mr. lal prasad gurung dear mr....

Improving Safety Standards on the Annapurna Circuit

1 | P a g e

PO Box 3712

Khumaltar, Lalitpur, Nepal

March 27th, 2015

Mr. Lal Prasad Gurung

Project Director

Annapurna Conservation Area Project

National Trust for Nature Conservation

Khumaltar, Lalitpur, Nepal

Dear Mr. Gurung,

I had the opportunity to trek the Annapurna Circuit this past fall and was absolutely stunned by the

beauty of the area. However, I had the misfortune to be a part of the snowstorm that is now the worst

adventure tourism disaster in Nepalese history.

I do believe that with some minor changes many lives could be saved in the future and I have sought to

research the best cost effective strategies for ensuring a better outcome if such a storm were to happen

again. Attached is my feasibility report on improving safety standards on the Annapurna Circuit.

The natural beauty of Nepal is its greatest treasure and the work the ACAP has done is great and I hope

that you will be able to fulfill your mandate even better by increasing revenues through increasing

tourism. Please do not hesitate to contact me with questions or feedback at [email protected]

Sincerely,

Billy Yuning Fan

Billy Fan


2 | P a g e

Feasibility Analysis of

Better Safety Standards

for the Annapurna Circuit

for

Mr. Lal Prasad Gurung

Project Director

Annapurna Area Conservation Project (ACAP)

Kathmandu, Nepal

By

Billy Yuning Fan

English 301 Student

March 27, 2015


3 | P a g e

Table of Contents

Abstract - 4

I. Introduction - 4 to 8

A. Definition of the Problem, Description of Study Area and Parameters - 4

B. Purpose of the Report, Intended Audience, Possible Solutions - 5

C. Method of Inquiry - 6

D. Limitations of the Study - 7

E. Results and Conclusions – 7

II. Collected Data – 8 to 13

A. Interviews - 8

1. Interviewees

2. Findings

3. Interpretation of Findings

B. Research of Infrastructure and Resources – 9 to 13

1. Trail Resources – 9 to 10

a. Definition

b. Findings

c. Interpretation of Findings

2. Budget Concerns – 11 to 13

a. Definition

b. Findings


III. Conclusion – 14 to 15

A. Summary of Findings

B. Overall Interpretation of Findings

C. Recommendations

IV. Appendices – 16 to 27

A. Photos – 16 to 17 B. Completed Surveys – 18 to 27

V. Sources Cited – 28 to 29


4 | P a g e

Abstract

The Annapurna Circuit experienced the worst disaster in its history in October 2014. 43 people

were confirmed dead with many missing even until now. There has been rampant speculation about why

the consequences were so severe. This report seeks to find cost-effective solutions for the Annapurna

Conservation Authority (ACAP) as its budget limitations are quite severe. The ACAP has a mandate to

improve conditions for the locals of the Annapurna region while promoting tourism and conservation of

the natural area. By utilising existing infrastructure as information hubs, most importantly including daily

weather information and emergency preparedness, trekkers, guides, and porters will be able to make

better decisions and be safer during inclement weather. These solutions and not more expensive and

involved ones were determined to be adequate through interviews with trekkers. The objective of the

ACAP should be to not only increase safety standards, but to do so without impacting the continually

growing tourist industry in the Annapurna region.

I. Introduction

A. Definition of the Problem, Description of Study Area and Parameters

The Annapurna Circuit is one of the world’s most popular recreational hikes. The accessibility, stunning

vistas and relative affordability attracts thousands of visitors each year from many different countries.

Trekking in Nepal has experienced a resurgence since the cessation of the civil war in late 2006, but

recent accidents have highlighted a need for changes to ensure safety for both tourists and locals alike.

Nepalese tourism is at a critical juncture where continued lapses in safety, warning and information

standards could discourage foreign tourism and cripple the tourism-dependent economy of the country.

