So lately there's been alot of well-placed anger at the state of the attraction's effects, and seeing as how the ride is about to turn four years old, I'd like to share the details and knowledge of the story, the details, the placement, and the history of the large half of the attraction, before the story reaches it's latter half (The actual Ride portion)
The story the attraction tells is in iteslf one of the best, and takes up the third spot in my mind as the "Top Three Thrill Attractions" America has. (Indiana Jones Adventure, Tower of Terror, Expedition Everest. All three of a kind!)
So I'll share with you the unabridged detailed tour of the majority of the attraction's story, all official and alot of it lesser known details. Those of you who have to yet to experience the attraction (C'mon, really? Four Years?) I suggest should turn away and experience the story for themselves-firsthand. But for the people who rushed through the Fastpass Queue, or didn't slowly enjoy the entire picture, here, in detail, is the exact story told every day and as intended on opening day. It's what always makes me enjoy the ride, even if nothing works. Enjoy!
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The story begins in the district of Anadapur (Sankrit for "Place of Delight"), in a village of bustling, crumbling, buildings sitting in a wet river basin, on the edge of a steamy jungle, which has since overgrown the palace of kings that once resided there. Nature has claimed it back, and the small city continues to struggle, as most villages in the district of Anadapur are, with over development and poverty, but thanks to the recent boom in the 1990's of "Eco-Tourism", they've been able to protect a majority of the natural habitat from deforestation with the income from these world-conscious travelers who have been busily coming and going on natural tours of the region, including River Rafting and Mountaineering.
Map of Anadapur District
We ourselves are here because of that. We are here, as thousands of do every year, to challenge the great Chomolungma, better known as Mt. Everest. Our journey as part of "Expedition Everest", next takes us away from the river basin and up on the Parvada Patika ("Mountain Road") up into the higher mountains of Nepal.
Himalayan Escapes Sign
As we turn past the shade of a stand of Bamboo trees, we get our first glimpse of the "Roof of the World".
Forbidden Mountain Shrine
A Shrine stands along the River's edge, that mimics the outline of the Mountain Range in view ahead of us. This range has been come to known as The "Forbidden Mountain Range" because since westerners first explored this part of the high mountain region, the locals have considered most of the mountain area "Forbidden" and protected by a great beast-Known as the yeti. This is our first encounter with the legend, as a statue place symbolically in the center of the shrine that represents the peak of Forbidden Mountain.
A viewing area displays the visible peaks
This is also our first look at Mt. Everest itself- It's distinct triangular peak stands to the right of the Forbidden Mountain, a far off distant cathedral standing at the end of the great mountain pass that lies at the foot of Forbidden Mountain.
Mt. Everest, Background Right, stands at the end of the great pass in the foreground. Forbidden Mountain stands at the base of the pass.
Ahead down the road lies the "Yeti Palace Hotel", still under construction, as rebar and bricks lie exposed as a second story is being built above.
Gupta's Gear and the Shangri-la Internet Cafe
Next to the building is a much larger one, the second floor housing an internet cafe for the endless stream of trekkers and mountain climbers traveling between the lower climates of Kathmandu to the higher climates of the mountains. Drinks and luggage strewn as the travelers have settled on the balcony. On the lower floor is a shop- Gupta's Gear, with backpacks and equipment hanging from the eaves. Doors shuttered- A sign indicating that Gupta is currently away to acquire more Equipment on the Mountains-As most high altitude equipment comes used second hand from prior climbing expeditions. A Bulletin Board stands near the storefront- Brimming with notes leaving messages between travelers-
"Doyle - Heading to Anadapur after failed Everest Expedition. Going Rafting on Kali River. B.B."
Notes suggest that travelers who claim seeing "The Yeti" should make sure it's not one of the local animals on a list provided. Walking between the shady stand of palm trees and the tall building of the Internet Cafe, the Mountains come closer and closer into view, as the tracks in the ground beneath us transition from Tire Tracks- To Bicycles- Until finally just foot and bootprints.
