Show Navigation
NEPAL: Everest, Gokyo, Annapurna Sanctuary All Galleries
Add to Cart Download

NEPAL: Everest area, Gokyo trek, Sagarmatha NP

161 images Created 7 Oct 2011

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.

Loading ()...

  • Nepal map, indicating Kathmandu, and treks in Pokhara, and Everest/Gokyo area
    07NEP-Map-Nepal-treks_web.jpg
  • Nepal map indicating trek in Everest/Gokyo area
    07NEP-Map-Gokyo1_web.jpg
  • In the Everest Area of Nepal: These 4 Tibetan “Om Mani Padme Hum” repetitions invoke compassion. Om Mani Padme Hum means “Hail to the jewel in the lotus”. Mani stones are stone plates, rocks and/or pebbles inscribed, usually with mantra or shtamangala, as a form of prayer in Tibetan Buddhism. Out of respect, people should walk to the left or clockwise around Mani Walls. Mani stones are placed in mounds or cairns along roadsides and rivers as an offering to spirits of place (or genius loci).
    07NEP-3155.jpg
  • Trekkers at Lukla village in eastern Nepal, with the peak of Khumbila (or or Khumbi Yul Lha; 18,900 feet / 5761 meters) in the background. Because local Sherpa people traditionally consider Khumbila to be a sacred warrior spirit and guardian of the Khumbu District, Nepal has declared this mountain illegal to climb. For licensing options, please inquire.
    07NEP-5183.jpg
  • Our leader (Sirdar) Chhatra, who works with Himalayan World Adventure, in Nepal.
    07NEP-5188.jpg
  • Assistant guide Neem (or Nim), who works with Himalayan World Adventure, in Nepal.
    07NEP-5189.jpg
  • Sir Edmund Hillary (born 1919, died 11 January 2008) is 62 years of age here at Kunde Hospital in 1981, Nepal, Asia. I first encountered him moving planks for building a diesel fuel storage shed for his Kunde Hospital. He later magnanimously signed autographs for our group of trekkers. We discussed the weather and logistics of helping a member of our team who had fallen altitude sick at Lobuje and had been carried semi-conscious to Tengboche for helicopter rescue. "My doctor tells me to stay below 12,000 feet," Sir Edmund remarked, as he stood comfortably at 12,600 feet. For licensing options, please inquire.
    81NEP-08-37b_Sir-Edmund-Hillary.jpg
  • The steep tarmac airstrip at Lukla Airport, in the Mount Everest region of Nepal
    07NEP-3131.jpg
  • Peaks rise high behind a street and buildings in the village of Lukla, Nepal.
    07NEP-5170_Lukla.jpg
  • In the Everest Area of Nepal, Asia: A prayer wheel (called mani chos-'khor or Mani wheel by the Tibetans) is a wheel on a spindle made from metal, wood, leather, or coarse cotton. On the wheel are written or encapsulated prayers or mantras. According to the Tibetan Buddhist belief, spinning such a wheel will have much the same effect as orally reciting the prayers. A prayer wheel symbolizes "turning the wheel of Dharma," which describes the way in which the Buddha taught. Published in "Light Travel: Photography on the Go" book by Tom Dempsey 2009, 2010.
    07NEP-3139.jpg
  • In the Everest Area of Nepal, Asia: A prayer wheel (called mani chos-'khor or Mani wheel by the Tibetans) is a wheel on a spindle made from metal, wood, leather, or coarse cotton. On the wheel are written or encapsulated prayers or mantras. According to the Tibetan Buddhist belief, spinning such a wheel will have much the same effect as orally reciting the prayers. A prayer wheel symbolizes "turning the wheel of Dharma," which describes the way in which the Buddha taught.
    07NEP-3149.jpg