It is important that the Nepalese National Trust for Nature Conversation and in particular the Annapurna


5 | P a g e

Conservation Area Project not only ensure the safety standards are changed, but that they do not

discourage tourism by over-regulating travel and discouraging increased tourist traffic to Nepal.

Several distinct issues contributed to the unprecedented death toll of the October 2014 blizzard that

claimed the lives of 43 people, 21 of which were foreign nationals trekking the Annapurna circuit. The

major issues to be addressed that could be fixed in a cost-effective manner are as follows:

Prior to the storm there was no warning of inclement weather causing many to continue trekking

into unsafe areas.

There was no accurate account of where people were located along the circuit, hampering rescue

operations.

Virtually all forms of on-location communication were unable to continue through adverse

weather conditions resulting in poor transfer of information.

Authorities did not provide adequate disaster response due to lack of resources and inefficient

organization.

Without addressing these issues properly tourists will be discouraged from traveling to Nepal, hurting the

local economy. Thus far the response has been concerning due to the misidentification of the issues that

led to such a high number of fatalities and missing persons. It is important to avoid discouraging future

tourism by making trekking cost-prohibitive or by not increasing safety standards sufficiently.

B. Purpose of the Report, Intended Audience, Possible Solutions

The purpose of this feasibility report is to give recommendations in order to better safety conditions on

the Annapurna circuit without compromising the budding adventure tourism industry in Nepal. These

recommendations will be based on response from trekkers that have direct experience with adverse

conditions in Nepal, and my own recommendations based on research of park authorities and

conservation organizations.


6 | P a g e

To adequately protect future tourists, porters, and guides from the hazards of trekking in the Himalayas

and to promote continued tourism to Nepal, all the aforementioned problems must be addressed.

Budgetary concerns are prominent and any solutions must keep in mind the limited resources available to

the Annapurna Area Conservation Project. Fortunately, I believe most issues can be addressed with

simple and cost-effective fixes. One possible solution is to utilize current checkpoints and improve the

transfer of information both between these checkpoints and with the main ACAP office. Setting up better

guidelines for the function of these checkpoints would also provide trekkers with a warning system for

inclement weather.

To assess the feasibility of modifying these checkpoints to address the problems outlined, it is necessary

to answer the following questions:

1. What infrastructure is available in terms of checkpoint locations, communicative abilities and

possible upgrades at reasonable cost?

2. How quickly could changes be implemented to ensure a safe trekking environment without

disruption of tourist activities?

3. Would these changes be sufficient or would more expensive upgrades to Nepal’s disaster

response system be necessary to ensure a higher safety standard?

C. Method of Inquiry

My primary data sources will include interviews with trekkers that were involved in the most recent

disaster and consultation with the ACAP Authority. Some internet-based research will be required to

determine budget limitations of the ACAP authority. If tourism in Nepal is to survive the bad publicity that

came with the 2014 Nepalese snowstorm disaster, action is needed to improve safety standards in a cost-

effective and non-prohibitive manner. If the problems outlined above can be addressed and better


7 | P a g e

practices can be implemented the Annapurna circuit will continue to be a global draw for adventure

tourists.

D. Limitations of the Study

To understand the limitations of what can be done to better safety standards on the Annapurna Circuit, it

is important to understand the budgetary concerns of the ACAP authority. Important infrastructure such

as better search and rescue that exists in North America is simply not a possibility in Nepal. The governing

body of the Annapurna Conservation Area Project, the National Trust for Nature Conservation, is a non-

profit organization that does not receive regular funding from the Nepali government. The NTNC relies on

the fees it collects from trekkers and donations from domestic and international bodies in order to

maintain the trail.

The recommendations of this study will therefore be limited to easily implemented and cost-effective

ideas that focus on organization, information, and preparation in order to mitigate future casualties in

case of inclement weather. The changes recommended are intended to allow continued access to the

Annapurna circuit without reducing the volume of tourist traffic that the ACAP depends on for funding.

E. Results and Conclusions

Changes to current practices are absolutely necessary to restore confidence in the Nepali government.

