2018 Everest/Lhotse

We leave Dingboche and the track is covered in a little snow, but enough now that it’s compacted and slippery for me in only trainers. I decided against bringing heavy hiking books for the walk in as the path is usually good and I have my heavy, bulky climbing Olympus Mons boots. I didn’t want to bring another pair. I avoid sliding over the edge on a few occasions and I’m glad of my Pacer

   Nuptse Everest here *  Follow directly up from the Asterix and Everest point is in that tiny white cloud. The pointed tip. Make the pic larger probably easier to see.  Our first sighting of the Khumbu Icefall  the blue white crumple zone spilling down and into the moraine  just out of sight in this pic is the coloured spots of the highest tents in base camp   This is Gorek Shepand just at the back right

Doing silly poses while we waited for the sunset Everest in the rear left and Nupse standing tall to the right Sunset came and Everest glowed  it was a magnificent sightThe lower Khumbu valley set against the pink streaks Today was a rest day so we planned an acclimatisation hike up Kala Phatar. Most people go either during the day or early for sunrise. Although the weather was iffy in the morning, snowing and cloudy. We

Our toilet tentthe icefall spilling down  these our craig, bob and my tents . mine is the one on the leftOur dining tentOur tents right at the base of the icefall We set out after breakfast and it’s only couple hours walk into base camp. The terrain is the easiest day, relatively flat with a little undulation. We arrive at base camp and it’s a wonderful sight in front of us. Every one is busy,

My snowman Wow at about 3.30am there was a noise like a train going past and I woke up with a start. I knew it was an ice collapse/avalanche but it sounded really close by and my next thought was that although this is a great location, we are first in the firing line. I listened out for zippers, ready to get out of my tent fast but there appeared to be no movement from

 The shower tentour motley crew: me,Baab,Pena,Bethany and Craig climbing through the icefall Im that little orange dot in the middle A mish mash of snow and ice  Today we make a little foray into the icefall. It’s a bit of an eye opener. Paradoxically it’s magical and like a winter wonderland with beautiful ice sculptures but appears somewhat threatening at the same time. I walk through with awe, wonderment and trepidation. We climb a little