PLAN:
- Ascent of Gokyo Ri (elevation 5483 metres); walk approximately 5 hours
- Trek to Thangna (4700 metres); walk approximately 3 hours
- Trek to Thangna (4700 metres); walk approximately 3 hours
It's a early start today and so it should be seeing as it's Wasabi Boy's 40th Birthday!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!
Not that he'll be reading this where he is of course!
So today they'll steadily ascend Gokyo Ri - the duration is depending on their level of fitness and how well they've acclimatised so far. It should be one of the best panoramic views in Nepal. From the rocky summit four peaks higher than 8000 metres can be seen; Everest (8848m), Lhotse (8501m), Makalu (8481m ), and Cho-Oyu (8153m) [worth mentioning these are not the exact heights...every site I looked at had different figures so I have gone with the heights that the Guide has given].
There will be plenty of other peaks to see all around 6500m. Below them will be the Ngozumpa Glacier that stretches through the valley. The lakes should be a beautifully striking colour and I think it will all make for some incredible and awe-inspiring photographs of the Gokyo Valley. I can imagine they will not do it justice.
They will then make their way across the glacier to Thangna, it looks like quite a meandering trail.
Along with keeping an eye out for the Yeti ;-) they may see the Himalayan Thar (or Tahr) on the rocky slopes...they are not hunted here and are not too shy apparently.
Wasabi boy is the new name for Aussie...lets just say he bought a jacket that was not green, it was wasabi and the others aren't letting him forget it. However, they haven't all got away with it. Kiwi should be Ricky Pule (another one for the Monty Python fans out there) as he has a 'stylist' back here in Muscat!
So today is the day that prompted this trip in the beginning. Happy birthday from us all. I hope today is a truly fantastic memory that will stay with you.
Enjoy and treasure!
Enjoy and treasure!
Addition from the birthday boy - he called home this morning. All is still fantastic. But they are starting to feel tired now. They were up at 0400 their time (0215 Oman/2315 BST). All are acclimatising well, a couple have had headaches but so far, so good. Hubby seems to be the one that has acclimatised the best...I suspect thanks to his Dad taking him walking in the Scottish mountains every weekend...not quite the same league but training nonetheless! See, Grampa, all your hard work is paying off!
WB also said the views were spectacular especially when they watched the sun rise with Everest in view. How amazing...
And to top it all he was presented with a massive Yo-yo to take up and eat on his birthday, made by the awesome Auntie S. What a day already!
If you don't know what a Yo-yo is (I didn't until I met these guys), it's a cake made of two sweet dough circles and a filling in the middle...put together to look like a toy yo-yo (the latter fact only dawned on me a few weeks back :-/ My family and friends know I'm a bit special sometimes...).
