Your Questions... Answered... from my MERA PEAK Trek & Climb | 6000m Himalayan Mountain

[@imtiazilahi27]

nice one mate. answered lot of questions as i plan for my first 6000 M later this year

[@calumpaterson123]

Thanks very much! Best of luck with your high altitude ambitions!

[@outdoortechtrekguy1029]

Great video mate 👍

[@adarshmirke3735]

I love how you said ! Im the example and you need to believe it that you can do it !

[@calumpaterson123]

Thanks so much my friend. I really appreciate your kind words :)

[@manojchittayil3326]

love the way a scot speaks... well done mate

[@calumpaterson123]

You are very kind. Thanks for watching and I hope it was helpful :)

[@merlin2501]

Hi there @calumpaterson123 , I found your channel while searching for Mera peak stuff and have now watched a few more of your vids. Great channel 🎉 I have now booked to go with Makalu adventure off the back of your recommendation. I have a quick question about money/payment on the trek. What’s the best way to pay for the wifi/water/showers etc? Keep up the good work,stay safe and have a lovely Christmas 🎄🎅🏼 Ps. We’re still waiting of the gear list vid. 😜

[@calumpaterson123]

You are very kind, thank you! I really do hope you enjoy MERA! Makalu Adventure are really great, I'm currently planning my next expedition with them.. which will be revealed in the new year. I am planning on doing a Kit Video, the problem is trying to wrangle all the kit together HAHA!

[@atreidis3946]

Thanks Mate. Nice video. You should try Island Peak next.

[@calumpaterson123]

That's very kind of you to say friend. I would love to climb Island Peak, so hopefully I can make that happen in the future. Have you climbed Island Peak? Any advice?

[@KPCOWELL]

Hi Calum. Great video. I'm doing Mera in October. Who did you get your insurance through?

[@calumpaterson123]

@@KPCOWELL Hiya Mate, thanks so much. I looked at a few different insurance companies, but ended up going with TRUE TRAVELLER. Fantastic to hear you are off to Mera in October... I'm sure you'll have a great time!

[@billybarber4351]

This is an amazing video. I’m looking to climb this as my first big one. I’m not the most experienced but defo have some. Also gonna train in Scotland before lol

[@calumpaterson123]

Thanks so much pal. I hope you have an amazing time when you go to Nepal :)

[@billybarber4351]

@@calumpaterson123 god speed brother👍🏼

[@karipintakivi9153]

Mera is not the highest trekking peak, it is a misunderstanding stemming from the original list where details of Peak 41 were used for Mera instead of the correct ones. Mera is the third highest after Chulu Central and Singu Chuli. I hiked to the summit of Mera in 1985 from Mera La in only 4 hours flat, 2 hours down and 2 hours more to Thagnak. No expeditions, no services, no permit... Came over Amphu Labtsa from Dingpoche, only 7 days Dingpoche - Mera summit - Lukla. 42 day trek total Jiri - Gokyo - EBC - Mera - Jiri.

[@calumpaterson123]

Hey @@karipintakivi9153 thanks so much for this amazing information. Sounds like quite a journey you were on. All the best :)

[@mickeyhoward3851]

Thanks Calum, all really helpful as I start to plan my trip to either Mera or Island peak. Can I ask what boots you used to a) trek, and b) summit in? Thanks again.

[@calumpaterson123]

Hey Mickey, I'm really glad you found the video useful. I've always meant to do a full gear video... and it's still on my to-film list. A) my trekking boots were the MEINDL BHUTAN and B) I used the BOREAL G1 LITE for the summit push.

[@charlotteenglish5213]

Could you please do a video on what you packed? Im going to Mera Peak soon and I'd love to get specific clothing reccomendations from someone in the uk

[@calumpaterson123]

You know Charlotte, making that video has been on my to-do list for AGES! When are you off to Nepal?

[@charlotteenglish5213]

​@@calumpaterson123 they are so helpful! I'm off in October! It's getting close 😅

[@richardwaudby7338]

Interesting video, I notice you have so more in the series which I’ll check out. Ironically I realise I’ve watched some of your winter Scotland trips in the past too. What’s the name of the Nepalese company you ended up being guided by please. Do you have an email if they don’t have a website also please?

[@calumpaterson123]

Thanks for your comment Richard. The company in Nepal is MAKALU ADVENTURE, and they do have a website. I'd definitely recommend checking them out :)

[@richardwaudby7338]

@@calumpaterson123 Thanks Calum. I’ve checked on their website the itinerary is 22 days. Is this what you did? I thought it was shorter tbh. Maximum I could get off work would be 3 weeks.