The minor changes suggested capitalizing on existing infrastructure should be easily implemented within

the budget constraints of the Annapurna Conservation Area Project. By utilizing current security

checkpoints to relay information to both search and rescue authorities and trekkers alike. By ensuring

records are more meticulously kept and hikers will not be able to proceed without checking-in, there will

be much less ambiguity with missing persons. Prominently displayed daily forecasts will also forewarn

trekkers of inclement weather, a simple measure that has the potential to save a lot of lives. Checkpoints

will be more prominent so there is no opportunity for trekkers to pass by them. Any budget shortfall from


8 | P a g e

these improvements will be obtained through increased usages numbers from the promotion of tourism

through better safety. Simple, cost-effective solutions are all that are needed to ensure a safe

environment in the future.

II. Collected Data

A. Interviews

1. Interviewees

Frank Somerford*

Jonathan Potter*

Maxym Pendyshchuk

Nataliia Grynko

Sierra Rowe

Matt Adams*

Dawson Vlessides*

Lars Arvidson

Chris Anderson*

Carly Francis

* Indicates applicants that responded in time for the writing of this report.

2. Findings

There were several themes that consistently came up in the responses to interview questions.

Consistently it was reported that there was an atmosphere of confusion and a lack of information

throughout the storm and in the aftermath. Specific problems that could be easily addressed that were


9 | P a g e

part of my own observations included the need for daily local weather forecasting and more stringent

accounting of the numbers of trekkers, porters and guides and their locations. Interesting points that I did

not initially consider included somehow informing trekkers of what to do during inclement weather. One

of the main factors behind the high number of casualties was people leaving both during and immediately

after the storm and dying of exposure or in avalanches. These surveys are included as Appendix B.

3. Interpretation of Findings

From the interviews it was clear that the Annapurna Circuit is not viewed as a trek that is beyond the pale

of similar treks throughout the world. None of the trekkers though mandatory guides or GPS trackers

were a necessity and in general trail facilities were found to be well-supplied and had generally good

maintenance and infrastructure. There was a consensus that minor changes such as daily weather,

mandatory registration at existing ACAP checkpoints and better means of communication between these

checkpoints and emergency response authorities would be sufficient in order to prevent loss of life in the

future. It was also mentioned that education of trekkers on emergency procedures in the case of

inclement weather could be useful. I believe that this is a worthwhile suggestion and that it could be

easily included in the materials given with the trekking permit. This information may seem logical, but it is

not always apparent what the best course of action is in the middle of a storm.

B. Research of Infrastructure and Resources

1. Trail Resources

a. Definition

It is important to have an awareness of what resources are available for information distribution and

quick response to disaster. The main hubs available for immediate improvement are the currently

operating ACAP checkpoints. Some minor but very important changes to these checkpoints could have


10 | P a g e

prevented many deaths in the most recent snowstorm. The below figure of the circuit highlights the

towns where checkpoints exist currently. Currently these checkpoints are only used to ensure the usage

fee has been paid and to keep a non-digital ledger of those hiking the circuit.

Figure 1 Modified Map of the Annapurna Circuit showing locations of major checkpoints (Boy).


11 | P a g e

b. Findings

The current locations of the checkpoints would be sufficient in order to keep an accounting of hikers and

provide weather updates on a semi-daily basis. However, in order to give daily updates for weather it

would be useful to utilize existing tourist information stations as weather information stations as well.

There are 19 tourist information centers and 11 functioning checkposts, but the issue with these stations

is that they can be easy to miss.


It would be simple to create a barrier to ensure that all trekkers had both paid the fee and are accounted

for. It also would be useful to hand out pamphlets and maps at these stations that would inform trekkers

about what to do in case of inclement weather or a storm. In summary, these stations as well as the clean

water stations that virtually all hikers utilize for fresh water would make great distribution points for daily

weather information, disaster preparedness information and to account for trekkers’ whereabouts. The

hiker sign-in would be kept at the checkpoint and be made available immediately in the case of

emergency. Only a few of the stations have the capacity for digital records, but this is something that

would likely be created in the near future as the infrastructure in the area improves.

