October 18, 2018

Ama Dablam from Tengboche (Tye Chapman)

It was a great day of trekking for the Ama Dablam and 3X2 Team. They departed Namche after a good breakfast and made it to Tengboche before 3pm when the monks assemble for their afternoon gathering.

The monastery is beautiful and the views are amazing from Tengboche. For the Ama Dablam Team, this is the first real look at the objective.

The team will move up to Pangboche in the morning. This will be a short day for everyone and the weather continues to be favorable. IMG Guide Phunuru Sherpa is at Gorakshep, organizing and packing gear for the Ama Dablam Team.

Greg Vernovage

October 17, 2018

Ang Karma Sherpa and our 3X2 and Ama Dablam Team at the Everest View Hotel (Romulo Cardenas)

The 3X2 trek and Ama Dablam Climbing Team enjoyed a good day acclimatizing, trekking and visiting the sights above Namche. After breakfast, the team set off for the Everest View Hotel and the village Khumjung. After a good night sleep in Namche, it is always fun and important to get out and stretch our legs.  The route to the Everest View Hotel is a serious test and never gets easier the first time. Departing the lodge in Namche, the team heads up what feels like an endless set of steps. Slow and steady and stopping to take photos is a great way to catch your breath and see all of Namche.  At the top of the stairs, the route switches to dirt and heads up the Syangboche airstrip. This is a dirt runway were the MI-17 helicopter lands with Everest supplies each spring.  From here, it is a gentle slope to the Everest View Hotel  All the effort to get to the hotel on the hill is worth it. The views are amazing and it is the first real look at Ama Dablam, Lhotse and Mount Everest. From the Everest View Hotel, it is a short walk downhill to Khumjung where the team ate lunch and visited the Monastery.

Ama Dablam, Lhotse and Everest from above Syangboche (Greg Vernovage)

Our Private Gokyo Loop Trek led by IMG Guide Harry Hamlin had a great day as well. The team was up and out the door, enjoying the cool air of the Khumbu. A couple hours of moderate trekking is a nice way to get the blood flowing. After the first stretch, it is time to test out the lungs and legs and head up the famous Namche Hill. Part way up the hill, the team crossed the highest suspension bridge of the trek. The team is now resting in Namche and looking forward to their active rest day tomorrow.

All is well and the weather is great in the Khumbu Valley!

Greg Vernovage