Kanchenjunga(28,208 ft) is the third highest mountain on eath. Its name is Tibetan and means "Five Great Treasuries of the Snows." Stradding Nepal's eastern border, it towers over Sikkim, and the excellent views of it from Darjeeling made it the best-known peak in the Himalaya a century ago. For a time it was even believed tobe the world's highest mountain. Mountaineers scaled the main summit in 1955, but severe weather and avalancehs cahnnlenge the expeditions.

Like Dolpo, this formerly restricted area was opened in 1989 to organized treks. The restriction is int4edted to protect the region from environmental and cultural pressures (maximizing profits was another idea), but judging fromthe ribbons of toilet paper festooning the trail, the plan hasn't been too effective. Solo trekkres still manage to explore the region, but difficult logistics place it in the realm o forganized trek. There are no settlements along hte upper prtion, so enough food and shelter management should be taken with great care.

(From Nepal Handbook, by Kerry Moran)