Old photos & Diaries

Christmas Khumbu 2002 - crossing the Chola (Chugima La)

After Everest BC we crossed the Chola (sometimes called the Chugima La) and scouted a peak that Jamie has had his eye on for a while.
The peak is sometimes called Kangchung 6089m or Cholo (Chulu) and would make a fine trekking peak.
As it happened Graeme was wiped out with a tough day and the beginnings of a chest infection while Michael
climbed up to around 5600m. The plan was to scout the peak first then the next day to climb it but we decided against this.
Next time!

Graeme leaps... We were trekking in the middle of winter so the streams don't always look like this!
Winter generally has the finest weather, and for most of our trek it was perfect - Jamie

Looking back to Ama Dablam as we climb towards the Chola.
Yes, it is a different shape from here - Jamie

Our porters were great, unobtrusive guys, all from Ang Dami's village.
Ang Dami is on the left, most of the crew have trekked with us previous and all want to work again with us - Jamie

The top section of the Chola is a narrow trail, quite exposed. Don't ever cross the Chola in low visibility or if these rocks are covered in snow - Jamie

We follow a trail in the snow across the glacier. By winter the snow is hard, turning to ice, and slippery.
We used crampons and our porters tied string around the front of their shoes, a handy trick - Jamie

This is the peak, the west Kangchung peak and although it looks fearsome, a mountaineer friend of mine climbed it without ropes, although he has good balance.
I am sure that it is slightly easier than Island Peak and can't wait to actually climb it - Jamie

Michael climbs the rocky ridge to the snow line - Jamie

We didn't go to Gokyo, instead move down quickly to explore Lumding Kharka.
Here Joel crosses a small ridge marked with a chorten in the mid-lower Gokyo valley - Jamie

A glacier close up - Jamie

You are not likely to confuse this with a "Holiday Inn" but when this lodge is open, the service is great - Jamie

jdesign -- all rights reserved -- frozen in time July 2013