High Asia in the News

'Burma's Open Road': A New High Asia film to be released in winter 2006-2007

Indian Delegation crossing with High Asia film crew from India To Myanmar via Pangsau Pass to meet with Burmese officials in order to discuss the opening of the 'New Burma Road'

The Old Burma Road, that most legendary of SE Asian roads, actually has a history that long pre-dates General 'Vinegar' Joe Stilwell and WWII's China, India Burma Theater. The Burma Road that gripped the attention of the American public in 1940s, is actually the ancient Southern Silk Route. Historically it has been a conduit for people, ideas and commerce since the time of Plinny, reaching from India through Myanmar to China and the rest of SE Asia. With the advent of sea trade this route fell into disuse. WWII saw massive re-engineering of the Road in order to get troops and supplies into Burma and China from India to resist the Japanese. As soon as it was completed in 1945, the war ended and jungle reclaimed the Road.

What are the social, environmental and economic consequences of linking China, Myanmar (Burma) and India via the new Burma Road? What are the implications for tourism when you can get in your car in Kunming or Bangkok and drive to Bhutan via Myanmar and India?

High Asia and the NGO Inner Asian Conservation look at this question in the soon to be released 'Burma's Open Road' documentary film. Shot in winter of 2005 and early 2006 the film offers never been seen footage of Myanmar and NE India's forbidden state of Arunachal Pradesh. Stay tuned for updates.

Nyenchentangla

The May 2005 issue of Men Journal features two of High Asia's pioneering new treks in Tibet and Bhutan . For full itineraries of these treks, please contact us. Tibet 's eastern Nyenchentangla is a land of stunning mountains, alpine lakes and small Buddhist monasteries. Today it remains one of the last truly pristine culturally Tibetan, wilderness areas. High Asia is offering treks in the region ranging from 10 to 21 days. Click here for more info.

 

New Bhutan trek

In Bhutan our new trek accesses Gangkar Punsum-the worlds highest unclimbed peak. Normally groups would have to undertake a 3-week walk just to reach this peak. Our new trek allows walkers to reach the mountain in a 1/3 of the time. Click here for more info.

Royal Grammar School, Guildford Expedition
to Unclimbed Peaks of Western Tibet

In 2003 High Asia led students from England 's Royal Grammar School onto Tibet 's Chang Tang plateau. The goal of the expedition was to circumambulate Sacred Mt. Kailash, and then travel into the Longpo Kangri range and climb virgin peaks. The team met with great success. Several important first ascents were made by the youths on this adventure of lifetime!

One of the greatest expeditions in recent times was the on-foot crossing of Northern Tibet's Chang Tang region. In 2002 High Asia organized Rick Ridgeway, Galen Rowell, Conrad Anker and Jimmy Chin's trek across Asia's most beautiful high desert landscape in search of the calving grounds of the endangered Tibetan Antelope known as Chiru. They located and filmed female antelope giving birth in the same region High Asia pinpointed on an expedition in 2001 with Dr. George Schaller. This important journey is now available to all in Rick Ridgeway's new book 'The Big Open' published by National Geographic in 2004. Note that High Asia is offering demanding treks in this region. For more information click these links:

Wildlife and Mountains of Western Tibet's Chang Tang Plateau

Remotest China: Trekking and Climbing Expeditions in the Kun Lun Mountains

 

2004: Mountaineering In Tibet: A High Asia Retrospective of Notable Climbs

1997 American unclimbed peaks of Western Tibet expedition, Tibet

1997 American 7,784-meter Namonani expedition, Tibet

1999 New Zealand Namla Karpo expedition, Tibet

1999 American trans-Tibet unclimbed peaks expeditions, Tibet

2000 American Kula Kangri Expedition, Tibet

2001 Dutch Karijiang expedition, Tibet

2001 American Nychentangla unclimbed peaks expedition, Tibet

2002 American Unclimbed peaks of Kun Lun expedition

2003 British unclimbed peaks of Western Tibet expedition, Tibet

Spring 2003: Updated version of Gary McCue's Trekking in Tibet with Mountaineering In Tibet chapter by High Asia, hits bookstores

