everest region trek

[pokerface]

just wanna ask what's the pass between chukkung and Lobuje?
is there lodges along the Lumden- Renjo La-Gokyo Route? thanks

dean:eek:

[kolobar]

The pass between Chukung and Lobuche is Kongma la.
The last lodge before Renjo la from Bhote Kosi valley is in the last village before the pass, according to my map it should be Langden (Lumden?).

[daras]

Hi,
If you are in good condition you can do this in one day:
Chukhung - Kongma La (5535) - Lobuche 8-9 hours

rgds
daras

[Harry]

just wanna ask what's the pass between chukkung and Lobuje?
is there lodges along the Lumden- Renjo La-Gokyo Route? thanks

dean:eek:

Hi Dean,

That's a long way to walk. If any snow, Renjo La can be difficult from the Thame (Lungden) side. There are no lodges, neither teahouses, so be prepared. Bivy equipment can be useful incase you will not make it in one day. Better to walk from Gokyo side. Takes you 3 hours to Renjo La and approx. if conditions are good another 3-4 hours to Lungden.
The way down till the lake is stoney and some parts steep.

Cheers,

Harry

[pokerface]

Day 01: Arrival Kathmandu, transfer to Hotel & well come Diner.
Day 02: Free day / Necessary preparation in Kathmandu
Day 03: Flight to Lukla and trek to Phakding (2612m)
Day 04: Phakding to Namche Bazaar (3446m)
Day 05: Namche – Rest for (for acclimatization) visit khumjung, Museum etc.
Day 06: Namche to Thame (3800m)
Day 07: Thame to Lumdeng (4400)
Day 08: Lumdeng to over Renjo pass (5345m) camp in Gokyo (4750m)
Day 09: Early in the morning Gokyo Ri overnight in Gokyo
Day 10: Gokyo to Thangna (4700m)
Day 11: Thangna to over Cho-La pass (5420m) camp at Zongla (4843m)
Day 12: Zongla to Gorekshep (5151m)
Day 13: Gorekshep to Everest Base Camp (5360m) over night Gorekshep
Day 14: Gorekshep to Kalapather (5545m) for best view of Mt.Everest and return back to Lobuche.
Day 15: Lobuche to Over Phokolde pass (5535m) overnight in Chhukung
Day 16: Chukung to Thangboche monastery (3800m)
Day 17: Thangboche to Monjo (2835m)
Day 18: Monjo to Lukla (2800m)
Day 19: Flight from Lukla to Kathmandu ,over night in Hotel.
Day 20: Free day in Kathmandu
Day 21: Final Departure

got this from a certain website. any comments on this itenerary. one more thing, i have no idea how much does the airfare cost from bangkok to kathmandu. can anybody give me an estimate on a roundtrip airfare?many thanks guys.

[eden]

Day 06: Namche to Thame (3800m)
Day 07: Thame to Lumdeng (4400)
Day 08: Lumdeng to over Renjo pass (5345m) camp in Gokyo (4750m)

:) this is very very tough ...

[critter2722]

I agree with Eden...that portion is quite difficult if you are not prepared. Also...if you have a problem with altitude when you are there, those increases in altitude will put a halt on your ascent. If you have some extra days I suggest that you take a bit more time on the way up to Goyko.

[pokerface]

hi how about the approach to Cho-La. some say its better go to chola from gokyo side?thanks again

dean:eek:

[kolobar]

I would do the whole trek in the opposite way. Actually I did it. And I was very glad that I did not go the other way.
You can acclimatize better staying one day in Namche (as proposed in your itinerary), another acclimatization day you should have in Dingboche (you might visit health post in Pheriche and check the oxygen level in your blood to find out how are you acclimatizing - as a day trip) and you can go to Chukung Ri before you start crossing passes where you can go as high as you can and return to Chukung overnight.
Kongma la (Pokalde pass) is much easier from Chukung side. There is straight steep climb all the way from Khumbu glacier to the pass on Lobuche side while on Chukung side there is just a short steep section otherwise it is a nice walk.
Also for Cho la from Lobuche side you only has to ascend the steep rocky ledge to reach the glacier while on Gokyo side there is unpleasant long scree ascend exposed to falling rock where you dont want to spend too much time.
It was said before that Renjo la is much easier and safer from Gokyo side and very much I agree.
You should consider that going from Lungden you have to ascend well over 5000 meters without knowning how you will handle this altitude.

