My 17-day trip report from November with photos are UP now on the besthike blog.
It’s surprisingly easy to walk to Everest Base Camp. You could do it.
Category: hiking
Mt. Everest photo
Over the next couple of weeks, I’ll be posting Nepal photos and a trip report over on my hiking blog.
This is Mt Everest as seen from the top of Kala Pattar 5545m (18,192ft).
sacred lakes of Gokyo
Revered by Hindu and Buddhist are a series of high altitude lakes. Very tranquil.
Late November they are freezing, groaning and moaning like some distressed beast.
To visit each I walked up the glacier towards my old friend Cho Oyu, the friendliest 8000+m peak. Eleven years ago we did the same thing, walking towards Cho Oyu from the Tibet side.
It was dark by the time I got back to Gokyo Resort. Mine was the finest room in the last village before Tibet. Expensive at $3. But I’m worth it.
Flying back to Kathmandu tomorrow. My 17 day trek ended.
From Starbucks, Lukla, Nepal.
no apple pie at base camp
In the Spring Mt. Everest Base Camp is “party central”.
But I found it almost empty, a bleak, unwelcoming place. Not even the famed mobile bakery was operating.
On the bright side, the weather was surreal. To take off sunglasses was to risk instant snowblindness.
A snow storm “blew itself out” leaving perfect cold, clear skies. The high peaks including Everest did not even have spin drift. That almost never happens.
I’ve resumed my 3 Passes itinerary. Will cross Kongma La tomorrow, hopefully fully acclimatized to altitude.
I’ve about 8 more days in the Everest region. Will depart Nov. 30th for Bangladesh where I’m teaching a gymnastics course starting Dec. 1st.
Trust you are well.
photos of the “best view of Mt Everest”
Everest – change of plans
Poor sleep last night.
At first light I saw white stuff piled up on the Yaks. An early snowfall, not all that unusual in November.
I’ll switch to the standard Everest Base Camp route. Assuming nothing else goes wrong, should get there in the next 3 days. MIGHT backtrack on the high pass I missed.
Today headed for Dughla 4620m.
from the world’s highest internet cafe
4410m
In the serious mountains now. Looking over at Island Peak.
… hands a little frozen on the keyboard.
Will be doing some acclimatization day hikes next couple of days to 5000+m
slowly, slowly to Everest
So far, so good.
Departing Namche. The mantra is “slowly, slowly” to not trigger altitude sickness.
The Three Pass route I’m planning is only moderately difficult, except for altitude. It’s high and high for a long time. I’ll be at least 6 times over 5000m maxing out at 5535m.
Trekking peaks, for which you need a permit, are 6000m+.
I might find internet one more time before Everest Base Camp.
last meal in Kathmandu
Egg masala dosa, garlic naan and coffee.
The vegetarian restaurant at Pilgrim’s Book House. If you’re into trekking, climbing or spirituality, this is one of the best bookstores in the world.
I picked up a classic, Nepal Himalaya by H.W. Tilman (1952). Some reading to supplement my audio books. I’ll need it during my acclimatization days at altitude.
Rick offline, gone hiking
Nov. 11-28 trekking the Everest region of Nepal.
dental tourism in Nepal
I’ve been hanging out in polluted Kathmandu taking care of a number of errands: plane tickets, gear, internet … and waiting on a dentist appointment.
I’d had a crown come loose and wanted to get it fixed before my upcoming trek.
I posted the details on my hiking blog – dental tourism for hikers
To re-cement a crown, replace a filling and cosmetically fix a small chip … CAD$57. Excellent work. Up-to-date facilities. The doctor speaks perfect English.
… So, if your dentist in Mexico or Eastern Europe is getting too expensive, consider the Nepal alternative.
What I like best about dental tourism is that appointments do not feel as rushed as they do in Canada, the dentist hopping bed-to-bed trying to be 4% more efficient in billing.
The worst thing about dental tourism is that you likely have no recourse if something goes wrong.
Rick McCharles 