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 with me. 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
The Dolpo trip has been absolutely fabulous, with every day different and full of surprises! The crew have been outstanding. Bali is a wonderful guide. Ram and Dolma great assistant guides and Am Kame a wizard in the cook tent (with Bali too!). Sandesh and his brother and mules so cheerful, with incredible surefootedness over some ‘challenging’ terrain!
- Tanya Holmes, 2025 Dolpo Crystal Mountain
Well, wow!! Many thanks to you and the team for an absolutely awesome trek!
...
Bali and Bire are classic leaders, I would recommend them highly, they helped me with my Nepali language, went out of their way to help others.
Ritesh did a great job of communications in Kathmandu.
...
- Jim Morrow, 2025 Tsum & Manaslu private
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 treks | 2023-24 | 2019-22 | 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
2024: 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 treks | 2023-24 | 2019-22 | 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