http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Nepal/Gorak-Shep/ Travel adventures in journals and photos from Asia , Nepal , Gorak Shep en-us Sat, 25 May 2013 10:54:20 +0000 Sat, 25 May 2013 10:54:20 +0000 Lobuche 4930m to Gorak Shep 5160m to Kala Patthar 5546mSay 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 http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Nepal/Gorak-Shep/blog-785665.html Wednesday 10th AprilThis trek had two main objectives firstly to reach Everest Base Camp itself and secondly to reach the summit of Kala Pattar in order to see the 39classic39 view of Everest. We achived the first objective yesterday and the intention today was to achieve the second and then begin the return journey to Lukla.It is generally considered that the best view of Everest from Kal http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Nepal/Gorak-Shep/blog-781368.html Monday 8th AprilA normal morning routine saw us leaving Dingboche pronounced Dingboshay at 0740. The walking started with a short westward uphill section to climb out of the Imja Khola Dingboche valley and then contoured along the side of the Chola Khola valley as far as Thokla. At 0940 we stopped at the lodgetea house at Thokla for the normal midmorning lemon tea and halfhour rest. Tho http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Nepal/Gorak-Shep/blog-781159.html Gorak Shep 5160m Kala Patthar 5545m Lobuche 4930mTime takenGorak Shep Summit Kala Patthar 4 hours returnGorak Shep Lobuche 2 hoursI meet Suriya early as planned and and we pick our way across the sleeping porters. As the lodge was packed full with people the owners were not able to serve hot drinks or food at this time. I stuff down a chocolate bar I39d kept in reserve figuring I woul http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Nepal/Gorak-Shep/blog-777671.html Lobuche 4930m Gorak Shep 5160m Everest Base Camp 5340m Gorak Shep 5160mTime takenLobuche to Gorak Shep 2 hoursGorak Shep to EBC 1 hour 40 minsEBC to Gorak Shep 1 hour 30 minsThe trek from Lobuche to Gorak Shep is fairly easy going taking about two hours and running mostly a gentle incline alongside the Khumbu glacier. Due to the suspected high demand on lodge rooms at Gorak Shep Azay our http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Nepal/Gorak-Shep/blog-777510.html ltstrong stylemsobidifontweight normalgtCtnd 10th FebYong wasnt about Im back at the hotel again and after replying to a couple of mails go down to the terrace to order my dish for this evening Chilli potatoes and Ive asked for the Pokora with a bit of a twist. Could they make me cheese and onion in the same pokora. No problem. It has been the best dish. Must ask them http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Nepal/Gorak-Shep/blog-771090.html Photos should be attached fingers crossed http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Nepal/Gorak-Shep/blog-770640.html ltstrong stylemsobidifontweight normalgtCtnd Fri 7th to 10th Feb afternoonTucked into a mixed noodle supper and wrote a few emails then sloped off to bed. Arose about 7am and it was a glorious sunny morning. Doesnt it just make all the difference. A whole new outlook on the place. Put pen to paper or fingers to keyboard went for a stroll to explore the Gorkha in its new l http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Nepal/Gorak-Shep/blog-770638.html 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 didnt 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 antisickness pill and readied myself for the 7 hour trek ahead of me. I set off at ar http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Nepal/Gorak-Shep/blog-760019.html Posing for one last photograph at the top of Kala Pattar 5550m the Mountain Machine began the descent back down to Gorak Shep. For some reason it had been decided earlier in the trip we needed a team name so Mountain Machine was chosen which had its origins as a reference to Arnold Schwarzenegger and requires the reader to say it in the words of Arnie himself. The journey down http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Nepal/Gorak-Shep/blog-759944.html The Western Cwm Icefall the first challenge all climbers to Everest along this route must overcome. http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Nepal/Gorak-Shep/blog-759942.html Close up Mount Everest courtesy of a Telephoto Lens http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Nepal/Gorak-Shep/blog-759939.html 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. Ear http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Nepal/Gorak-Shep/blog-759931.html Following a short breakfast which I worryingly had absolutely no appetite for and I still nursed a mild headache I packed light for the trek up to the summit of Kala Pattar for the best views of Mt Everest and its neighbours that any trekking tour would afford. I packed only 1 litre of water some chocolate and of course my camera. This was to be the pinnacle of my trip meaning more to me t http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Nepal/Gorak-Shep/blog-759923.html After only a few minutes of walking all talk from the members of my groups has ceased and everyone walked along in their own thoughts. The path to Gorak Shep followed the left hand edge of the Khumba glacier and the going was rocky but manageable. The wind was not strong but combined with the cold my thin gloves made a poor job of keeping my hands warm to the point they got really painfully col http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Nepal/Gorak-Shep/blog-759920.html As the rest of the group had reached Everest Base Camp EBC the day before I didnt go with them as I was too unwell from Altitude Sickness it was agreed I would go in the early hours and be back before the rest of the group set off to Pangboche and the journey home. At 0400 I set my alarm got dressed for the trek to EBC and packed the rest of my belongings in my kit bag for the porters to http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Nepal/Gorak-Shep/blog-758705.html Hello folks. I39m back and in one piece. I completed all three of the high passes. The weather was very clear but bitterly cold when we were high up. It was so cold that in the morning there was ice inside the tent and the water bottles froze. It was as low as 15 on one night when we were camping above 5000 metres. We had some snow but just enough for good photos not so much that it slowe http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Nepal/Gorak-Shep/blog-753573.html Trekking The Everest Expedition Route From Jiri to Everest Base Camp.Everest Base Camp Classic Trek is start from Jiri. This trekking to Everest Base Camp follows the traditional route taken by the early Everest expeditions and still serves as main artery to the Road less Everest region. Known as the Solukhumbu it is the homeland of the Sherpas. This relatively tiny society of about 8000 http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Nepal/Gorak-Shep/blog-727904.html Maximum Elevation 5545 mtrs.Trek Duration 17 daysMode of Operation Tea House and CampingTrip Grade Moderate and StrenuousSeason Mar Apr May JunSept Oct Nov Dec.Attraction Spectacular views of the Himalayas Exciting ethnic or Sherpa peoples and village Abundance of wildlife Majestic water falls Beautiful shining rivers Bamboo forest with abundance of wildlife Spiritual Buddhist m http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Nepal/Gorak-Shep/blog-727902.html Mount Everest Base Camp has been a popular destination for trekkers since the very first expeditions to the Nepalese side of Everest in the 1953. To reach this part of the Himalaya within a limited time we have devised this two week trek to Everest Base Camp which runs directly to and from Lukla.The Everest Base Camp trek a very well known mountain trek starts at the Lukla and follows the Dudh http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Nepal/Gorak-Shep/blog-727900.html