everest tea house trek penny, cynthia & chris sept/oct 2006

Everest Tea House Trek

Penny, Cynthia & ChrisSept/Oct 2006

From Lukla to Pangboche (with views of Everest) and back.

Lukla

All treks and mountaineering expeditions in the Khumbu valley start with a flight into Lukla airport – a very short runway, on a slope, ending in a cliff! The alternative is a long bus ride followed by three days walking.

Most of the aircraft were Dornier 228s – impressively short take off and landing runs, and they had to be!

The view from the cockpit!

This one gives you an idea of the slope of the runway

Day 1 – Lukla to Phakding

6 km – mainly down!

Day 1 – Lukla to Phakding

Day 1 – Lukla to Phakding

Day 1 – Lukla to Phakding

Mani stones – stones with prayers or memorials to the dead carved or painted on them.

You should always pass these on the left (i.e. go around them in a clockwise direction).

Day 1 – Lukla to Phakding

Day 1 – Lukla to Phakding

Although this suspension bridge was not very long, nor very far above the river, it was one of the scariest because of the low sides!

Day 1 – Lukla to Phakding

Day 1 – Lukla to Phakding

The tea house for our first night.

Day 2 –Phakding to Monjo

Not very far at all!

The plan to day was to get as far as Namche Bazar – a climb of over 1000 m, but Chris was not well so had to stop at Monjo (the end of the flat bit) so I had a very lazy day!

Day 2 –Phakding to Monjo

Day 2 –Phakding to Monjo

Day 3 – Monjo to Namche Bazar

A lot of up!

The Sagamartha National Park starts at Jorsale.

Sagamartha is the local name for Everest.

Day 3 – Monjo to Namche Bazar

The suspension bridge across the Dudh Koshi – all uphill from here…

Day 3 - Monjo to Namche Bazar

A view back down the valley we had been walking up for the last couple of days.

My personal porter for the day.

Day 3

Monjo to Namche Bazar

First view of Namche – but there was still quite a bit of 'up' to go!

Namche Bazar

Namche Bazar

Namche Bazar

There was a new hotel being built across the 'road' from ours – all the stones being shaped by hand, and they were hard, metamorphic rocks. Continual tinkling of hammer on chisel from 6 am until 6 pm. No unions involved there, and no safety goggles either.

Namche Bazar

Namche Bazar

Namche Bazar

Our first view of Everest (the peak on the left) and Lhotse (on the right) from a viewpoint just above Namche Bazar.

Namche Bazar

Namche Bazar started as a trading village for Tibetans who came over the mountains to trade. It is still a market centre for nearby villages.

Day 4 – Namche Bazar to Deboche

A nice level morning, then a descent and ascent to the monastery at Tengboche.

Day 4 - Namche Bazar to Deboche

The route goes around the hillside, across the river in the deep valley below, then up to the Tengboche monastery (arrowed) before descending again to Deboche on the other side.

Day 4

Namche Bazar to Deboche

Day 4 - Namche Bazar to Deboche

Day 4

Namche Bazar to Deboche

Another chorten, to be walked around clockwise…

Day 4 - Namche Bazar to Deboche

Day 4

Namche Bazar to Deboche

Bhim (one of the four sherpas) and Sanjiv (tour leader – also Nepali)

Day 4

Namche Bazar to Deboche

My first good view of Ama Dablam (6856 m).

Day 4 - Namche Bazar to Deboche

Day 4 - Namche Bazar to Deboche

Day 4

Namche Bazar to Deboche

Day 4

Namche Bazar to Deboche

Someone else's luggage passing at our lunch stop.

Day 4

Namche Bazar to Deboche

Day 4

Namche Bazar to Deboche

Don't argue with yaks!

Day 4 – Tengboche monastery

Day 4

Tengboche monastery

Day 4 – Tengboche monastery

Note the sign on the roof…

Day 4

Namche Bazar to Deboche

The final descent to Deboche felt almost like an autumn walk in the woods at home…

Day 5 – Deboche to Pangboche and back

Day 5

Deboche to Pangboche and back

Day 5

Deboche to Pangboche and back

Day 5

Deboche to Pangboche and back

Day 5 – Deboche to Pangboche and back

The villages have gates to keep the evil spirits out.

Day 5 – Deboche to Pangboche and back

Day 5 – Deboche to Pangboche and back

Day 5

Deboche to Pangboche and back

Day 5 – Pangboche

Day 5 – Pangboche temple

Day 5

The highest point of the trek, just over 4000 m.

Day 5

Deboche to Pangboche and back

We were here to see the views of Everest, Lhotse and Ama Dablam, but this view of Lhotse was the best we got because of the clouds.

Day 5

Deboche to Pangboche and back

We had strict instructions to always stay on the uphill side of yaks or dzopkio, as there was a very real risk of being pushed over an edge by them.

Note the droppings drying on the wall, to be used as fuel later.

Day 5 – Deboche to Pangboche and back

Day 6 – Deboche to Khumjung

Day 6 – Deboche to Khumjung

Day 6 – Deboche to Khumjung

Water-driven prayer wheels.

Day 6 – Deboche to Khumjung

Day 6 – Deboche to Khumjung

Our bags being loaded.

Day 6 – Deboche to Khumjung

Back at Tengboche – with better views this time.

Day 6 – Deboche to Khumjung

Day 6 – Deboche to Khumjung

Day 6 – Deboche to Khumjung

Day 6

Deboche to Khumjung

Day 6 – Deboche to Khumjung

A frisbee game before we left Tangboche.

Day 6

Deboche to Khumjung

Day 6 – Khumjung

Day 6 – The 'yeti skull' at Khumjung monastery

Day 7 – Khumjung to Monjo

Day 7 – Khumjung to Monjo

Early morning view of Ama Dablam.

Day 7 – Khumjung to Monjo

Day 7 –Khumjung to Monjo

Our last views of the high peaks.

Day 7 – Khumjung to Monjo

Day 7 – Khumjung to Monjo

Day 7 – Khumjung to Monjo

Day 7 – Khumjung to Monjo

Day 7 – Khumjung to Monjo

Contrasts:•mechanical digger•satellite dish•mani stones•wood for fuel

Day 7 – Khumjung to Monjo

Day 7 – Khumjung to Monjo

Back down in the main valley below Namche again.

Day 8 – Monjo to Lukla

Day 8 – Monjo to Lukla

Day 8 – Monjo to Lukla

Day 8 – Monjo to Lukla

Day 8 – Monjo to Lukla

Day 8 – last night - Lukla

Left to right:

Sanjic (trek leader), Mark (trekker, who wouldn't get out of the picture!), Dowa (sherpa), Bhim (sherpa), Kumar (sherpa), Dowa (sherpa), ? (dzopkio man), Saroj (porter).

Day 9 – Flight back from Lukla to Kathmandu

Swayambunath temple - Kathmandu

Swayambunath temple - Kathmandu

Swayambunath temple - Kathmandu

Swayambunath temple Kathmandu

Scenic flight

Scenic flight

Scenic flight

Scenic flight

Scenic flight

Scenic flight

Scenic flight

Temple of Pashupatinath tour

Temple of Pashupatinath

Temple of Pashupatinath

Temple of Pashupatinath

Bodnath Stupa

Bodnath Stupa

Bodnath Stupa

Bhaktapur

Bhaktapur

Bhaktapur

Bhaktapur

Bhaktapur

Bhaktapur

Bhaktapur

Bhaktapur

Bhaktapur

Bhaktapur

That's it folks!!