As we near our destination we near a Rammed Earth structure, painted, as all the buildings are, in colors choosen in reverence in the local culture, such as Black around the windows to bring warmth and heat into the buildings, and deep reds around the doorways and corners-as Red is viewed as a protective color. Prayer Flags begin to become strung across rooftops and across the streets, fluttering in the wind bringing luck and good fortune on to the prayers written on them.
We've now arrived at Serka Zong - ("Fortress of the Chasm") A town at the bottom of a great Fortress, a Monastery at the edge of a great chasm that separates Serka Zong and the Forbidden Mountain. Stretching across this chasm is a thin ribbon of a Steel trestle that leads up into the high mountains and the snowy pass.
The Fortress Monastery and Steel Trestle at Dusk
Mist rolls off the snowy summits, lit by night with flashes of lightning from a far off storm. Serka Zong largely consists of buildings built to service the Steam Donkey trains that once carried Tea and Tea Workers from the river banks, through the mountains, and down into Serka Zong and the forested region. These buildings were where the workers lived and worked, and Tea was sent down back through the main part of Anadapur and sold under the "Royal Anadapur Tea Company", a label that still exists despite the fact that the rail lines passed out of use as it became too cost prohibitive for the company to maintain due to constant damages and snow outs making the train routes impassable. Locals have always maintained that this was because it was encroaching on the domain of the scared protector of the Forbidden Mountain- The Yeti. After many years of lying dormant, The Anadapur Rail Service refurbished the rail lines through the pass, due to demand from Mountain Climbing Agencies, Such as the Anadapur Mountaineering Assocition (Who also operate a store and planning building in Serka Zong, And can be seen in the Fastpass Queue) who demanded the rail lines be reopened for public use, cutting about half the time off the ascent to Everest Base Camp, which would make the Forbidden Mountain pass, one of the fastest routes to Base Camp.
Steam Trains under use for Tea Transport
"Forbidden Mtn. Railway Re-Opens" headline in The Anadapur Reporter.
{Cont. In Next Post}
The story the attraction tells is in iteslf one of the best, and takes up the third spot in my mind as the "Top Three Thrill Attractions" America has. (Indiana Jones Adventure, Tower of Terror, Expedition Everest. All three of a kind!)
So I'll share with you the unabridged detailed tour of the majority of the attraction's story, all official and alot of it lesser known details. Those of you who have to yet to experience the attraction (C'mon, really? Four Years?) I suggest should turn away and experience the story for themselves-firsthand. But for the people who rushed through the Fastpass Queue, or didn't slowly enjoy the entire picture, here, in detail, is the exact story told every day and as intended on opening day. It's what always makes me enjoy the ride, even if nothing works. Enjoy!
--------
The story begins in the district of Anadapur (Sankrit for "Place of Delight"), in a village of bustling, crumbling, buildings sitting in a wet river basin, on the edge of a steamy jungle, which has since overgrown the palace of kings that once resided there. Nature has claimed it back, and the small city continues to struggle, as most villages in the district of Anadapur are, with over development and poverty, but thanks to the recent boom in the 1990's of "Eco-Tourism", they've been able to protect a majority of the natural habitat from deforestation with the income from these world-conscious travelers who have been busily coming and going on natural tours of the region, including River Rafting and Mountaineering.
Map of Anadapur District
We ourselves are here because of that. We are here, as thousands of do every year, to challenge the great Chomolungma, better known as Mt. Everest. Our journey as part of "Expedition Everest", next takes us away from the river basin and up on the Parvada Patika ("Mountain Road") up into the higher mountains of Nepal.
Himalayan Escapes Sign
As we turn past the shade of a stand of Bamboo trees, we get our first glimpse of the "Roof of the World".
