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1st May , 2012 - Halfway thru our trek to Everest Base Camp |
We awakened this morning to frosted windows and a frozen crust on our Nalgene bottles in Pheriche, elevation ~14,000 ft. We started with our usual tea, leucine, Tibetan bread and left for another day of trekking towards Lobuche. The initial ascent was gradual thru the valley along the partially frozen Dudhkoshi River, passing yak groups and a small settlement of stone homes along the way. The landscape is stark as we are above vegetation level, leaving only ground brush and boulders. Our ascent towards Thukla was very steep, and after crossing a bridge over the river we stopped for lunch, which was just over 15,000 ft. After lunch we continued our steep ascent thru the Thukla Pass, leaving all of us winded no matter our age or conditioning. Thukla Pass has dozens of memorials to both Sherpas and mountaineers from all over the world who have lost their lives attempting to summit Everest. The memorials consisted of stacks of stones, prayer flags and bronze plaques – one of them read “Always Aim High”. The day was cold and grey, matching the emotion that the memorials elicited in us all. |
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Pheriche Valley |
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Bhanu & Mary on the way to Lobuche |
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taking short near the Lobuche |
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Crossing Khumbu Glaceir river |
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Himalayan Transpotation |
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Lobuche Peak |
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Nak and baby Yak |
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Mark near the Gorakshep |
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