My trip to Mount Everest, Nepal in 2010 – part 9
Today was the day we trek to the Everest Base Camp (5,364m/17,598ft).
The way to the EBC was clearly marked!
I was very excited to be on the last leg to the EBC after over a week on the road now.
I made sure that I followed the signs.
My luggage Yak was carrying my peanuts and Pringles supplies.
My faithful luggage Yak accompanied me all the way to EBC.
The path to the EBC was well trodden with the many tourists whom came here.
The path was easy going.
It was very cold and the air was thin, I had to walk very slowly because of the thin air.
I was glad that I had my wooly hat and scarf on.
Contouring along the valley side, the trail leads on to the moraine of the Khumbu Glacier and becomes quite vague, weaving between mounds of rubble.
The terrain became icy and hard going.
All around us was frozen ice.
The terrain was frozen ice.
The trek was slow.
I was enjoying the views.
Eventually Everest came into view.
Everest is the peak at the back of this picture behind the ridge line.
I asked my Sherpa guide to take a photo of me against Everest.
Me posing in front of Everest.
We began to see the Khumbu Icefall.
We saw the icefall at the foot of Mt. Everest.
As we got closer we saw the tents that made up EBC.
The tents came into view.
After about 3 hours we will eventually reach base camp near the foot of the Khumbu Icefall.
We were almost at the end of our trek.
I was almost at EBC after ten days on the go. Find out tomorrow in the last installment of my travel blog on how I became the FIRST cuddly toy to conquer Everest and set a record for cuddly toys achievement.
To be continued….
My trip to Mount Everest, Nepal in 2010 – part 8
From Lobuche we trek to the lodge at Gorak Shep (5,180m/17,126ft), the site of the 1953 expedition’s base camp.
The landscape before us was a wasteland.
Overall altitude gain today is 240m.
My luggage Yak was coming with me with my gear!
My luggage Yak was keeping up with my fast pace.
Awesome view.
Here we have astonishing views over the Himalayas.
All around us was stunning Himalayan peaks.
I was glad it was sunny but it was freezing!
We saw ice formation around us.
Eventually we saw the Khumbu Icefall where Everest Base Camp is just situated off.
First sighting of the Khumbu Icefall with Everest Base Camp just to the left.
We kept going heading for the lodge for the night in the small trekkers village of Gorak Shep.
Approaching Gorak Shep from the South.
Even though the trekking lodges at Gorak Shep are basic, in recent times more modern amenities have become available, such as satellite high-speed Internet access and a shop selling ‘Mars Bars’ etc….
I was glad we made it.
This was to be our final acclimatization stop before trekking to Everest Base Camp and we were heading out tomorrow morning for our final leg of our trek!
Our lodge for the night.
I was excited.
To be continued….
My trip to Mount Everest, Nepal in 2010 – part 7
Today we were to trek to Lobuche (4,940m/16,207ft) and is about five hours bringing us close to our ultimate goal!
We climb up the valley and looked back onto Dingboche.
Overall altitude gain today is 490m.
The landscape was changing and ice was seen.
The scenery was changing each day and by now there was no vegetation at all.
I was glad we had a sunny day.
I kept going with the help of my porters whom carried me up when I got tired.
The peaks were stunning.
Tea houses were dotted regular along the route. Obviously Mt. Everest cater to the tourists now.
The path lay before us.
We began to see the icefall at the base of Mt. Everest.
The icefall below Mt. Everest can now be seen.
I was so tired after a week of trekking now.
I was cold!
The clouds dropped down by late afternoon and the temperature was dropping.
I was also tired!
After a few hours the track eventually leads to a small cluster of tea houses pleasantly situated at Lobuje.
I was glad to drop my backpack and to get inside my sleeping bag.
My backpack was heavy and the thin air made it harder for me to carry. I was glad that I had my guides, porters and Yak.
I was sleeping knowing that I was two days away from base camp.
Tomorrow we were to trek to the last building before Everest Base Camp.
To be continued….
My trip to Mount Everest, Nepal in 2010 – part 6
Today we were to climb above the tree-line and trek approximately six hours covering the distance of eight kms to Dingboche (4,410m/14,465ft). Our overall altitude gain today is 600m.
The path to base camp was taking us higher.
Dingboche is a good location for acclimatisation, prior to our ascent up the upper section of the Khumbu Valley.
The landscape was very bare.
Contouring up the valley side, we will re-cross the river and turn up the Imja Valley to reach the picturesque farming village of Dingboche.
We soon reached Dingboche but it was very cold!
This village was at an altitude of 4,400 metres above sea level and yet the villagers were using the barren landscape for farming.
It was very cold here.
It was late afternoon when we got here and the clouds were getting very low.
The clouds were very gray looking.
Lucky for us, we had telephoned ahead and arranged rooms for us to keep us warm and dry for the night.
My wooly scarf and hat kept me warm.
We had planned for two nights in the village.
This village was very pretty and I respected the Sherpas living this high!
I went to bed early to get my energy up for the next day.
The next day was very sunny!
How sunny it was today, so different from yesterday!
Today is another acclimatisation day. We take a day hikes to Amadablam Base Camp and back to Dingboche.
The stream was frozen!
The hike will also serve as good acclimatisation training.
There was no campers or expeditions here at this time of the year.
Eventually we got to Amadablam Base Camp, the views were stunning.
I headed back to the village for a good night rest.
To be continued….
My trip to Mount Everest, Nepal in 2010 – part 5
After my blessing by the monks, I now knew Buddha was watching over me.
