Pictures - Everest Base Camp and Kala Patthar

Once we arrived in Lobuche we did an acclimtization hike - behind us is Everest Base Camp!

Part of the Khumbu Glacier

The final stretch on the way to Base Camp

The Khumbu Glacier on the left, almost at Base Camp!

The prayer flags at the "old everest base camp"

Ali and I at Base Camp. Part of the Khumbu Glacier and most of the Khumbu Icefall are behind us

Some of the tents at Base Camp - there were no people and not much else was there besides these tents

Present-day Base Camp

The Khumbu Icefall - one of the most difficult areas to climb through if attempting to summit Mt. Everest

Prayer flags and rock statues at Base Camp

One of several avalances we saw while at Base Camp

Base Camp :)

After leaving Base Camp we made our way down to Gorak Shep. This sign was at the start/end of the path up to Base Camp

Coming back down from Base Camp - Gorak Shep is at the other side of that small lake

Early the next morning we woke up and summitted Kala Patthar - this was taken at the start of the day before the sun was fully over the mountains and it was SUPER cold

Ali and I at the summit of Kala Patthar (5545m)!

The view towards the South (Nepal) from the summit

The view from the summit facing North (toward Tibet)

Me on the summit, Lhotse and Everest behind me

Dal Baht - a traditional Nepalese dish. ALL the sherpa people eat this constantly while hiking

 

Pictures - Namche Bazaar to Lobuche

Starting our climb from Namche to Deboche - Day #4

It was a nice clear day, finally! So we had good views of the mountains around Namche

The first section of the path - an easier section of the climb

Everest is on the left, Lhotse on the right

Mt Everest!

Good view of Everest and the South Col!

The path was fairly flat and followed the side of the hill for most of the morning (day #4)

We arrived in Tengboche in time to see the monks chanting in the monastery!

Ali and I outside the famous Tengbouche Monastery! (3800m)

Ali and Yjamjo outside the Amadablam Garden Lodge in Deboche (Day #5)

View of Amadablam - Day #5
Deboche to Dingboche

This is now past the 4000m mark -
the trees started to disappear and it became more barren and like a tundra
This is the small path that leads to Dingbouche

 On Day #6 we had to acclimitize in Dingboche - we did an acclimitization hike up to 5100m. This was taken on the way up, Dingboche is the town below

View partway up to the lookout

Finally after a tough uphill trek, we reached the lookout :)

at the lookout :)

"Summiting" Amadablam

Inside our lodge in Dingboche - the common area where meals are served

View of the mountains between Dingboche and Lobuche (Day #7)

Pictures - Lukla to Pakding to Namche Bazaar (Day 1, 2 & 3)

The small 14-person plane that took us from Kathmandu to Lukla

Getting ready to take-off

An example of the view from the plane

Lukla Airport - quite possibly the scariest airport in the world. we saw a plan crash here 12 days later :S
one end of the runway is a brick wall, the other end is a cliff.

Starbucks is everywhere! Even at the top of a mountain, 2800m high

Offically leaving Lukla and starting the trek to base camp!

Ali beside one of the smal stupas

me climbing up the steps on the way to Pakding the first day

An example of the path from Lukla to Pakding, Day #1

View from the path of the valley below

we had to cross a ton of these bridges between Pakding and Namche

Ali was too busy looking at the views and she tripped and fell the first day

Our room in Pakding - $1 CAD a night :)

The main common area in our lodge in Pakding

A typical mountain menu - prices in Nepalese Rupiah (70 rupiah = $1CAD)

Day #2 - on our way from Pakding to Namche Bazaar

Yaks constantly carry stuff up the mountain

Small villiage beside the river (Pakding to Namche)

one of the five bridges we had to cross to get from Pakding to Namche

Slowly climbing higher

Large stupa and prayer flags

Offically entering Sagarmatha (Everest) National Park!

Typical small hut

Some local Sherpa people carrying stuff up the mountain to Namche. They carry up to 120kg!!!

I high bridge is in the background, we walked over it and then began the steeper part of the ascent

about to cross the bridge! we had to wait for the yaks to cross first...

whenever you meet yaks on the path you stop and let them pass. you ALWAYS stand on the up-hill side of the mounatin so they don't push you off!

Good thing we ate vegetarian food the whole time...

Around 2:30pm day#2 we arrived in Namche Bazaar!

Namche!

During our acclimitization day we hiked up to a lookout - this was our first glimpse of everest!

The sun finally came out and we were able to see the mountains!

Mt Everest!