GHT Women Leaders on the Trail Campaign
4-Part Trekking Series (spring 2024)
let’s support and elevate the roles of nepali female guides and porters in the trekking tourism industry
Photo credit: Robin Boustead
AN UPDATE ON THIS INITIATIVE -
PHASE 2:INTRODUCING THE HIMALAYAN WOMEN TRAIL LEADERS INITIaTIVE
We are happy to share that the Phase 2 of this initiative, now renamed - HIMALAYAN WOMEN TRAIL LEADERS INITIATIVE - is underway. In September 2024, our project has been chosen as one of the finalists for the Launch Track of the 2024 Social Entrepreneurship Competition in Tourism. We are working on developing the first ever online platform that showcases Nepali female trekking guides as a way to increase their visibility in the industry while connecting them to consumers as a means to increase the hiring of female guides in Nepal’s male-dominated mountain tourism industry. We are one of the five finalists for the Pitching Competition set for November 18, 2024. Register to watch the competition via this page and learn more about the Phase 2 of this initiative via this page.
Support our campaign and donate via our donation link - click here.
Learn more about the project below or via the Indiegogo campaign page.
The Great Himalaya Trail (GHT) Women Leaders on the Trail Campaign (GHT Women Leaders campaign) is a once in a lifetime opportunity to elevate the roles and status of female Nepali guides and porters in Nepal. The campaign involves organizing a group of female Nepali guide(s) and porters to trek on the Great Himalaya Trail for 140 days beginning February until July of 2024. This campaign is in support of the mission of the non-profit human rights organization, The Porter Voice Collective, which aims to advocate for the human rights of porters in Peru, Nepal & Tanzania via all forms of media and storytelling.
Source: www.thegreathimalayatrail.com
What is the Great Himalaya Trail?
The Great Himalaya Trail, GHT for short, is a spectacular challenge that not many know of. Nepal has three main trekking regions: Everest, Annapurna, and Langtang. These three share the majority of tourism and recognition. But there is so much more to see in Nepal than just those regions. The GHT pays homage to the part of Nepal that is often left unseen as it spans from east to west, crossing Nepal lengthwise. The GHT surpasses Nepal’s borders and includes sections in Bhutan and India, but for our GHT Women Leaders campaign, we are focusing on the 1700-kilometer-long section of the trail in Nepal. We aim to complete the GHT in 140 days, hiking from east to west beginning in February 2024. You can learn more about the GHT via this page.
Our team of women will walk from east to west in the following regions: KANCHENJUNGA, MAKALU, EVEREST REGION, ROLWALING, LANGTANG, MANASLU, ANNAPURNA, DOLPO, MUGU AND THE FAR WEST. We official end the trek in Simikot.
The reason we chose GHT as the platform for our campaign can be summarized eloquently by noting the comment by one of the local female guides in Nepal:
“If a female guide does the GHT, even guides it, there is nothing she can’t do.”
Women face discrimination and prejudice as porters and guides. We hope that through trekking the GHT, we can empower women, give them invaluable work and field experience that will lead to jobs, and raise awareness about the workforce issues in the industry.
HEAR DIRECTLY FROM THE FEMALE GUIDES
HOW DID THE GHT TREK IDEA COME UP?
Hi, all - Marinel here, aka Brown Gal Trekker. As an avid hiker for almost 20 years now, I’ve been dreaming about doing my own version of long-distance hiking on Nepal’s GHT. I’ve been to Nepal a few times and have actually trekked some sections of the GHT but this campaign will allow me to finally do 140 days of walking on it, which has been a dream of mine for the past 8 years. I believe with the many years of hiking and backpacking that I’ve done (including solo treks) and with my experience running my mountain trekking social enterprise, Equity Global Treks, the right time is here to do the GHT trek. But I won’t do it alone. Because of my mission to create gender and workforce equity in the trekking industry, I believe IMPACT is as important as REPRESENTATION. I believe we can be more powerful when we create allyship and hence partnering with a local team of Nepali female guide(s) and porters will not only make my experience as a hiker meaningful but also elevate the roles of women in the trekking tourism industry. While representation matters as this campaign is obviously about the first Filipina American and first Nepali female guide to walk the GHT for 40 days, the impact we create is equally important by way of elevating the voices and status of women in the trekking tourism industry.
