Back in ABC - Humbled

The Ukrainians come for drinks

We meet some real climbers

17 May - ABC

Walking past the Ukrainian's small camp - they are only two - one asked me if I wanted champagne. Sure, but join us after dinner, and they did.

Clive, making small talk asked what had they climbed before.

Sergey was on the 1989 traverse of the Kanchenjunga peaks (ie all over 8000m), one of the most formidable high altitude mountaineering feats of all time - holy @#$%!

He was also on the 1982 Everest new route expedition (the south-west face?), Annapurna South Face, AND the 1990 Lhotse South face expedition, summitted them all.

WOW!

Igor's feats got lost in all this, but as he made "champagne" and had a seemingly endless supply, this didn't matter!

Sergey and Igor left after the whiskey was finished, Clive and Catherine look on in awe

18 May - ABC

Now we have one last day to pack the majority of our gear, our 24 yaks arrive this afternoon and we leave tomorrow morning.

Moe relaxes, finally recovering (a great photo, Thomas!)

We plan to stay in Nyalam on 19 May, On the border for 20 May as there is a political strike and probably reach Kathmandu 21 May.

Dawa feeds a Tibetan Snowcock, in fact a pair came around most days