Nepal NP1 - Everest Trek
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1. A sadhu at Pashupatinath
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2. A pottery square in Bhakatpur, an ancient city in the Kathmandu Valley
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3. Our roof top lunch at Bhakatpur
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4.Jean checks out the dimensions of our dry bags.... a good fit?
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5. Early morning near Durbar Square, Kathmandu
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6. Wal negotiates for keepsakes at Pashupathinath
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7. A shrill whistle announces the arrival the planes at Lukla Aiport, surely one of the world's most exciting runways.
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8. Fay, Brenda and Eileen - we've made it to Lukla (2,850m), now its on foot for the next 18 days. Everest here we come!
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9. Crossing one of the many swing bridges that spanned the deep ravines we encountered on the trail.
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10. We were in awe of the loads the local ladies carried.
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11. Namche Bazar clings precariously to the steep slopes (3,340m)
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12. Lemon tea please - a welcome break on our acclimatization walk, Namche Bazar
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13. Brenda, was she tempted by the coffee or the internet? Namche Bazar.
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14. Jean enjoying our snowy surroundings between Khumjung (3,780m) and Khunde.
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15. We called at khunde Hospital so that we take some update photos for our friend Liz Harding who was the NZ doctor there in the mid 90's. Fay and the current resident Doctor.
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16. Wow, it was worth it! After a long climb up to Tengboche (3,860m) we were rewarded with a stunning panorama of Himalayan peaks. The Everest summit is directly above the white stupa.
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17. A yak having his load prepared, Tengboche |
18. The developmental influence of Sir Edmund Hllary is obvious throughout the region.
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19. Marianne, taking in the view
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20. Our sherpas and guide - Sugan, Ram, and Jagat.
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21. On our second acclimatisation day we climbed 800 meters to the top of Dingboche "Hill" (5,000 m).
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22. Looking up the valley beyond Dingboche
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23. A tad cold - Eileen and Brenda, Dingbocche Hill.
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24. Yaks heading for Everest,
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25. Teams of yaks carry trekkers gear and tea house supplies along the trail between Lukla and Base camp.
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After climbing up the Khumbu glacier moraine we came upon a collection of memorials to the mountaineers who have died in the Khumbu region.
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27. Trekking along the side of the Khumbu glacier
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28. Coming into Gorak Shep, our highest overnight location (5,170m). Kala Patthar is the brown slope in front of Mt Pumorl and Everest Base Camp is up the valley to the right.
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29. For one day Fay and Jean were pleased to hire "Smokey" from an enterpising local.
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30. Eileen's on top of Kala Patthar (5,545m), Everest behind her in all its glory! She's got the patch and her "snickers" reward was carried no further.
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31. Judy celebrated her birthday in Gorak Shep with an "Everest Cake".
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32. Sunset and the rising moon, from Gorak Shep
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33. Life at Base Camp is basic for expedition teams preparing to summit. This was the Thai Everest Expedition who subsequently were forced to turn back just 300m short of the summit because of extreme weather.
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34. We were really happy to have finally reached Everest Base Camp (5,380m). Khumbu glacier is in the background.
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35. Eileen enjoying the ease of the homeward trek!
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36. This group of hardy Scots had trekked to Base Camp in their kilts!
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37. The beautiful peak of Ama Dablam
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38. Just kidding..... there is no way we could carry the loads the porters carry.
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39. Little shop at Tengboche
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40. The Blessing Ceremony at the Mani Rimdu Festival (Day 2)
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41. The parade of monks on Day 2 of the Fesitval.
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42. Mani Rimdu Festival - the dancing monks (Day 3)
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43. Mani Rimdu Festival - the dancing monks (Day 3 )
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44. One of the many locals who attended the festival.
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45. Brenda and Eileen playing "Upword" at Tengboche as we wait for the afternoon festival celebrations to begin
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46. Impossibly heavy loads are carried by porters as everything for the tiny communities that dot the trail must be carried in by either porters or yaks.
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47. Yak teams have right of way.
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48. Marianne turning the prayer wheel.
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49. Ram our guide organising our delightful porters for a photo.
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50. Jean standing by one of the many freshly painted Mani stones we encountered on the trail.
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51. Yaks crossing a swing bridge.
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52.- An end of trek photo to show off our "elephant pants", we were all delighted how much looser and baggier our trousers had become.
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53. After two nights back in Kathmandu we were ready for another adventure, our overnight rafting trip on the Seti River.
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54. Our rafting gear waiting to be loaded.
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55. Waiting for breakfast on the river bank. There were no chairs so we soon learnt to squat like the locals
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56. The roof top terrace of our Kathmandu hotel, the "Tibet Guest House.
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57. On our last day in Kathamdu we were invited to Ram's home to meet his family and have lunch. Thanks Ram, Ano, Arditi and Aswin, we really enjoyed our visit.
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58. Back in Kathmandu we were hanging out for a real brew and became frequent visitors to the Galleria "illy" coffee shop.
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