Bali - Bal Bahadur Lopchan
Explorer, guide and star sirdar-organizer
Rising from a teenage porter, Bali has been an invaluable part of the success of so many or our wild exploratory treks and Everest expeditions in Tibet where he has summitted Everest twice. He has incredible energy, ensuring everything gets done and a great sense of humour.
We have been working together since 2005.
2015 Mugu Wild; Jamie and Bali
Manaslu '23 was a fabulous hike. Usually when people ask me my favourite hike l reply with "Too difficult to say" but Manaslu just maybe it. Bali was so diplomatic, absolutely fabulous while you were away [from the group] ...
- Virginia Hill, 2023 Tsum-Manaslu
Howdy Jamie - just wanted to say thank you for getting us hooked up with Bali (and getting things arranged through Himalayan trails) for our Kanchenjunga trek. He is a great guide sirdar, and we had an amazing time. It seemed the stars aligned for us at every turn. I should also mention you have a great reputation- whenever your name was mentioned, there were nods of appreciation and praise. We’re grateful for your help.
- Luke H, 2023 private Kanchenjunga exploration
Trek and expedition memories
Here is a taster of some of the trips he has helped with. There is a year's gap when he broke his kneecap.
Recent previous treks | 2022 | 2019-21| 2018
2017 | 2016 |2015 | 2014 | 2013 | 2012
2011 | 2010 | 2009 | 2008 | 2007 | 2006
2005 | 2004 | 2002-03 | 2000-01 | pre-2000
2011-2015 expeditions | 2000-2010 expeditions | 2004-2010 expedition dispatches
Aiteram, Dawa, Sandi, Susanne, Thomas, Jim, Phil, Craig, Jamie and Esther; missing Bali and Greg + porters
2023: Paul, Jim, Esther, Jamie, Justin, Virginia, Phil, Bruce, Kees and Bali
2023 top: Virginia, Aiteram, Jim, Phil, Bruce, Bali, Kees and Esther
Lower: Tara, horseman, Mangale, Abiral, Justin, Kaji, Tenzin, Samir, Dawa and Ang Kami - by Jamie
2019 Upper Mustang-Dolpo team
2018 Ganesh GHT crew with Gaye
2018: the team and crew for our epic Upper Mustang to Dolpo trek
2017 Jamie and Bali atop the 5746m Kang La in the Kanchenjunga-Yangma region
2016 Upper Dolpo Magic - Bali, Aiteram, Tawa and Pasang
2015 GHT Wild West partial crew in Simikot
2012 Bali on the summit of Everest
2011 GHT Wild West: the tough team less one porter and the horse team
2010 Bali saving the day fixing a stove in the freezing cold, Saribung - Jamie
2008 Dolpo Pik, Bali, Ornella and Dawa
2006 Kanchen Gola Wild and Kanchenjunga Double Magic teams with Glen and Jane - Jamie
Our 2006 Kanchen Gola Exploratory trek team at the end
2005: Standing L-R: Bal Bahadur (porter leader), Pasang (sherpa-cook), Bir Bagh
(sherpa), Dawa Gelje (sirdar), John SS, Da'Yula (sherpa-sirdar), Natasha, Niels,
Alphonse, Dallas C, Jerry C.
Lower row: Pasang (kitchen), Namgyal (sirdar-leader), Zangbu (sherpa), Pik C, Gerardo,
Rachel, Megan, John, Mike, Ornella, Jamie, Andrew
Recent previous treks | 2022 | 2019-21| 2018
2017 | 2016 |2015 | 2014 | 2013 | 2012
2011 | 2010 | 2009 | 2008 | 2007 | 2006
2005 | 2004 | 2002-03 | 2000-01 | pre-2000
2011-2015 expeditions | 2000-2010 expeditions | 2004-2010 expedition dispatches