KATHMANDU, Dec 21: A week-long program is being organized in the Annapurna and Muktinath region in the last week of December to promote different adventure activities, including skiing, in Nepal. 

Himalayan Ski Trek Pvt Ltd is organizing 6th Winter Mountain Festival 2017 to promote Nepal as a skiing destination and to train aspirant youths. The team of instructions and participants will leave for the mountains on December 29. The festival will be formally inaugurated in Kathmandu on December 28. The festival will continue till January 6.
“Our vision is to promote winter tourism in Nepal,” said Pravat Adhikari, manager of Himalayan Ski Trek Pvt Ltd, said. “We have been organizing this event on a regular basis for the past many years to promote skiing.” 

Adhikari also said that Nepal holds immense potential for development and promotion of skiing. “Skiing can be one of the ways to promote Nepal as a destination for all seasons,” he added.

Himalayan Ski Trek Pvt Ltd had first organized the event in 2011.

Ski training and competition, climbing training and peak climbing and avalanche rescue training are the major attractions of the festival. Similarly, mountain bike tour will be organized from Muktinath to Beni, according to Adhikari.

The company is providing training equipment to participants free of cost. “We are also bringing foreign instructors,” added Adhikari.

Krishna Thapa Magar, founder of Himalayan Ski Trek; Samir Thapa Magar, mountain bike instructor; Mingma Gyabu Sherpa, mountaineering guide; Christopher Pollak Paul, snowboard instructor and first aid trainer from the US; and Peter Simon Clark, ski instructor and avalanche rescue trainer from the UK are the instructors, according to Adhikari. 

“This year we are expecting 80 to 100 participants - both national and international participants,” added Adhikari.

 
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