Loubuche 16,175ft to Dzongla 15,846ft
Today has that feeling to it, the feeling that you have after your own wedding, the birth of your child or some other major event in your life that has been months or years in the waiting. That feeling of relief and happiness that it has finally happened, mixed with a slight sadness that it is actually over. For months you have planned and prepared for the event, the day has arrived and then, all too suddenly it is over and you are left, seemingly with no purpose anymore.
In reality though, our ‘event’ is far from over, yesterday was great but we still have two weeks trekking in one of the most beautiful places in the world to look forward to. Thirteen hours in bed did the trick for my body, but I awoke seriously dehydrated and will have to get plenty of liquid down me today. By 10am we had said goodbye to Lobuche and were making our way to Dzongla in preparation for crossing the Cho La Pass tomorrow. An easy day in the main, following the path that traverses the hillside leading to Dzongla. There were some great views back into the Khumbu and across to Ama Dablam and we could make out the trail coming up from Pherice that we had taken some days ago.
As we neared Dzongla, Arakam Tse, a knife blade of a mountain came into view with the Turquoise Blue lake of Chola Tsho at its foot. Just before the lodge there was a climb of about fifty feet but boy did it take it out of me after the exertions of yesterday. Once again the lodge was full so Mark and I are sleeping in a tent at 16,000ft! As the Sun went down I got some pictures of Ama Dablam, looking moody in the cloud.
After dinner, on route to our bed for the night in the tent I stood for maybe five minutes just staring up at the sheer vastness of the Milky Way and a billion other stars above my head. Diamonds, twinkling in the crystal clear, inky black night sky. Eventually the -16c temperature tempted me into my sleeping bag but I slept soundly underneath the stars and humbled by the vastness of creation.
For map and route details of this walk click ‘Learn more’ below
