Version Française.

Everest base camp

and Gokyo Lake.

Introduction.

This time, I want to go into a place which I has aimed for several years: the base camp of Everest.
And in the same time, we can stay one week more and visit the lakes Gokyo.

Circuit lasts 3 weeks, it crosses by the villages of Lukla - Namche Bazaar - Tengboche - Pangboche - Dingboche - Lobuche, and altitude is going to evolve between 2800m and 5300m.

Summed up Club Aventure :

Ambience high mountain since the lakes of Gokyo and Kala Pattar.
Numerous villages sherpa and buddhist monasteries: Namche Bazar, Khumjung, Thyangboche.
An inevitable trip for the big trekkers.

" It is at the foot of Everest that drives us this marvellous trek. Abrupt frozen slopes, mythical summits here and there, unreal glacial lakes, but also sherpas villages give the tone of this route at the foot of the giants.
From Kathmandu in Lukla (2800 m), we fly over the throats of tumultuous Dudh Kosi. A spectaculiare theft above Himalayas and already our first shiver facing Langtang, Gauri, Shanker, Numbur, Manglungtse, and finally in Everest.
Foot in ground, we start our step progressively by taking back up Dudh Kosi, crossing some sherpas villages. After Namche Bazar, in the way, the show of the very high mountain becomes more marked. The scintillating glaciers, who fall like waterfall on the abrupt slopes of the nicest summits, will not cease attracting our looks. Here and there, the giants appear: Everest (8848 m), Pumori (7145 m), Nuptse (7879 m), Ama Dablan (6856 m), Makalu (8475 m), Lhotse (8383 m). An unforgettable, inevitable trek for the lovers of high mountain!. "

Club Aventure Programm:

Document given by Club Aventure: NGOK.pdf (sorry, it is in French).

Geology.

A short geological summary:

The Indian plate s' is brought closer
to the Eurasian plate during the times.

The collision created the Himalayas.

Ascension of Everest.

Discover.

1802: William Lambton create the "Trigonometrical Survey of India".
1830: George Everest succeed to William Lambton.
1847: Andrew Waugh succeed to George Everest.
1847: First detailed map of himalayen peak. The peak XV seems very high.
1852: A topograph evaluate the altitude of peak XV at 8840m.
1865: Andrew Waugh baptized the Peak XV with the name of his predecessor in general gouvernorat, Sir George Everest (1790-1866).

The beginning on Tibetan side.

1921: Expedition took by Charles Howard-Bury. She allows to spot the road towards the summit. It attains the North pass before being forced to make U-turn.
1922: George Finch and Geoffrey Bruce attain North Ridge and altitude of 8 320 m.
1924: Expedition took by Charles Granville Bruce. They will disappear without knowing if they attained the summit.

Victory on Nepalase side.

1952: Swiss Expedition took by René Dittert. She allows the exploration of the Nepali south face (8 600 m). They abandon for logistics problems and oxygen apparatuses problems.
1953: First ascent achieved by an anglo-New Zealand expedition took by John Hunt. The summit is attained on May 29th by Edmund Hillary and the sherpa Tensing Norgay.

After the conquest.

1975 - Junko Tabei first woman in the summit
1978 - Peter Habeler and Reinhold Messner accomplish the first ascent without oxygen.
1978 - First ascent by a French expedition took by Pierre Mazeaud.
1978 - The European First one woman (third woman) in the summit, the Pole Wanda Rutkiewicz.
1980 - Reinhold Messner achieves the first ascent alone, without oxygen.
1980 - First ascent in winter by a Polish expedition.
1982 - First ascent soviétique, and in night condition.
1986 - First descent since the summit in paraglider.
1990 - First Frenchwoman on the Roof of the World.
1991 - First Native of Quebec and sixth Canadian to climb Everest.
1992 - First descent with ski since the south summit (8751 metres).
1995 - First woman to climb up Everest alone, without oxygen.
1996 - Grunts Kammerlander climb up Everest in only 17 hours, and accomplish the first descent with ski.
1999 - The body of George Mallory is found in 600 metres of the summit (expedition of 1924).
2001 - Marco Siffredi is the first to accomplish the descent of the hall Norton in snowboard.
2001 - The Belgian Arnaud Van Schevensteen is the first one-legged person to attain the summit of Everest.
2007 - The Canadian, Manuel A. Pizarro, is the first man to have survived more than 24 hours on Everest without equipment, food and oxygen.
2008 - Sophie Denis, with his sherpa Jinpa, is the 4th French woman to attain the summit.
2008 - Mostafa Salameh is the first Jordanian in the summit.

