UKC

I'm looking to climb Dhampus Peak this winter but the permit situation seems a bit confused, is it a trekking peak or expedition peak, has anyone climbed it recently.

Permit required last year and I don't believe it's changed. It is not one of the designated 'Trekking' peaks

https://www.trekkingencounters.com/permit-fee-of-nma-peaks/

https://www.nepalmountaineering.org/article-faq

The terms are confusing, there are six trekking peaks which are free, the other 27 Trekking/ 'Expedition A & B list attract a fee and are administered by NMA

 Damphus/Thapa is not one of those so its an expedition peak and you get the permit from Ministry of Tourism. You can see it features in the 2017 report on page 294

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1oCZ823pRV7HgKnWhrzwPUdf9zpr71sEs/view  

The rates are at https://www.tourismdepartment.gov.np/mountaineering-royalty but I'm not sure how up to date that is nor do I know how to apply, our KTM agent looked after that !

It could be very cold in winter ! The Hidden valley was very cold in Oct.

Lots of useful info at https://www.jagged-globe.co.uk/trek/i/dhaulagiri+circuit.html 

Thanks very much for the info kimberley much appreciated 

I turned back from French Pass a couple of years ago in mid-Oct in the face of high winds and knee-deep snow. It's not somewhere I'd want to be in winter.

From my understanding of Dhampus Peak it should certainly not be an Expedition Peak and barely a Trekking Peak. It's often climbed in a day from those trekking the Dhaulagiri Circuit and imo is not worth the expense or effort going up from the eastern side. Given the clear damage from massive avalanches in the valley down the west side of Dhaulagiri, there's no way I'd go up there in winter - early December maybe, but not after January.

I have been to Dhampus. It is just a walk, apart from the top bit that is a little narrow and is over a considerable drop. It is only a day trip from the Hidden Valley. The slopes leading to it from the east would be avalanche prone in winter and it would be seriously cold. The whole area is exposed to high wind in bad weather. I am not sure about the permit position. I was on a round Dhauligiri walk and everything was arranged.