Days 12-13 Gokyo

Day 12 – Gokyo (15,716 ft)

OMG!!! What a beautiful morning!  Four inches of fresh snow, mountains breaking out of clouds, all white everywhere, crazy, close to heaven.  We are so lucky we crossed the pass yesterday. Would have been tough today. We are now in Gokyo (15,716 ft).  It took us about 3 hours to get here, crossing Ngozumba Glacier. We have great lodge, very clean, beside a lake. And warm.  It has been on and off snowing all day with low visibility.  It is a day to rest and visit with others. The weather is supposed to be good tomorrow.

Day 13 – Gokyo Ri (17,581 ft)

Another spectacular day! Mostly sunny, few clouds, views  of Everest from the top of Gokyo Ri (17,581 ft)!  It was another slow motion walk. From the top we had views of Everest, Malaku, and Lhotse! Everest had a plume of cloud blowing off one side. Temperatures have been getting down in the teens at night. Last night showed a low of 18° F and a high today of 28°.  As long as the sun shines and the wind doesn’t blow it feels warm.  For today’s hike up Gokyo Ri, we started with strong gusts. We were lucky. By the time we reached the top. The wind died down. We spent about an hour up there. I took lots of photos and had a great talk with Krishna.

Click here to see the photos on Smugmug
…or click on the first image below.

Day 12 we made the short walk across the Ngozumba Glacier from Thangnak to Gokyo. Day 13 we went to the top of Gokyo Ri.

Thangnak Morning

I loved the soft light on the peaks this morning.

Leaving Dragnag in the morning with 4-5 inches of fresh snow and radiant peaks.

Clouds quickly rolled in as we began our day.

The village of Dragnag is behind us.

We are heading to the Ngozumba Glacier.

We are now crossing the Ngozumba Glacier.

We are climbing the other side of the glacial moraine.

From the top of the moraine we got our first view of the village of Gokyo.

The stove is filled with yak dung as people sit around the dining room.

This is a typical lodge’s dining area, with tables set around the perimeter and a stove in the center.

People were often transported here from higher elevations before another level of evacuation.

Are you looking at me?

We are having a staring contest. They won.

Who are you looking at?

This guy was old and would stand in one spot for hours.

Today we are climbing Gokyo Ri (17,581 feet) which starts with the hillside beyoud the lake.

Some local people are collecting water at the stream.

I like the mounds of snow and the wind on the distant peaks.

As we climb Gokyo Ri, I continually looked back and took photos of the village growing more distant below us.

Notice the old yak in the field. He didn’t move for hours.

Notice the old yak, still in the snowy field, hasn’t moved.

A helicopter sits on it’s landing pad unloading.

…and higher still. The old yak still has not moved.

It may have been an avalanche but was likely caused by wind

Far below is the village of Gokyo.

Again, here is the north face of Everest from Gokyo Ri.

Mount Everest is right over my head.

The cloud plume is partially clearing on Everest.

As we begin the descent, the snow is melting.

You can see the Ngokumba Glacier beyond Gokyo.

We arerive back at our lodge in Gokyo.