Gokyo Cho-La Pass EBC & Island Peak 4th May 2011

Itinerary in Details:

2nd may : Arrive in Kathmandu
Where you will be meet at the airport on arrival with (NSTE) representative. You will be transferred to your hotel in Kathmandu.O/n at Hotel
3rd may : Kathmandu Sightseeing
You will be collected from your hotel and taken for a half day sightseeing tour of Kathmandu . This will include the Hindu temple of Pashupatinath , the huge Bodhnath chorten, and the ancient city of Patan. O/n at Hotel
4th may: Kathmandu-Lukla(2,840m)- Phakding(2,610m)
After the exciting flight into Lukla airstrip the trek commences with the short climb to Phakding.
5th may: Phakding-Namche Bazaar (3,440m)
The trail continues north up the Dudh Kosi valley to Jorsale, where the trail officially enters the Sagarmatha National Park . Continue along the trail, cross the Bhote Kosi River and climb steeply to Namche Bazaar 3500 m. Remember to look out for glimpses of Mt. Everest early on the trail.
6th may: Namche Bazaar-Thame(3,820m)
Acclimatisation day. A rest day in Namche Bazaar to acclimatise. This town, the hub of Sherpa society, is the administrative centre of the Khumbu region and has a police checkpost (we must all register there), the headquarters of the Sagarmatha National Park, a bank, several shops selling items of every description and a proliferation of Sherpa inns.
7th may: Thame-Khumjung (3,780m)
Today you trek up to the interesting little village of Thame which helps with your acclimatization as well as being a good chance to visit another valley in the Khumbu area.
8th may: Khumjung-Dole (4,200m)
Wake early to climb to the Thame monastery, after which you return the same way skirting the top of Namche before climbing to Syangboche, and continuing on to two serene Sherpa villages, Khumjung 3790 m and Khunde 3890 m. Sir Edmund Hillary established his first hospital in Khunde and he also established a school in Khumjung. The Khumjung Gompa possesses what is supposed to be a Yeti skull.
9th may: Dole-Machhermo (4,470m)
Leaving the main trail to Mt. Everest, climb high on a ridge to 4000m past a large chorten at the village of Mong, said to be the birthplace of the saint Lama Sange Dorje, the reincarnate lama of Rongbuk Monastery in Tibet who introduced Buddhism to the Khumbu. From there descend to the village of Phortse Tenga by the Dudh Kosi (river). From Phortse the trail climbs steeply through forests of rhododendrons and then stands of juniper and large conifers as the altitude increases. You will pass through Sherpa kharkas (high pasture summer settlements used by Sherpas to graze their herds of yaks allowing their lower winter pastures to recover) and the villages of Tongba 3950m and Gyele 3960m to Dole. You have great views of Khumbila and Tawachee peaks throughout the day.
10th may: Machhermo-Gokyo (4,790m)
Today you have a short and fairly leisurely trek to allow you to acclimatise to the altitude. In the morning there is a steep but beautiful climb through conifer and rhododendron forests and stands of juniper to Lhabarma 4220m and Luza 4360m. There are kharkas wherever there is a flat spot and the slightest hint of water. Continue to climb along the side of the valley, high above the river to Machhermo (4,410m.)
11th may: Gokyo Rest (4,790m)
This is your first real day at high altitude and the trekking today may be described as moderate to difficult. Climb a ridge from where the valley opens wide as the trail passes through Pangkha. Mt. Cho Oyu 8153 m dominates the skyline to the north as we climb the moraine on the left flank of the Ngozumpa Glacier. The climb is steep to the first of the four lakes that lie in the Gokyo area but the trail levels off towards the second lake, Longponga at 4690m. Finally ascend a path past the largest of the lakes Dudh Pokhari to Gokyo at 4,750m. Gokyo is a typical kharka with stone houses and stone walled pastures. For enthusiasts a rigorous hike up Gokyo Ri 5,360m, the small peak above Gokyo provides spectacular views of the Everest trinity, Nuptse 7,879m, Lhotse 8511m, and Everest 8848m, as well as Makalu 8463m looming to the east, Cho Oyu 8,153m to the north and the smaller but closer peaks of Cholatse and Tawachee to the south. There is a wonderful view of Gokyo and Dudh Pokhari spread out below.
12th may: Gokyo -Chhyugima (Dragnag)
A long day and the most difficult part of this trek. Cross the southern end of the Ngozumpa Glacier, pass by the stone huts of Thagna kharka then climb steadily up a narrow and steep valley which opens up to a wide shallow valley leading to the Kharka Chhyugima 5,170m.
