Trek Day 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, Kathmandu ,video
DATE March 2010 | HIGHEST POINT 5364m
Posted by Matt | Filed under oTHER lOCATIONS
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Day 8 (The Big Day) - Last night we made a team decision. We would skip breakfast until we had reached Gorak Shep (5140m)
We had planned to set off at 5:30am and as we were not having breakfast until later, the majority of us stocked up on the reliable Mars Bars.
Gavin was looking better but we all felt very tired. It took us until about 9am to reach Gorak Shep. The route had a couple of blowy steep moments but the majority of it so far was very up and down along the side of the glacier. Gorak Shep was to be our overnight stop location so after breakfast we left behind whatever we didn't need and continued on in the baking sunshine. Another 3 hours and we would be at Everest Base Camp!
Pretty much all of us were very tired now. I could see Neil was swaying around in front of me and Paul B looked exhausted. As we continued onward we had to traverse a ridge to the left of the Glacier. One of our guides Raz 2 (aka Dazzle) told me to put my camera away and keep walking. He pointed out the slope coming down to us from the left and all the huge boulders which looked like they could come down at any minute. He told me that we were in a very dangerous area and that it really wasn't wise to hang around. As we got closer to base camp and the day became warmer, avalanches became a regular site. We would occasionally hear a huge bag followed by a cloud of snow appearing on the nearby ice faces. After we came down from the ridge we traversed across the glacier, dodging around the holes and slippery ice. At 07:10 GMT we started arriving at Everest Base Camp. Everyone of us had made it!! Tiredness for me anyway was briefly pushed aside and we all shared some proud moments posing for the cameras at the Base Camp Marker point. After the handshakes, hugs and high 5's we took some time to relax and absorb the scenery. Some of us were drawn down to the incredible ice formations and pinnacles of the Khumbu Icefall. It really did look like an alien landscape with the rocky barren surface and the jagged spears of ice sticking up to the sky.
Finally though it was time to head back and suffer another 3 hours of walking on very tough terrain.
Back at Gorak Shep Lee's face was very badly burnt and a bit swollen. He looked as though he had been clubbed. Lee has been my friend for about 9 years and I've noticed he has some sort of sun block phobia. Raz started to call across the table to him 'Pinky Man!' and laughing to himself. I had to join in aswell.

another day of harsh sunshine



Khumbu Glacier


Nuptse (west face) from Gorak Shep

We must be close now. Well about 3 hours anyway


Nuptse and the Khumbu glacier

Rough and very tiring terrain

Stacey


Mount Everest

Everest is the peak in the middle at the back

Following a ridge to the side of the glacier

I love this shot of Everest!

Finally

Group shot with Geordie just in

Great towers of ice on the glacier

Me and Tashi celebrating

Our guides. Tashi, Raz 2 (Dazzle), Bejay and Raz 1 (Razzle)

Base Camp

Exploring the glacier


Day 9 and onwards
Everest view from Kala Patthar. Unfortunately the sun was rising directly behind

Cold early morning on Kala Patthar

Sunrise


Back down to the Everest Memorials


Michelle and Andrew on day 10 below Namche.Everest in the distance

Great Group shot

Very happy to receive colouring pencils

Heading back home

Constantly amazed

Back to Lukla and the end of our trek
