On the outskirts of Monjo we entered the Khumbu National Park and crossed the confluence of the Dudh Kosi and Bhote Kosi on a high suspension bridge with the river rushing below. The river has glacier flour in it so is a beautiful shade of blue. The granite walls are steep with waterfalls plummeting from 100s of meters above. As you walk yak trains come past with their bells jingling and the porters with impossibly large loads stagger by. We climbed steeply for about three hours up ‘Namche Hill’ to reach Namche Bazaar at 11,155 ft. Namanche is a prosperous trading town and the capital of the Khumbu Region. Many Tibetens cross the nearby border to trade their wares and the local market is a fascinating spectacle. Across the valley to the east are the peaks of Thamseku and Kangtega.

We purchased team hats different animals mine is a angry looking macaroni penguin we got lots of laughs from the happy sherpa people walking around as a team of 10 in town. We had cakes at the bakery which were quite tasty I am taking advantage of not losing my appetite yet. This type of teahouse mountaineering is quite luxurious.

One of our sherpa guides is Dorge he has climbed everest 9 times. The past 4 years twice a week and is very well respected in the area at the age of 26. He started as a porter at the age of 15. What an interesting person to talk to. This country is stunning it is like Yosemite but then covered in prayer flags, prayer wheels and sherpa villages.

Flying from Katmandu to Lukla (2805m) the start of the Everest Trek and trekking onto Monjo (2815m). The flight was on a Twin Otter and if the views are clear you can see Everest in the distance.

Lukla’s landing strip is an intresting landing.

The same day we move from Lukla onto Monjo.

Monjo our first stop on the ‘Everest trek’

A picture taken from the plane windows by Jon Gupta our expedition leader of the Himalayas.

We spent the morning as a group at Shona’s getting rental gear and last minute gear shopping. Also attempted some tat shopping. Then off to Swayambhu (also known as the monkey temple due to the 10’s of monkeys who live up there) which is a Stupa outside town on a mountain which was amazing because it was above the smog and you could actually breathe instead of drinking the thick polluted air in the city streets. The sunset was stunning from the top and the prayer flags added to the ambience. Quick post as we leave at 5am and it is 11pm here.

Finally arrived in Nepal. Katmandu at first glimpse is very polluted with smog covering the mountains. It is also very chaotic even more so as there is a festival happening at the moment so the Nepalese are all heading back to spend time with families. More in a day must sleep after 36 hours of travelling.

After a quick visit to my good friend Lisa on my 7 hour layover in Singapore I am back at Changi having had a 3 hour nap and a shower and headed onto Katmandu. I arrived at her place at 3am and left at 7am! We will have to catch up more when I come back through though I don’t think her roomates were that impressed with the late night activity 🙂

So here is the plan for my climbing in Nepal. My good friend Scott who put updates on my website during the Aconcaqua is going to be updating my site again so thank you to him.

15th Oct – Depart USA
17th Oct – Arrive Katmandu
18th Oct – In Katmandu preparing for climb
19th Oct – Fly from Katmandu to Lukla and trek to Monjo (2815m)

20th Oct – Trek Monjo to Namche Bazar
21st Oct – Trek Namche Bazar to Khumjuma
22nd Oct – Trek Khumjuma to Pangboche
23rd Oct – Trek Pangboche to Dingboche
25th Oct – Trek Dingboche to Chukkung
26th Oct – Climb Chukkung Ri
27th Oct – Trek to Island Peak base camp
28th Oct – Ascend Island Peak
30th Oct – Trek Chukkung to Pangboche
31st Oct – Trek Pangboche to Namche
1st Nov – Namche to Lukla
2nd Nov – Fly Lukla to Kathmandu
3rd Nov – Kathmandu
4th Nov – Fly out of Kathmandu to San Francisco