Dr. Harka Gurung Corner in IMM-5 February 2007

Hon'ble Legislature Mahadev Gurung inaugurated the Dr. Harka Gurung Corner in the International Mountain Museum, Pokhara on the occasion of 3rd Anniversary of IMM on 5 February 2007. The corner attempts to shed light on Dr. Gurung's life long quest through the display of his used materials, journals, photo records and books. NMA President Mr. Ang Tshering Sherpa mentioned that the establishment of the corner in IMM is our honor towards him for his valuable contribution towards the establishment of NMA first and then again towards the development, management and promotion of IMM, Pokhara. First Vice President Mr. Zimba Zangbu Sherpa, IInd Vice President Mr. Bhumi Lal Lama, IMM- Committee Member Mr. Ganesh Gurung also shed light on Dr. Gurung's incomparable and exemplary contribution in the promotion of mountaineering tourism of Nepal.
 

Inaugural function of Dr. Harka Gurung corner	Dr. Harka Gurung Corner in IMM

Incentive trip for NMA staffs- 3- 5 February 2007
An intensive trip of Pokhara was organized for all the staffs of NMA Secretariat from 3 - 5 February 2007. During their three day visit, they gathered current working pattern and knowledge about International Mountain Museum and other tourism spots of Pokhara. An interactive program with IMM staffs was also held during the visit.

NMA and IMM staffs at IMM premises

Conclusion of 19th Advance Mountaineering Course - 5 February 2007
The 19th Advance Mountaineering Course conducted by NMA concluded on 5th February 2007. It was a 35 day long course conducted at Kathmandu and Langtang starting from 28 December 2006. The course was conducted by five instructors from Nepal Mountaineering Instructors' Association and two French instructors from ENSA. Out of 15 participants, 14 were able to complete the course. NMA General Secretary Mr. Debas Bikram Shah was present in the training as an observer.

Some photos of Advance Mountaineering

Nepal Sales Mission in West Europe- 14 February 2007
NMA President Mr. Ang Tshering Sherpa will participate in Nepal Sales Mission in West Europe to be organized in Paris, Brussels and Berlin on 5, 6 and 9 March 2007 respectively. He will also confer Mt. Everest Golden Jubilee Celebration Medals to the European Everest summiteers of the respective countries in the sales mission.

Executive Board Meeting at Kakani - 17 February 2007
The Executive Board Meeting held on 17 February 2007 at International Mountaineers' Memorial Park (IMMP) Kakani endorsed the plans to construct monuments in the memory of deceased mountaineers in IMMP, Kakani. A committee has been formed under the convenership of Ist Vice President Mr. Zimba Zangbu Sherpa to formulate the space and standards of the monuments. The committee is comprised of the following members.

• Mr. Bhumi Lal Lama- IInd Vice President
• Mr. Narhari Bhandari- Secretary
• Mr. Ang Kaji Sherpa- Treasurer
• Mr. Khadananda Dhakal- Representative, Ministry of Culture, Tourism & Civil Aviation

Similarly, NMA will construct monuments for first seven Nepalese summiteers of all the seven 8000m above peaks of Nepal and first three Nepalese Mt. Everest Summiteers. The Board also approved the proposal of the relatives of the deceased mountaineers to build monuments on their own expenses in the allocated area within IMMP premises.

The Board revised existing picnic rates at IMMP and passed the newly revised rates to be in effect from 17 February 2007 as following.

Entrance fee- Rs. 10 per person

Fee for Picnic spot:
1-20 pax          Rs. 300
Above 21         Rs. 500
The entrance fee will not be imposed for the picnickers using picnic spot. 

Parking fee:
Motor cycle                   Rs. 10
Jeep/ car / Van             Rs. 20
Bus / Truck                    Rs. 50

Certificate Distributed - 28 February 2007

NMA President Mr. Ang Tshering Sherpa distributed certificates to 14 trainees of the 19th Advance Mountaineering Course conducted at Kathmandu and Langtang from 28 Dec 2006 to 5 February 2007 at NMA Secretariat Naxal. Mr Deebas Bikram Shah, General Secretary, in his welcome speech mentioned that this being the 19th Advance Mountaineering Training Course, 257 trainees have received Advance Mountaineering Training up till now. NMA Chief Instructor Mr. Nawang Nima Sherpa also expressed his views regarding training and said that all the trainees were up to the required standard technically and physically and also hoped that training will be able to improve the quality of mountain climbing for all the Nepalese in the future. Mr. Dawa Steven Sherpa, on behalf of the students shared some of his memorable moments of the training period. He further added that the course was rigorous and demanding and instructors made sure that the training was carried out in a professional manner with all the required equipments provided by NMA. Finally, NMA President thanked all the individuals involved in making this training a success and urged all the students to use their skill in mountaineering to develop mountaineering as a reliable and secured profession.

Introduction of Mountaineering Gears
This is regular column of e-News to introduce mountain gears to the readers.
 

Belay devices are mechanical pieces of climbing equipment used to control a rope during belaying. They are designed to improve belay safety for the climber by allowing the belayer to manage their duties with minimal physical effort. Belay devices purposely do not instantly 'lock' to arrest a fall, since an instant stop from a fall during lead climbing would probably injure the climber or cause all the protection devices to fail. Instead, belay devices act as a friction brake, so that when a climber falls with any slack in the rope, the fall is brought to a stop over a finite (but reasonably short) distance.

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