[GPGT] My Journey to Mount Everest

zenotic

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Thought I share some pictorial with folks whom may be curious or interested in such a destination. Since this is my 3rd and most recent visit, I'd love to answer any questions posted by friends here whom are curious about the trek, equipment, preparation, cost or recommendations. Got tons of video and pics but am trying to keep this concise but if need be, I'll provide. Some basic information below ....

Getting there:

Traditionally after arriving in Nepal, Kathmandu, trekkers will take a domestic flight from Kathmandu to Lukla to start the trail. People who have a fear of flying (and rightfully so. Those who knows about Lukla flights will understand.) can choose to take a bus to Jiri and hike to Lukla from there. It take roughly about 5 - 6 additional days.

Duration of trek (From Lukla):

Usually for first timers about 12 - 16 days. Mine took 9.5 days.

Route:

Lukla -> Phakding -> Namche -> Sanasa -> Deboche -> Pheriche -> Lobuche -> Gorak Shep -> BC

Gorak Shep -> Pheriche -> Namche -> Lukla

This thread is started in association with:

http://forums.hardwarezone.com.sg/e...]-my-trekking-experience-lessons-5202026.html

http://forums.hardwarezone.com.sg/eat-drink-man-woman-16/hike-everest-base-camp-5200838.html

This is basically everything DIY. If you get a agent to bao and arrange everything for you, the difference is probably another additional $400-500 ? PM me if you need one:


  • $100 for Travel Insurance
  • $850 for return flight to SG via Silkair
  • $450 for return flight from KTM to LUK
  • $100 for TIMS
  • $500 - 600 for teahouse accommodation for 10 days with dinner and breakfast included.
  • $300 for hot shower, wifi, charging devices, satellite phonecalls and other miscellaneous things during the trek
  • $200 - 300 for 2 days accommodation in Kathmandu
  • $400 - 500 for expenses in Kathmandu, things like entrance fee, meals, transport, visa on arrival ($40) and souvenirs
  • Additional $500-600 if you need a guide
  • Additional $300 if you need porter for about 9 - 10 days

If you arrange by yourself, remember to bring 2 photo for the application for TIMS.

*This pricing is just a rough guide.


And the photos:

1. After reaching KTM, stopped over at Thamel region to pay my sherpa friends a visit to chit chat, eat some momos while waiting for fellow trekkers to replenish their supplies.

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2. Woke up dem early the next morning to catch their dom flight to Lukla. Besides helicopter, they only allow such duo propeller utility aircraft to land there.

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3. All manual one, pilots personally inspect the plane, tyre and propeller themselves before they take off.

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Here's a footage from the cockpit (not mine)



5. Touch down liao.

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5A. Currently at 2845 meters above sea level. Mount Faber is 105 meters and Bukit Timah is 164 meters

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zenotic

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6. Streets of Lukla.

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9. Met a few friendly fellows while we were looking for something to eat before the hike

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12. Buff Thukpa, typical Tibetan noodles ..... with buffalo meat. Don't know Lao Sen approve or not.

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zenotic

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13. Day 1 of our trek start liao

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16. Caught a glimpse of the snow capped mountains.

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18. Officially entering the Khumbu region

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zenotic

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19A. Obligatory Nepalese bridge. Very common during the first 2 days.

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20. Reached our tea house at Phakding. (2610 meters)

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21. Typical room.... with no wifi, no heating, no power point, no attached toilet (sometimes)

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22. Put my things and look for some food. Had something light

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22A. Day 2, Encountered a twin bridge with river beneath. All rivers in this region are white water rivers. Took the higher route, have to climb anyway.

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zenotic

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22C. Arrived at Namche Bazaar (3440 meters). Checked in, had meals and rest for the day.

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23. Day 3, Woke up the next morning to climb a nearby hill. Usually morning are great for sights because the clouds tends to clear when the sun appears.

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27. Finally cleared

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28. Met Tamae Watanabe at the Sherpa resort below

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zenotic

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29. Cow looking for something ...

