March 30, 2024 – The weather cleared up today and Team 1 got the big view of Everest that they were hoping for, from Shyangboche (above Namche).  From there they continued on to Khunde village where they were hosted for tea at the home of our longtime IMG trek guide Sonam.  After that they visited with the local woman’s group at the community house.  Tomorrow they will continue on to Phortse.

Back in Kathmandu, our head cook Kaji departed early this morning for Taksindu at the end of the road with a truck load of fresh food and duffel bags, heading for Everest Base Camp.  A couple hours later Phunuru Sherpa and the Team 2 flew to Lukla by helicopter and had a nice hike to Phakding.  Team 2 is doing well and everything is on track!

March 29th, 2024–

Everest Team 2 is ready to go (Phunuru Sherpa)

Phunuru Sherpa reports from Kathmandu that the Team 2 had a good day today.  They did the gear checks and got packed up, with the climber’s base camp duffels getting sent on ahead direct to Base Camp.  This evening they had a nice welcome dinner at the Hotel, and are all set for a 6am departure tomorrow morning.  Like Team 1, they will head to the Kathmandu airport for a helicopter ride direct to Lukla.

Looking down on Namche Bazaar (Eric Simonson)

Higher up the valley Ang Jangbu and Team 1 had a good acclimatization day in Namche, seeing the town and preparing for their hike up to Khunde in the morning.  The weather in Khumbu was cloudy today, so they did not get the big Everest view yet.  It will just be that much more impressive when the clouds finally part to reveal the Goddess Mother of the World (the Tibetan translation of Chomolungma)!

March 28th, 2024–

Rhododendrons in bloom on the way to Namche (Ang Jangbu)

Ang Jangbu reports from Namche that Team 1 had a nice hike today, with fine weather and rhododendrons blooming along the trail.  The team departed Phakding and hiked for a couple hours up to Monjo, which is the official Sagarmatha Park entrance.  After going through the formalities associated with entering the Park, the team headed on to the big Namche Hill, crossing several spectacular foot bridges along the way. Ang Jangbu says that everyone did well, and the team were all in Namche Bazaar (11,300 ft) by 3pm.

Back in Kathmandu Phunuru and Pasang report that most of the Team 2 have now arrived and they will be packing tomorrow in preparation for an early departure for Lukla the following morning.

Team 1 at the Sagarmatha Park gate in Monjo (Ang Jangbu)

On the way to Namche (Ang Jangbu)

March 27th, 2024–

Loading up the helicopters in Kathmandu (Ang Jangbu)

Ang Jangbu reports that Team 1 flew by helicopters this morning to Lukla (about 9300 ft), then had a nice hike today to Phakding (about 8500 ft) which is located down in the valley on the bank of the Dudh Kosi River.  It’s always great to get to Phakding, after traveling halfway around the world, you are finally on the trail and on the way to Everest! Their timing was perfect, as they arrived just before some afternoon rain showers did.  Tomorrow the team will head to Namche.  All’s well in Nepal!

Team 1 in Lukla ready to hike (Ang Jangbu)

On the way to Phakding with the Dudh Kosi river below (Eric Simonson)

March 11, 2024

Food packing in Kathmandu for Everest (Ang Jangbu Sherpa)

Ang Jangbu Sherpa reports that we got our big food order delivered in Kathmandu and our cooks, Kaji and Nima, with help of other trek Sherpas, started packing.  The plan is to send the loads by truck to Thaksindu (the end of the road, down the valley from Lukla), and then from there by helicopter sling loads up to Khumbu.  Higher up the valley, the “Icefall Doctors” from the SPCC team are on their way to Base Camp to start building the route in the Icefall.

On March 14 Ang Pasang and Ang Karma, accompanied by yaks and porters, will be heading to EBC with gear loads, and to start laying out the Base Camp tent platforms.  The rest of the Sherpa team will be coming in a few days later to continue the EBC construction.  All’s well in Nepal!