My experience.

This trek is really splendid.
Since the basic camp of Everest or since Kala Patthar, they are encircled with snowy summit everywhere.

But we were only two to reach the top of Kala Patthar.
We pass in fact 10 days above 4000m, it is very stressful for organism (cough, diarrhea, headhache, micropure).
I would recommended you to tested yourself on circuits easier before, as for example " The turn of Annapurnas ".

My experience quoted health:

Cough is due to the breathing of cold air throughout the trek. We can attenuating by carrying a scarf on the entirety itinerary, or a kind of polar woolen ring around the neck.
Cough can also be triggered by the dust which we meet throughout the way. A dust filter can also help.
Micropure can be refused by organism at the end: preferred then solutions with water filtration. Some mineral water is also available of everywhere, but it is necessary to try to avoid them because they burn empty bottles after use.
The diarrhea is more hard to avoid. Equip yourselves with Immodium or Okubasan. Perhaps also with Bioflorin for the intestinal flora.
The headhache begin appearing with altitude. Diamox allows to regulate problem... with a frequent urination.

On physical form side, I made before this circuit:

Some summits in 3500~4000m in the Alps, and some refuge at 2500~3500m. This allows to realize if we can go and sleep above 3000m.
An ascent towards the Refuge Margherita (4 559 m) on italian side. We used a French-speaking italian guide. Circuit is technically easy, and allow to realize if we succeed in going up to 4500m in good conditions. If everything is OK and that we are not tired too much, I think that altitude of 5000m should be able to be attained in the Himalayas.
The trek "Around Annapurnas". Circuit is under 3500~3800m for a long time (which is stressless for organism), and has no technical difficulty. The passage of the Thorong-La pass (5400m) requires only about two days above 4000m. If there is not really problem, this should be Ok for the base camp of Everest.

About physical preparation, you should not neglect it of course. It is necessary to be taken there for a long time beforehand, and I advice to stop difficult sports all a month before departure, sothat the body can have a rest and possibly to recover.
To caricature, my opinion is that it is needed:

Either make regularly jogging many years.
Or have the habit to walk in mountains many years (which is my case).

But it is not necessary to have a professional form. If you can climb 1000m and get back them down without feeling too much tired in the evening, then you will be able to do a lot of trek.

Videos.

	Takeoff in Lukla. 13Mo.
	The butcher in the Nepal. 26Mo.
	Panorama view of Gokyo Peak. 11Mo.
	Panorama since the basic camp of Everest. 11Mo.
	Panorama since Kala Patthar. 9Mo.
	Dance during one holidays. 10Mo.
	Landing at Lukla. 14Mo.

Photos, Travel.