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30. Descending back to Namche to relax. Supposing acclimatization day today but ....

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31A. Bought some yak cheese. waka waka waka

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32. Trekked to Sanasa and arrived at the accommodation. (I think about 3600 meters)

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34. Had garlic soup and some pasta for dinner and rest.

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zenotic

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36A. Day 4, Climbed downhill and stopped over for some carbo before the climb to Tengboche. Some soup .....

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36B. I'm obliged to chant this: DHALBHAT POWER ! 24 HOUR !

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39. Arrived at Tengboche Monastery. A shame that all the teahouses were affected because of the earthquake. No stopover, gotta move on.

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42. Reached a nearby region, Deboche to rest for the day (Roughly 3750 meters)

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43. Day 5, Woke up the next morning and was greeted by a nice mountain view. (Was covered by the clouds initially.) Had to move on after breakfast.

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46. River crossing

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50. Passed by Pangboche

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51. Stopped over at Shomare for lunch (4040 meters)

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52. Approaching Periche (4200 meters)

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54. Mai forget ah !! Will die one ah !!

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55. Checking in

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56. Warming up

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zenotic

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57. Day 6, Nice morning view from my teahouse. Ama Dablam amongst the cloud.

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60. Instead of running into horse or cows or buffaloes, we are now seeing yaks

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61. Advancing to Dughla. Touching the clouds liao. Just need to cross that huge river that seemed small from above.

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63. Checked in (4620 meters). Won't see much people or houses after this point and the terrain because really treacherous.

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64. Lunch rai riao !!

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65. After lunch, its when the $#@* gets real ...

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66. Lobuche Pass

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68. Sherpas, Trekkers and Climbers buried in this area. Including, Babu Chiri Sherpa ..... who climbed Mount Everest ten times, sleep on the submit for 21 hrs with no oxygen tank and fastest person in the world to submit Everest. 16 hrs and 56 mins. He's like the Rocky Balboa

of the mountaineering world.

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68A. Things local gina pi should see. Wooden beams size of adult thigh .....

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69. Arrived at Lobuche and checked in with my good friend, the hot water flask (4900 meters)

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70. Day 7, Breakfast rai riao !! Tibetan bread with peanut butter.

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71. Standard temperature in this region. Room temperature that is ... (Initially 8°C, warmed up abit when I held it.)

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72. Moving on to the final stop. Some ice lakes along the way. It snowed too

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74. Gao liao ! (5180 m)

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74A. Here the room temperature lagi cooling ..... Preparing my things to proceed to the BC with the rest.

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75. Treacherous terrain and harsh weather conditions. Lost visual sense of proportion because nothing to gauge distance or size. Can't tell but it was still snowing .....

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77. Glacier

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78. Nearing the Khumbu icefall which usually means BC is around the corner.

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80. To illustrate the slush we're walking thru

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82. Khumbu icefall. Can seen some bluish tint in the ice.

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85. Photo time for the first timers after 7 days (5364 meters). Haven't told them about the side quest tomorrow.

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87. Day 8, Woke up at 2 am to submit the black rock. The sights on the way up ... Everest is the 3rd peak from the left, blacker one.

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87A. Close up. The peak can't be seen from the day at BC before because its just too tall.

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88. Mount Pumori

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91. The whole thing from the summit of Kala Patthar. (5643 meter, almost 200m higher than BC) From left: Khumbutse, Changtse, Everest and Nuptse (with Lhotse partially hidden)

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92. Slippery way up and even more slippery down because thanks to the sun. Falling down is a fast shortcut back to Gorak Shep.

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93. The icefall directly from Everest which inturn melt into river water. Happens every day

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zenotic

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94. On the way down ...

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96. Jiak breakfast then move out back to Lukla. Basically everything in reverse.

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97. Arrived in Lukla for lunch

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98. then dinner

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100. Going back to KTM the next day.

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CatLuVer

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Wow nice pics. Thanks for sharing.

But I see the words Bukit Timah, thought u are in sinki land :s13:
 
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