2. Budget Concerns

a. Definition

The National Trust for Nature Conservation in Nepal, which is the overseeing body for the Annapurna

Conservation Area Project, is a non-profit organization that is responsible for fee collection and

maintenance of the Annapurna Circuit. As a non-profit with no reliable funding from the Nepali

government, the NTNC is limited to only monies collected from trekkers and donors (Gurung). This limited

funding means that any improvements to safety standards must be very budget conscious. In the October


12 | P a g e

snow storm few helicopters were made available by the Nepali military and any additional search and

rescue aircraft were provided by the Israeli government. Israel had a vested interest in the disaster

because the majority of trekkers in Nepal are Israeli (Ho).

Figure 2 Income Sources by Percentage of ACAP (Conservation Finance Alliance)

b. Finding

The ACAP authority published a document detailing its objectives, activities and finances. Their mandate

is as follows:

“To achieve sustained balance between nature conservation and socio-economic

improvement in the Annapurna Conservation Area (ACA) thereby assist National Trust for

Nature Conservation in achieving its goal."


13 | P a g e

Their goals include “conserving the natural resources of ACA for the benefit of present and future

generations”, “bringing sustainable social and economic development to the local people” and

“developing tourism in such a way that it will have minimum negative impact on the natural, socio-

cultural and economic environments (Gurung).”

The source of revenue of the ACAP has been changed over the years. There has been less coming from

private donations, but the ACAP authority has managed to fill its philanthropic role by continuing to

develop internal revenues in the form of funding from tourist fees (Conservation Finance Alliance).

20,694 trekkers visited the Annapurna Circuit in 2014, which is down for the first time since the civil war

(Pokharel). This is undoubtedly because of the negative publicity of the snowstorm and this will threaten

the revenues of the ACAP.


As part of the final objective of developing tourism with minimum negative impacts, I think it is vital to

develop these simple cost-effective solutions to ensure the continued economic benefits of tourism on

the Annapurna circuit. The conservation area project does many wonderful things with the money it

receives from trail revenues and it would be a small portion of the budget to institute these modest

upgrades. No additional personnel or equipment would be required, just better communication and

development of procedures. By developing these safety measures the Annapurna Circuit will continue to

be a destination for trekkers, increasing revenues and allowing ACAP to continue to fulfill its mandate and

improve the lives of those that live in the Annapurna conservation area.


14 | P a g e

III. Conclusion

A. Summary of Findings

The ACAP authority has continued to receive increased revenues from trekkers traveling on the

Annapurna Circuit since the 1980s and less from donations (Conservation Finance Alliance). The financial

resources exist to produce the modest improvement required to the checkpoints and otherwise there is

only a necessity to develop better procedures in order to improve safety conditions. Interviewees

mentioned that it would be useful to have weather information in order to promote better decision

making, materials that could instruct trekkers about the best course of action in case of emergencies, and

for the checkpoints to have better accounts of people’s whereabouts.

B. Overall Interpretation of Findings

After evaluating the budgetary situation of ACAP, I believe that it would be quite feasible to enact the

changes that are required to ensure better safety standards. The existing checkpoints, converted into

mandatory stops, existing information centers and even clean water stations would make for excellent

hubs of information. The major action required would be to simply come up with procedures for

distributing information. This could be as simple as phone calls or a quick internet search (where possible)

each day to update a weather information board. By doing these weather updates and distributing

disaster preparedness information we can easily and economically address the problems outlined

originally. The interviewees were adamant that further and more expensive interventions would not be

necessary and were not standard practice in other popular trekking areas.

