londontravellor

Dingboche 4360m - Tengboche 3870m Time taken: 2.5 hours The route leading down from Dingboche is typical beautiful Nepali scenery and we have only seen part of the route before as we have ascended via Pheriche. Much of it is descent, on uneven stone steps which is quite tiring after a while but as we climb down each bend we are rewarded with spectacular views. We reach Tengboche late morning and far from being the freezing, windswept plateau we had encountered on the away up, it is a bright, sunny and mercifully flat town with an enviable backdrop of stunning peaks. The dazzling peak of Ama Dablam at 6812m, is the most beautiful. Ama Dablam means 'mother's necklace' as the unusual shape of the mountain is thought to look like the outstretched arms of a mother ... read more

Gorak Shep 5160m - Kala Patthar 5545m - Lobuche 4930m Time taken: Gorak Shep - Summit Kala Patthar 4 hours return Gorak Shep - Lobuche 2 hours I 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 I'd kept in reserve figuring I would need the energy and later i'm so glad I did. I try to have a drink from my Camelbak but the tube has frozen overnight! We leave the lodge glad to see it has stopped snowing and we tentatively walk across the flat, previously sandy area behind the lodge towards the foot of Kala Patthar. This is the ... read more

Wow, I thought it was cold in Pheriche, last night in Lobuche was something else! I happily have few if any symptoms of altitude sickness perhaps due to the Diamox, however with the advantages come the disadvantages and at 5am i'm making a early trip to the bathroom. As I do I notice the tap, the water in the toilet and in the water barrel were frozen solid! After the usual fight with to get my sleeping bag back in it's bag and pack up this morning I suddenly feel dizzy and weak. Suriya insists on ordering me a garlic soup for breakfast before I can protest and so he's finally got his way. It isn't as bad as I'd imagined and, I must admit does make me feel better. Just to be on the safe ... read more

At breakfast there is a rumour it was -12 at Pheriche last night, i'm not sure of the accuracy of this, but I do know that the condensation on my window which froze solid last night (see picture), took longer than two hours to melt as they were still there as we left for our trek at 8.30am! The GP from the HRA and his partner had come to the lodge to warm up by the dining hall's central fire and I notice everyone is wearing down jackets this morning. Keen to get warm and moving, we shovel down breakfast and head out.For our acclimatisation trek today we ... read more

Namche 3420m - Tengboche 3870m - Debuche 3770m Time taken: Namche - Tengboche 4 hours 30 mins Tengboche - Debuche 30 mins We start out from Namche early and the first two hours of the day are pretty easy going on a sunny undulating path but there is a definate sting in the tail of today's hike. Suriya has a friend he would like to stop in on for a morning tea break, so we stop during the morning in a tiny village called Sanasa. It turns out that Suriya's old school teacher lives here and he is keen to catch up with him. Suirya has also developed a sore throat and so takes some medicinal Raksi (local brew) to help. This makes him rather more chatty than usual and it is not long before a ... read more