EBC Day 13

PLAN: The final destination of the trip: Morning excursion to Everest Base Camp (5300metres) - walk approximately 5 hours; trek back to Periche - walk approximately 3 hours.

They'll head for the historical ascent to EBC. They may have difficulty following the trail so this is where the Sherpa guide will be invaluable (not to mention the weight they're carrying for the lads!). Yaks and porters will be see on the way - they will be supplying food and equipment to the expedition group in March and April. They have more of a view of the most dangerous part of the Everest ascent, the Khumbu ice fall.


Once they have made it to Kalapathar, they head back down to the highlander's village Lobuche. Another day at high altitude and it could be a long and tiring one. Another descent to Pheriche.


Amendment - A very brief conversation today - they're absolutely shattered, barely sleeping at such a high altitude - he's been grabbing 10 mins of fitful sleep and getting a total of an hour and a half...

EBC Day 12

Sorry, I've been a bit behind in my daily updates of the boys' trip. As they are ahead of schedule by a couple of days now, the given plan has gone by the by but as I have nothing else to go on as we haven't spoken, then I will stick with the paper plan.

PLAN: 
- Gorak Shep (5288 metres elevation); walk approximately 3-4 hours.
- Climb Kalapathar (5546 metres); approximately 4 hours.

Today, they are high amongst the glaciers of the world's highest peaks and will trek along the Khumbu glacier. The trail heads towards the high village called Gorak Shep. After a rest, they'll climb Kalapathar, a small, rocky peak on the south-west ridge of Pumori. It won't be an easy climb but it's worth it by all accounts;

"...the view from the top surpasses the wildest imagination.'

They may hear the glaciers creaking under pressure (I'd love to hear that!) and the surrounding peaks will be pretty awesome - Pumori, Nuptse, Changste, Ama Dablam, Tawache, Kanega and of course Everest.


About 3km east and 200m below the base camp can be seen in a bowl at the bottom of the notorious Khumbu ice fall. Many trekkers find this point at Kalapathar an emotional experience. It's back to Goark Shep for the overnight stay.


After sunset it becomes very cold despite the strength of the sun during the day.

EBC Day 11 + Amendment

Plan: Lobuche (elevation 4630 metres); walk approximately 5-6 hours

The early morning sunshine is welcome after a cold night. They'll wake up to a beautiful panorama of the peaks. They will be walking in the flanks of Awi Peak, above the village of Chola and carry on past Cholatse Lake. Beyond the lake the Chola Glacier flows from the saddle between the cliffs of Cholatse and Tawache.


The walk will continue to eventually join with the busy trail to Everest Base Camp itself. The slopes will be barren above the tree line and Cholatse, Lobuche and Pumari peaks will be in view. Rock cairns will be seen dedicated to the memory of the climbers who attempted the high mountains at Dugla Ridge.

Walking on to the moraine of Khumbu Glacier (the longest in Nepal) to Lobuche for the overnight camp, they will notice the drop in temperature as they are more exposed.

Amendment: I spoke to Hubby very briefly this afternoon. They are two days ahead of schedule! So this plan and blog are to be read just for interest's sake rather than definitive factual placing of them day to day! That's gone out of the window!

They are extremely tired now, I'm not surprised, it sounds like they've really gone for it. They went to see the actual Base Camp today rather than the planned morning excursion on the 7th May (Saturday). I think they'll have a few extra days back in Namche Bazaar. They had better rest and recuperate before flying back here to be thrown back to reality (well, as far as you can call living in Oman reality! ;-) )

EBC Day 10

PLAN: Chola Pass (elevation 5335 metres) and Dzongla (4843 metres); walk approximately 6-7 hours.

Another early start to take advantage of the stable early morning weather pattern in the Himalyas. It takes about 3-4 hours depending on the weather conditions to reach the saddle of the Pass. They'll have time on the trip here to stop and take everything in. The guide sees this point as a special highlight of the trip with the peaks rising above them.

"Words fail to describe the beauty of Nature and sense of achievement to be on the Pass"

EBC Day 9 and a memorable birthday + Amendment

PLAN:

- Ascent of Gokyo Ri (elevation 5483 metres); walk approximately 5 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!

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...).

EBC Day 8

PLAN: Gokyo (elevation 4754 metres); walk approximately 5-6 hours.

It is another gradual ascent again, this time to Gokyo village. They will now be in alpine country.


They'll see the Ngozumpa Glacier ( the largest glacier in Nepal) and cross on to the moraine and rock that extends from it. They'll have views of Kantega to the south, Cholatse to the east and Cho-Oyu to the north. Once they have ascended the snout of the glacier the path starts to level and runs parallel to the Ngozumpa Glacier; separating them from the glacier is the huge lateral moraine - this is a parallel ridge of debris deposited along the sides of a glacier. 

Picture from yesterday to help with today's geography lesson!

They will pass Longpongo (first lake) and Taochelake (second lake) where Tibetan ducks are often seen swimming in the freezing water. Then they will reach the third lake called Dudh Pokhari at Gokyo village.

Not much detail to add to these last few posts as we have not heard from them since Friday.

Kiwi's wife (new name Mad Murphy until she tells me not to call her this!)  has just spoken to her man.  No detail as yet, but just good to hear they're all ok.

EBC Day 7

PLAN: Macchermo (elevation 4410m); walk approximately 3-4 hours.

The plan is to ascend slowly through the Dudh Koshi valley - as you can see from the image above they will walk along the Dudh Koshi river, but higher up in the valley. The guide in the itinerary states that although they will probably find the walking easy, they might start to feel the effects of altitude in even the smallest hill.


So they should start to be above the tree line and the hillsides turn brown and barren, with only the odd small cluster of juniper ("they're MY juniper bushes!" for you Python fans) to break it up. So a bit of contrast now it seems to the snowy mountains and blue sky they have been seeing.


After lunch there is an option (bet they take it) to take an excursion across the rocky moraines (A moraine is a rock formation that was created by the movement of a glacier; the glacier would have deposited rocks and stones as it moved) to the base of Kyojo Ri (6168m) and Macchermo Peak (6073m).

And this is where they have to keep their wits about them...they have to keep their eye out for the Yeti!!! Dah dah DAAAAAAH! It is here is 1974 that three yaks were killed and a Sherpa girl was badly injured when trying to fight off a hairy ape-like creature.