I have created a flikr group where you can share your photographs if you would like to post them. You need a flikr account to do this, but it is easy to set up.
http://www.flickr.com/groups/dbgs-everest/
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
Thursday, April 24, 2008
Photo links
Links to Nick Hardcastle's photographs from the Everest Expedition
Highlights
Kathmandu to Lukla
Lukla to Namche Bazaar
Namche to Dingboche
Dingboche to Everest
Back to Namche and Lukla
Kathmandu & Bhaktapur
Highlights
Kathmandu to Lukla
Lukla to Namche Bazaar
Namche to Dingboche
Dingboche to Everest
Back to Namche and Lukla
Kathmandu & Bhaktapur
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
Photographs from the expedition
I posted photographs from the expedition last week, but some users reported a problem in viewing the galleries. This seems to be something to do with how the latest build of SlideshowPro is interacting with Windows. The galleries play perfectly on a Mac, of course!
Because of this problem, I have remade the galleries using Adobe Lightroom and Flash, and you should be able to view these more easily and at different sizes. They still need the Flash player installed though - just in case you have an ancient computer.
You can access the galleries from my website http://www.hobnail.com
Thursday, March 27, 2008
Back in Lukla
We left Namche Bazaar at 7.45 am following a brief goodbye ceremony during which the owner of the lodge tied silk scarves around our necks for good luck.
Some of the older members of the group were not looking forward to the steep walk from Namche - 700m of unrelenting,knee jerking descent, but in fact all went well. Panadol and ibuprofen work wonders on aging knees, it would seem. Most of the younger members had no problem at all.
Once we had descended to the Dudh Koshi river everybody felt much more energetic, with so much more oxygen in the atmosphere to breathe, we felt that we could almost run up the small hills. Almost.
The trail is getting busy now. There is a constant stream of trekkers heading up towards Namche and there are many porters and yaks carrying expedition kit up to Gorak Shep in preparation for the mountaineering season.
It has only been two weeks since we left Lukla, but this has made a difference to the landscape. Bellow the treeline the flowers are coming out - rhododendron, magnolia and primula denticulata; it is a pretty time of year.
It just took us 7 hours to walk from Namche to Lukla and the kids arrived in good spirits and with energy to spare. They are now expending this around town. Lukla is a one street town and there are no motorvehicles at all. We have a special dinner planned tonight.
We fly to Kathmandu tomorrow morning.
Some of the older members of the group were not looking forward to the steep walk from Namche - 700m of unrelenting,knee jerking descent, but in fact all went well. Panadol and ibuprofen work wonders on aging knees, it would seem. Most of the younger members had no problem at all.
Once we had descended to the Dudh Koshi river everybody felt much more energetic, with so much more oxygen in the atmosphere to breathe, we felt that we could almost run up the small hills. Almost.
The trail is getting busy now. There is a constant stream of trekkers heading up towards Namche and there are many porters and yaks carrying expedition kit up to Gorak Shep in preparation for the mountaineering season.
It has only been two weeks since we left Lukla, but this has made a difference to the landscape. Bellow the treeline the flowers are coming out - rhododendron, magnolia and primula denticulata; it is a pretty time of year.
It just took us 7 hours to walk from Namche to Lukla and the kids arrived in good spirits and with energy to spare. They are now expending this around town. Lukla is a one street town and there are no motorvehicles at all. We have a special dinner planned tonight.
We fly to Kathmandu tomorrow morning.
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
Pheriche to Namche Bazaar
This morning everybody was feeling happy and although most of the group had gone down with sore throats, the level of morale was very high.
We began the nine hour walk back to Namche at a very good pace. As we lose altitude the amount of oxygen in the air makes it much easier to breathe and the students are starting to feel much better.
Although we were descending to Namche Bazaar, it is what Danbar calls Nepalese flat - in other words lots of up and down! There was a steep climb up to Tengboche and the monastery, followed by a steep 600m descent to Phunki Tenga. This left many sore knees within the team. After lunch we were faced with another climb from Phunki Tenga (3250m) to Namche at (3440m). It might not sound a lot, but after seven hours of walking and at this altitude it is no mean achievement.
At Sanasa we split into two groups. The faster and stronger group climbed higher to 3880m and the Japanese Everest View Hotel, where we had tea and hot chocolate. There was no view unfortunately as the mists had closed in, but it was a worthwhile experience nevertheless, if only for the snowball fight.
For once, the faster group arrived at the lodge well after Team Turtle, as they have named themselves.
Now we are back in Namche Bazaar, taking a rest day.
One more day's walk to go - the long hike to Lukla where we will spend tomorrow night before flying to Kathmandu.
So far the expedition has been a tremendous success. The students are happy and in high spirits. It has been a privilege to work with such a great group of young people.
Sorry that this blog has been so short. Now I am going to find somewhere warm to thaw out.
More from Kathmandu.
