Hilton College Everest Trek 2011: April 2011

Wednesday, April 20, 2011

Farewell to/from Nepal

Well we have come to the end of the adventure. After visiting the medieval city of Bhaktapur and the major Stupa of Kathmandu, we are now enjoying a traitional Nepali dinner.

Tuesday, April 19, 2011

In Katmandu!

Hi everyone!

Just to let everyone know that both groups are back safely! Going on
some last sightseeing tours, shopping and having our final dinner
tomorrow night!

Looking forward to being back!!!

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Sunday, April 17, 2011

KyangJuma (3800m) to Phakding (2600m)

We are now almost back from our trek. We are descending fast, through throngs of people just starting out on their treks. It feels sad that it is almost over, but we are all tired and ready to get back to the bright lights, to "normal" toilets, etc.

Early morning view from our room

Ravens are also invited to breakfast - rice put out for them specially

What an amazing breakfast... with the scent of freshly burning Juniper to bless and freshen the day, amazing view, mint tea, what else could one want?

Last view of Everest

Saturday, April 16, 2011

Tengboche Monastery (3860m) (Updated)

Col. Hunt (leader of the 1953 Everest expedition) described this as one of the most beautiful places on earth. The beautiful river rushing by down in the valley, the verdant rhodedendron forests, views through the birch trees up to the snowy mountains, and the monastery itself. But you don't just get to enjoy this for free... There is quite a steep long walk up from the dramatic bridge over the river. We are having lunch at a wonderful konditorei. The scent of chocolate cake and capuccino is in the air.

Here are some pics from inside the monastery:

The beautiful interior - everything had to be rebuilt and redone after a huge fire 25 years ago

A monk lighting butter lamps

Rhodedendrons adorn the paths to and from Tengboche

Friday, April 15, 2011

Hilton boys and staff

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Pics of today and yesterday

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Group 1 pics of today!

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Group 1 and group 2!!We Made it!!!

On our way down, quite tired, but everyone well and happy!!!

The last two days have been unbelievable, being at base camp, seeing
the glaciers, people ascending and sharing the magic of the moment
together, with lots of tears and hugs!

This morning was Kalapatar, 5600m- higher than base camp and Kili!!
Only a few from each group braved it! it was incredible! some awesome
close ups of Everest and -15c at least!!!

Group 1 in Pengboche and tomorrow in Monjo! Descending quickly!

Looking forward to being in touch soon!

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Group 1 pics of today!

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Gorak Shep to Pheriche (4200m)

We are now on our way down... so far today we have descended almost 1km! So everyone is feeling a bit more able to breathe. There is much coming and going of rescue helicopters here in Pheriche, where there is a rescue hospital.

We leave behind the huge snowy peaks that tower over one

We leave behind the glaciers which often look more like a badly cleared up building site

Tim contemplates life at a lower altitude

Memorials for fallen climbers - a stark reminder

Despite the cold and driven snow, the sky is blue, and achingly beautiful

Thursday, April 14, 2011

From Lobuche to Gorak Shep (4900m) and on to Base Camp (5300m)

Today we arrived in Gorak Shep; it felt like the mountains ere starting to close in all around us. We passed by chortens which are memorials to those who have died on Everest, eg Scott Fischer in 1996. After a brief lunch we went on to Everest Base Camp. This marks the furthest point out of the trek, and both groups will now start heading for home. There was much jubilation on having reached Base Camp, and a combined group photo was taken. It was great to see the beautiful blue ice on the glacier and high on the towering peaks all around. We were allowed a short peek at Everest, but clouds and later snow hid most views, and the day was quite gruelling overall.

Tuesday, April 12, 2011

Phortse to Dingboche (4400m)

Our walk today took us along high paths with plunging views down to the rushing river below. In some places the footing is very precarious, and a small ill-tempered nudge from a Our walk today took us along high paths with plunging views down to the rushing river below. In some places the footing is very precarious, and a small ill-tempered nudge from a Yak would send one hundreds of metres down to the bottom of the valley! Luckily we managed to keep on the right (ie mountain) side of them. We moved through the sunny lower reaches, with beautiful Birch forests, and even saw a Tahr. We also had beautiful views across to Tengboche Monastery which we will visit on the way down from Base Camp. Then it was up into the harsh landscape again, only snow and low scrub. We drank seabuck thorn tea; it is a local berry bearing bush, but has great medicinal and ecological qualities, and even tasted ok.

We are now in Dingboche, well on our way up the valley towards Base Camp and Kala Pathar.

Some pics from yesterday and today.