Previous KVR Attempts and FKTs
Several individuals have been instrumental for the establishment of a trail looping along the Kathmandu valley rim, all of their enthusiasm and efforts are amazing and we love that we know people (and can call them friends) that are crazy enough to go out there, get lost, and get back out there until the trail was connected.
Establishing a single trail around the valley rim may sound easier than it proofed to be. First, the valley is not a continuous ridge and there are several points where the brave soul attempting to get around will need to switch onto another ridge. Secondly, there are a few points (Namo Buddha, Lele) where it is not straightforward, which of the ridges defines the valley boundary, thirdly, some of the ridge line is covered in dense jungle and so trails were not always present or overgrown and hard to spot…… especially when you’ve skipped a night and are wondering whether the plan to complete the loop in a single push still sounds as good as when you were boasting about it to your friends. This means that not all attempts have followed the exact
Seth Wolpin was the first person recorded to complete the a continuous, documented push around the KVRT in November, 2015. His attempt was written-up in the Nepali Times: “Just running around: Two days, 172km and one American university professor.” He was paced for most of last 24 hours but otherwise self-supported in 49:55 hours. You can read his Trip Report here.
Lizzy Hawker completed her first loop in March 2016, accompanied for parts but otherwise self-supported. Lizzy also added distance (around 20 km) to what Seth Wolpin had done prior by going out to closer to Dhulikhel. 35h39m22s.
On March 12th, 2018 a group of three (Simon, Jocelyn and Raj Pradhan) completed a circumnavigation of 102 miles in 38 hours. The effort was reported and followed via the Trailmandu FB group.
In November 10th, 2018 Jimi Oostrum (who had joined the previous group but had to retire in Nagarkot) finished the challenge in 39 hours, supported by a team of trackers Mahesh Dahal and pacers Richard McCabe, Raj Pradhan, Simon and Stine Heiselberg. The effort was reported and followed via the Trailmandu FB group.
Jimi on the trail, photo by Richard McCabe
On March 2019, Hannah Straw and Peeta completed the rim in respectively 57 and 59 hours, Hannah and Peeta were paced by Bikash, Ram, Giri, Rashila and Aashish The effort was tracked and reported through Trailmandu
On February 27 2020, Stine Heiselberg completed the single push around the rim in 55 hours, 59 minutes 41 seconds, Stine was paced by Aashish Mishra, Mahesh Thapa and for the last leg by Jimi, Alan, Shashank and Karan. The effort was tracked and reported through Trailmandu
Please click on the links for the finishers and times of the participants of the 2021 first edition of the Manjushree race and the Manjushree stage.