[@calumpaterson123]

@@richardwaudby7338 We did the 22 day Itinerary, however, we actually completed the trek and climb quicker because we didn't take a rest day at Chola Kharka, opting to push on to Khote, saving 2 days. Then we skipped the Mera La Camp, saving another day. We also flew out to Lukla on Day 1, so in total we did it about 4 days quicker than the itinerary suggested. As a result we got 4 extra days in Kathmandu which was a real bonus. MAKALU can curate bespoke packages for you and I'm sure they could help you if you explained your situation. Gosh... I should be on commission HAHA!

[@richardwaudby7338]

Hi Calum I’ve booked with makalu adventures to do Mera in November. Got another question sorry. What boots did you and others in your group use please. I’ve heard everything between scarpa B2 mantas being ok and others saying you need scarpa phantom 6000’s

[@calumpaterson123]

Nice One @@richardwaudby7338 I'm sure you'll have a great time! I used Boreal G1 Boots, which is a Double Mountaineering Boot. In all honesty, my feet were cold on summit night. At a minimum, I would suggest thinking of a Double Mountaineering Boot. Standard B2 Boots, in my opinion, would not be sufficient.

[@Henning_Rech]

I do not fully understand your price point. You told us a price of 3700 GBP (8:03) with the UK company, and a possible saving of 1500 GBP (10:17) when booking directly from Makalu Adventures, thus at a cost of 2200 GBP. On the website of Makalu Adventures I find a price of 2750 USD for the 22 day Mera climb, which equals 2120 GBP. How do you fly from UK to Kathmandu and back for 80 GBP?

[@calumpaterson123]

Thanks for your comment Henning. One thing to remember is that this video was made using 2022 prices. So, let's update it for 2024 and see how it compares. Right now... AP charge £4350. Makalu charge £2110 (current exchange rate) (as you correctly said). You can get flights for £800. So that would still be a saving of £1440. If you are planning your own trip to Mera, I wish you the best of luck.

[@Henning_Rech]

@@calumpaterson123 Thank you for your answer. So Makalu Adventure has increased their price by 50% after 2 years? - if I recalculate the 2022 price based on a 800 GBP flight it must have been 3700-1500-800 = 1400 GBP then? - btw the cheapest flight from London I found today was 1000 GBP.

[@calumpaterson123]

@@Henning_Rech That's just the world we live in now. Prices are increasing... the cost of everything has jumped up MASSIVELY over the past few years. I think what is clear, is that going with a Nepalese Company is a more cost effective option. I'm currently looking at my options for going back to Nepal for next year, and the BIG UK, USA or EUROPEAN companies have all significantly increased their prices. I'll definitely be using a Nepalese Operator.

[@Henning_Rech]

@@calumpaterson123 I had been a year ago in the Khumbu region on my own, trekking 3 passes solo. You do not need a tour company for this. I have met people who had booked trekking trips in Kathmandu and were very unsatisfied e. g. with accommodation. - But a Mera climb is a different league.

[@wishdarkstalkaz4050]

Hi there What company did you use for the insurance for this trek please...? Nobody I talk to covers over 6k except BMC & they're asking a LOT. Thank you.

[@calumpaterson123]

I used TRUE TRAVELLER. They definitely did MERA in 2022, not sure I can say for certain if they still do. You could also look at GLOBAL RESCUE, but I think they might be on a par with the BMC in terms of the cost.

[@wishdarkstalkaz4050]

@@calumpaterson123 Thank you for replying...very much appreciated.

[@wishdarkstalkaz4050]

@@calumpaterson123 Hello mate...just to say a BIG thank you. They still do Mera & I'm just off the phone to them, gonna cost me over £200 less than BMC & yet same financial cover. Very much appreciated...!!! All the best. .Wish.

[@calumpaterson123]

@@wishdarkstalkaz4050 I hope you have a great trip pal :)

[@TheCorporateKindergarten2023]

Im going to Mera in 100 days!

[@calumpaterson123]

Fantastic!! Have a great time pal :)

[@norabbudhathoki8694]

Did you go there brother? If yes how did it go

[@jonny1903]

Interesting that Adventure Peaks just seemed to have resold something else and pocketed more money?

[@calumpaterson123]

That's definitely one way to look at it.