Open Arrived in Kathmandou. We walk in Thamel.	Open Tuesday 14 octobre, visit of a monastery.	Open Visite of Botna temple in Kathmandou.	Open Visit of Bhaktapur .
Open	Open Wednesday 15, takeoff fo Lukla with Yeti Airlines . Lukla is located at 2804m.	Open Then descent toward Choplung.	Open
Open We cross the passage of the butcher.	Open We continue to walk in a valley located at 2600~2900m.	Open	Open We cross regularly on metal bridge.
Open Then thursday 16, we arrive at Namche Bazar (3440m).	Open This is a Dzo that carry our luggages.	Open Friday 17 is a acclimation day. We walk toward Khumjung. In bottom, we see the Nupla (5885m), the Shar (6093m), the Lho (6186m), et the Nup (6035m).	Open idem.
Open On see here Cholatse (6440m) and Tawoche Peak (6542m) from the height between Namche Bazar et Khumjung.	Open A flower...	Open We cross regularly this type of red bush between3500 and 4000m.	Open This is Khumjung and in bottom the Ama Dablam .
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swayambhu Open It should be the Tamserku (6618m) seen from Khumjung.	Open Then return to Namche Bazar the evening.	Open And this is the market day...	Open
Open Saturday 18, we leave Namche to walk toward Gokyo Lake.	Open Then lunch at Phortse Tanga (3600m) at noon.	Open	Open The evening, we sleep at Dole (4100m). The sunset on Kang Tega West (6685m) is beautiful.
Open Sunday 19, we leave Dole. The sky is clear the morning.	Open	Open It should be the Arakamtse (6423m) seen around Dole.	Open The mountain in the valley of Gokyo.
Open	Open Machermo (4400m) and Kyajo Ri (6186m).	Open Our lodge at Machermo.	Open A view on the bottom of the valley with the Cho Oyu (8201m) that begin to appear.
Open Monday 20, we leave Machermo. In bottom the Kyajo Ri (6186m)	Open It should be Arakamtse (6423m) seen from Nha (4440m)	Open Then arriving in Gokyo Lake (4750m).	Open The Lake Gokyo (4750m).
Open The Pharilapche (6017m) seen from Gokyo lake.	Open Gokyo Lake (4750m). and in bottom the Pharilapche (6017m).	Open idem.	Open Tuesday 21, Ascent of Gokyo Peak (5357m) or Gokyo Ri. Here, the first morning light on Himalaya .
Open Sunset behind a sommit.	Open Then a zoom on the montain at the west of Gokyo Peak.	Open	Open
Open Zoom on the massif of Cho Oyu.	Open Massif of Cho Oyu (8201m).	Open Zoom on the massif of Cho Oyu.	Open Gokyo lake seen during the go down of Gokyo Ri.
Open idem	Open Gokyo Lkae valley seen during the go down.	Open Wakeup wednesday 22 in a lodge at Thore (4300m).	Open Ice caused by streams on the foam.
Open And we go down to Phortse...	Open	Open Maybe the small village Kohanar (4050m).	Open Then arrive in Phortse (3810m).
Open Ice flower which is created the night around a particular plant..	Open Thurday 23, we walk toward the valley of Everest.	Open We see again the Ama Dablam.	Open Pangboche valley (4250m).
Open	Open The Lhotse (8501m) seen from the arounding of Pangboche (4250m)	Open A beautiful mountain, the Ama Dablam (6814m)	Open The Nuptse (7861m) on the left, and the Lhotse (8501m) on the right. Then we catch sight of Everest that is behind the ridge.
Open Zoom on the Lhotse.	Open Then arrival at Pheriche (4280m).	Open We settle down in the lodge "The white Yak" which was create by a maybe Korean and a French. It is flawless and constructed like the West.	Open Friday 24, we walk again toward Lobuche . Near Pheriche, the memorial of death on Everest.
Open Zoom on Tawoche Peak (6542m)	Open From left to right, Tawoche Peak (6542m), Cholatse (6440m), and Arakamtse (6423m).	Open Zoom on Arakamtse (6423m).	Open Morning ice.
Open Again Tawoche Peak (6542m), and Cholatse (6440m) on the right.	Open A zoom.	Open Rise to Lobuche... with Dzo or Yak. We should be around Dugha (4605m).	Open A strange face of the Nuptse (7864m)
