For trekkers making an attempt the Three Passes and Everest Base Camp trek, days 10-12 are among the many most rewarding. Highlights embody Everest Base Camp and Kala Patthar.
After a grueling climb and knee-busting descent over the Kongma La Go. the one thought that might encourage trekkers to strap up their boots on a freezing Lobuche morning is lastly reaching Everest Base Camp.
Three Excessive Go trekkers who should not all in favour of visiting Mount Everest Base Camp or the Kala Patthar summit ought to skip this Three Passes trek weblog. As a substitute proceed studying the Days 13-15 information, which covers the Cho La Go.
This information picks up from the earlier publish: Everest Three Excessive Passes Trek Day 7 – 9 KONGMA LA PASS – ULTIMATE GUIDE
The map above will spotlight the final route for the subsequent a part of the trek. Keep in mind to ignore any Google time predictions, as a result of they actually aren’t accounting for altitude. Additionally, it’s essential to have a bodily Everest Three Passes Trek map when mountaineering within the Khumbu. This information mustn’t change a correct map and ought to be a complement to particular person analysis and preparation efforts.
In the intervening time, my guides are the one sources of free content material out there on-line for the Three Passes Trek. If you happen to’re in search of extra info, then you may additionally get a duplicate of the Lonely Planet: Trekking within the Nepal Himalaya E-book which was very helpful for me.
Journey Insurance coverage for The Three Passes Trek
For many trekkers trying to deal with the Three Passes, journey insurance coverage is excessive on their record of priorities.
I at all times buy journey insurance coverage from WorldNomads.com, since I consider that they’re one of the best for journey vacationers. It consists of cowl for abroad medical, evacuation, baggage and a variety of journey sports activities and actions.
You should buy and declare on-line, even after you’ve left house. Journey insurance coverage from WorldNomads.com is accessible to individuals from over 130 international locations.
Three Passes: Unbiased Trekking Information E-book
Since web connectivity is restricted within the Khumbu, I’ve written a complete trekking information to the Three Passes which you’ll obtain as an eBook to be used in your cellular, pill, or e-reader.
I’ve at the moment obtained this eBook listed on Amazon at a reduced value of lower than $6!
Day 10: Lobuche to Gorak Shep and Everest Base Camp
TREKKING TIME: 8 HOURS
ALTITUDE: 450M ASCENT 200M DESCENT
SLEEPING ALTITUDE: 5160M
If you happen to’re in peak Himalayan trekking season, then the trek from Lobuche to Gorak Shep will undoubtedly be a crowded one.
You’ll be sharing the path with hordes of trekking pole-draggingEverest Base Camp trekkers and their porters in addition to limitless strains of yaks carrying EBC provides. This half is especially crowded as it’s the solely path to and from Everest Base Camp, which means double the foot site visitors.
Both method, get up early should you’re eager on beating the crowds and take the path on the northern finish of the village. This phase follows the crackling Khumbu Glacier alongside a flat stretch of rocky floor and flowing creeks.
Alongside the way in which, you’ll have wonderful views of Mt Pumori, towering instantly forward. You can too get spectacular views of the Khumbu Glacier, which may transfer as much as one meter per day!
Shortly after the flat part, you’ll be confronted with two quick ascents after which a rocky and windy climb over the Changri Shar Glacier. This final part of the Lobuche to Gorak Shep trek is pretty slender, particularly contemplating how a lot site visitors strikes alongside it. Keep in mind to let yaks cross, and stand on the mountain-side, not the cliff-side!
Extra: Three Passes Trek Itinerary & Unbiased Trekking Information
Gorak Shep
After roughly two and a half hours of strolling, you’ll have arrived at Gorak Shep. This small village rests in a flat basin beside Kala Patthar and the glacier. It’s additionally the very best altitude that you just’ll be sleeping at throughout the complete Three Passes and Everest Base Camp Trek.
There are a number of lodges at Gorak Shep, most of them charging very steep costs for meals and stuck community-style lodging pricing, equally to a lot of the different villages.
Relying on the time of yr, many lodges might be booked out. It’s finest to attempt to discover a tea home instantly after arriving. Doing it will assist you to drop your heavy packs and depart straight for Everest Base Camp
Mount Everest Base Camp Trek from Gorak Shep
For a lot of Three Passes and Everest Base Camp Trekkers, Mount Everest Base Camp is the spotlight of their trekking expertise.
The path picks up on the reverse facet of city that you just got here in from, main in the identical path alongside the glacier. The trail is rocky and consistently altering as a result of motion of the glacier.
You’ll additionally want to permit additional time for ridiculously lengthy trains of transferring yaks and difficult porters who work as the first provide community of the Everest Base Camp.
Upon arriving roughly 2 and a half hours from Gorak Shep, you’ll have reached the Everest Base Camp. You’ll discover hopefull climbers resting in brightly coloured expedition tents and rocks wrapped in Prayer Flags so far as the eyes can see.
What stunned me was that the bottom camp was constructed onto the precise glacier, slightly below the Khumbu Icefall at 5340M. You additionally can not see Mount Everest from the bottom camp, as a consequence of different nearer peaks blocking the view.
Take your time to benefit from the surroundings, snap some photographs beside the Everest Base Camp signal and admire the importance of the bottom camp for the world’s tallest mountain.
Keep in mind to respect the privateness of the climbers who pay for the “priveledge” of sleeping at base camp in hopes of climbing Everest.