C. Recommendations

Mr. Gurung, I highly recommend that changes in information distribution are made in order to give

trekkers, guides and porters up-to-date weather and emergency preparedness information. By ensuring


15 | P a g e

that everyone using the Annapurna Circuit has the information to make safe decisions and secure shelter

in the event of a storm, we can prevent the casualties of the October 2014 snowstorm from occurring in

the future. It is also important not to over reach in terms of requiring mandatory guides and GPS trackers.

As demonstrated by the interviews, it would discourage a lot of trekkers from coming to the Annapurna

Circuit and the added cost to them would not directly benefit ACAP. By ensuring a safe, but adventurous

trekking environment the ACAP can increase the number of tourists and therefore revenue. The

increased revenue from further growth in tourism is important in fulfilling ACAP’s mandate of helping the

local people, economy and society. The lack of growth in tourism from this most recent year highlights

the desire for better safety standards on the Annapurna circuit and these changes could ensure

continued prosperity for ACAP.


16 | P a g e

IV. Appendices

Appendix A: Photos for Background

3 An example of an existing ACAP checkpoint

4 An example of ACAP permit, the main source of income for the NTNC


17 | P a g e

5 From zero centimeters to over two meter of snow in a twenty four hour period. Forty three confirmed deaths from exposure or avalanche with many more missing highlights the need for better information and weather warning systems on the Annapurna

Circuit.


18 | P a g e

Appendix B: Completed Surveys

Name: Frank Somerford

On the 14th of October 2014 Nepal experienced the worst trekking disaster in its history, with 43 confirmed

deaths and many still missing. As a trekker on the Annapurna circuit at the time of the snowstorm, you are

uniquely qualified to discuss what information and safety protocol could have helped to prevent so many

casualties from occurring. This questionnaire is intended to give you an opportunity to explain what

information and infrastructure was available to you and how you think ACAP could improve these systems

in the future. Thank you for your time.

Safety Standard Questions for Annapurna Trekkers Caught in the Snowstorm on October 14, 2014

Where were you for the duration of the storm? Tilicho Lake

What facilities did you have? A modern lodge, but the toilets were frozen and it was overcrowded.

What information was available to you during and after the storm? Not much. There was one satellite

phone that had really poor reception and a bunch of people were trying to use it all at once. Some people

got helicopters but we didn’t get any news. There were lots of rumors.

What do you believe contributed to the high numbers of casualties? After we got back to Manang we

heard that a lot of people had died because they got caught in the storm while they were hiking. I think

that seeking shelter in the storm became difficult for them. We were lucky enough to have already found

the lodge at the start of the storm.

What information would have helped you assess your situation and determine a course of action both prior

to and after the snowstorm? Well, it would have been nice to have a weather forecast and some way to

call people.

There is talk about requiring mandatory GPS trackers and only allowing guided hikes… How do you feel this

would impact your desire to trek in Nepal? I probably wouldn’t go if you had to go with the guide. That

would have been too expensive for me and there are plenty of other places to hike in the world without

restrictive rules like that.


19 | P a g e

In comparison with other treks you have done, would you say that the Annapurna Circuit requires these

extensive safety measures? No, I think what happened was unfortunate, but you get freak storms and bad

weather everywhere.

What changes would you like to see made in order to improve safety on the Annapurna Circuit? It would

have been nice to know the weather and to have had some information while we were at the lodge going

stir crazy.

Additional Comments:


20 | P a g e

Name: Matt Adams








Where were you for the duration of the storm? I was in Tilicho lake and then I slept outside while hiking

out.

What facilities did you have? I was staying at the new lodge and then just a sleeping bag, camping mat and

a fire.

What information was available to you during and after the storm? Nothing really, we didn’t know if

anyone was coming and I was getting really tired of playing cards after 24 hours.

What do you believe contributed to the high numbers of casualties? I think that even the guides didn’t

know what to do in that storm. We heard that a large group was told to venture out into the storm and

the guide took them for a large amount of money only to end up lost and have a number die in the cold.


to and after the snowstorm? Weather information. It also seemed like no one knew who was missing or

what was happening after the storm, so a proper accounting of people’s whereabouts would have

helped.


would impact your desire to trek in Nepal? I wouldn’t go.


