Nepali Army collects tourists’ litter

By Hari Krishna Sharma, Muktinath (Mustang), June 7: The Nepal Army has carried out a large-scale clean-up campaign along the popular trekking route between Thorong Pass and Thorong Phedi, located on the border of Mustang and Manang districts.

Personnel from the Army’s High Altitude and Mountain Warfare School at Kaisang collected litter left behind by both domestic and foreign trekkers and handed it over to the Jomsom office of the Annapurna Conservation Area Project (ACAP) for proper management.

According to ACAP Jomsom Chief Rajesh Gupta, around 170 trainees participating in a high-altitude and mountain warfare training programme took part in the clean-up drive. 

The trainees trekked from Kaisang to Tilicho Base Camp, Thorong Phedi, High Camp, Thorong Pass and Muktinath, collecting about 40 sacks of waste along the route from Thorong La to Phedi (Chyambru).

Thorong La, situated at an altitude of 5,416 metres above sea level, is one of Nepal’s most popular high-mountain trekking destinations.

Gupta said waste management remains a major challenge on high Himalayan trekking trails. “We conduct clean-up campaigns in coordination with the Nepali Army,” he said. 

ACAP has been working with the Army school to promote a clean environment and sustainable tourism in the region. Officials said that Nepali visitors leave behind more litter than foreign trekkers in the Thorong Pass area, which receives tourists throughout the year. Awareness campaigns are also being conducted to encourage responsible tourism.

The Tilicho Lake-Thorong La-Muktinath route is regarded as one of the most adventurous trekking trails in Nepal. Opened to trekkers in 1970, Thorong La has become increasingly popular among both foreign and domestic tourists in recent years. Nepali trekkers mainly visit during April, May, October and November, while foreign visitors travel throughout the year.

More than 13,000 tourists cross Thorong La between Manang and Mustang every year. Waste management has also emerged as a challenge on other remote trekking routes in Mustang, including the Round Dhaulagiri trail connecting Marpha through the Dhaulagiri region and the Saribung Pass route near the Tibetan border, which links Upper Mustang with Manang.