Nepal 2013
Everest Base Camp Trek
Everest Base Camp and Kala Pattar
October 28 and October 29
Starting and ending at Lobuche, we had two days of the highlights of the trek. The first day we trekked from Lobuche to our guest house at Gorak Shep (16,814 ft) where we arrived before lunch. After lunch we set off with lighter packs to Everest Base Camp (17,600 ft). The weather was cooperative, with the clouds staying high for the afternoon. The highlight of this hike for me was spotting a Himalayan pika in the rocks enroute to base camp! Base camp itself is out on the Khumbu Glacier, and was marked by a bunch of prayer flags and a monument. No climbers were camped there since the primary climbing season is in the spring. And Everest itself is not visible from base camp. The hike itself gains only around 800 feet elevation, but the trail went up and down frequently (undulating), making it more difficult. The temperature started dropping at the end of the hike as the sun dropped lower, making it quite cold.
The following day we awoke early for the climb to Kala Pattar. Kala Pattar is a small summit at 18,208 feet just north of Gorak Shep. Reportedly the view of Everest from here is the best in the Khumbu region! The weather was again superb and the views did not disappoint! I believe this day was the highlight for me of the whole Nepal trip! The pictures below speak for themselves.
We arrived back in Gorak Shep for lunch, then hoisted our full packs for the hike back to Lobuche. The hike back wasn't as icy as other direction the day before, as it was in the afternoon. Again Lobuche was covered in fog.
|
Everest Base Camp
Pumo Ri
(23,507 ft) and Lingtren (22,024 ft) in the sun, trekkers going over a
moraine to Gorak Shep, Khumbu Glacier stretching south
Nuptse (25,800 ft) over Khumbu Glacier, Pumo Ri and Lingtren with Gorak Shep below, Pumo Ri over Kala Pattar (18,208 ft)
Gorakshep Tsho (lake), sign pointing to base camp, Changtse (24,780 ft) peeking over Lho La pass (Changtse is in Tibet)
Khumbutse (21,781 ft) and Changtse over Khumbu Glacier, the Khumbu Icefall on the Everest climbing route, Himalayan pika
Left: Everest summit barely peeking over the back enroute to base camp, Nuptse at far right looks much higher Center: Base camp at center of picture (trekkers gathered) with Khumbu Icefall above Right: Steve at Everest Base Camp (Lingtren, Khumbutse and Changtse on the sky line) |
|
Kala Pattar
View to the south, Kata Pattar summit ahead, Khumbu Glacier stretching south
Pumo Ri looming above, Everest over Khumbu Icefall and Glacier, view south (Ama Dablam is left of center)
Kala Pattar summit and Pumo Ri, view south from the summit, Steve on the summit with Everest and Nuptse
Everest with Icefall and Glacier, watch reading at summit, lakes to the west
Everest and South Col, Everest and Nuptse from halfway down, Nuptse in evening light from Lobuche |