21 | P a g e


extensive safety measures? Not at all, compared to the other treks in Nepal it is the most established by

far.

What changes would you like to see made in order to improve safety on the Annapurna Circuit? I don’t

think many changes would be needed, except that people need to have the right gear: a coat, etc. I guess

up-to-date weather would make a big difference too.



22 | P a g e

Name: Jonathan Potter








Where were you for the duration of the storm? I was staying in Tilicho Lake in the main lodge.

What facilities did you have? There was enough food and basic amenities, though space was at a premium

because it was overcrowded with people.

What information was available to you during and after the storm? At first we were worried about being

able to continue, but the snow kept falling and it really caught us off guard. It just didn’t stop and we had

no idea how severe it was until the next day. It was obvious that the trail would be impassable after that

amount of snowfall.

What do you believe contributed to the high numbers of casualties? This would be purely speculative on

my part, but I do think that less people would have left during the storm if they had known how severe

the weather would be.


to and after the snowstorm? A weather forecast would have been invaluable. We probably never would

have left for Tilicho Lake had we known how severe the weather was going to be. Staying in Manang for

the storm would have been much safer and we would have been less isolated. As it was, we had enough

food to be comfortable for the three days we were trapped, but towards the end the lodge was definitely

starting to be depleted.


would impact your desire to trek in Nepal? Of course having mandatory GPS trackers would be safer, but

I’m not sure how feasible it would be. The costs would be quite high both for the Nepali government and


23 | P a g e

trekkers. As for mandatory guides, I am not sure that would really benefit anyone. It might not even mean

extra business for the porters and guides as the amount of traffic on the trail would be decreased.


extensive safety measures? The only hikes I know of that have mandatory guides are ones that are in

delicate historical areas such as the Inca Trail in Peru. In that case, I believe this is more for preservation

of the structures rather than for safety of the trekkers. I think it would be unnecessary to have really

restrictive regulations for the Annapurna Circuit.

What changes would you like to see made in order to improve safety on the Annapurna Circuit? Better

information infrastructure is necessary. The addition of a communication network between checkpoints

would be helpful and this would make it easier to relay relevant information such as weather and

information on hikers.

Additional Comments: As with any disaster I think the response will be too severe and not much change is

required in order to ensure better safety. I honestly hope that the changes aren’t overreaching because it

might ruin the experience of hiking in the Himalayas.


24 | P a g e

Name: Chris Anderson








Where were you for the duration of the storm? Tilicho Lake

What facilities did you have? Slept on the floor of a lodge.

What information was available to you during and after the storm? Virtually nothing. Even after the

weather cleared up there was very little information available to us. The lodge we were at had a satellite

phone, but service was very poor and the phone was in constant use by people arranging evacuation.

What do you believe contributed to the high numbers of casualties? A rare storm combined with a lack of

knowledge.


to and after the snowstorm? If people had known about the incoming weather and what to do in case of a

blizzard there probably would have been a lot less people dead or missing.


would impact your desire to trek in Nepal? I would probably choose to do a different hike if I was required

to have a guide.


extensive safety measures? I haven’t done many comparable hikes, but I’ve never been required to have a

guide before.


25 | P a g e

What changes would you like to see made in order to improve safety on the Annapurna Circuit? Better

communication systems would help a lot, but barring that perhaps being better educated about what to

do in inclement weather would be useful. If everyone stayed indoors during the storm a lot more people

would have survived.



26 | P a g e

Name: Dawson Vlessides








Where were you for the duration of the storm? I was hiking in Tilicho Lake and it starting snowing on our

way down

What facilities did you have? Bed, sleeping bag, food and lots of tea

What information was available to you during and after the storm? I didn’t even know anything happened

when we hiked out. When I was told it made the news in Canada I found out that my family had reported

me missing, there was reporters that wanted to talk to me and there was a lot of misinformation.

