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KHUMBU HIMAL: "In the Shadow of Everest "


From the Sherpa capital of Namche Bazaar the well-trodden trail to Everest base camp, known locally as the 'yak-route', can be a frustrating, single-file queue but on a return visit I took a circular route crossing two high passes on quiet trails with secluded campsites to explore more fully the grandeur of the Khumbu Himal.

Mt. Kang Taiga on ascent to Thyangboche

Kang Taiga

on ascent to

Thyangboche


Beyond Thyangboche with its renowned gompa and fabulous view up the beautiful Imja Khola Valley to Everest ( or more appropriately Chomolungma - 'Goddess Mother of the World' ), protruding above the great Nuptse-Lhotse mountain wall, I branched off with my trekking crew beneath the graceful Ama Dablam into the less frequented Chukhung Valley.

Everest and Lhotse - Nuptse Wall from Thyangboche

Lhotse-Nuptse Wall

and

Everest Summit

from Thyangboche


On a bright, clear morning I crossed the sparkling waters of the Imja Khola from our campsite in a stone-walled yak-pasture at Bibre to climb steep, tussock-grass slopes onto a small plateau directly beneath the towering North Face of Ama Dablam.

 Mt. Taboche from the Imja Khola at Bibre

Taboche

from the

Imja Khola


Far below lay the cluster of grey, stone-built houses of Dingboche, the highest permanent settlement in the region, while further to the south the white cone of Numbur jutted above the long, jagged arete of Kwande Ri. A faint breeze rippled the surface of a lochan to distort the reflections of the shapely Taboche and Cholatse prominent to the west. On the northern flank of the Chukhung Valley, rising sheer above great moraines and scree slopes, loomed the massive wall stretching between the great peaks of Nuptse and Lhotse ( the world's 4th highest mountain ).

 Nuptse and Lhotse from the Imja Khola Valley

Nuptse and Lhotse

from the

Imja Khola Valley


In the afternoon we moved camp higher up the boulder-strewn valley and, next day, I trudged to the top of Chukhung Ri overlooked by the black, banded summit of Lhotse. I seemed to be on a level with the summit ridge of the nearby Island Peak ( the most popular of the so-called 'trekking' peaks ). Across the valley a long arete of rock and ice culminated in the dramatic pyramid of Ama Dablam.

Two days later on the stiff ascent from Bibre to the Kongma La we enjoyed a superb vista of the giant peaks of Baruntse and Makalu ( the world's 5th highest mountain ) soaring skywards above the ice-walls at the head of the Chukhung Valley. We encamped at the entrance to a wide rocky amphitheatre with a magnificent outlook over to Ama Dablam.

Sunset on Nuptse - Lhotse Wall

Sunset

on Nuptse-Lhotse Wall


Late in the afternoon I scrambled to the top of a small peak where I huddled amongst the rocks and watched its silhouette edge higher on the vast Nuptse-Lhotse wall directly opposite. As the sun and temperature dropped the huge snow fields faded from dazzling, marble-white, through silver to leaden grey before suddenly glowing golden in the final rays of the setting sun.

Next morning we headed through the craggy amphitheatre and climbed into a higher cwym. Skirting two lochans, a short scramble gained the cairn, bedecked with multi-coloured prayer-flags, on the narrow col of Kongma La. Above us loomed the jagged ridge of Nuptse while beyond the sapphire-blue lochans a fine view unfolded of the heavily-glaciated, upper Chukhung Valley.

On the far side we rapidly lost height as we plunged down steep, rough scree towards the great, stony river of the Khumbu Glacier. The pleasant meadows of an ablation valley provided a fine, secluded campsite with a spectacular outlook on Taboche and Cholatse.

Mts. Taboche and Cholatse from the Khumbu Glacier

Taboche and Cholatse

from the Khumbu Glacier


Before breakfast in the cold shadow of Nuptse I climbed to the top of a spur falling from its lofty summit to gain an excellent vantage point. Immediately below lay the opaque, green waters of the Lingten Pokhari ensconced beneath the moraine wall of the Khumbu Glacier. Across the glacier, bare, barren tundra led up to the charming, perfectly-conical Pumo Ri. It was only a half-day to traverse the rugged moraines to rejoin the 'yak-route' at Lobuje.

 Mt. Pumori and Kallar Pattar from Gorak Shep

Pumori

above

Kala Pattar

from Gorak Shep


The following day, with Nima, my Sherpa guide, I made the pilgrimage to Kallar Pattar at the foot of Pumo Ri to gaze in awe at the snow-plumed summit of Everest floating serenely high above in an azure sky - a fatal loadstone for many mountaineers.