Returning to Gorak Shep
When you’ve stuffed your digicam’s reminiscence card, make the return journey again to Gorak Shep, taking the identical path that you just got here in on.
By now, should you’re taking the Three Passes and Everest Base camp route, you may be well-acclimatized to that altitude at Gorak Shep. In saying that, sleeping above 5000M continues to be not a pleasurable expertise.
Many trekkers together with myself expertise complications, a bleeding nostril, and a stressed, chilly evening sleep.
Regardless, you’ll have a heat meal, scorching tea and the relative consolation of a standing constructing, which is far more than the early explorers may say.
As straightforward as it’s to complain, keep in mind why you selected to depart on this journey, and assume positively, for tomorrow you’ll be climbing Kala Patthar to get good views of Everest and the Himalayan giants.
Day 11: The Kala Patthar Dawn Trek
TREKKING TIME: 6 HOURS
ALTITUDE: 400M ASCENT 650M DESCENT
SLEEPING ALTITUDE: 4950M
Climate can get hectic at Gorak Shep. For one of the best probabilities of a transparent view of Everest, keep in mind to depart early. I’d suggest leaving simply earlier than dawn to catch the solar rising over the mountains.
The Kala Patthar path begins on the opposite facet of the sand bowl at Gorak Shep. You’ll discover an indication pointing up the hill in the direction of a rocky outcrop wrapped in Prayer Flags on the high. It’s tough to overlook the path, because you’ll little doubt have already got noticed trekkers strolling up and down as you entered Gorak Shep.
The trek up is pretty steep, reaching an altitude of 5643M, nevertheless since trekkers will start at an altitude already properly above 5000M, it’s a a lot simpler climb than different Three Passes and Everest Base Camp side-trips reminiscent of Chukhung Ri.
RELATED: Three Passes Packing Listing – What You Want For The Three Passes & EBC Trek
Kala Patthar View
When you attain the highest, you’ll get pleasure from arguably among the finest mountain views on earth. Take the time to observe the rising solar mild up the peaks of Pumori, Lobuche, Nuptse, Lhotse and naturally, Mount Everest.
From right here, you’ll have the privilege of seeing first-hand the complete south face, which Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzig Norgay famously summited on Might twenty ninth 1953.
READ THE FULL KALA PATTHAR BLOG POST GUIDE: Kala Patthar Trek – Three Passes and Everest Base Camp Facet Journey
Return to Sleep at Lobuche
After etching the view into your thoughts, make the descent to Gorak Shep, seize your baggage, and benefit from the light descent again to Lobuche, the place you’ll be able to relaxation after an enormous few days of trekking.
If you happen to climbed Kala Patthar for dawn, then even a gradual trek down will see hikers attain Lobuche earlier than 12 PM, permitting for a very good afternoon of sipping tea and recovering.
Various: Proceed to Dzonghlha
Match trekkers who’re eager to maintain clocking the steps can proceed onward on the Three Passes and Everest Base Camp trek in the direction of Dzonghla. It’s fully doable to mix each of those segments into one huge day of trekking, nevertheless, it’ll be an extended, grueling day.
For the aim of the information, merely learn on to the subsequent part.
Day 12: Lobuche to Dzonghla
TREKKING TIME: 3 HOURS
ALTITUDE: 120M ASCENT 200M DESCENT
SLEEPING ALTITUDE: 4830M
The trek from Lobuche to Dzonghla begins by heading again down for a brief stint alongside a brief stretch of the EBC path that you’d have missed by going over the Kongma La.
After a brief stretch, you’ll department immediately from the EBC path and cross a frozen river. Simply forward you would possibly see expedition tents for climbers making an attempt the Lobuche summit, relying on the time of the yr.
You’ll then climb a small hillside and proceed alongside the sting of a steep cliff that wraps round for unimaginable views of Taboche peak.
Dzonghla is an unimaginable village resting between the giants. It will likely be a refreshing change from the hustle of the Everest Base Camp path. It was certainly one of my private favorites, because the solar appears to linger a bit of longer into the afternoon. The village can be shielded from sturdy wind gusts as a consequence of being situated in a low bowl and being surrounded by massive peaks.
Put together for the Cho La Go
Little question by now you’ll be a bit of nervous for the subsequent cross. Whereas it may be extra slippery than the opposite passes, Cho La isn’t any extra bodily demanding than the Kongma La.
In saying that, after an enormous few days, a relaxation can be properly earned. In case you have the time, or if the climate isn’t in your facet for the cross, then Dzonghla is a good place to have a relaxation day earlier than persevering with ahead on the Three Passes and Everest Base Camp trek.
Maintain Studying the Everest Three Excessive Passes Trekking Information
That’s it for the Three Excessive Passes information days 10 – 12 and Everest Base camp side-trip! Maintain studying within the subsequent articles beneath.
Additionally, don’t miss this Three Passes itinerary for a run-down on the whole lot you’ll must know earlier than heading out on the Three Excessive Passes Trek.
MY CAMERA AND PHOTOGRAPHY EQUIPMENT
For a listing of all my advisable images gear (together with what I take advantage of and why) try my information to digicam gear for journey.
If you happen to’d like to make use of any of the images on this web site, please go to my licensing web page to learn the way. I additionally promote skilled fine-art prints, go to my Print Retailer or contact me straight for customs prints of any pictures on We Search Journey.