[pokerface]

hi kolabar when others said it'll be a long slog from lomdeng to renjo la, the first thing that popped in me was to do the whole trek in reverse. nice to know that somebody has done it kongma la first. i'mona do just that including the oxygen test . guys this site has been truly helpful. thanks

dean:eek:

[pokerface]

guys thanks for the feedbacks. nice to hear that someone has done it in reverse.i'll probably do that. thanks for being sooo helpful

dean:eek:

[peteris]

I agree with Kolobar and others. If you are well acclimatized it would be easier but for me days 06-08 is too fast. Even if I will go till Gokyo - how I will feel myself here? As I live on sea level, for me it is maybe better to go to 4000 m level somewhere in middle of trek.
Although I met quite many people who started such trek (maybe without Kongma La) from Bhote Kosi valley, I think Kolobar advice is reasonable.

Peteris

[Greg]

Day 06: Namche to Thame (3800m)
Day 07: Thame to Lumdeng (4400)
Day 08: Lumdeng to over Renjo pass (5345m) camp in Gokyo (4750m)

:) this is very very tough ...

And very foolish - AMS for sure.
Greg.

[Sharon]

I did Kongma la from Lubouche. It is a great pass and doesn't get the traffic it deserves. I think it best to do it from Lobouche and then enjoy the spectacular views as you meander down to Chukung.

[Todd Delaney]

I have noticed a general trend when folks talk about what side of a pass to start and finish...usually, not always, but more often than not, people will advise others that the side they did it from is the best, for lots of different reasons...

I wonder if others have noticed this phenomenon?

I recall reading many accounts of Cho La crossing, each person convinced that "I am glad we did it from side x, I would hate to have done it from side y"...it is amazing (and amusing) that folks speak with such conviction about things to which they are diametrically opposed.

I remember when last year I first did Cho La from the Gokyo side, I met folks who had just come down from the pass heading to Thangnak saying "I am glad we came from the Lobuche side, it would be very hard coming from Gokyo" I pressed on regardless - "doing it the hard way according tho them - those that had just finished it". However, on the way down to Dzonglha as I met folks coming up, I began to think to myself "No way, I am glad I did it the way I did it, I'd hate to be coming up from that side - looks awefully difficult....my way was much easier..."

I suspect that when doing a pass, most people are exhausted by the time they get to the top, that the thought of coming back up from the other direction at that moment not a nice one, and perhaps colours peoples view...at least in retrospect I think I was guilty of that...

[PumoRi]

This is an old thread, but the subject is one I've thought a great deal about. Our group crossed the Cho La from the Khumbu to the Gokyo side in mid-April 2006. What I didn't like about going down the Gokyo side were the ice-covered rocks. I don't remember much ice on the Khumbu side, just rock. That side gets the morning sun, so maybe the ice melts quicker. Makes me think it would be easier going DOWN the Khumbu side instead of the way we went.

I have to admit though, going from the top of the pass to Thangnak seemed interminable, even though it was mostly downhill. I can't imagine hiking UP that way. :eek: But like the previous poster says, it could just be your perspective at the time...

[kegarne]

That hike up from Gokyo to the hill that views the pass is soooo hard...just thinking about it now makes me feel exhausted!

[kegarne]

That hike up from Gokyo to the hill that views the pass is soooo hard...just thinking about it now makes me feel exhausted!
In my opinion there is no way coming from the Everest side is harder..no way...