note of Chhukhung - Kongma La - Lobuche

[triste]

Based on my experience in January 2007, here is another description about the route from Chhukhung, crossing Kongma La to Lobuche, with map and photos.

First, consider to stay in Chhukhung for 1 or 2 days before crossing Kongma La, the Chhukhung Ri (5550 m) & area near Imja Tsho worth a visit.

view of Chhukhung Ri
http://homepage.mac.com/cherish/images/trekking/big/b0869.jpg

view of Imja Tsho
http://homepage.mac.com/cherish/images/trekking/big/b0905.jpg

scan of map
http://homepage.mac.com/cherish/images/trekking/map/route0121.png

[triste]

For safety & leisure, I hired a guide from the Ama Dablam View Lodge for crossing Kongma La. IMO, if you're well acclimatized, there's no difficulty.

Part 1: Chhukhung to valley after Nuptse glacier, steep, about 1.25 hour.

The trail started from the slope, northwest of Chhukhung, going upward steadily. You arrived the "mouth" of the valley.

Starting point
http://homepage.mac.com/cherish/images/trekking/big/b0918.jpg

looking backward after 15 minutes
http://homepage.mac.com/cherish/images/trekking/big/b0919.jpg

Chhukhung at lower right corner.
http://homepage.mac.com/cherish/images/trekking/big/b0924.jpg

[triste]

Part 2: mouth of Valley to icefall, flat, about 1 hour.

Flat, I meant go upward over a long distance :)

In the right-half of the following photo, note the icefall, and the triangular summit far behind, you'll discover them in later photos.

going northward
http://homepage.mac.com/cherish/images/trekking/big/b0925.jpg

approaching the icefall
http://homepage.mac.com/cherish/images/trekking/big/b0929.jpg

landmark in front of icefall
http://homepage.mac.com/cherish/images/trekking/big/b0930.jpg

[triste]

Part 3: icefall to slope with white vertical trace, very steep, about 1 hour.

Fortunately, on the left hand side of the landmark, there's a significant trail going upwards, with big & small stones.

looking backward
http://homepage.mac.com/cherish/images/trekking/big/b0935.jpg

trail with stones
http://homepage.mac.com/cherish/images/trekking/big/b0936.jpg

The trail turned right near the top of icefall, then you could see a slope with a white vertical trace, keep going.

one quarter from right, the slope have a white trace
http://homepage.mac.com/cherish/images/trekking/big/b0939.jpg

[triste]

Afterward, you passed some iced river/pond, then climb the slope from the right.

approaching the slope
http://homepage.mac.com/cherish/images/trekking/big/b0941.jpg

near the slope
http://homepage.mac.com/cherish/images/trekking/big/b0942.jpg

Looking backward, you could see the "mouth" of valley and trail of part 2
http://homepage.mac.com/cherish/images/trekking/big/b0944.jpg

Well, here's a stitched photo (http://homepage.mac.com/cherish/images/trekking/big/viewofkongmala.png) of the view from the top of the above said slope, you might recognize the triangular summit. The Kongma La is next to the lowest point of the ridge.

[triste]

Part 4: slope with white vertical trace to Kongma La, flat then very steep, about 1 hour.

The trail is significant here, leading towards an iced lake. Passing the iced lake, it's the short, steep trail to Kongma La, full of screes.

iced lake
http://homepage.mac.com/cherish/images/trekking/big/b0950.jpg

trail passed near iced lake
http://homepage.mac.com/cherish/images/trekking/big/b0952.jpg

trail before Kongma La
http://homepage.mac.com/cherish/images/trekking/big/b0953.jpg

trail with screes
http://homepage.mac.com/cherish/images/trekking/big/b0954.jpg

[triste]

Voila, you're on Kongma La now.

prayer flag, about 2 meter high
http://homepage.mac.com/cherish/images/trekking/big/b0955.jpg

mani stone
http://homepage.mac.com/cherish/images/trekking/big/b0963.jpg

looking back at the iced lake
http://homepage.mac.com/cherish/images/trekking/big/b0964.jpg

ridge next to Kongma La
http://homepage.mac.com/cherish/images/trekking/big/b0965.jpg

Unfortunately, I failed to take photos that are suitable for panorama view.

