.jpg)
Kanchenjunga Mountain- The Third Highest Mountain of the World
Kanchenjunga is the third-highest mountain in the world at 8,586 m (28,169 ft) and is in the eastern Himalayas. Geographically, it creates a boundary of the Himalayas, separating Nepal from the Indian state of Sikkim.
Kanchenjunga has a five-peak massif, and each one can be called a treasure of snow from the side of the Tibetan people; that is why there is a translation of Kanchenjunga as "Five Treasures of the Snow". Indeed, apart from being a natural wonder, the mountain has cultural and religious value.
The local Sherpa and Limbu communities consider the peak a natural dwelling place of gods, thus making it sacred. These spiritual aspects have forced many climbers and mountaineers not to venture the final mile to the top but instead leave the mountain alone as it should.
Kanchenjunga's remoteness is matched by its conservation in the developed Kanchenjunga Conservation Area, which, as a UNESCO site, protects the area's wildlife.
The ecologically rich region includes flora and fauna such as snow leo
pards, red pandas, Himalayan black bears, and many other species. Some small biological regions to be identified here include forests, subtropical forests, alpine regions, and glaciers for treks and wildlife.
The mountain is also well known for its spectacular treks, the longest and toughest of which is the Kanchenjunga Trek, which covers both the South and north base camps. Notably, there are few trekkers along the Kanchenjunga Circuit, as is not the case with other treks through the Himalayas.
Hence, it is for individuals who love solitude and serene environments. It is popular with tourists, hikers, and mountaineers because of its wonderful view and natural, unspoiled setting.
Why Is Kanchenjunga So Dangerous?
Kanchenjunga is considered one of the most risky mountains in the world, and some factors have made it one of the most dangerous places to climb.
Extreme Altitude:
Kanchenjunga has an elevation of 8,586 metres (28,169 feet), making the mountain the world's third highest and the death zone for climbers. This is the altitude region where oxygen concentrations are low, and the body can hardly perform its tasks efficiently.
Climbers are in considerable danger of altitude illness, which may result in HAPE or HACE. These conditions can precipitate pulmonary oedema or cerebral oedema, necessitating an emergency evacuation.
Technical Difficulty:
The land on Kanchenjunga could be better navigated. Mountaineering involves climbing steep slopes, icy walls, glaciers, icefalls, and rocky faces.
This is especially true for the upper part of the hill, as several technical steep ice and rock climbing skills are required when using this approach. These features give the mountain steep climbing girths that demand ice, rock, and crevasse climbing expertise from climbers.
Unpredictable Weather:
The climate of the Kanchenjunga region is subject to highly unpredictable changes in the world's atmosphere. At any time of the year, there is always a risk of new snow, low temperatures, and strong winds while climbing.
These weather changes can quickly cause us to lose our ability to see anything around us, freeze to death, and, in extreme cases, develop frostbite or hypothermia, not to mention the problems that weather changes pose to navigation. The unpredictable weather also leads to frequent avalanches, burying climbers with tons of snow and ice.
Avalanches:
Because of height, the slope range angle and the snow quality prove to be most suitable for avalanches in Kanchenjunga. One of the most daunting risks climbers experience on the mountain is avalanches, especially in the zones with deep snow.
Avalanches usually occur without prior warning and, therefore, pose a high risk of fatalities. The mountain terrain exposes one to this particular hazard, an extra danger to those attempting a mountain climb.
Isolation and Lack of Infrastructure:
Kanchenjunga rises in the extreme east of Nepal, and a vast part of the mountain lies in Nepal and India, so relatively little is known about it. Compared to other crowded mountains like Everest on Kanchenjunga, there are no heady routes, fixed ropes, and very little infrastructure support.
This keeps climbers away from rescue services, and such mishaps as accidents or other complications will likely take a long time before help is brought in. There is no well-defined path, and the general direction could be clearer; this makes moving on the mountain even more dangerous.
Lack of Rescue Resources:
It should also be noted that due to the area's isolation, the available rescue equipment is very low. The climbers found that once they had reached the mountains, no helicopters could come and rescue them, as one would find on the plains.
Exposed Terrain:
The last days of the outing to the Kanchenjunga peaks are characterized by long spines, faces, and cliffs. These sections are especially problematic for these falls and any other feasible falls in bad weather or after long climbs.
They also cause further problems through instability, making it impossible to stand on loose rocks and ice.
Sacred Significance:
The tribes of Sherpa, Limbu, and Rai regard Mount Kanchenjunga as a sacred peak. They think that the mountain is the gods' residence, so, for this reason, most climbers do not ascend even to the summit to not encroach on the sacred space.
This cultural aspect puts climbers through an extra psychological test, pitting their desire to reach the summit against their feasting respect for the local people.
Difficult Access to Medical Care:
Due to its geographical location, the medical care facility in Kanchenjunga is very limited. If a climber develops a medical condition on the mountain, be it a sickness resulting from high altitude or injury, the climber has to go down, which can take several days.
