Day 6-7 Chhukhung
Day 6 - Chukhung (15,500 ft) & Chukhung Ri (17,800 ft)
Another wonderful day with beautiful weather. We arrived in Chukhung (15,500 ft) around 11am after a short 3 hour walk from Dingboche. After lunch we did a day hike to the top of Chukhung Ri, very high at 17,800 feet. It was very window and cold all the way to the top. The views were spectacular! We moved VERY slowly in the thin air. I was slightly dizzy due to the altitude, but it was minor. One of the other guys turned back early because of a strong altitude head ache. After dinner I went crazy chasing an incredible sunset. The star of the show was 8,500 meter Lhotse, 4th highest peak in the world. Now you can see some of these photos. It was so cold out by this time, when I was done taking photos my hands were numb.
Day 7 - Island Peak Base Camp
Today we did a day hike to Island Peak base camp (16,300 feet) and a large lake. We turned around early because we were hungry for lunch. We were out for 5.5 hours and got back to Chukhung for lunch by 2. Speaking of lunch, it was pizza today! The lodge at Chukhung was one of my favorites and so was their food. After lunch was spent resting and preparing for the first of the 3 high passes of our trek. We depart at 6 AM tomorrow morning to go over Kongma La. This is going to be the highest point of our trek, over 18,000 feet.
Read MoreAnother wonderful day with beautiful weather. We arrived in Chukhung (15,500 ft) around 11am after a short 3 hour walk from Dingboche. After lunch we did a day hike to the top of Chukhung Ri, very high at 17,800 feet. It was very window and cold all the way to the top. The views were spectacular! We moved VERY slowly in the thin air. I was slightly dizzy due to the altitude, but it was minor. One of the other guys turned back early because of a strong altitude head ache. After dinner I went crazy chasing an incredible sunset. The star of the show was 8,500 meter Lhotse, 4th highest peak in the world. Now you can see some of these photos. It was so cold out by this time, when I was done taking photos my hands were numb.
Day 7 - Island Peak Base Camp
Today we did a day hike to Island Peak base camp (16,300 feet) and a large lake. We turned around early because we were hungry for lunch. We were out for 5.5 hours and got back to Chukhung for lunch by 2. Speaking of lunch, it was pizza today! The lodge at Chukhung was one of my favorites and so was their food. After lunch was spent resting and preparing for the first of the 3 high passes of our trek. We depart at 6 AM tomorrow morning to go over Kongma La. This is going to be the highest point of our trek, over 18,000 feet.
Ama Dablam Sunset II
Ama Dablam (22,349 ft) was the most striking peak of the Three Passes of Everest trek. This photo was taken from the village of Chhukhung (15,500 ft) in Sagarmatha National Park. When I took this photo I was running around like a maniac in this wonderful light. Dinner was on the table in the lodge, but that would wait. The light wouldn't.