13th may: Chaayugima -Dzonglha( 4,830m)
Today you have a steep and challenging but, non-technical climb over rock, snow and perhaps ice to Cho La (pass) 5,420m which links the glacial valleys of Cho Oyu and Everest and from where you have superb views. Descend from the pass, cross a small glacier, negotiate the ice fall at the end of it and descend via Leisyasa to Dzonglha Kharka 4,730 m, a high altitude summer pasture directly beneath the north wall of Cholatse Peak 6,440 m.
14th may: Dzonglha-Lobuche(4,910m.)
After a morning of rest, you hike on a trail above Tsholo Lake and join the main Everest trail at Dughla on the terminal moraine of the Khumbu Glacier. From Dughla climb up the moraine past a row of stone monuments in memory of Sherpas who died on expeditions to Everest and on to Lobuche 4,930m.
15th may : Lobuche-Gorak Shep (5,140m.)
Excursion to Kala Pattar. Make an early morning start and ascend the trail along boulder fields and glacial debris to the edge of the Khumbu Glacier then continue up to Gorak Shep (5,160 m.), nestled below the coned summit of Mt. Pumori (7161m.) and the sheer west face of Nuptse. From there make a steep ascent to the top of a small peak, Kala Pattar 5545m meaning "black rock". From here we can see Mt.Everest , Mt.Nuptse, Mt.Ama Dablan, Mt.Kantega, Mt.Tamserku, Mt.Tawatse and Mt.Pumori all present themselves in a 360 degree panorama.
16th may: Gorak Shep-Dingboche (4410m.)
A short descent to Thukla followed by an easy flat trail and a small descent takes you to Dingboche. This is the highest big settlement in the Khumbu area of Sherpas.
17th may: Dingboche - Chhukung (4700m)
After breakfast the trail leads up hill to Chhukung (4700m) and steep climb up to Chhukung for 360 views of Himalayas. Chhukung is the entry point for the Island Peak Expedition trip. In Chhukung you will meet the climbing guides and cooks. From this point day trips to Glacier or to Imjatse valley can be done.
(Overnight at Tea House Lodge - Chhukung)
19th may: Chhukung - Island peak Base Camp (5087m)
The trail leads fairly steep way climbing south then turning east to the main line of the valley. It then winds along or below the southern flank of the moraine from the Lhotse Glacier. The trail continues along a streamside leading to what we call Big-rock. The route to the Amphu Lapcha lies to the southeast. A crisis cross route through the Imja and Lhotse glacier moraines leads to a wide valley flanking the South West side of Island peak. Here there will be briefings, preparations & tanning about the climb. Over night in Island Peak Base Camp (5,200m)
(Overnight at Tent Camp)
20th may: Island Peak Base Camp- High Camp (5500m)
The trail to High camp is steep up and rocky. Along the way we can see beautiful views of Imja glacier and lake. This walk takes 3 hours.
(Overnight at Tent Camp – High camp)
21st may: Island Peak Summit (6189m) and Back to Chhukung
Island Peak Ascent (6,189m/20,305ft), from early about 3am in the morning will have to start climb the rock gully towards the summit. This is not difficult but there are several short rock steps to climb before you emerge on the right side of the gully. The route then follows a ridgeline, which leads to an exhilarating and exposed traverse onto the snout of the summit glacier. You will need to rope up for the glacier as it contains several crevasses but it leads without difficulty to a 100m(330ft) snow and ice slope (40-45°) on which the guides will fix a rope. From the top of this slope, it is 3 rope lengths along a sharp summit ridge lead to the top. After enjoying the summit views you will descend all the way to Base Camp and then Chhukung.
(Overnight at Tea House Lodge – Chhukung)
22nd may : Chhukung - Tengboche
The trail makes a gradual descent through scrub junipers and around Mani stones as it follows the hillside. The trail passes many Mani walls in deep rhododendron forests where crossing after the Imja khola, the trail climbs many carved Mani stones to Pangboche. Pangboche Gompa is the oldest in Khumbu; a visit will be well worth it.
(Overnight at Tea House Lodge – Tengbouche)
23rd may :Tengboche- Namche Bazaar (3,440m.)
From Thyangboche the trail drops sharply down to the Dudh Kosi and the village of Phunki , where you cross the river, and up toward Namche Bazaar, winding high above the river with views north towards Everest, Lhotse and Nuptse.
24th may : Namche –Bazaar -Lukla (2840m.)
Retrace your steps down along the gorge of the Dudh Kosi to Lukla to catch your return flight to Kathmandu.
25th may : Lukla – Kathmandu.
Early Morning catch flight to Kathmandu.