After long conflict for either being guide in Annapurna Region and porter in Everest Region, i decided to be porter. Why I choosed this trek? The important thing was Everest Base Camp is one of the 10 things to do before die whilst Annapurna Region is one of 20 things to do before die. The difficult and adventurous part of the second option was drive from Kathmandu to Jiri and walking to Lukla in stead of flying within thirty five minutes. Normal duration is one day drive plus seven days to reach Surkey (near Lukla!) but it took me one day drive plus two and half days walking.
23 April, 2008
The first day I departed from Kathmandu at 08:45Am and reached Jiri at 08:00PM because of the traffic problem here in Nepal. I felt hard for choosing the lodge because it was first time for me at Jiri. Fortunately, I easily choosed however that was not so good but I got my basic need. It's enough to get basic needs in and around mountain.
24 April, 2008
Left from Jiri at early morning at 06:00AM and reached the next town called Shivalaya in two hours. Shivalaya is the stop point for trekkers if they start their trek from Jiri. One hour up walk and crossing the Deurali Top, then the trail lead me down to Bhandar the next stop point. Took lunch at Bhandar and again started my walk towards Sete which took me about next four hours. Between Bhandar and Sete, there is a place called Kinja at where I met a good company, named Devendra who were also planning to go Lukla. Thanks god! We decided to go little bit up to Gurase (to make my next day trip shorter!), next fourty-five minutes walk from Sete. Overnight stayed at Gurase with my company. The time was around 05:30PM
25 April, 2008
Too much tired today because of the long walk, more or less twelve hours including rest and lunch time. Both legs were soaring but I had no option to walk so started to walk at early morning at 05:30AM with my company. He encouraged me to walk! Crossed the Lamjura Pass (3250m) and walked down to Junbesi. After crossing the Junbesi, the trail lead us to Ringmo at where we took lunch at 12:00PM. After crossing the Taksindo La (at where nice monastery located on the top of Taksindo), the trail lead us to Nunthala, the knee cracking descent of Nunthala, we entered to Juving at where we spent our overnight stay.
26 April, 2008
The amount of leg soaring was increased day by day because we were walking Nepalese walk, double speed than of other trekkers! Started the trek at early morning, nearly the same time of yesterday. Crossed the few flat step, then the trail lead us to up, flat and gently down to the Kharikhola. After few walk, we can see the Surkey at down and Lukla -our final destination at the level of us but we had go down to Surkey and climbed up to Lukla. More or less, the trail from Jiri to Lukla is almost up and down merely flat trail. You have to think go down if you are climbing up and go up if you are going down. We reached Lukla at 03:00PM. Met with J.B. (guide for 19 days Gokyo Valley -Chola Pass Trek!) and discussed about the tomorrows trip. We had to meet the clients at Lukla Airport tomorrow. Lukla Bazaar was absolutely new for me.
27 April, 2008
I was exciting to meet with clients so woke up at early morning. Washed my hair, shaved and walked to Airport at 06:00AM. The distance between our lodge and airport was merely five minutes. The first flight of Agni Air arrived at 06:30AM and next one flight was of Sita Air. I was confused from which flight were they coming! Exit from airport to call at office but no phone were working at that moment. Tried to re-enter airport but couldn't succeed because of the security check. Shit..... I forgot to carry my airport pass. Hundreds of porter were standing outside of the airport waiting for job and they allowed to enter inside if some bag have arrived. At about 07:00AM, the second flight of Sita Air arrived and I was looking to them. Two young girls landed, I guessed they must be our clients because their face matched with the picture of passport copies at where I saw in Kathmandu office. My guess came true! Finally, I entered to airport to receive bag, then exchanged greeting and exist from Airport and went to hotel to manage the bag. We adjusted the bag and started to walk at nearly 09:00AM.
Team Members:
01. Stefaine Butler -Client
02. Leanne Brady -Client
03. J.B. Rai -Guide
04. Krishna Lamsal -Porter
Our four people team started to walk toward Phakding. J.B. walked forward as a guide, two clients were behind of him and I was at last of them. The team structure was perfect! The structure didn't changed even in end of the trip. Took lunch at Thadokosi and overnight stayed at Phakding!
28 April, 2008
Leaved Phakding, walked through gently up way to Monjo, took permit and checked TIMS certificate and forwarded to Jorsalle, our lunch place. Few walk after lunch, the trail was really struggle for about two hours until reached Namche. This day we saw many famous mountains including mighty Everest as well. First we saw Thamserku then Khumbi La, then Kusum Kangaroo and finally top of the World -Mount Everest with blowing cloud. After 07 hours strugling, we reached Namche (3440m)-our stop point for today and tomorrow. Overnight stayed at Namche.
29 April, 2008
Today is rest day at Namche. The day for Museum, good view point and to Everest View Hotel -an expensive hotel among whole Everest region. It is the tea/coffee place for most of the trekkers who spend thier time down part of Namche and want to see Mount Everest from here. Unfortunately, I couldn't made it because one of our team member couldn't made it and I followed her to go down to Namche.
08 May, 2008: Phortse -Pangboche -Dingboche
Normally, ou trek starting time was not earlier than 07:45AM. After breakfast, we started to walk up the hill. The first 20 minutes uphill was struggling. After that the trail was mixed; flat, gradually up and gently downhill. Along the trail, there wer good view of Thamserku, Kangtega, Amadablam, Lhotse, Nuptse and finally Mount Everest. We could also saw Tengboche village and monastery right side of us. Himalayan Thar (mountain goat), Pheasant (our national bird -typically called Danfe!) also could be seen along the trail. After 02:45hrs we reached Upper Pangboche village. Had Lunch and headed on to Dingboche. More or less the trail was gradually up to reach Shomare (a small settlement after Pangboche at where we could find few teahouses). From Shomare the trail was all way up to reach Dingboche which took us one and half hour to Shomare and next quarter to two hours to reach Dingboche . Overnight stayed at teahouses.
Dingboche is big settlement of many lodges and cyber and telephone call facilities (always be mentally ready that you may not have cyber and telephone facilities wherever you need because the service is not permanent). July and August hey can't cook food inside the town because if they produce any smoke in mentioned time; no crops will be produced -it's the saying of Sherpa culture -the majority ethnic group of Khumbu region.
