12/4/2009 to 12/5/2009 | Nepal

Everest Marathon, Politicians, and back to the “Du”

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The day I had chosen to head back to Lukla from Deboche was an eventful day in the Khumbu.  It was the day of the Everest Marathon for those who think marathons at sea level on well maintained roads are just too easy.  The marathon follows a 26.2 mile route from Everest […]

11/29/2009 to 12/3/2009 | Nepal

Return to Gokyo

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Essentially being thrown unexpectedly back up into the Everest Region I wasn’t really sure what to do.  I did like the Gokyo Valley last time I was in the region (see original Gokyo post) so I had decided to return there, since there were still a few places in the valley I […]

11/23/2009 to 11/28/2009 | Nepal

Helicopter Hitching to the Khumbu

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I woke up figuring it would be just like any other day in the past couple weeks, I’d go down to Kili’s office browse the internet, drink copious amounts of milk tea (chai), and do a bit of website work.  Little did I know, I’d leave the ground that day for the […]

5/28/2008 to 6/4/2008 | Nepal

Trekking in the Everest Region V: The Renjo La, Bhote Valley, and back to Jiri

Lake next to Gokyo.

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The previous day’s phenomenal weather at Knobby View was not a fluke but rather the beginning of a trend.  The sky was yet again spectacularly clear the morning we hiked westward over the Renjo La (5417m/17,772 ft pass) from Gokyo to the neighboring Bhote Valley.  From the prayer flag strewn top of […]

5/24/2008 to 5/27/2008 | Nepal

Trekking in the Everest Region IV: The Cho La to Gokyo

Cho Oyu 6th highest mountain in the world (8201m/26,906 ft) from Gokyo.

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Knobby View Panorama

It snowed most of the day I hiked to Dzonglha, the last lodge before the 5420m/17,782 ft pass to the Gokyo Valley known as the Cho La.  At the lodge in Dzonglha I met, Ben, an outdoor enthusiast from Minneapolis, Minnesota, with the accent to match.  He had started […]

5/20/2008 to 5/23/2008 | Nepal

Trekking in the Everest Region III: Kala Pattar & Everest Base Camp

Everest Base Camp and the Khumbu icefall, the treacherous start to the Everest climb.

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As I hiked towards Gorak Shep, at the foot of Kala Pattar, and the last lodge settlement on the route to Everest Base camp, I struck up a conversation with a friendly Nepali man, named Kili Sherpa (pronounced Kee-Lee).  I ended up hiking with him and his cousin most of the way […]

5/16/2008 to 5/19/2008 | Nepal

Trekking in the Everest Region II: Chukhung to Lobuche via the Kongma La

Ama Dablam from the trail to the Kongma La.

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My principal goal in Chukhung was to climb the near by peaks of Chukhung Ri (5559m/18,238 ft) and Chuckhung Tse (5857m/19,216 ft), the highest point in the area not requiring an expensive climbing permit.  On my first day I climbed up Chukhung Ri to test my acclimatization and see if I could […]

5/6/2008 to 5/15/2008 | Nepal

Trekking in the Everest Region I: Jiri to Chukhung

View of Taboche (far left) and Cholatse (center) peaks from Nangkartshang peak, Dingboche.

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Everest, it’s a mountain that has fascinated the western world ever since it was determined to be the highest point on the planet in the mid-19th century.  It has drawn travelers and mountaineers to the region surrounding it, known as the Kumbu, ever since.  Seeing Everest for the first time inevitably brings […]