Our Trek: flying from Kathmandu to Lukla (2800m) and walking all the way up to Kala Patthar (5545m)
from about 2600m to 5000m in seven days...
First some shopping in Thamel, the tourist district in Kathmandu. Pedestrian zon since the end of October.
Early departure from Kathmandu airport
Kathmandu from above
Lukla airport, its landing strip has an angle of 15 degrees
Police Checkpoint in Lukla (TIMS permit and permit for Sagarmatha Park)
For starters mainly trails like this, easy walking though they do go up and down...
having a break after a good days' work, on the left our guide Krishna. Namaste Lodge in Phakding
On our way to Namche Bazar, Sagarmatha (Everest) National Park entrance
Dudh Kosi river
Hilary Bridge
Crossing Hilary Bridge
final steps to Namche, almost there.
Namche Bazar, lodges, restaurants and good coffee at 3400 altitude
Acclimatization day, Namche Bazar from above, heading for Everest View Hotel
Impressive Ama Dablam towering behind a chopper platform near Everest View Hotel
Stunning scenery, Ama Dablam on the right, Pumori on the left and the mountain of mountains Sagarmatha, partly behind Nuptse in the middle
Tomorrow we go down to the river and then up again to Tenboche monastery.
waiting for the photographer
in the middle the Tenzing Norgay Chorten (or stupa in Tibetan) , Everest in the back(the left peak).
Punkhi Thenga (3250m at the riverside). Energy needed for a stiff, two hour climb to Tenboche (3870m).
Tenboche Gompa, the monastries' entrance.
A (huge) stupa representing Buddha's presence (or enlightened mind)
Paradise Lodge, Debuche, a 15 minute walk downhill from Tenboche
Looking south(-west), the mountain range opposite to Namche Bazar
Dingbuche
warming up, having a chat with Krishna as ususal, Dingbuche (4400m)
heading for Lobuche
from Thukla the trail goes upward to Thukla pass, a memorial lane for climbers who died, while trying to climb Everest
as altitude rises so does the number of breaks
Dughla (Thukla), after crossing a small glacier stream
some fellow trekkers
the climb to Thukla pass
Thukla pass, memorials in honour of perished Everest climbers
died in the 1996 disaster, along with Rob Hall (no memorial found for him) and 9 others. (see the movie "Everest" or the book "Into thin air", by John Krakauer)
from Thukla pass: on the right the meanwhile tiny houses of Thukla
the trail continues to Lobuche
On the way to Gorakshep and Kala Pathar
Gorakshep, the last village at 5170m
Khumbu glacier, looking south from Kala Pathar
Congratulations Martine!! (Kala Pathar)