  • In the Everest Area of Nepal: Mani stones are stone plates, rocks and/or pebbles inscribed, usually with mantra or ashtamangala, as a form of prayer in Tibetan Buddhism. Out of respect, people should walk to the left or clockwise around Mani Walls. Mani stones are placed in mounds or cairns along roadsides and rivers as an offering to spirits of place (or genius loci). The most common Tibetan prayer is “Om Mani Padme Hum”, repeated to invoke compassion. Om Mani Padme Hum means “Hail to the jewel in the lotus”.
    07NEP-3145.jpg
  • In the Everest Area of Nepal: Mani stones are stone plates, rocks and/or pebbles inscribed, usually with mantra or ashtamangala, as a form of prayer in Tibetan Buddhism. Out of respect, people should walk to the left or clockwise around Mani Walls. Mani stones are placed in mounds or cairns along roadsides and rivers as an offering to spirits of place (or genius loci).
    07NEP-3152.jpg
  • A pink composite flower blooms in Sagarmatha National Park, Nepal
    07NEP-3136.jpg
  • The peak of Thamserku (21,680 feet / 6608 meters elevation above sea level) rises 13,000 vertical feet above the Dudh Khoshi (Imja Khola) river, near Benkar (8629 ft / 2630 m), in the Khumbu District of Nepal.
    07NEP-3167-p1-Thamserku.jpg
  • Nepal map indicating trekking in Everest/Gokyo area, Sagarmatha National Park
    07NEP-Map-Sagarmatha-NP_web.jpg
  • A creek flows over eroded stone in Nepal
    07NEP-3179.jpg
  • A loaded yak (yak-cow hybrid) passes a horse, on a stone road in Nepal
    07NEP-3183.jpg
  • A narrow metal swing bridge, over the Dudh Koshi (or Kosi, river) in Sagarmatha National Park, Nepal. Sagarmatha National Park (created 1976) was honored as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1979.
    07NEP-3196.jpg
  • Heavily loaded yaks cross the Larja Bridge, a narrow metal swing bridge which is strung with Tibetan Buddhist prayer flags, below the town of Namche Bazaar, in Sagarmatha National Park, Nepal. Sagarmatha National Park (created 1976) was honored as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1979.
    07NEP-3220.jpg
  • Porters with T-shaped walking sticks carry bamboo baskets loaded with vegetables and supplies up a steep trail, in Nepal. Sagarmatha National Park (created 1976) was honored as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1979.
    07NEP-3224.jpg
  • Porters, loaded with vegetables and supplies, rest their bamboo baskets on T-shaped walking sticks on the way to market in Namche Bazaar, Sagarmatha National Park, Nepal. Sagarmatha National Park (created 1976) was honored as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1979.
    07NEP-3225.jpg
  • The village of Namche Bazaar (11,220 feet elevation) as seen in 2007. The mountain of Kongde Ri (sometimes called Kwangde Ri; 20,320 feet elevation) rises 4 kilometers west, in the Himalaya of eastern Nepal. Sagarmatha National Park was created in 1976 and honored as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1979.
    07NEP-5069.jpg
  • In this 1981 photograph, Namche Bazaar (11,220 feet elevation) was a small village. The mountain of Kongde Ri (sometimes called Kwangde Ri; 20,320 feet elevation) rises 4 kilometers to the west, in the Himalaya of eastern Nepal, Asia.
    81NEP_Namche-Bazaar_Kwangde.jpg
  • Traders sell merchandise every day at the Tibetan Market in the town of Namche Bazaar (or Nemche Bazaar or Namche Bazar) ) at 11,220 feet elevation, in Sagarmatha National Park, in the Khumbu region of Nepal. Sagarmatha National Park (created 1976) was honored as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1979.
    07NEP-3252.jpg
Next
View: 25 | All
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
x

Portfolio of Tom Dempsey / PhotoSeek.com

  • Portfolio
  • BLOG | PhotoSeek HOME
  • ALL IMAGES + captions
    • Worldwide favorites
    • ALL GALLERIES
    • CART
    • Lightbox
  • SEARCH
  • ABOUT
  • How to buy my images
  • Camera reviews + sales