The short version: three of the most asked questions, answered in a line each. The rest of the page goes into detail.
- Where do I acclimatise on the Rolwaling trek? Two rest days at Beding (about 3,690 m) and Na (about 4,180 m) are important.
- How high do I sleep before the pass? Sleeping heights rise above 4,800 m before the crossing, with a camp near the Trakarding glacier at about 4,800 m.
- What if the weather turns bad before the pass? Do not commit to the pass if the weather is unstable or if someone in the group is ill.
Where do I acclimatise on the Rolwaling trek?
Two rest days at Beding (about 3,690 m) and Na (about 4,180 m) are important. Use them for short climbs to ridges above the village, then return to sleep lower. Na is the base for the walk toward the Ramdung glacier area.
How high do I sleep before the pass?
Sleeping heights rise above 4,800 m before the crossing, with a camp near the Trakarding glacier at about 4,800 m. Do not push on if symptoms appear, and tell your guide early. Rest and descent are the safest answers.
What makes Tashi Lapcha dangerous?
It is technical, not just high. The pass crosses glacier at around 5,755 m, the Trakarding glacier and moraine are slippery with crevasses in places, and the descent to the Khumbu side is steep and icy. Conditions change from year to year.
What if the weather turns bad before the pass?
Do not commit to the pass if the weather is unstable or if someone in the group is ill. The party can return to Tsho Rolpa and descend the valley. Your guide should discuss this option at the start of the trek.
What insurance should I carry for Tashi Lapcha?
Choose a policy that covers evacuation and check that it allows roped glacier travel with crampons and an ice axe at about 5,755 m. Many standard trekking policies exclude this, so read the terms and confirm with your insurer.
Is Tsho Rolpa lake safe to visit?
The lake at about 4,540 m has been monitored and partly drained over the years to reduce flood risk. As a visitor, stay on the trail, keep away from unstable moraine edges and follow your guide.
Are leeches and landslides a problem in Rolwaling?
In the monsoon, yes. The southern side of the range receives heavy rain, trails below Beding are slippery and leeches are common. By October the water is lower and the air is clear. The pass is only attempted in the dry seasons.
