September 23, 2013
Click to see the full sized Dolpo Trek map on Google
Adam Angel reports the team had a well-deserved rest day at Phoksundo Lake, after several days of trekking up through old growth Juniper forests. They camped at the Lake, did some exploring, and also enjoyed showers and a celebration of Adam’s birthday which I am sure he will not forget! Now the trekkers and Sherpa staff continue trekking north for several more days with mules carrying their camping gear. Their next big goal is making it over the Nangdala La (pass) at over 17,500 feet, from which they drop down to the Shey Monastery. At this point they will have essentially crossed the Himalayas to the Tibetan plateau, and this area is high, arid, and ethnically Tibetan… it just ended up on the Nepal side of the border!
Eric Simonson