We began the nine hour walk back to Namche at a very good pace. As we lose altitude the amount of oxygen in the air makes it much easier to breathe and the students are starting to feel much better.
Although we were descending to Namche Bazaar, it is what Danbar calls Nepalese flat - in other words lots of up and down! There was a steep climb up to Tengboche and the monastery, followed by a steep 600m descent to Phunki Tenga. This left many sore knees within the team. After lunch we were faced with another climb from Phunki Tenga (3250m) to Namche at (3440m). It might not sound a lot, but after seven hours of walking and at this altitude it is no mean achievement.
At Sanasa we split into two groups. The faster and stronger group climbed higher to 3880m and the Japanese Everest View Hotel, where we had tea and hot chocolate. There was no view unfortunately as the mists had closed in, but it was a worthwhile experience nevertheless, if only for the snowball fight.
For once, the faster group arrived at the lodge well after Team Turtle, as they have named themselves.
Now we are back in Namche Bazaar, taking a rest day.
One more day's walk to go - the long hike to Lukla where we will spend tomorrow night before flying to Kathmandu.
So far the expedition has been a tremendous success. The students are happy and in high spirits. It has been a privilege to work with such a great group of young people.
Sorry that this blog has been so short. Now I am going to find somewhere warm to thaw out.
More from Kathmandu.
Gorak Shep - Kala Patthar (5550m) - Pheriche
We got up fairly early, but didn't start climbing Kala Patthar until well after 9am. This was great as the sun had time to warm the air, but would have its consequences later.
After breakfast, Muir performed the usual health checks and then we put together a team to climb Kala Patthar. Due to lack of acclimatization, we decided that a small group of students should remain in the lodge whilst the rest of the team climbed. We didn't want to risk anybody getting ill on the mountain. These students were very dissapointed but they already had so much to be proud off. Climbing to Gorak Shep is a huge acheivement - it is after all 5140m above sea level, higher than any mountain in Europe.
The ascent team made slow progress up Kala Patthar, pounded by the bitter wind and suffering from the thin air, but to look at their expressions when they reached the summit, it had all obviously been worth it.
The descent to Gorak Shep was fast and dusty, I think that the kids were longing to meet up again with their friends and have something warm to eat and drink.
Leaving Gorak Shep about lunch time, we began the very long walk down the mountain to Lobuche and then Pheriche, where we arrived in the gloaming. Scott Browner, Ash and Josh had walked up the trail to meet us.
The lodge was full but the atmosphere was great, everybody in very high spirits.
After breakfast, Muir performed the usual health checks and then we put together a team to climb Kala Patthar. Due to lack of acclimatization, we decided that a small group of students should remain in the lodge whilst the rest of the team climbed. We didn't want to risk anybody getting ill on the mountain. These students were very dissapointed but they already had so much to be proud off. Climbing to Gorak Shep is a huge acheivement - it is after all 5140m above sea level, higher than any mountain in Europe.
The ascent team made slow progress up Kala Patthar, pounded by the bitter wind and suffering from the thin air, but to look at their expressions when they reached the summit, it had all obviously been worth it.
The descent to Gorak Shep was fast and dusty, I think that the kids were longing to meet up again with their friends and have something warm to eat and drink.
Leaving Gorak Shep about lunch time, we began the very long walk down the mountain to Lobuche and then Pheriche, where we arrived in the gloaming. Scott Browner, Ash and Josh had walked up the trail to meet us.
The lodge was full but the atmosphere was great, everybody in very high spirits.
Lobuche - Gorak Shep (5140m) - Base Camp
The rest of the party followed the path alongside the Khumbu Glacier and over the steep, undulating moraines of the Chagri Shar Glacier to Gorak Shep. It is an exhillerating if exhausting climb at this altitude. The moraines, mountainous piles of broken granite, seem never ending. The students were somewhat relieved to see the small lodges of Gorak Shep come into view at the base of Kala Patthar.
After a fairly light lunch and large amounts of chocolate (it is good to have an excuse), we set off for Everest Base Camp. It is a tough trek over the moraines and can take 5 hours unless you are well acclimatized. I have never seen students as happy to achieve a goal. There were no tents in sight - but a number of yaks passed us on their way to set up a camp for a British climbing team that is due to arrive in Lukla on April 4th.
Back at the lodge in the late afternoon, the students sat drinking hot chocolate and talking of their success. Dambar and I went off to climb Kala Patthar for the sunset.
One goal achieved!
After a fairly light lunch and large amounts of chocolate (it is good to have an excuse), we set off for Everest Base Camp. It is a tough trek over the moraines and can take 5 hours unless you are well acclimatized. I have never seen students as happy to achieve a goal. There were no tents in sight - but a number of yaks passed us on their way to set up a camp for a British climbing team that is due to arrive in Lukla on April 4th.
Back at the lodge in the late afternoon, the students sat drinking hot chocolate and talking of their success. Dambar and I went off to climb Kala Patthar for the sunset.
One goal achieved!
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