[triste]

Part 5: slope full of small scree, without significant trail, steep & slippery, about 1 hour

zoomed view of Lobuche & research center
http://homepage.mac.com/cherish/images/trekking/big/b0968.jpg

Going down to Lobuche is a little bit tricky. First the trace (or trail? ) next to the white prayer flag lead to the iced pond only. Only. There's no way out, the worst, short distance from the iced pond, it's a cliff. Consider the steep & slippery condition, that each step would slide down a little; that you need to pay effort to stand still, IMO, it is a little bit dangerous.

the Lobuche side of Kongma La
http://homepage.mac.com/cherish/images/trekking/big/b0969.jpg

I asked my guide why did he bring me to such place, and did he know the path; his answer was quite zen:

"You know, it is mountain."

Anyway, we went back, went upward, then keep as right as we could, for going down.

looking backward to the La
http://homepage.mac.com/cherish/images/trekking/big/b0971.jpg

Keep as right as you could
http://homepage.mac.com/cherish/images/trekking/big/b0973.jpg

[triste]

Part 6: normal trail to moraine, steep, about 1 hour

Stepping on screes for about 1 hour, we reached an icefall, below it, a few meters of trail was covered with ice; in which , I had difficulty to traverse.

Besides, the wind was quite strong here. My wrist was through the straps of my trekking pole, when I hold the pole high above the ground, well, the wind blew it to point to 3 - 4 o' clock.

top of icefall
http://homepage.mac.com/cherish/images/trekking/big/b0977.jpg

Another stitched photo (http://homepage.mac.com/cherish/images/trekking/big/lobuche.png) near the moraine.

[triste]

Part 6: moraine to Lobuche, flat, about 45 minutes

The normal trail lead to the bottom of moraine, go up to the top, across the glacier, then you arrive Lobuche.

My guide and the egg shaped stone.
http://homepage.mac.com/cherish/images/trekking/big/b0984.jpg

approaching Lobuche
http://homepage.mac.com/cherish/images/trekking/big/b0985.jpg

Bonus:

Italian Research Center
http://homepage.mac.com/cherish/images/trekking/big/b0992.jpg

Pyramid & Pumori
http://homepage.mac.com/cherish/images/trekking/big/b0995.jpg

About the Italian Research Center, well, what did I find at that time:

no lodge for toruist
2 dogs barked at me fiercely, fortunately, my smell, or their owner stopped them.

You're warned.

[triste]

My advices:

If you are well acclimatized, crossing Kongma La from either side is not difficult.

No support / lodge en route, no escape route; bring enough food & water.

Considering to hire guide / porter, or to trek in group.

Bring prayer flag from Namche Bazaar, put it on the la.

[thesilvertops]

An excellent report which be of great help to those planning to do this walk. Lovely pics of it all as well. Thank you. Q. How long did it take you - lodge to lodge?

A couple of notes on the pictures. In the first photo (Chhukhung Ri) you can clearly see the path up Chhukhung Ri. This is an excellent sidetrip if you have the time. Fantastic views of the great wall of Nuptse/Lhotse and great views to the east (including Makalu), to the south and the west. In the second picture (Imja Tsho) the path to Island Peak basecamp is visible just to the left of centre near the bottom of the picture. It is also possible to walk to the right of the Imja Glacier to where there is a small round lake (not visible in the photo). You can climb the lateral moraine of the glacier to look down on the ice but it is very unstable with rocks falling constantly and the ice booming and cracking below. If you do this, be very careful, you would probably not get out if you fell down towards the ice.

Looking East from Chhukhung Ri:
http://www.pbase.com/thesilvertops/image/87690861.jpg

Looking south:
http://www.pbase.com/thesilvertops/image/87690862.jpg

Looking north:
http://www.pbase.com/thesilvertops/image/87690860.jpg

We missed out on Chhukhung last trip because we had a date to be in Pokhara and I very much regret it.

[Sharon]

My preference was Lobouche to Chukkung. The lakes in the Fall are a gorgeous turquoise blue and the climb up the stepper part is a good ascent and then a meander down the pleasnat trail to Chukkung.

[kegarne]

At the start of the climb to Kongma La( from Lobuche) with ascent route shown.....