Three High Passes to Everest: we're back!

We did it!

Yes, we climbed those three high passes and two high peaks (mainly) in great weather (from the Renjo La to the Kongma La at least) and definitely in great company, so a big thank you to fellow trekkers Dave, Steffi and Jake, and also to Sirdar Gopal, assistant Daa Waa (who was the Sirdar for Hazel and I on our additional week walking in from Shivalaya to Namche) and porters Mingma, Kumar, Nonda and Uberach for their excellent guidance, support and patience.

The trek itself is firmly in the magic memory box (TM Dave), notwithstanding the patches of cold, cloudy weather at either end, the Lukla flight shenanigans, and the diversion to Manchester due to fog at LHR, which meant it was 3am on Monday morning before I got back home....

I've no idea how many photos I took in the end, but they will be showing up in my Three High Passes to Everest set on Flickr over the coming weeks. Here's a taster:

The rucksack unpack eventually tackled, the post trip washing bonanza begins. Farewell to the aroma of yak dung stoves.

This is our actual itinerary:

DAY 01: Depart London (24m/79ft).
DAY 02: Arrive Kathmandu (काठमांडौ, 1,400m/4,593ft). Transfer to hotel.
DAY 03: Drive to Shivalaya.
DAY 04: Trek to Bhandar.
DAY 05: Trek to Sete.
DAY 06: Trek to Junbesi.
DAY 07: Trek to Traksingo.
DAY 08: Trek to Kharikhola (2,069m/6,789ft).
DAY 09: Trek to Surke.
DAY 10: Trek to Phakding.
DAY 11: Trek to Namche Bazaar (नाम्चे बजार, 3,440m/11,286ft).
DAY 12: Acclimatise in Namche. Meet the group (their arrival delayed by 1 day due to bad weather)
DAY 13: Trek to Thame.
DAY 14: Acclimatisation day in Thame.
DAY 15: Trek to Lungden.
DAY 16: Acclimatisation in Lungden.
DAY 17: Trek to Gokyo (4,790m/15,720ft) over Renjo La.
DAY 18: Ascend Gokyo Ri (5,357m/17,575ft), walk to lake 4.
DAY 19: Trek to Dragnak.
DAY 20: Cross Cho La (5,420 m/17,782ft) and descend to Dzongla.
DAY 21: Trek to Lobuche.
DAY 22: Trek to Kala Pattar (5,545m/18,192ft). Return to Lobuche.
DAY 23: Trek to Dingboche via the Kongma La.
DAY 24: Trek to [small place 45 mins above the river].
DAY 25: Trek to Namche Bazaar (नाम्चे बजार, 3,440m/11,286ft).
DAY 26: Trek to Phakding (Gopal's lodge).
DAY 27: Trek to Lukla (2,860m/9,383ft).
DAY 28: Lukla (2,860m/9,383ft) (flight fiasco).
DAY 29: More waiting in Lukla. Self-financed helicopter to Kathmandu.
DAY 30: Fly Kathmandu-Delhi, Delhi-Manchester. Coach to London Heathrow T4. 490 bus to T5. N9 night bus to Trafalgar Square. Walk to Aldwych. Cab home.