The Journey

Overview

The Great Himalaya Trail on Wheels (GHT on Wheels) is the first successful solo-mountain biking expedition on the upper (high) route of the Great Himalaya Trail (GHT) in Nepal, completed by Mangal Krishna Lama, who is an adventurer, guide, and a former National mountain biking athlete. The upper route of the GHT presents a unique set of physical and mental challenges, with over 90,000 m of elevation gain and loss, over 22 passes above 5000 m, and the highest point reached at 6158 m.

At the end of March 2022, Mangal embarked on this daring journey from the Eastern point of the GHT upper route, Kangchenjunga Base Camp, reaching the Western point of Hilsa in Humla District in a total of 88 riding days to complete the GHT on Wheels challenge, setting several high altitude mountain biking records apart from the major accomplishment of traversing the GHT on a mountain bike solo for the first time.

Along the way, Mangal faced many challenges outside of funding the journey, including sections that were not suitable for bicycles, illness, the monsoon season, and getting lost in the wilderness. The most difficult part was crossing the 6158 m West Col in the Makalu-Barun National Park, where he had to carry his bike on his back and shoulders while also carrying full climbing gear.

Breakdown of the GHT on Wheels Journey

Start point: Kanchenjunga Base Camp, End point: Hilsa

Start date: April 1, End date: July 16

Total distance: Approximately 1700 km

Elevation Gain: 109,408 m, Elevation loss: 108,534 m

To explore the entire live tracking of the #ghtonwheels journey, click here.

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