Open Aroundings of Lobuche (4930m).	Open Sunset on the Nuptse (7864m)	Open Saturday 25, walk toward Everest Base Camp .	Open The glacier Khumbu descendant between the Nupse (7864m) on right and Everest (8850m) on left.
Open The Everest Base Camp (5350m) is reach after a tired walk between the rocks. In bottom, Everest.	Open A rocks put above a ice tower.	Open The Pumori (7165m)	Open Return at Lobuche the evening, with some small clouds.
Open Le village Gorak Shep (5150m), and in bottom Pumori (7165m)	Open Again the glacier Khumbu, and the Everest (8850m).	Open The Pumori (7165m)	Open In bottom, the Lingtren (6749m), on right the Khumbutse (6685m), on left the ridge of Pumori.
Open On the left Everest (8850m), in the middle South Col (7906m), then on right behind the ridge the Lhotse (8501m).	Open Zoom on Nirekha Peak (6159m) and Changri West (5962m).	Open Again the glacier Khumbu and Everest (8850m), on the left Khumbutse (6685m), on the right the ridge of Nuptse.	Open Zoom on Everest (8850m)
Open Again Everest, the glacier Khumbu, and the Nuptse.	Open Zoom on Pumori (7165m)	Open	Open Lobuche West (6135m), Nirekha Peak (6159m) and Changri West (5962m).
Open Zoom on Lingstren (6749m).	Open Nuptse (7861m).	Open The glacier Khumbu descendant in the valley. It is at 5000m of altitude.	Open Lobuche (4950), and behind Nuptse (7864m).
Open Then we go out the Khumbu valley and Lobuche. In bottom appear Tawoche Peak (6542m), Cholatse (6440m), and Arakamtse (6423m).	Open Zoom on Tawoche Peak (6542m).	Open Zoom on Arakamtse (6423m).	Open Monday 27, we leave Dingboche where we slept, then we walk towards Tengboche. In bottom appear Chumbi Yul Lha (5751m).
Open We catch sight again on the Thamserku (6608m) and Khangtega (6685m).	Open	Open Way descendant on Tengboche, with Thamserku (6608m) and Khangtega (6685m) in bottom.	Open Arrival in Tengboche, where we will sleep. In bottom appaear the massif with Nuptse (7861m) and Lhotse (8501m).
Open Tengboche (3867m) and Kangtega West (6615m)	Open Monastery of Tengboche.	Open Monastery de Tengboche (3867m) et le KangTega West (6615m)	Open Zoom on KangTega West (6615m).
Open Sunset on Nuptse (7861m) and Lhotse (8501m).	Open Then sunrise tuesday 28!	Open Descente on Namche Bazar tuesday 28. In bottom Tawoche Peak (6542m).	Open By walking towards Namche, we discover again the Nupla (5885m) and Shar (6093m).
Open We are at noon on the height above Namche Bazar. In bottom, the Ama Dablam.	Open Then zoom on Thamserku (6608m)	Open Arrival the evening at Namche Bazar. Ici, again a market...	Open ...and a Yak .
Open Wakeup wednesday 29. The movement of helicopter is common on morning, to get back down tourist who have had the acute mountain sickness in Lobuche or Gorak shep.	Open Namche Bazar (3440m).	Open Then it is again the descent toward the valley lower at 2800m.	Open We stop at Mongo (2800m). We leave for Lukla thursday 30.
Open The Dzo are everywhere.	Open	Open	Open Then we get closer to Lukla.
Open The villages give a party today. Here, it is a porter.	Open Then arrival in Lukla (2840m).	Open There is some shopping in Lukla. We can buy some walking things.	Open Lukla Airport this friday 31. We will go to Katmandou in hotel Manaslu .
Open Butcher in Kathmandou.	Open Saturday 1st november, we first visit Pashupati . This is here a temple where we burn died people.	Open idem.	Open Then visit of Patan at noon.
Open	Open Patan city.	Open Visit of a shopping street in Patan...	Open
Open	Open	Open	Open
Open At the end of afternoon, visit of Swayambhu .	Open View of Kathmandou since Swayambhu.	Open There is a lot of monkey in Swayambhu. Here, they are in delousing!	Open But in Swayambhu, there is a lot of shopping everywhere...