A new trail takes shape in the Solukhumbu forest

In the forest above Phaplu, a new trail has quietly taken shape.

Trail builders shaping the Bistari, Bistari track in the forest above Phaplu

It’s called Bistari, Bistari (Sherpa for “slowly, slowly”) and it winds through the old-growth forest just above Ratnange. The idea for the trail came from last year’s MTB Nepal trek group, who, while riding in the region, realised there was no easy way to access the network from town without a car.

So they came up with a plan: fund the construction of a new climbing trail. One that would open the system to local riders and schoolkids, and anyone else without a vehicle.

Paul Sylvester painting trail artwork — Himalayan Trust member and former Khunde & Phaplu Hospital doctor Paul Sylvester creating the artwork for the trail built during the MTB Nepal 2024 trip. Fittingly, that trail was named “knock the bastard off”.

They went home, fundraised through Summit Challenge, and made it happen.

The result is a rideable new link from Phaplu to the trailhead: 90% accessible for most riders, 10% intentionally left challenging for the confident few. In the other direction, it’s a gentle descent for beginners.

Children riding a pump track in Phaplu — Phaplu schoolkids making use of the Phaplu MTB Club pump track, joint-funded by the Himalayan Trust.

But the impact goes far beyond the trail itself. Trail building gets the whole community involved in protecting the old-growth forest, and the jobs created through the project have helped reduce illegal logging by replacing it with something that pays better, and protects what’s already there.

Final shaping and signage work is underway now, and the trail is already in use.