Today we trek for about seven hours to Phortse Gaon (3810 m). This village is home to a number of Sherpas who have reached Everest’s summit.
My luggage Yak was ready for the day ahead of us.
I had to drink more water now as it prevented us from going down with Altitude Mountain Sickness (AMS). Toilets were dotted about along the path but somewhat basic. I don’t think that the original mountaineers such as Edmond Hillary had such facilities provided for them when they did this journey over fifty years ago.
I was not happy at the standards of the public toilets here. I must write a letter of complaint to the Nepal Tourism Authority.
We were still following the Dudh Kosi river.
Looking back at the monastery, it looked so small against the mountains.
It was to be a long trek before we get to our village for the night.
The village of Phortse Gaon was before us.
We were leaving the tree lines and vegetation was getting less. The scenery became barren landscape but pretty.
We were almost at Phortse Gaon now.
After a steep climb we made it to Phortse Gaon.
I made it to Phortse Gaon but it was colder here.
I was glad Auntie L. knitted me a wooly scarf and hat just before I left for Nepal. It was freezing here.
The monastery in Phortse Gaon was beautiful.
I had a good look around this village before dinner.
I was cold and tired, and ready for bed.
I was ready for the next day trek but I knew from now on it was going to be very cold.
To be continued….
My trip to Mount Everest, Nepal in 2010 – part 4
Today we had a full day of trekking before us and our target today was to the monastery at Thyangboche (3840 m).
For at this monastery we were going to get our blessing for the journery ahead of us.
Our luggage was being carried by our Yak.
The skies were clear and sunny but I felt the temperature getting colder.
The path to the mountains was before us.
My backpack was heavy but I brought my luggage Yak with me to assist me.
Me and my luggage Yak got on well together.
The views of the Himalayans was great.
The mountains were great on this lovely clear day that we had.
The winds were picking up now.
I was knackered but I was enjoying the adventure.
I was tired and cold but was loving the adventure. I bet the monkeys back in Borneo were jealous of me.
It was very windy that day.
I needed to eat a lot more each day whilst on this expedition. I was also drinking more water on this trip to take in the high altitude.
I was glad that lunch was provided in the many cafes along the way. I am sure Edmond Hillary did not have cafes back in 1953.
Eventually we reached the monastery.
Tengboche Monastery was a real working monastery.
The monastery was a working monastery with practicing monks whom were living on the site.
The mountains were stunning.
The monks let me inside but they weren’t happy about me leaving my monkey fluffy fur on the prayer mats.
The monks allowed us inside and gave us our blessings.
I was blessed with good fortunes ready for the journey ahead of me.
Wearing my blessings scarf I was ready for the journery ahead of me.
I was at the peak of my fitness and I was ready to take on Mt. Everest.
To be continued….
My trip to Mount Everest, Nepal in 2010 – part 3
Today we were to climb steeply up ‘Namche Hill’ to reach Namche Bazaar (3,400m/11,155ft) the capital of the Khumbu Region.
Our luggage train continued up the slopes with us.
I caught my first view of the Himalayans snow top peaks.
My first sighting....
The path took us along the Dudh Kosi river, and we had to cross it many times.
We cross the Dudh Kosi on a high suspension bridge.
As we went higher, the wind picked up.
It was very windy!
Eventually after climbing Namche Hill, we arrived in Namche Bazaar. I was knackered, but I was glad one of my porters picked me up when he saw me stuggling and put me inside his pocket.
This little town was beautiful and had many little cafes and bars.
I had a look around this stunning town and I saw many temples and relics.
The temples were stunning.
After a hard day trek up, I was tired so I went to bed early. The next day was a rest day to take in acclimatization.
I was knackered so I went to bed early.
I woke up the next day, I was happy that today was to be a rest day to take in altitude acclimatization. I decided to go to the market and look at all the stalls.
I spent my rest day shopping in the local market stalls.
For lunch I went to wee little Nepali cafe where I had the traditional Momos dish.
I had a really good lunch in one of Namche Bazaar's cafes.
I was going to spend the afternoon of my rest day looking around the town. The Himalayan peaks shadows this wee town and the sights were stunning.
The mountains were huge!
I was glad the skies were clear, so that I could get great photographs.
The mountain peaks around the town were amazing.
The locals were so pleasent and helpful. I guess they had never seen a cuddly toy visiting these parts before.
I was glad we had good weather for the views.
I was told by the locals that the first sighting of Mt. Everest is from the view point at the top of the town. It is a forty minute walk so I decided to get my first sighting of Mt. Everest today.
The walk up to the view point was steep and hard going.
I had a stunning view of the town as I walked up to the view point.
I made it to the view point.
I was at the view point and the town of Namche Bazaar look so small down the slope.
The Himalayans peaks dwarf over the town.
I looked around to see if I could identify Mt. Everest in far distance.
I saw Mt. Everest in the distance.
Excited, I grab out my binos to get a close look at the famous peak. It looked very windy and choppy on the summit and I knew that the rest of my trek was going to get difficult.
Mt. Everest is the peak on the left of this picture behind the ridge line.
For the first time in this expedition I had fear! Fear, because I saw the high winds on Mt. Everest and I worried that being only 225 grammes in weight I was going to get blown off the slopes of the mountain. But you know me, I am a tough little cookie.
I headed back to the town as I knew it was going to be another five days before I get to Mt. Everest base camp and I had a long trek before me.
I knew that I had a long way to go to get to my goal.
To be continued….
