At the start of EBC Trek at Lukla
In front of a firing squad??? The whole group - Taboche and Cholatse mountains in the background.
Four (Brian, Jayant, Felton and David) of the six team member near the start of the trek. We looked cool!
Charlie, Giri (guide), Felton and Jayant. Snow capped mountains were everywhere for background.
Jayant touching the EBC marker - I made it! Khumbu Glacier in the back ground.
Jayant returning from EBC. Khumbu glacier below, Everest shoulder to his right, Nuptse to his left, and Everest is hiding behind.
Jayant and Charlie with prayer flags, Everest in the background
Felton and Brian with prayer flags on the way to Kala Patthar. Pumo Ri is in the background. This was the first time there was dusting of snow on the ground.
Jimmy climbing Kala Patthar. Pumo Ri is in the background. See the steep climb ahead?
Charlie going up Kala Patthar. Pumo Ri with sun shining and wind blowing is in the background.
Jayant at EBC, with H&R Block sign. Khumbu Glacier behind. Yellow tents at the edge of the glacier on left. Climbers going to the Summit stay there. They climb up the glacier which you see going up to the right - Summit is only 7 km away!
Charlie's silhouette in front of Nuptse.
Charlie's silhouette in front of Everest shoulder and Nuptse to further right.
Jimmy's silhouette in front of Nuptse. Notice icefalls to Jimmy's left, and hanging ice ledge to further left.
Giri and Charlie at EBC, Khumbu Glacier in the background.
Taking a breather during the trek. The sun is always shining. Caps are needed. Sherpas also keep their jackets on at all times, even when we were comfortable in T-shirts.
Trekkers have all the fancy stuff - moisture wicking clothing, best backpacks and hiking shoes. Sherpas are in T-shirts, Jeans and some shoes.
Jimmy in front of Tengboche Monastery. See how well things can be maintained at even higher elevations. Buddhists have mastered this art everywhere in the world.
Reaching entrance to the Sagarmatha National Park. Sherpas carry our big bags, so we can walk just with our backpacks.
Up, up and up. The way to make it there is by taking just one step at a time.
The climb is steep enough WITHOUT the load.
Crossing the Hillary Bridge. Prayer flags, for good luck, are flying in the wind. After the bridge is the steep hike to Namche Bazar.
Jimmy (Balram is covering the back!) crossing one of the many cable bridges across Dudhkoshi river.
Crossing another brigdge.
Jimmy and Charlie - mountains on the west (Taboche and others) in the background. Rather easy trail at the moment - won't you say?
One of the steep climbs - part of our acclimatization- at Dingboche. On rest days, we would climb a few hundred feet and come down. Two sherpas to accompany two trekkers. We felt protected at all times.
Trail passing by the river. We level off, cross the river, and then climb back up.
Crossing the river on a temporary rock bridge. The water is generally rushing pretty fast.
Jayant in blue shirt (Cholatse mountain in the background.) We are at 15000 ft and climbing. The rest of the group is behind Jayant.
A wider trail - dusty for the most part.A porter carrying at least 30 Kgs.
Pretty easy trail. Sherpa keeping a watchful eye on us - all the time.
Another level trail - a little higher from the river this time. We are on the west side of the river - going north / northeast.
In Khunde, stone tablets are used everywhere - as monuments, street dividers and even walls. David taking picture - sherpa watching.
Stone Tablets and road dividers. Nepalis always walk on the left of these.
Brian and Sherpa inspecting stone monument. So is Jimmy. The trail is pretty wide and level here.
David and Dzopkyos (hybrid cow/yak) eying each other.
Jayant, relaxed after lunch.
Jayant back at Namche Bazar after 9 days - no showers, no hot water, not even mirrors to see how we looked. Happy to be back!
At Namche, after taking a looong shower and shave. Looking much better.
Jayant at Sagarmatha National Park Entrance
Jayant getting ready for the trek - can't forget the suntan lotion!
Cleaned up - Jayant and Giri in the dining room at Namche. A fuzzy picture.
Felton. Brian, Charlie and Jayant resting for lunch. Three hour trek is over, two more to go after lunch - on a typical day.
Charlie Hoke, Virginia
David, Melbourne, Australia
Felton Jenkins, Atlanta, GA
Jayant, Concord, California
Devraj Giri, Kathmandu, NepalGuide for Himalayan Glacier Trekking
Sherpa Balram, Himalayan Glacier Trekking
They make it look so easy. The only way anything gets to this region is on someone's back!
Rest stops are everywhere. Rarely are the porters seen without their loads. This is the only way to make a living.
Saying hello to passer by - and taking a moment of rest - while carrying lumber from town to town.
Carrying load uphill!
This how you carry everything in this region - on the backs of the sherpas. The pipes weigh 300 lbs.
People? No! But yaks are equal habitants of this land. Yaks carrying loads at EBC. Khumbu Glacier covered with dirt and rocks in the background. The glacier moves 3 ft daily, causing crevasses to open and close without notice. How do yaks stay on the safe ground?
