On a classic trek to Chhukhung and Gokyo Valley in the Mount Everest area, our group flew from Kathmandu to Lukla airport and hiked for 14 days, walking up and down 26,000 feet in total. We walked 2 days to Namche Bazaar and acclimatized for 2 nights. At Tengboche Monastery, fog obscured views. Dingboche was our base for a spectacular day hike to Chhukhung (15,520 feet) on the north side of beautiful Ama Dablam mountain. Our group of five plus guides and porters trekked back through Pangboche then cut across to Phortse then up Gokyo Valley. The best view was at 17,580 feet elevation atop Gokyo Ri, a breathtaking 360 degree mountain panorama including four of the world's highest peaks (Mount Everest, Lhotse, Makalu, Cho Oyu), plus the largest glacier in Nepal and the attractive turquoise lakes of Gokyo.
Compared to my 1981 trip, in 2007 I found ten times more tourists and yak trains, better reforestation, more comfort in teahouses, and improved meals.
In 1981, I trekked to the closer Mount Everest view at Kala Patthar, in the Khumbu Glacier Valley, above Everest Base Camp. Gokyo Ri has wider views and smaller crowds of trekkers than the popular Kala Pattar route.