What do you believe contributed to the high numbers of casualties? I think no one knew what was going

on


to and after the snowstorm? Some way to contact the outside world, some way to know the weather


would impact your desire to trek in Nepal? I wouldn’t mind if it wasn’t more expensive, but I don’t think

the mandatory guides would make it safer


extensive safety measures? I can’t think of anywhere in Canada that has requirements like that. I mean, it

was a really out of nowhere storm, but if there was better weather info, I think it would have been okay.


27 | P a g e

What changes would you like to see made in order to improve safety on the Annapurna Circuit? I don’t

think they should change much. Daily weather would have saved a lot of lives.



28 | P a g e

Sources Cited

Boy, Ramblin. "Nepal's Annapurna Circuit: Is It Still Worth Doing?" Ramblin Boy. 23 June 2013. Web. 24

Mar. 2015. <http://albinger.me/2013/06/23/the-annapurna-circuit-is-it-still-worth-doing/>.

Conservation Finance Alliance. "Building a Secure Financial Future: Experience of Annapurna

Conservation Area Project (ACAP), Nepal." Web. 10 Mar. 2015.

Gurung, Lal Prasad. "Annapurna Conservation Area Project." Annapurna Conservation Area Project.

National Trust for Nature Conservation, 1 Jan. 2012. Web. 23 Mar. 2015.

<http://www.ntnc.org.np/project/annapurna-conservation-area-project>.

Gurung, Lal Prasad. "Achievements Fact Sheet." Annapurna Conservation Area Project. National Trust for

Nature Conservation, 1 Jan. 2012. Web. 23 Mar. 2015.

<http://www.ntnc.org.np/sites/default/files/ACAP_Achievements_Factsheet.pdf>.

Ho, Spencer. "Official Says Nepal Rescue Botched as Hopes Fade for Missing Israeli Read More: Official

Says Nepal Rescue Botched as Hopes Fade for Missing Israeli." Times of Israel 19 Oct. 2014. Times of

Israel. Web. 20 Mar. 2015. <http://www.timesofisrael.com/official-says-nepal-rescue-botched-as-hopes-

fade-for-missing-israeli/>.

"Backpacking Safety & Stewardship." Parks Canada - Banff National Park. Parks Canada, 20 Oct. 2014.

Web. 23 Mar. 2015. <http://www.pc.gc.ca/eng/pn-np/ab/banff/activ/randonee-backpacking/dangers-

hazards.aspx>.

Nelson, Dean, and Sam Dodge. "Nepal Trekkers 'kicked out of Lodge during Snow Storm' Blame Local

Greed for Eight Deaths." The Telegraph 17 Oct. 2014. The Telegraph. Web. 18 Mar. 2015.

<http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/nepal/11170488/Nepal-trekkers-kicked-out-of-

lodge-during-snow-storm-blame-local-greed-for-eight-deaths.html>.

Pokharel, Santosh. "Tourists from 120 Countries Trekked Annapurna Circuit in 2014." Tourism

Kathmandu 2 Mar. 2015. Nepal Republic Media. Web. 15 Mar. 2015.

<http://www.tourismkathmandu.com/news/display/766>.


29 | P a g e

Interviews

Adams, Matt. "Safety Standard Questions for Annapurna Trekkers Caught in the Snowstorm on October

14, 2014." E-mail interview. 9 Mar. 2015.

Anderson, Chris. "Safety Standard Questions for Annapurna Trekkers Caught in the Snowstorm on

October 14, 2014." E-mail interview. 9 Mar. 2015.

Potter, Jonathan. "Safety Standard Questions for Annapurna Trekkers Caught in the Snowstorm on


Somerford, Frank. "Safety Standard Questions for Annapurna Trekkers Caught in the Snowstorm on


Vlessides, Dawson. "Safety Standard Questions for Annapurna Trekkers Caught in the Snowstorm on


mr. lal prasad gurung dear mr....

Documents