Spring 2002: Unexplored Bhutan: Outside Magazine Journeys with High Asia into Bhutan's Least Known Mountains

Mark Jenkins, Outside Magazine's author of the monthly 'Hard Way' column, traveled with High Asia into the least known Himalayan peaks of Bhutan. High Asia had been hired by the Royal Government of Bhutan to develop new trekking routes in central and eastern Bhutan. We invited Mark along and gave him an adventure to remember. Our new 'Undiscovered Bhutan: A New Trek Through Innermost Bhutan to the World's Highest Unclimbed peak' trek is one of the new treks that came out of this trip.

Click here to read the article

Spring 2001: Discovery of the Unknown Endangered Tibetan Antelope Calving Grounds, Xinjiang, China.

High Asia, again with wildlife biologist Dr. George Schaller, journeyed over six weeks through the heart of the Kun Lun Mountains, which separate Tibet's Chang Tang Wilderness from Xinjiang province. The route had not been fully traversed since Captain H. H. P. Deasy walked it in 1897. The goal of the journey was to try and locate the calving grounds of China's endangered Tibetan antelope. Besides discovering multiple calving grounds, we found a wilderness like no other on the Tibetan plateau. This calving ground will now be incorporated into a larger reserve. High Asia is currently offering trekking and mountaineering expeditions in this region. Contact us. for more details.

Spring 2000 Exploratory: An Expedition to the Mountains of Arunachal Pradesh, India

During the spring of 2000 High Asia and Dr. George Schaller, one of the world's greatest wildlife biologists, became the first non-Indians to explore a wide swath of the forests, mountains and tribes of the northeast Indian state of Arunachal Pradesh since the plant hunters of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The goals of the expedition were to survey the regions biodiversity and the possibilities for limited community based ecotourism. The trip laid the groundwork for future guided expeditions in the region. A full account of the expedition will be published this fall. If you would like to visit Arunachal Pradesh, please contact us.

Fall 2000: High Asia's Photos and Designer Treks in Eastern Tibet Featured in Action Asia Magazine (October/November issue)

 

 

 

High Asia's 1999 Journey to the heart of Tibet's Hidden Wilderness

Rick Ridgeway is one of America's truly visionary mountaineer/adventurers. His career in the earths most remote regions spans 30 years. In 1999 we traveled with Rick and Ms. Asia Wright on a personal odyssey of theirs to one of the Tibetan plateaus last bastion of wilderness: the Northwest Chang Tang ('northern plains'). The journey entailed reaching the summit of unclimbed peaks in Aru range, close encounters with bear, wolf packs, and the sublime Tibetan antelope known as Chiru, as well reaching the shores of the great inland ocean known as Aru Tso. The journey culminated on the other side of the Tibetan plateau with Rick and Asia undertaking one of the most startling and yet beautiful treks ever done. You can read about this adventure in Rick's book on the trip Below Another Sky. If you would like to visit the Chang Tang, please contact us.

High Asia in Tibet's Tsangpo Gorge

In 1998 High Asia launched Wick Walker and his team of American kayakers into the unknown waters of the Tsangpo river deep in Southeast Tibet. The expedition was filmed by National Geographic and has been aired on its Explorer Channel. Wick Walker's book on the expedition Courting the Diamond Sow, published by National Geographic, and was released in October 2000. If you would like to visit the Tsangpo Gorges, please contact us.

High Asia's Kingdom of Muli Expedition

In 1996 we brought American Alpinists to what we feel are the most beautiful mountains in eastern Tibet, the Konkaling Peaks. The attempt on Mt. Jamapayang, the most aesthetic of the three peaks, was a first in the annals of mountaineering in Tibet. The expedition was filmed by American Adventure Productions. The film: 'Sacred Peaks of Muli' has aired on the Outdoor Adventure life network. If you would like to order copies of the film please contact us. If you would like to visit the Konkaling Peaks, please contact us..