rope from one side controlled my pace. At that moment, one could really feel the adrenal rush mounting up where on contrary the cold breeze hitting on the face made me feel tempted to drive my enthusiasm to newer heights. It was going perfect when suddenly; I faced a break on the wall which pulled me to the safety rope. Then, I circled in the empty air hanging no where. For a second I got stilled in the air which increased my anxiety. Subsequently, I realized and let the figure eight go and the rope literally slide me down with comfort. Thus, by my experience of the demo and trail, I can beat that Canyoning is a wild product of tourism which is not only safe and sound, if proper measure are taken in but at the same time its fun and exciting. It is the combination of trekking, rafting and mountaineering that gives a chilling feeling of exhilaration, which would not only gives you the taste of an adrenal rush but at the same hand gives you a different angle to see the landscape from the top angel.
Located in the serrated and natural environment of Northern Gorkha at an altitude from 1905m to 5093m on the Tibetan border, Tsum valley is new marvel for tourist attraction. An exploration program was organized by Trekking Agencies Association of Nepal (TAAN) and Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) on May 11, 2008 which lasted for 17 days. Tsum Valley was recently opened by the government in last October 17, 2007 where previously, it was a restricted from any tourism or recreational activities. The exploration was conducted by 12 technical team members with 15 support team members for the survey of its feasibility as a trekking destination. According to the report forwarded by the team of Sonam Lama, Coordinator, Tsum Welfare Committee and Namgyal Sherpa Coordinator of the exploration and Executive member of Trekking Agents Association of Nepal (TAAN) stated, “The report addressed the issues on basic facilities and tourist attractions along the trail to uplift livelihoods of the inhabitants by developing and promoting sustainable tourism. The main objective of this project was to disclose the secrets of the hidden valley and make it feasible for all.” The specific objectives of the study limited with in following points: To study possibility of developing Tsum Valley as a new and peculiar destination. To study the tourism infrastructure available (camping, lodges, stores, bridges, helipads etc) for trekking groups To revise the cultural and natural heritages of the valley from the tourist standpoint. To study latent impact by the upcoming trekkers group on the socio-economic factor and the merits for the Tsumbas To ascertain the best possible area and daily chained itinerary with well detailed information that acquires optimum scenic and cultural experiences The report also forwarded recommendations like
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