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Day 12 - As the weather pattern had been to cloud over in the afternoons, it was decided to go to EBC today and Kala Patthar the next morning. Despite the trip being called 'EBC', by far the best views are from Kala Patthar, so it's best to be there in the clearer morning skies.
A long day, we left Lobuche to reach Gorak Shep for lunch, then pressed on to Everest Base Camp a further 3 hours up the valley before returning to Gorak Shep for the night. Unfortunately this season's expeditions hadn't arrived at Base Camp yet, so there was no patchwork of brightly coloured tents. At their peak they cover most of the rock strewn glacier beyond the ice fall itself. We did pass some as we descended a few days later at Deboche (NZ) and again at Monju (Peakfreaks).
Nuptse from Lobuche in the morning light...
Heading up the valley - Pumori, Lingtren & Khumbutse...
Nuptse...
Looking up the Khumbu Glacier towards Base Camp...
Pumori (7165m) dwarfing Kala Patthar (5600m) below...
Taking a well earnt rest on the Khumbu lateral morraine...
Nuptse (7861m) from its more dramatic side...
Looking up the glacier towards Khumbutse (6665m), Lho La pass (6026m), Changtse (7553m) & Everest's West Shoulder...
Pumori...
Nuptse & its Ice fall...
Ironically, as you approach its Base Camp Everest disappears from view. Here it's peeping over the West Shoulder and one of Nuptse's ridges...
The Lho La Pass, West Shoulder & Khumbu Ice Fall...
The Khumbu Ice Fall...
Me on the morraine at Base Camp with the Ice Fall in the background, unfortunately this season's expeditions hadn't arrived yet, so no patchwork of brightly coloured tents. At their peak they cover most of the rock strewn glacier behind me...
The same scene, but without me in the way...
Looking down the Khumbu Glacier...
As we descend Everest re-appears over the West Shoulder...
Part of the Nuptse Ice fall..
Pumori by night (courtesy of Mike)...
