Day 17 -- October 14 => Phortse to Dingboche

View from Phortse camp site

Leaving camp at 7:45am, it was a strenuous ascent for about 45 minutes, just what you need to get your body going in the morning.

Yesterday's descent route from Mon La (top of rock wing)

Mitch, Mark, Sarah, Joe Jr. taking a break on the trail

It was a tough start to the morning and everyone was taking regular rest breaks.

Ama Dablam (6856m/22,493')

Of course, the views of Ama Dablam, Everest, Nuptse and Lhotse were welcome diversions.

Mt. Everest (8848m/29,028'), Nuptse (7896m), Lhotse (8501m)

Kangtega ??

We saw several helicopters this morning going up and down the valley.

Pangboche with Ama Dablam in the background

Traffic was light on the trail today -- we were taking the alternate route from Namche Bazar to Pangboche. We arrived in Upper Pangboche (3980m/13,055') sometime after 11am.

Pangboche gomba

We were a bit early for lunch, so we headed off to see the gomba, the oldest in the Khumbu region. It was built some 300 years ago.

Pangboche gomba

After lunch, a bit of up and down before climbing to Shomare (4040m/13,255'). Just beyond, tree line was reached and so large boulders now become pit stops instead of trees. At around 3pm, we reached the confluence of the Lobuche Khola and the Imja Khola where we kept ascending through old glacier moraines. At last, Dingboche (4252m/13,950') popped into view. As usual, we had to climb up to almost the top of Dingboche to reach our camp site for the next two nights. This was one of the latest times we reached camp, arriving just after 4pm. Dingboche is pronounced as "Ding-bow-shay".

Day 16 - Khumgjung to Phortse Day 18 - Dingboche Acclimitization

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Created: December 1, 2002. Revised: December 22, 2002.