Today Jason and Anne Dorthe must decide if they will take on the high mountain pass, rumored to be snowy and icy on the other side, or turn around and retrace their steps, making a longer trek. People have died on the pass in recent days. 
Most guides do not want to go back the same way they came up. Jason and Anne Dorthe speak with Samir and Mingmar, weighing the pros and cons. 
What’s the ideal group size for a Nepal trek? Learn the advantages of having a smaller group, find out which equipment you should pack if there is a chance of snow and ice on the trail, and discover “Himalayan Viagra”—the most expensive biological resource in the world. 
Are you dreaming of a mountain adventure? To access the ultimate resource for hiking adventures around the world and get our FREE gear guide, check out zerototravel.com/trekking.
Want more travel? Subscribe to the Zero To Travel Podcast 
To book Samir as your guide, email him at smt.lama@gmail.com

Episode 11:  The High Pass: A Difficult Decision

Welcome to an audio adventure unlike anything you've ever heard. I’m Jason Moore, host of the top-rated Zero To Travel Podcast, and I invite you to come with my wife Anne Dorthe and me to visit the beautiful country of Nepal through this unique 16-part travel podcast series – the world’s first “audio guidary” (part audio guide and part diary). We’ll be your travel companions as you soak up the entire Himalayan mountain trekking experience, going from the bustling capital city of Kathmandu to remote Tibetan Buddhist monasteries and beyond. Along the way, you’ll discover Nepalese Culture, learn about her history, and meet her famous friendly people. Together we’ll step into the world’s tallest mountain range, sharing the flood of adrenaline and emotions from hiking along steep ledges and across Indiana Jones-like suspension bridges, through Tibetan Buddhist villages, and into warm, colorful monasteries where we’ll share energizing cups of warm Tibetan tea with the locals. Enjoy the sounds of the villages, the music, the spinning prayer wheels, and the gentle wisdom of our Nepalese guide, Samir, as he shares insightful and practical information for trekking in the Himalayan Mountains. Listen now to experience this one-of-a-kind audio adventure, and learn how to plan your own trek in Nepal. Don’t wait! Subscribe now to get access to the entire series.

Society & Culture

Personal Journals

History

Philosophy

Places & Travel

On April 25, 2015, a huge earthquake shook the little country of Nepal, killing 9,000 people, causing avalanches on Everest, and destroying entire villages. Some of the places Jason and Anne Dorthe had visited were destroyed. 
Is Samir ok? Is Mingmar ok? These were the first thoughts that struck Jason and Anne Dorthe when they heard the news. Learn what happened, how the Manaslu Circuit was affected, and whether it’s still a good idea to travel to Nepal. Is it worth it? 
Are you ready for a trekking adventure? To access the ultimate resource for hiking adventures around the world and get our FREE gear guide, check out zerototravel.com/trekking.
Want more travel? Subscribe to the Zero To Travel Podcast

Episode 17:  Addendum: The 2015 Earthquake

It’s the last day of hiking, and at the trail’s end Jason, Anne Dorthe, Samir and Mingmar take the terrifying Jeep ride after dark along cliff edges back down to Kathmandu, and say their sad goodbyes. Set off with Jason and Anne Dorthe to explore other parts of Nepal, including Pokhara and Bhaktapur!   
Learn about obtaining a visa in Nepal, visiting Nepal’s UNESCO World Heritage sites, and traveling between cities in Nepal. Visit Nepal’s largest stupa in Samir’s home town, Boudha, and listen to the tornado of chanting and conch shell music emanating from the monasteries as you wander through the streets. Stay overnight and experience a sight that most tourists never see. Do you want to hire Samir to be your guide? Listen up for his contact information! Email him at smt.lama@gmail.com 
Thank you for joining us for this adventure in Nepal! Ready for the next step? To access the ultimate resource for hiking adventures around the world and get our FREE gear guide, check out zerototravel.com/trekking.
Want more travel? Subscribe to the Zero To Travel Podcast

Episode 16:  Bhaktapur: The Side Few Tourists See

Jason and Anne Dorthe experience the luxuries of modern civilization again for the first time in 12 days. They will miss the high Tibetan Buddhist villages and the ritual of hunting down the village water source each evening. The couple reflects on how the trek has changed them forever. 
Is one trek in Nepal enough, or will you want to go back and do another one? Learn what Jason and Anne Dorthe would do differently if they were to plan this trip again, what type of information should you know before you land in Nepal, and how much they paid for their trek. What can you learn from their mistakes?   
Want to try your hand at booking a trek? To access the ultimate resource for hiking adventures around the world and get our FREE gear guide, check out zerototravel.com/trekking.
Want more travel? Subscribe to the Zero To Travel Podcast 
To book Samir as your guide, email him at smt.lama@gmail.com

Episode 15:  Electricity: Return to Civilization

Jason and Anne Dorthe enjoy their first alcoholic drink since the trek began: a native beverage called Raksi. While waiting for their drinks, they talk to Samir about the different kinds of Buddhist monks, and share the story of an impish old man they met on the trail. 
Experience Raksi for the first time and learn about how it’s made, learn what mornings are like on the trail, and enjoy Jason’s detailed description of the physically exhausting experience of using a squat toilet. 
Ready to try some Raksi for yourself? To access the ultimate resource for hiking adventures around the world and get our FREE gear guide, check out zerototravel.com/trekking.
Want more travel? Subscribe to the Zero To Travel Podcast 
To book Samir as your guide, email him at smt.lama@gmail.com

Episode 14:  Raksi: A Native Nepalese Beverage

Jason and Anne Dorthe feel sad as their trek nears its end. They enjoy talking about little things and big things in life as they walk together, and about the difficult struggles each has had on the long hike. At day’s end they reflect on the pros and cons of traveling with a companion versus solo travel. 
Learn some of the advantages of traveling in this unique and rugged way, what you can do to physically prepare for a trek, and how trekking in Nepal is different from trekking in other parts of the world, such as Patagonia. 
Are you ready to plan a solo adventure, or will you rope in an adventure partner?To access the ultimate resource for hiking adventures around the world and get our FREE gear guide, check out zerototravel.com/trekking.
Want more travel? Subscribe to the Zero To Travel Podcast 
To book Samir as your guide, email him at smt.lama@gmail.com

Episode 11: The High Pass: A Difficult Decision

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