Forbidden Mountain Shrine
A Shrine stands along the River's edge, that mimics the outline of the Mountain Range in view ahead of us. This range has been come to known as The "Forbidden Mountain Range" because since westerners first explored this part of the high mountain region, the locals have considered most of the mountain area "Forbidden" and protected by a great beast-Known as the yeti. This is our first encounter with the legend, as a statue place symbolically in the center of the shrine that represents the peak of Forbidden Mountain.
A viewing area displays the visible peaks
This is also our first look at Mt. Everest itself- It's distinct triangular peak stands to the right of the Forbidden Mountain, a far off distant cathedral standing at the end of the great mountain pass that lies at the foot of Forbidden Mountain.
Mt. Everest, Background Right, stands at the end of the great pass in the foreground. Forbidden Mountain stands at the base of the pass.
Ahead down the road lies the "Yeti Palace Hotel", still under construction, as rebar and bricks lie exposed as a second story is being built above.
Gupta's Gear and the Shangri-la Internet Cafe
Next to the building is a much larger one, the second floor housing an internet cafe for the endless stream of trekkers and mountain climbers traveling between the lower climates of Kathmandu to the higher climates of the mountains. Drinks and luggage strewn as the travelers have settled on the balcony. On the lower floor is a shop- Gupta's Gear, with backpacks and equipment hanging from the eaves. Doors shuttered- A sign indicating that Gupta is currently away to acquire more Equipment on the Mountains-As most high altitude equipment comes used second hand from prior climbing expeditions. A Bulletin Board stands near the storefront- Brimming with notes leaving messages between travelers-
"Doyle - Heading to Anadapur after failed Everest Expedition. Going Rafting on Kali River. B.B."
Notes suggest that travelers who claim seeing "The Yeti" should make sure it's not one of the local animals on a list provided. Walking between the shady stand of palm trees and the tall building of the Internet Cafe, the Mountains come closer and closer into view, as the tracks in the ground beneath us transition from Tire Tracks- To Bicycles- Until finally just foot and bootprints.
As we near our destination we near a Rammed Earth structure, painted, as all the buildings are, in colors choosen in reverence in the local culture, such as Black around the windows to bring warmth and heat into the buildings, and deep reds around the doorways and corners-as Red is viewed as a protective color. Prayer Flags begin to become strung across rooftops and across the streets, fluttering in the wind bringing luck and good fortune on to the prayers written on them.
We've now arrived at Serka Zong - ("Fortress of the Chasm") A town at the bottom of a great Fortress, a Monastery at the edge of a great chasm that separates Serka Zong and the Forbidden Mountain. Stretching across this chasm is a thin ribbon of a Steel trestle that leads up into the high mountains and the snowy pass.
The Fortress Monastery and Steel Trestle at Dusk
Mist rolls off the snowy summits, lit by night with flashes of lightning from a far off storm. Serka Zong largely consists of buildings built to service the Steam Donkey trains that once carried Tea and Tea Workers from the river banks, through the mountains, and down into Serka Zong and the forested region. These buildings were where the workers lived and worked, and Tea was sent down back through the main part of Anadapur and sold under the "Royal Anadapur Tea Company", a label that still exists despite the fact that the rail lines passed out of use as it became too cost prohibitive for the company to maintain due to constant damages and snow outs making the train routes impassable. Locals have always maintained that this was because it was encroaching on the domain of the scared protector of the Forbidden Mountain- The Yeti. After many years of lying dormant, The Anadapur Rail Service refurbished the rail lines through the pass, due to demand from Mountain Climbing Agencies, Such as the Anadapur Mountaineering Assocition (Who also operate a store and planning building in Serka Zong, And can be seen in the Fastpass Queue) who demanded the rail lines be reopened for public use, cutting about half the time off the ascent to Everest Base Camp, which would make the Forbidden Mountain pass, one of the fastest routes to Base Camp.
Steam Trains under use for Tea Transport
"Forbidden Mtn. Railway Re-Opens" headline in The Anadapur Reporter.
{Cont. In Next Post}
I've been through the queue and all, but never like this...or from these locals! 
