Photo Saturday: Trekking Nepal, Part IV

Oh, wow! My first post entirely done on the new blog!

First, for those who have just discovered this, the previous posts about my trek through the Everest Region:

Kathmandu
Part I: Lukla to Namche
Part II: Namche to Khunde
Part III: Khunde to Pangboche

I did the trek with Kamzang Journeys, which did a fantastic job of managing everything, including PCR tests and airport shuttles, as well as setting a sensible schedule for acclimatizing. (Note: I don't get any kick-back from this, I just think they are doing a lot of good things and deserve a shout-out.)  And now, to continue:

Part IV: Ama Dablam Base Camp to Dingboche

We started a little early on Day 7, because it's a long climb. From the hotel at 12,792' we dropped a hundred feet to cross the Imje Khola, then climbed to Base Camp at 15,040'. For those who are counting, that's "only" about 2350', but the high point is 546' above the summit of Mt. Whitney (the highest point in the Lower 48 US states).

Totally cheating. This was sunset the night before. But we did get up at first light, or a little before.

I fueled up with a potato pancake and fried eggs--I learned fast on this trip that oatmeal wouldn't do the job.

Yes, real china. And that, too, came up the river on the back of a yak, a donkey or a human.

Across the river and immediately starting up the (historical) moraine.

Our lodge is visible across the river, first buildings on the flat spot

We were all slow, but my son is 22, compared to the... much older status... of the rest of us. He spent a lot of time waiting.

Watching our progress with Ama Dablam doing the same?

Regrouping at a flat spot.

The fall climbing season was just ending (Ama Dablam has one, though Everest does not), so there were porters and yaks coming and going to remove the last camps.

My apologies for the heavy breathing. I had to move a little faster than optimal to get out of the way of the yaks. Those horns are not to be taken lightly!

Arriving at Base Camp, or what's left of it. A fantastic setting (much nicer than Everest BC).

Like most these days, these were commercial expeditions. This one was a climbing course, and was set up for comfortable camp life at 15K.

I assume the big dome was a dining/lounging area, possibly heated

Because this is the Khumbu, there was a lodge just over the hill from base camp. We enjoyed our lunch on the terrace, kept just warm enough by the sun and the lodge sheltering us from the wind. Didn't even need the down jackets most of the time.

Our guides, taking their rest along the sunny wall.

Day 8--Dingboche
The wind really kicked up overnight. From here out it was always breezy, I think.

Snow blowing off the ridge of Lhotse, part of the Everest Massif

Frost flower. If you know the mechanics of how this is formed, please share!

Continuing up the valley. We stopped for tea in the village visible in the middle distance.

Arriving at the Snow Lion Lodge and French Bakery

We settled in, had lunch, and went up the hill behind the lodge to see the view from the ridge. Most turned back after seeing the valley beyond--as my son put it, "I've seen what I came to see, and I'm thinking about those pastries."

Up the Imje Khola in the direction most would hike in a few days.

A couple of us, with a couple of the guides, climbed higher to see what we could see and make a loop out of the hike.

Looking up towards Island Peak and the direction we'll be going the next day. I'm down to two layers, so the wind must have died!

Returning on Main Street through the village.

It was a measure of the impact the pandemic had on tourism that we often had the lodges to ourselves, or shared with only one or two other parties in the larger ones. After one season with no visitors at all, the lodge owners were not just glad to see Kim for friendship's sake, but also to have customers again. At Dingboche, after we'd all gorged on pastries, the owner made a cake for all of us. I think it expressed the feelings of all the businesses in this tourist-dependent region.

Up next: Chukkhung Ri

Read the whole story:
Kathmandu
Part I: Lukla to Namche
Part II: Namche to Khunde
Part III: Khunde to Pangboche
Part IV: Ama Dablam Basecamp to Dingboche
Part V: Chukkhung
Part VI: Kongma La
Part VII: Everest Base Camp
Part VIII: Cho La
Part IX: Gokyo
Part X: Renjo La
Part XI: Thame Valley to Home

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 ©Rebecca M. Douglass, 2022

 As always, please ask permission to use any photos or text. Link-backs appreciated.