Expedition Everest
Attraction Plot
Backstory
Expedition Everest takes place inside the Forbidden Mountain, one of the seven peaks of the Himalayas. At the foot of the mountain, lies the village of Serka Zong. In previous times, the village's economy was supported by a local tea plantation. When guests see the village however, they will notice that the plantation has been boarded up, and the trains which once transported the tea, have stopped running. Although the cause of the closures is not known, local villagers believe that the yeti has stopped the trade, and they have built various monuments to the creature in an attempt to content it. Long after the tea trade had left the area, Norbu and Bob refurbished the buildings to fit their new business, Himalayan Escapes: Tours and Expeditions. The new company took guests into the Himalayan Mountains for adventures and thrills.
Queue
The queue for Expedition Everest begins in the Himalayan Escape's booking office. The structure that houses the office was formally the headquarters for the Royal Anadapur Tea Company. The office is littered with old furniture and appliances, as well as a board which shows the whereabouts of the current tours. After passing through the booking office, guests pass by a ravished courtyard before reaching the Yeti Mandir. The Mandir is small temple which has been dedicated to the yeti as a sign of respect, and the structure is decorated with various carvings and bells. A plaque on the Mandir states
"VISITORS PLEASE RESPECT ANCIENT MANDIR PAGODA WHICH HONOR YETI- PROTECOR OF THE SACRED MOUNTAIN. CARBINGS DATE BACK TO THE REIGN OF HIS MAGESTY KING PARTHIVASANARA GAVAMPI 17TH CENTURY.
Following the Mandir, guess enter Tashi's Trek and Tongba Shop. This store proudly states, "We provide the finest in mountaineer equipment for all needs new and old. Exiting the shop, guests reach the Yeti Museum, which contains artifacts that show both the "scientific" yeti and the "mythical" yeti. The structure that holds the museum was once a tea storage warehouse. A sign on the wall reads:
WELCOME TO THE YETI MUSEUM- DEDICATED TO THE SERIOUS STUDY OF THE SCIENTIFIC AD CULTURAL ASPECTS F THE MYSTERIOUS CREATURE KNOWN AND REVERED THROUGHOUT THE HIMALAYAS AS THE YETI.
After passing through the museum, guests reach the train station. On the wall to their left, guests can see pictures of the various exploration employees, and what job title they hold. Guests then board the train and head off for the Himalayas.
Main Ride
Expedition Everest begins as the train pulls out of the station, and goes down a small drop. On route to the mountains, various birds can be heard in the distance and the train then goes down another drop as it passes a waterfall. After crossing flatlands the train takes a sharp turn before starting up into the mountain. As guests go up the incline, they can see a ceremonial stairway which leads to an ancient temple (which guests then pass under). From inside the temple, the sound of drums, gongs, and horns seem to indicate that some sort of ceremony is taking place. On the wall beneath the temple, guests can see mural of the mythical yeti, which seems to indicate that the temple itself is dedicated to the creature.. After reaching the top of the incline (110 ft. in the air), guests travel across the mountain's crest before curving downhill into a cavern. When guests pop out of the cavern, the train stops suddenly. The tracks look as if they have been ripped apart, so the train cannot continue forward. As the train sits stationary, guests can see the footprints of a large creature in the nearby snow. Although still not moving, the train suddenly begins to shake and rattle. It seems that the pull of gravity is too much for the train's brakes, and the vehicle begins to fall back down into the ice cavern. After going back deep into the mountain, the train once again stops. At this stop, guests can see the shadow of the yeti, as he rips up more train tracks. After getting a glimpse of the creature, the train begins to move, this time once again traveling forward. As it exits the cave, the train goes down a 80 foot drop, before traveling through a forest and back into another cave. After passing through this cave, guests emerge on the opposite side of the mountain. Here, the train goes through another forest before entering a dark cavern. On a perch above the track, guests finally come face to face with the yeti, who reaches out to grab them. After barely making it out of the cave, the train arrives back at the station, ending the ride.
