Trip Reports

Everest 3 Peaks 3 Passes - October 2018

Written by Leader Cat Treblico, November 2018

After the group assembled from a range of destinations at the calming oasis of the Summit Hotel in Kathmandu, the trip started with a gloriously sunny, smooth flight into Lukla, capturing our first glimpses of the Himalayan Giants that we were to spend our next 20 days exploring. After a couple of days walking to Namache Bazaar and starting to get to grips with the thin air, we caught our first sight of Everest, just after sunrise, from the Tenzing Norgay statue above the town – breathtaking! That night, we also started a highly competitive Uno tournament that continued for the whole trip – pitching boys against girls, turning friends into enemies (only temporarily!) and prompting swear words from even the most polite amongst us.

From there, we headed to Thame, home of Sherpa heroes old and new – Tenzing Norgay, and also Apa Sherpa, with 21 Everest Summits under his belt!

We continued via Lungden, to our Renjo La Base camp, a great launch point for our trip over our first high pass the next morning, with spectacular views of the whole Everest range and beyond. Renjo La Summiteers: Adam, Jodie, Nicola, Ken, Chris, Ian, David, Marieke, Mike, Alexander, Geraint, Gary, Mick, Liam and Cat (whole team)

Dropping down to Gokyo, many of the team were delighted to find a bakery. On our rest day, some of the team decided to head up to the ‘5th Lake’ towards Cho Oyu, another awe-inspiring 8000m peak, and well off the beaten track.

The next morning, we got up for a sunrise ascent of Gokyo Ri, watching the first rays of the day light up the Everest Range, and reaching our first of the 3 Peaks…..all before breakfast. (Gokyo Ri Summiteers: Adam, Jodie, Nicola, Ken, Chris, Ian, David, Marieke, Mike, Geraint, Mick, Liam and Cat.)

Our good luck and good weather continued as we headed along to Dragnag before our ascent of the Cho La the next day – this was a long day, with a short, easy (and fun) scramble towards the top, and a short section of easy glacier on the way down, giving us a chance to try out the in-step crampons we’d been carrying – the first time in crampons for many. Cho La Summiteers: Adam, Jodie, Nicola, Ken, Chris, Ian, David, Marieke, Mike, Alexander, Geraint, Gary, Mick, Liam and Cat (whole team)

Unfortunately, that night in Dzongala, one of our team was taken ill with altitude sickness and left in a helicopter to Kathmandu the next morning – we were sorry to see him go, but glad he got the medical attention he needed so quickly.

From there, we joined the main base camp trail up to Lobuche, Gorak Shep and on to the Base Camp. While there were no tents at base camp (October is not a common climbing season) the setting was truly spectacular – in the middle of a horseshoe of massive mountains – and with so many of the team having read books and watched films about Everest attempts – successes and disasters – it was a real highlight of the trip to be standing on such hallowed turf. (Base Camp Summiteers: Adam, Jodie, Nicola, Chris, Ian, David, Marieke, Mike, Geraint, Mick, Liam and Cat.

The next morning, some of the team headed up to Kala Pattar, the second Peak of the trip to enjoy up-close-and-personal view of Everest’s summit, as well as stunning 360 views. Some of the team even embarked on a race back to the lodge with our Sherpas…..something us Westerners were never going to win! Best just to concentrate on winning at Uno……

Kala Pattar Summiteers: Adam, Chris, Ian, David, Mike, Geraint, Mick, Liam.

After a night back in Lebouche, some of the team headed over the final pass, the Kongma La, while others chose the more relaxed option to walk the main base camp trail around to Dingboche and up to Chukkung.

Kongma La Summiteers: Chris, Ian, David, Geraint, and Mick, Liam.

From Chukkung, another team member left to get checked out at the nearby medical clinic in Periche and was also flown to Kathmandu the next morning with problems related to altitude and a pre-existing medical condition. Some of the rest of the team summited Chukkung Ri that morning, our final Peak of the trip and descended to Dingboche, to again enjoy a bakery, and some Uno. Chukking Ri Summiteers: Chris, Ian, David, Marieke, Mike, Geraint, Mick and Liam.

From there, we started our descent down the main base camp trail, enjoying the luxuries of bakeries, the thicker air, the return into greenery, and the occasional ensuite room too! We visited the monastery (and bakery!) at Tengboche, enjoyed coffee, cake and shopping in Namache, and had one last Uno championship in Periche, before a big party with our Sherpa team (complete with cake for my birthday!) in Lukla – they totally outdid us in the dancing stakes. We returned back to the Summit Hotel a day late, as the clouds at Lukla meant we couldn’t fly, but still found time for souvenir shopping in Thamel and a huge pizza at Fire and Ice along with some well-earned Everest beer.

Well done to everyone on the team – I look forward to the reunion Uno party soon!

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