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