Our return to Kathmandu

Tough travelling

We get out in the nick of time

Here is a picture-fest, they may take a while to load

19 May - to Tingri

Cho Oyu clouds over and the weather looks unstable but it would be hard to guess that in 3 hours it would be snowing hard

The sherpas started packing at 5:30, we partially dried the tents at 7am and the climbers left at 8:30. The sherpas and yaks weren't far behind, but but lunch time at Gyabla (our Intermediate Camp on the way up) where the truck met the yaks there was already 4 inches of snow; the tropical storm was finally kicking in.

Moe nearing BC, the storm chasing behind;
ABC is probably under a foot of snow by this time

With a jeep breakdown we only made it to Tingri, but the food was great! And everyone is grateful we made it out of ABC.

20 May - to Tatopani

Today is the last day of the Maoist strike so we know that we will only make it over the Nepal border, not to Kathmandu. It is a grey day, probably still snowing at ABC?

The gorge approaching Zhangmu. It was a spectacular drive and here,
finally I have captured the moodiness of it.

Once over the border we changed from our luxury Landcruisers (4500 GX models) to a single rather older Landcruiser for a cramped strike-breaking run to Tatopani, a few kilometers down the road.

Thomas wonders where he will go

The border is a complete cultural and economic change.

Eventually we did make Tatopani, which means "hot water" and true to its name the hot springs gush out of 8 head height fountains, scaldingly hot and we all had a good scrub. Pity the pools were not working though.

We stayed in a cute little hotel that served beer - too much to Moe (only two in here), who in the middle of the night simply stood up out of bed and peed. There was no balcony there, only Jamie in the bed beside! Yuck! Yes, you read right.

A desperate yell, and Moe turned off his hose to find a spot with a longer and less complaining drop. The cost has still to be worked out...

Mary in the only clean hotel of the region

We walked a few sections rather than wait for transport; hard on the feet, but worth it for scenes like this...

Finally we made Kathmandu.

Photo by Jamie on Mary's camera

First stop was Fire and Ice pizza restaurant...

The end

Thanks for joining us! Jamie is leading a Broad Peak expedition from 16 June onwards and will be providing dispatches.