No doubt - this is going to be the most difficult, highest and longest trek of my life! I invite you to support us on this important journey of bettering ourselves while creating equity in the trekking industry at the same time. You can learn more about me and my work in the outdoor & tourism industries via this page.
OUR LOCAL PARTNER IN NEPAL - LIFETREK
In light of The Porter Voice Collective’s mission to elevate local communities, we are partnering with LifeTrek, a local organization in Nepal. LifeTrek wants to change the patriarchal society of Nepal and work for more gender equality that women deserve. LifeTrek creates opportunities for women to be independent and to work in the outdoor industry as women should have equal rights, opportunities, and freedom as men do. LifeTrek helps young girls and women by giving them outdoor skill training, guiding them to be self-supported, and building their confidence.
How will the GHT Women Leaders campaign elevate the roles of Nepali female guides & porters?
Based on our interviews of Nepali female guides and porters, the main barrier to getting hired to work as guides and/or porters in the trekking tourism industry is the lack of “field training” as most opportunities for field training are geared towards men in the industry. Hence, with this campaign, we are filling the gap by giving women the field training they need. Our hope is that this field experience will then render the women who participate on the GHT trek more competitive in the guiding and portering industry.
Working in the mountains is still seen as a male-dominated job and many females do not feel comfortable taking on the job due to societal pressure. Even if the immediate family supports those we have interviewed, the neighborhood or community often poses barriers.
“When you are a child, you always hear that you need to be in the kitchen and that limits you from the beginning. In your mind, you internalize this and question your own ability. The mind is still stuck in those ideas even if we live in a more modern society now.”
- Female trekking guide
Although local women who aspire to become guides are able to access classroom training to get certified, some of which are free of charge (for example, Nepal Mountain Academy and Everest Women Treks amongst others), the crux of the problem lies in the traditional and cultural roles and expectations that are imposed upon women, the biases and prejudices against them, and the gender discrimination that is prevalent in hiring for the position of porters and guides. Our field research shows that Nepal is NOT lacking QUALIFIED female guides and porters. The problem has more to do with women NOT GETTING HIRED by virtue of being a woman.
As Gauri Malakar, Program Coordinator at Global Inclusive Adventure Nepal, and a trekking guide, notes:
“Training is important, but getting the job is the real question. Even if you say that you can work for free as an assistant guide, they won’t let you because if they take us [females], there will be a male missing an opportunity, and the males won’t allow it.”
You can listen to the Nepali women directly below. To learn more about the workforce inequities in the trekking tourism industry of Nepal, check out our social media campaign on Decolonizing the Tourism Industry of Nepal & creating Workforce Equity.
How can you support the campaign?
There are three ways you can support our GHT Women Leaders Campaign:
first:DONATE TO OUR GHT WOMEN LEADERS on the trail FUNDRAISER
DONATE NOW TO OUR FUNDRAISER that will help fund the GHT Women Leaders Campaign. The funds will go directly towards the hiring of Nepali female guides and porters who will be selected to participate in the trek.
SECOND: BE OUR CAMPAIGN SPONSOR
If you are a company or an organization, we urge you to support our campaign to create gender equity in the industry by becoming a campaign sponsor via donating funds or in-kind (gear items for our team). We have different levels of sponsorship available. You can learn more about how to become our campaign sponsor by sending us an email - equity@browngaltrekker.com.
JOIN OUR GROWING NUMBER OF SPONSORS & SUPPORTERS
THIRD: JOIN US ON THE TREK - YES, YOU CAN TREK WITH US!
The actual 140 day trek will take place between February and July of 2024. For those who wish to join us, we are opening up four parts of the trek for you to join us. We have the following parts open for you to join:
MARCH 18 TO APRIL 2
APRIL 22 TO MAY 3
APRIL 29 TO MAY 13
MAY 10 to 25
You can do one, some or all of the four parts. The last three sections can be done continuously beginning April 22 until May 25. The treks will be led by our team of Nepali guide and porters who are part of the the GHT Women Leaders Campaign and the actual trek. By joining our treks, you are directly supporting the women by hiring them as part of your trekking team and you are partaking in our social impact initiative to create gender equity in the trekking tourism industry of Nepal.