Everest and Nuptse from Kallar Pattar

Everest and Nuptse

from

Kala Pattar


Leaving the Khumbu Valley we climbed past the picturesque, turquoise-green waters of the Tshola Tsho nestling beneath the elegant Cholatse and encamped beside a stream beyond the small cluster of lodges at Dzongla.

The steep climb to the snow-covered Chola Pass was aleviated by frequent stops to admire the splendid view back down the valley to the great pyramid of Ama Dablam. From the col at the head of the easy-angled neve there was also a fine view across the snow fields to the lofty spire of Lobuje Peak. Steep, loose scree led downwards to boulder-strewn moorland and on to the huddle of dwellings at Thangna.

Ama Dablam on ascent to Cho La

Ama Dablam

on ascent to

Cho La


In the morning we traversed the broad, shattered moraines of the Ngozumpa Glacier and joined the trail to the popular trekking destination of Gokyo Village. The 5300 metre hilltop of Gokyo Ri above the small summer settlement affords a superb outlook extending from the turquoise waters of the lake across the Ngozumpa glacier to the jagged teeth of Cholatse and Taboche and the black, rocky summit wedge of Everest protruding above a high escarpment. Some claim it is a better viewpoint than the more frequented Kallar Pattar.

Ngozumpa Glacier and Mts. Taboche and Cholatse from Gokyo Ri

Ngozumpa Glacier

and

Taboche and Cholatse

from

Gokyo Ri


From Gokyo we continued up the savagely glaciated valley to encamp in splendid, silent solitude at the picturesque Khumbu Panch Pokhari ( a set of five small lakes ) amidst a tremendous cirque of himalayan giants:- Cha Kung, Gyachung Kang and the immense, 8000 metre Cho Oyu ( the world's 6th highest mountain ) festooned with hanging glaciers and tumbling ice-falls.

Mt. Cho Oyu from Khumbu Panch Pokhari

Cho Oyu

from the Panch Pokhari

at head of Gokyo Valley


In the afternoon I climbed on huge boulders to the top of a rock peak to command a close-up view of the mighty ramparts of snow and ice sweeping round the skyline from Cho Oyu to Gyachung Kang. Beyond the shining white-ice and grey moraines of the Ngozumpa Glacier the stately twin summits of Kang Chung formed a prominent landmark Also visible was the merest tip of Everest. Far below I could see our tents amidst the cluster of bright blue lochans. Returning to camp the still, dark waters of one of the lakes mirrored perfectly the cubic, castle-like Cha Kung.

It was with some reluctance that we departed from the spectacular beauty of the Khumbu Panch Pokhari - a himalayan campsite to be long remembered.

Back at Gokyo we were entrapped for five days by a freak, unseasonal snowstorm and had to be airlifted out by helicopter to Namche Bazaar.


References:-


 

 

 


 









Nepal Travel & Guide Books:-



Nepal Maps:-


  • Everest Base Camp Map ( UK , USA )

  • Everest Trekking Map - National Geographic

  • Khumbu Himal: Schneider Nepal Maps

  • Khumbu: Jiri to Everest Base Camp Map

  • Khumbu Region Map ( UK , USA )

  • Island Peak - Climbing Map ( UK , USA )

  • Himalaya Map - Nelles ( UK , USA )

  • Nepal Trail Map - Nelles ( UK , USA )


  • Everest Base Camp MapAnnapurna Adventure MapLangtang Adventure MapKhumbu: Jiri to Everest Base Camp Map Khumbu Himal: Schneider Nepal Maps Rolwaling Himal - Shneider Nepal Maps Nepal Himalaya Map 1: Far west Nepal, Api-Nampa, Seti River Nepal Himalaya Map 3: Kanjiroba East, Tibrikot, Dolpo & Dhaulagri



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    Rough Guide India Footprint Tibet Handbook Into Thin Air - John Pilkington Sepu Kangri Bonnington Alpine / Himalayan Climbing Into Thin Air - the Everest DisasterClimbing High - the Everest Disaster On Top of the World - climbing the 14 highest mountains Nepal Mountaineering Guide

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    History of Mountain ClimbingEverest: The West Ridge Return to Everest - DVD Return to Everest - Video Lost on Everest - Video Conquest of Everest Everest: A Trekkers Guide The Climb - Anatoli Boukreev The Naked Mountain - Reinhold Messner

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