 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
Day 12 - Thorung Phedi - Thorung La (5416m/17,769ft) November 10, 2001
|
|
|
 |
After a night of cold, fitful, waking-up-to-pee interrupted sleep we were roused at 5am to prepare for the climb. Starting off at 6am there were already many people on the trail. Some porters started out betwen 2-3am! Who knows how they could see where they were going in the dark. .................................... |
|
|
|
 |
About 45 minutes up the pass was a lodge, Thorung Base Camp Lodge I believe |
|
|
|
 |
After about 2 hours of walking circulation finally returned to my fingers |
|
|
|
 |
Cold, windless and sunny weather - perfect for crossing the pass |
|
|
|
 |
The reflection of the sun off the snow was intense, sunglassess with peripheral protection were essential |
|
|
|
 |
A teahouse at 5115m / 16,782ft. Get your Snickers and Mars bars. (only open in season) |
|
|
|
 |
During the ascent you encounter multiple false summits so you have to temper your enthusiasm when you think you've spotted the summit up ahead |
|
|
|
 |
Getting closer... "La" is the Tibetan word for mountain pass. In Nepali they say "Deurali |
|
|
|
 |
Taking a break ...or more likely one of the girls is taking care of business behind one of the few and far between boulders along the trail. On this trail it pays to be a guy (turn, zip, go!)
photo courtesy of Davie Eng |
|
|
|
 |
This is the grave marker of Rik Allen, a trekker who died around this area of the trail in Feb 1991. Following safety guidelines he travelled with 2 other people to cross the pass. But he and another member of his trio developed serious AMS. The healthy 3rd member could only save one of them. These days the HRA clinic recommends travelling in minimum groups of 5 to cross the pass. |
|
|
|
 |
Just about there....
photo courtesy of Davie Eng |
|
|
|
 |
Made it!!! Around 10:30am, 4.5hrs after we started (a leisurely pace with lots of breaks along the way). No one's head or lungs leaked fluid. As I was slightly dehydrated I bought a 1L Pepsi for 180RS ($4 CDN) at the teahouse here
|
|
|
|
 |
We had not anticipated all being on the summit at the same time so after a rousing rendition of HAPPY BIRTHDAY to me (in which some of the hundred plus or so people at the summit joined in) we took the obligatory group photo. Here the low atmospheric pressure results in us breathing less than half of the oxygen available at sea level. This is about 100m higher than Everest Base Camp |
|
|
|