TREK AND CLIMB ON MARADI HIMAL AT 5,555

'In the least, unfrequented area of Annapurna region, breathe taking scenery, traditional rural villages, warm friendly locals, serene woodlands, on the isolated trail in complete wilderness and tranquility in the close backdrop of the towering majestic Mt.Machhapuchere or Fish Tail'.

Introduction to Mardi Peak, climbing and trekking

A fabulous adventure which can be completed in a short duration of time, highly recommended for those who are interested in a good challenging climb of a less technical peak. In The Trekking Peaks of Nepal Bill O’Connor describes Mardi Peak as ‘despite its lowly altitude the mountain obviously has a great deal of potential for those interested small-scale exploratory mountaineering’. Our expedition to climb Mardi Himal takes you in the southern Annapurna region. A beautiful peak and to be on top of over 5,555m and on a less climbed mountain certainly adds to a life of adventurous thrills and achievements. To be in such an unspoiled area where you will be in complete harmony and tranquility and at one with the nature in this complete wilderness is a humbling experience.

Mardi Himal's East Face is separated from Machhapuchare ridge by a col (circa 5,200m/17,060ft). The normal route of ascent reaches this col from a glaciated amphitheatre that rises above a hidden plateau, also known as 'Other Sanctuary'.

This region is seldom frequented by westerners, the ridges south of Mardi Himal are steep sided and heavily wooded with bamboo and rhododendron. Above the forest, high alpine pastures provide good grazing and a habitat for undisturbed wildlife.

This rarely visited area provides a tough trek isolated from the teahouses and lodges, which dominate most of the trekking in and around the Annapurna Range.

The trail to base camp is short and sharp on ill-defined trails that would be particularly difficult in wet and snowy conditions.

Mardi Himal is located, approximately fifteen miles or 45k.m. north of Pokhara as the crow flies, this mountain is the most southerly of the Annapurna range. From some viewpoints it seems little more than an outlier on the southwest flank of Machhapuchare (Fish Tail). Mardi Himal is the lowest and least climbed and visited of all the trekking peaks in Nepal.

Western mountaineers first noticed this mountain by the photographs of Basil Goodfellow, taken in 1953. It was climbed to its summit by a route on its east flank by Jimmy Roberts with two Sherpas. As seen from the south, Mardi Himal terminated the Southwest ridge of Machhapuchare as a distinct and separate mass, at right angles to that ridge. On Mardi Himal South West Face are three well-defined ridges rising from rock buttresses and separated by hanging glaciers. It is the most southerly of these that is said to have been climbed, but no such details has been recorded.