Mera Peak is the highest permitted trekking peak in Nepal, at an elevation of 6,461 meters; this amazing peak offers a unique and amazing remote experience of the Himalayas. As most part of the route in Mera Peak climb is non-technical and pretty much straightforward, it is not difficult for beginners; however, due to a significant altitude point, it is mandatory to make proper preparation for the climb.
Unlike other massive mountain peaks in the country, Mera Peak can be literally reached by foot, climbers don’t need to push for the summit crawling on the ropes of steep slopes. But the real 6,000-er isn’t like a walk in the park either; even though you don’t need mountaineering experience to climb Mera Peak, the slopes of the mountains shouldn’t be underestimated.
Popular Climbing Destination for Beginners
Located in Hinku Valley of Solukhumbu, Mera Peaks, consisting of the summiting peaks; Mera South (6,065 meters), Mera North (6,476 meters), and Mera Central (6,461 meters) are the trekking mountain peaks of Nepal. Especially the Mera North is very popular among both mountaineering and trekking enthusiast alike.
Even at a higher altitude than Mt. Kilimanjaro (5,895 meters), Mera Peak is a popular climbing destination for beginners. Although the 6,000-er mountain is obviously physically demanding, due to the lack of technical segments and the need for a few techniques, it can be climbed by anyone who is physically in good condition regardless of expertise in mountaineering.
In fact, this magnificent mountain peak in the Himalayas is climbed by hundreds of beginners every year as a training ground for scaling 8,000-er peaks like Mt. Everest (8,849 meters).
Mera Peak Difficulty Level
The gateway to the world’s top five highest mountains has been graded PD (slightly difficult) in the Alpine Grading System, which means that some technical segments and complicated glacier routes make Mera Peak climb a challenging adventure. Previously, Mera Peak was graded Alpine Grade F, an easy and straightforward climbing route. However, due to the global warming effects that have caused glacier change in the high-Himalayas and considering the final technical steep of the climb, Mera Peak received a PD grade in the Alpine system.
Similarly, in Nepal, the Mera Peak climb has been graded as a slightly-difficult climb, there are not too strenuous segments in this expedition, and any climber with basic mountaineering training and proper preparation can easily summit the mountain.
The only major difficulty of the Mera Peak expedition is the significant altitude gain, as the climbers have to spend several days above the 5,000 meters altitude to push for the 6,000-er summits. That’s when the duration of the expedition comes to play, there isn’t a possibility for the human body to suddenly adapt to such elevation gain during the trek. Thus, Mera Peak’s difficulty will also depend on the duration of the expedition; the more days for acclimatization, the higher the success rate for the summit, and it is also the best way to avoid Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS).
If you peak the right expedition packages with more acclimatization days rather than a rushed journey, this will significantly improve the chances for successful scaling. One of the major mistakes beginners make during the Mera Peak adventure is skipping the acclimatization day at Khare (5,045 meters) and heading straight for the Mera High Camp (5,800 meters). Heading straight up to the high camp, gaining about 800 meters of altitude without proper acclimatization, can be very draining; as a result, most climbers who head directly for the Mera High Camp turn back due to altitude sickness and exhaustion.
Best Time to Climb Mera Peak
There are basically two major peak seasons to climb Mera Peak, spring (March to May) and autumn (mid-September to November). The weathers are stable during these seasons with very little chance of rainfall; still, it is a high-altitude region, so weather isn’t always predictable.
In the autumn peak season, the weather of the Mera Pek region hovers around 12°C during the daytime and can drop to 6°C at night. The temperature in the lower part of the trek is neither too nor too cold; the cool breezy mornings and nights make the trekking adventure in season quite amicable. During the late-November, the region will start to see a little bit of snowfall.
Similarly, the Mera Peak expedition is a fond experience during the springtime, the temperature stays on the average of 10°C throughout the warm and bright days. However, during the night time, it can drop as low as -4°C.
In the off-seasons like monsoon (June to August) and winter (December to February), the adventure in the Mera Peak region will come with several risks and challenges, still trekking in the region is mostly doable. Temperature around the region in monsoon stays on average of 15°C and can drop slightly during the nights after rainfall and snow.
But, the weather condition is extremely harsh during the winters in the region; not only do the piles of snow cover the routes, but the temperature can also drop to an average of -30°C with freezing wind.
See also: Mera Peak Climbing Cost
Preparation for Climb Mera Peak
Although the Mera Peaks are considered the practicing ground to conquer the tallest 8,000-ers, it is very significant to prepare for the expedition on the peak itself. A good physical condition will come a long way to help you the successful summit of the mountain.
As it is not just another trekking adventure and you will be scaling to the top of the summit, it is recommended that you should start your preparation at least 3-4 months prior to the experience. It is very important to focus on strength and endurance training, you could go hiking on the natural trails and carry a backpack with 10-15kg weight, run at least 10-15 km 3 or 4 times a week, and cycle 1-2 hours a day.
It is very necessary to understand your physical capabilities, but still, don’t strain yourself. Mera Peak climbing is not a marathon; with the right level of physical fitness, endurance, and strength build-up, the expedition on the mountain isn’t much of a big deal.
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