How High is Mt. Hkakabo Razi?
Hakakabo Razi is 5,881 m high and situated in the far northern part of the Kachin state, Myanmar. The extreme north of Myanmar in the foothills of the Himalayas, lays Mt. Hkababo Razi, the highest snow-capped mountain in South East Asia. Towering at 19315 ft (5881 meters) is a very important watershed area for the Ayeyarwaddy River.
6 weeks expedition to Mt.Hkakabo Razi Base Camp
Locally known as “Ahtanbum” meaning mysterious spirit abode, thus no one dares venture it in centuries. The flagship trek of the area lies more than 440 kilometers away from the nearest airstrip in Putao which takes about 6 weeks to complete.
Accessibility is difficult, streams have to be crossed on precarious rattan bridges slung across the gorges sometimes hundreds of feet above the rushing torrents and rocky streambeds. The route passes through 381 sq. km Hkakabo Razi National Park which is home to approximately 29 different types of forests support a combination of vegetation types from dense tropical lowland jungle, through sub-tropical hill forest and temperate rain forest to high altitude Alpine meadows and glaciers.
One considers lucky to spot the Hkakabo Razi at one single try which usually hidden behind the mist. Its northern face is rather stepped reef with “jagged rocks” having pile by pile of rock surface looks the mountain somewhat scary. Conquered only once, in 1996 by Takeshi Ozaki of Japan and Nyima Gyaltsen of Myanmar. Perennially snow-capped being part of the Eastern Himalayan region.
Hkakabo Razi actually is a range of mountains thus there are many gorges between mountains and several peaks in the area most of which have never been claimed. Some of the prominent peaks in the area are “Gwelang Razzi” (5849 meters) based of which can be reached from Dahawndum in approx three days trek, “Dandi Razi” (5180 meters), base of which can be reached from Dahawndum in approx five days trek and “Mt. Malikhu” base of which can be reached from Dazungdum in approx five days trek.
Source: Putao Trekking House