Ready to join? Click on the trek you wish to join and complete the booking form. If you are doing the 3-PARTS GHT TREK OF LANGTANG-MANASLU-ANNAPURNA (April 22-May 25), please complete the registration form here. Thereafter, we will schedule a call to go over logistics with you and learn more about your hiking background to ensure the thru-hike is the right fit for you. For questions, send an email to equity@browngaltrekker.com
meet your ght women leaders campaign organizers
THE GHT TREKKING TEAM
MEET THE FIRST NEPALI FEMALE GUIDE TO WALK THE 140 DAYS ON THE GHT
MINGMAR DORMA SHERPA
"Women guides can serve as ambassadors for their communities and foster cultural exchange, promoting understanding and appreciation between diverse groups. The GHT is a physically demanding trek, requiring endurance and strength. By participating in the trek, women can improve their fitness levels, enhance their overall well-being, and develop a strong connection with nature. I want to join the GHT 140 day trek as it will give me guiding experience while learning about the places, culture and people along the way. With this much experience on the GHT, no one can stop your from achieving your goals.
Trekking the GHT involves overcoming challenges, pushing boundaries, and adapting to changing environments. Women who participate in such treks can develop resilience, problem-solving skills, and a sense of accomplishment, leading to personal growth and development."
learn more about us in the media
Tourythm Magazine
Altruistic Traveller podcast
ALMOST THERE ADVENTURE PODCAST
CRITERIA FOR SELECTING THE NEPALI FEMALE GUIDE
At this time, we have candidates who have expressed interest in the role of guiding on the 140 day trek. In the next few months, we will be going through months long selection process with the candidates so we get to know them over time. The selected Nepali female guide will be someone who has a level of experience as a trekking guide. We are looking for a guide who is passionate about guiding on the mountain trails and dedicated to her career as a trekking guide. Our GHT campaign aims to benefit a Nepali female guide who wishes to gain valuable field training on the GHT and inspire other Nepali women to work in the tourism industry. We envision the GHT as the platform for us to foster future female leaders in the tourism industry as we elevate their roles as guides and porters.
TIMELINE FOR SELECTING THE NEPALI FEMALE GUIDE
We will be launching our Fundraiser and Sponsorship Search sometime in the summer of 2024. In the fall of 2023, we will begin interviewing and selecting the Nepali female guide(s) and porters for the 140 day GHT trek. As we go through the selection process, we will be updating this page with our selection of candidates for the first Nepali female guide to lead for 140 days on the GHT. We plan to announce the selection of the Nepali female guide who will lead the 140 days on the GHT by the October 31, 2023, if not sooner. Our GHT organizers will also be joining some or all parts of the GHT trek. Stay tuned to find out about the GHT Trekking Team.
OUR LONG TERM VISION FOR THE GHT WOMEN LEADERS ON THE TRAIL CAMPAIGN
We hope for this campaign to become a regular training program and job opportunity for female Nepali guides and porters that will be made available at least once a year. The pilot version of it in 2024 will be a way for our team to scout the entire GHT trail to create the best purely non-technical trekking itinerary. In the near future, we would like to organize an annual 140 day trek on the GHT that will be open to all tourists to join to be led by a team of the best female guides and porters in the industry.
frequently asked questions
How long is the Great Himalaya Trail or GHT? The Nepal section of the GHT spans approximately 1,700 kilometers in length.
Which sections of the GHT will you be trekking? We intend to trek the entire non-technical route of the GHT from east to west over 140 days. To ensure everyone’s safety, we intend to skip 2-3 technical sections of the trail that require advance mountaineering skills. Since the field training for the guides is meant to train them as “trekking” guides, they don’t have the prerequisite license and experience to guide on the technical parts. Hence, we will stick to the non-technical sections of the route.
How many guides are you sponsoring? We wish to sponsor at least one female guide to walk 140 days. If funds allow, we wish to sponsor another guide to do the entire 140 days or sections of it. The PVC founder, Marinel de Jesus, will also be joining to scout the entire GHT trail along with our campaign coordinator, Sara Frenning. The more money we raised, the more women we can hire as guides and porters to give them an opportunity to train on the GHT.
Can I join you on the 140 days trek? At this time, only four sections are open as noted above. In the future, we hope to offer this 140 day trek of the GHT to tourists to join as a commercial trek led by female guides and porters.
How can I support you? There are 3 ways - (1) You can join us on some or all of the sections open for you to join - Everest Base Camp, Langtang, Manaslu & Annapurna (2) Donate to our crowdfunding campaign; and/or (3) Be an official sponsor of our GHT Women Leaders Campaign. Email us (equity@browngaltrekker.com) to receive our Sponsorship Pitch Deck.