Some trekking challenges involve a lack of or limited medical support around the mountain, and an accident may occur when someone is there to help.
Physical and Mental Fatigue:
The other reason Kanchenjunga is risky is that the trek and climb are long, exhausting experiences. Ascending is physically demanding and harassing, and climbers easily get fatigued, which leads to poor human factor decisions.
Climbing for long hours, climbing at high altitudes on difficult terrains, and being in harsh, stressful conditions with limited oxygen significantly raise work-related stress and break down mental and physical capacity, raising the risk of mistakes and accidents.
How Long Does It Take to Climb Kanchenjunga?
Kanchenjunga trekking normally takes roughly 6-8 weeks for most treks, depending on the chosen route, weather, and climbers' acclimatization periods.
Every climber's timeline is divided into several stages: arrival at the base camp, acclimatization, and climbing. Here's a breakdown of the general timeline:
Trekking to Base Camp:
It usually takes between 7 and 10 days to reach Kanchenjunga Base Camp, although the trail can be approached from either the North or the South.
The trek takes one through several villages, forests, and higher altitudes, which is very important for acclimatization.
Acclimatization:
Climbers remain in base camp for several days to several weeks to psychologically and physically cope with the thin air. This is important to prevent ailments such as altitude sickness. Climbers might go up to the next higher camp and down to base camp to acclimatize to the shortage of oxygen available there.
Climbing Stages:
After acclimatization, climbing to the top would take 3 to 4 weeks. Some climbers move from one camp to the next, but many of these climbs involve four or five camps above the base. The initial climb is more gradual, and it usually takes several days between two camps to avoid being affected by the mountain's high altitude.
Summit Push:
However, it is very steep, long, and strenuous and may take 3- 4 days to complete, depending on the weather and pace of the climbers. Climbers often ascend during good weather, but this can be hard to predict.
The climb is demanding and physically challenging because of the high altitude, technical terrain, and vulnerability to harsh climate. Thus, climbers must invest several days in the mountain to achieve safe climbing.
Difference Between Mount Everest And Kanchenjunga
The best-known mountains are Mount Everest and Kanchenjunga, located in the Himalayas; however, they have several distinctions. Mountains include First, Mount Everest, 8,848.86 meters (29,031.7 feet).
Second, Kanchenjunga, with a height of 8,586 meters (28,169 feet). Everest is on the International border between Nepal and China in the central Himalayas. At the same time, Kanchenjunga lies on the border between Nepal and India in the Himalaya’s eastern ridge, near Sikkim, India and Taplejung, Nepal.
The first successful attempt by mountaineers on Everest was made in 1953 by Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay in Mt Everest. Kanchenjunga was first climbed in the same year by a British team led by Charles Evans. However, they left slightly short of the peak to account for its heavily regarded religious sovereignty.
While Everest is synonymous with the World's most climbed mountain and a commercially popular mountain with thousands of climbers each year, Kanchenjunga is still remotely located, relatively less frequented, and challenging to reach. This makes Kanchenjunga a secluded and rather quiet locale for those people who prefer to walk and climb alone.
Concerning difficulty, even if Mount Everest's elevation remained steep and challenging, this peak has a developed and tangible route, base camps, and climb infrastructures in comparison with the other mountains, which are used and accessible only for experienced climbers for now.
However, Kanchenjunga's steep slope, technicality, and minimal topographical services make climbing it much more difficult and dangerous than Mount Everest with the requisite mountaineering expertise. Lastly, Kanchenjunga is religiously significant to region residents, and thus, numerous climbers don't complete the climb for religious reasons.
From Where Kanchenjunga Peak Can Be Seen?
Kanchenjunga, the third-highest mountain in the world, is visible from several beautiful places in Nepal and India.
Trekking in Nepal is most effective if you begin in the town of Taplejung, which provides great views of Kanchenjunga. Trek lovers can also visit the Kanchenjunga Base Camp, where one gets the closest look at the peak. Also, it provides an opportunity to get to Ribu La Pass and get acquainted with the impressive mountain view.
Sikkim and Kanchenjunga are related destinations in India, which provide some of the finest vantage points from which to view this mountain. Pelling is one of the most famous and picturesque towns of Sikkim, offering a very beautiful scenic beauty of the mountains.
Kanchenjunga can also be viewed from the Khecheopalri Lake, a few kilometres from Pelling. The historic town of Yuksom in Sikkim is another viewpoint because the mountain is best viewed at sunset or early morning when the peak is glowing in golden light.
If they wish to have a more adventurous point of eye level with peaks, Sandakphu is a viewpoint on the border of Nepal and India. This place is higher than Darjeeling and affords excellent views of Kanchenjunga and other mountains, including Everest and Makalu.
These places provide spectacular views, sufficient to attract trekkers and nature lovers who want to explore the Kanchenjunga region warmly.
And if you have alrady done Kanchenjunga circuit trek then we some others wilderness trekking Everest base camop trek, Manaslu and Tsum valley trek trek, Saribung pass trek for next adventure.
