Christmas Khumbu 2002 - Kala Pattar & Everest BC

Most people trek the Everest region to see Everest so we walk up the 5600m Kala Pattar
and on all our trips we have enough time to also visit Everest Base Camp.
So that is what people aim for, most discover trekking there is a joy in itself.

Ama Dablam dominates the views for several days, here while approaching Pangboche.

The lodge owners' daughters clean their hands and tidy their hair before walking to school.

Cholatse does a mind-blow while walking from Thuklha to Lobuche.

Glorious trekking above Dingboche. We are now in the high alpine valleys - no trees, just magnificent mountains, in this case Taboche and Cholatse, both around 6400m high.

The classic view from Kala Pattar of Everest.

Yep, it is a heart-stopping view all around.

Although the top of Kala Pattar looks steep, it is only the very last 10 metres that is a little tricky. Pumori dominates the backdrop.

Looing south: Michael reckons the view is OK.

Walking back from Kala Pattar. As you can see the trail is well used and easy enough,
but in every direction there are huge mountains and glaciers (as here, partly covered in rubble).

So now we go to Everest Base Camp, a tough walk but sometimes rewarding.

Graeme under an ice mushroom, but it is the Khumbu Icefall behind that is really scary.

Yep, the walking is tough on the boulders. Here we admire a recently formed lake, but this is probably the result of
global warming and when it bursts it could cause a catastrophe further down if the water drains too fast.

Yep, you stay in wild country - here are the lodge of Gorak Shep.

Curious Tibetan Snowcock feed outside a Gorak Shep lodge. Most of the wildlife in the Khumbu have little fear
of humans as hunting is illegal and, more importantly, against local beliefs. The region is considered a hidden sacred valley
where all life should be respected.