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Wednesday April 30th
By now we'll have been in Kathmandu for two days. After an early breakfast, we leave for the airport for the 35-minute exciting and scenic flight to Lukla (9,186 ft.). Here we are met by our trek sirdar. We will spend some time to look around this little airport while the luggage is sorted and sent off with the porters and yaks. After an early lunch, we will begin our trek with a short descent to Chauri Kharka from where we cross a stream at Chablung, continue past some hotels and down to a wooden bridge at Kusum Kangru. We then climb gradually to Ghat and follow the new trail (the old one was washed away) to camp at Phakding at 8,600 ft.
Thursday May 1st
From Phakding, we follow the Dudh Kosi north, cross a stream, crossing fields and a small waterfall at Benkar. We then follow a pleasant route which climbs to the little village of Chomoa and past rhododendron, magnolia and giant fir forests to Monjo, the entrance to the Sagamatha (Everest) National Park. Continue on for lunch at Jorsale from where it is a steep ascent to Namche with possibilities of the first views of Everest. Namche Bazar (11,300 ft.) is like the capital of Khumbu -- Sherpa land and a business hub. Sherpas and villagers from nearby come to sell their wares in this mini-Thamel. Overnight at Sherwi Khanga (Sherpa house) run by a Sherpa photographer and mountaineering enthusiast who has kept a little Sherpa museum. Tonight at dinner we will celebrate the 40th Anniversary of the first American climb on May 1st, 1963.
Friday May 2nd
Rest day for acclimatization.
Saturday May 3rd
In the morning we take a short visit to the famous HAAT—the local bazaar where nearby villagers, as well as Tibetans from across the Nangpala, come to sell their wares. The Tibetans generally bring in butter and dried legs of sheep. After this interesting visit, we return to camp for lunch and continue to camp in Khumbjung (12,500 ft.). We will have excellent views of the mountains, with Amadablam and Thamserku being among the most prominent as they stand straight ahead. In the evening we will have time to visit the Kunde hospital built by Sir Edmund Hillary.
Sunday May 4th
We follow the trail down through forests past the tea houses of Sanasa to Phunki Thang bridge and its water-driven prayer wheels. At Sanasa and other various tea stops, Tibetans can be seen selling white metal and various jewelry (all made in Kathmandu). From here it is approximately a 2 hour climb through forests to the wide grounds of Thyangboche (1,2715 ft.). The view from here in the early morning is said to be one of the best in the world, as you see Amadablam and the Lhotse wall straight ahead, with Everest peeping behind.
Monday May 5th
We will spend a second acclimatization night here in Thyangboche by taking a pleasant walk up to the hill top for, again, some of the finest points. We will also visit the new monastery.
Tuesday May 6th
We descend through birch and rhododendron forests to Divuche. After crossing the Imja Khola we climb past some mani stones to Pangboche at 12,662 ft. The monastery here is considered to be the oldest in Khumbu. It was also famous for its relics of the Yeti skull and skeletal hands, which were stolen. From Pangboche we will take a diversion (yet another acclimatization) to Dingboche.
Wednesday May 7th
We follow the trail back for a short distance to Pangboche, where the vegetation changes to scrub juniper and tundra. Wildflowers can be seen carpeting the hillside during the summer months. We continue a little further to windy Pheriche at 13,908 ft. There is a trekkers' aid post supported by the Himalayan rescue operation (HRA) and Tokyo Medical College. From here we ascend to Phalang Karpo crossing several small streams on boulders, then continue steeply on moraine and down to a stream which we cross to reach our campsite at the village of Dughla at 15,154 ft.
Thursday May 8th
We climb steeply past several memorials built for Sherpas who have died in various expeditions and up the side of the valley to Lobuje, a cluster of tea houses at 16,171 ft. We will continue on the glacial moraine, which gets steeper. Cairns mark the trail, which is quite difficult to find due to the changes caused by the active glacier underneath. After a bend, we suddenly see the conical peak of Pumori (7,145 m.), the lower slopes of which extend to the south to terminate as a small peak—Kala Pathar which is the best point for viewing Everest. We will visit here in the afternoon. We stay overnight at the base at Gorakshep—16,925 ft. There is a small lake here and several monuments to climbers who have died during Everest expeditions. Among them is a carved stone in memory of Jake Breitenbach, who was killed in the Khumbu Icefall the second day of the 1963 expedition, which we will visit and place a memento in his memory.
Friday May 9th
From Gorakshep it is approximately 3 hours to Everest Base Camp depending on the condition of the trail. We can expect an array of tents as several expeditions will have set up camp here.
Saturday May 10th
Today, we rest. We can take a walk to the point where the Khumbu Icefall can be seen. This is our last day before we make our six-day trek back down the mountain, and ultimately, towards home. |
