Blogs from Gorak Shep, Nepal, Asia - page 2

Lobuche (4930m) to Gorak Shep (5160m) to Kala Patthar (5546m) Say goodbye to the Christians, they are heading for Gorak Shep and EBC, we are doing Gorak Shep with Kala Patthar. Out the door in a lot of clothes with the addition of the crampons we bought in Kathmandu. They are small, lightweight and just slip over your boots. Getting them on is challenge though when your fingers are soooooo freezing cold. Anyway, we head out along the icy, rock terrain. Its noticeably harder going this morning. The crampons are a fantastic asset. We pass the Italian research station mentioned in the LP guidebook. Here is their link complete with webcam views from Kala Patthar- very cool. http://evk2.isac.cnr.it/ Lots of yak trains this morning. The views are, once again, stunning, the sky has taken on an ... read more

Photos should be attached (fingers crossed)... read more

My guide leader had given me the choice of leaving with the group – in 30 minutes or following on afterwards, with “Gopal the Gude” accompanying me. It didn’t seem much of a choice, as I think I knew deep down the day would be much harder if I left later. In 30 minutes, I stocked up on water, took another anti-sickness pill and readied myself for the 7 hour trek ahead of me. I set off at around 0900 at the tail end of the group retracing the steps I had taken the last 4 days to make. Whilst overall on the days trek we would descend around 1200m, the first part of the day towards Lobuche was difficult as there were various inclines and declines to negotiate over rough terrain. I recall little of ... read more

Close up Mount Everest courtesy of a Telephoto Lens... read more

In the days before we had reached Gorak Shep to embark on the climb to the top of Kala Pattar, I had made up my mind I would not look across the valley to the incredible views of Mt Everest until I had reached the top. I wanted to savour the views until the summit. Leaving the comfort and safety of the lodge, I crossed over the sandy plain that lead to the start of the climb up to Kala Pattar. Early that morning we had all witnessed a helicopter medi-vac from this plain and I wondered if it was someone genuinely ill, or someone or probably should have sucked it up and made there way back to Lukla as the rest of us planned to do. The first part of the climb over soft terrain ... read more