Photo & Video Collage of Trek Part 2

Photo & Video Collage of Trek Part 1

Photo Collage of Trek

Some Kathmandu Sights

Thursday 11th – Lukla to Kathmandu

We took an early flight back to Kathmandu ending a great trek.

Surprisingly I didn’t feel a massive urge to have a shower – luckily since our Hotel Malla rooms weren’t available for a couple of hrs.    It felt good though when eventually I got to have one.

The trekking team was reunited with Bart and Koh at Hotel Malla who were now reporting they felt fine after their rescues.

Walking around the streets of Thamel I was puzzled to have the barber shop owners beckoning me. It took me a while to realise it wasn’t a haircut they were touting but a shave!

I spent the rest of the day shopping in the crazy mix of streets and shops that make up the tourist area called Thamel.

We had a final team meal in the evening at a restaurant serving traditional Nepalese fare.

Wednesday 10th – Chumoa (2800m) to Lukla (2805m)

Departed Chumoa slightly ahead of our usual time of 8am.  Everyone is keen to get back.

We had a relatively easy walk along the valley floor with a steep 2hr climb at the very end.

Arrived Lukla 2pm.

Spent the majority of the afternoon in “Starbucks” ,which also sold beer, celebrating the successful trek – my first drink since Jan 3rd.

We had a celebratory dinner in evening at Buddah Lodge back in Lukla where we started 13 days earlier with our Sherpa’s, Porters, Yak Drivers, and Cooks.

The trekking party gave tips to this support crew in a very nice ceremony which involved everyone.

Our first night in a bed in nearly 2 weeks was very welcome.

The flight to Kathmandu was scheduled for 7am tomorrow morning – luckily Buddah Lodge fronts onto airstrip and walk to airport terminal takes 2 mins.

Tuesday 9th – Losasa (3380m) to Chumoa (2800m)

A much warmer night. Estimated 0 C.

An enjoyable trek to Namchee where we had a couple of hrs to have lunch and shop.

Noticeably busier with more trekking parties coming through.

Continued to Chumoa arriving around 4pm.  Last night in a tent.  Tomorrow Lukla.

Monday 8th – Pheriche (4270m) to Losasa (3380m)

It is getting warmer as we descend. Estimated a balmy -8 C overnight.

Set off for next camp at Losasa.  Fast pace crossing Pheriche Pass and lunch at Deboche which didn’t look anywhere near as good as it had when we were there in the snow a few days earlier.

We passed back through Tengboche and this time got to visit the monastery briefly.

I turned over badly on my ankle coming down the steep decline into Phunki Tenga but prevented it swelling too badly by dipping it in the feezing Imja Khola river.

Our Losasa campsite was nestled in some Juniper trees and with great views.

Tomorrow off to Chumoa.

Sunday 7th – Kala Patthar (5545m) and Gorak Shep (5140m) to Pheriche (4270m)

It seemed warmer overnight but others suggested it was -20 C.

The eight of us who had decided to climb Kala Patthar (5545m) were awoken at 5am for our 2 hr climb.  It was a very cold and windy morning although we enjoyed great views of Everest, Lhotse and Nuptse from the summit.  The oxygen level at this altitude is around 50% of normal.

Another 1.5 hrs back down to breakfast back in Gorak Shep. The rest of our trekking party had already left for Lobuche where we would meet for lunch.

We headed off for Lobuche after breakfast.  It was a relatively easy walk.   We had met the rest of our party for lunch at Lobuche as planned and then walked on to Pheriche.    This was a relatively tough walk for me after lunch due to a strong, cold wind blowing up the Lobuche Khola valley.  We arrived at Pheriche (4270m) around 5:15pm.  It was a nice campsite (one of our best) and the best teahouse so far.  Karri, who had been recovering here for a couple of days, was pleased to be back with the group.

Overall this was a long and tough trekking day – 9 hrs in total including the ascent of Kala Patthar.

Saturday 6th – Everest Base Camp (5364m)

Today is the big day.

Unfortunately, another member of our trekking party, Rahul, had awoken with bad diarrhoea and decided to stay back to see if a dose of Immodium would help.  The rest of our party set out on the trek to EBC (5364m).  It turned out to be a relatively easy walk alongside the Khumbu Glacier.  EBC is actually on the glacier.   We were very early in the season and there were only a few other trekkers around and not a single tent to be seen,  It was hard to imagine how they fit hundreds of tents at height of season.

Rahul, accompanyed by a Sherper, caught up to us just before we reached EBC.

Everyone was very pleased to have made it to Everest Base Camp.  Three days earlier I didn’t think I would have.

On way back from EBC Koh was very weak and was stumbling badly. He had to be steadied a few times along the path back to prevent him falling off the edge of the steep path.  When we eventually got back to the Tea House at Gorak Shep, The Doc diagnosed Koh as having HAPE and needing to descend immediately.  It was too late to start any walking so the decision was made for him to trek back to Lobuche at first light tomorrow for a helicopter back to Kathmandu.  HAPE is life threatening.  Kamal had only seen 7 cases in 11 years of taking groups to EBC – 2 of them on this trek.

Tomorrow we have an optional climb of Kala Patthar before starting our 55km, 4-day trek back .  There was much discussion on who will/won’t get up at 5am to do this.  I intend to.