homepage - outings - national - brochure - 13560a

The Trip

Mount Everest, the highest mountain in the world, has been a magnet to mountaineers and trekkers since Nepal opened its doors to foreigners in the 1950s. The desire to trek and climb the high Himalaya cannot be denied, and this trip offers fit hikers a chance to view Everest up-close and personal from many vantage points. Springtime brings warmer weather, longer days, and an explosion of color from the many-hued rhododendrons growing up to 13,000 feet. April is also the beginning of climbing season, making a visit to Everest Base Camp an exciting event. The hike up Gokyo Valley is even more spectacular with its shimmering turquoise lakes, the largest glacier in Nepal, and views of four 8,000-meter peaks (over 26,000 feet) from the top of Gokyo Ri. Hiking with only a day pack, cheerful Nepali porters carry our gear as we stay in spartan, but comfortable lodges the Sherpa people have built clear up to 17,000-foot Gorak Shep. The prospect of following in the footsteps of Sir Edmund Hillary and seeing some of the many projects funded by his Himalayan Trust makes this an adventure not to miss.

Kathmandu extends a shocking welcome to new arrivals with its crowded, narrow, medieval streets and plethora of temples and colorful shops. We'll have two days to visit Swayambunath, the Monkey Temple; Boudnath, one of the world's largest stupas or Buddhist shrines; and Pashupatinath, the holiest Hindu temple in Nepal. Guided exploration of Patan and Bhaktapur, the two other ancient cities of the Kathmandu Valley, show off a time when Nepal was the most advanced in architecture and wood carving.

The rest of Nepal enjoys a quiet, rural existence we'll appreciate after our scenic mountain flight to Lukla. Although not the busiest trekking area of Nepal, we'll be sharing the trails and lodges with a wide array of international hikers. After acclimatizing a day in the bustling mountain village of Namche Bazaar, we head up the Gokyo Valley for our first views of Everest, Cho Oyu, Lhotse, and Makalu, all 8,000-meter peaks. We'll be well-prepared to climb 18,500-foot Kala Pattar for the incomparable views of Everest, the Khumbu Icefall, and Everest Base Camp 1,000 feet below. An afternoon observing the monks' peaceful rituals at renowned Tengboche Monastery rounds out the experience.

While most people come to Nepal to trek on the roof of the world, they are surprised to learn that the cultures of its many ethnic groups are at least as interesting. Nepal's true treasure is the warmth and hospitality of its people and this trek offers the opportunity to learn and experience the Sherpa culture in their homeland. Indeed this is the trek of a lifetime, but the joy and friendliness of the Nepalese people will beckon you to return again and again!

Itinerary

Day 1: Arrive Kathmandu: Transfer to our hotel. We'll have an orientation about the trip, then the afternoon is free to explore the neighborhood of Thamel. Enjoy a welcome dinner of traditional Nepali fare.

Day 2: Kathmandu: To recover from jet lag, we'll take a dawn warm-up walk up 300 feet of stairs to see Hindu and Buddhist temples and to hear beautiful Newari singing at Swayambunath, the Monkey Temple. The rest of the day is spent first in the Hindu world of Pashupatinath where we'll see sadhus, temples dedicated to Shiva and a host of other gods, and ritual funeral burnings on ghats along the Bagmati River. Then we enter the Buddhist world at Boudnath, one of the largest stupas in the world. A welcoming home for Tibetan refugees, monasteries and shops selling Tibetan and Buddhist goods circle the stupa as monks chant while doing their kora, or circumambulation of the shrine. Dinner at a fine Indian restaurant.

Day 3: Kathmandu-Lukla-Phakding: Begin the day with an early-morning mountain flight to Lukla, 9,350 feet. This is one of the most exciting mountain runways to land on. Relax with tea and cookies while our staff pack their loads to head out for the day's hike. We begin on the trekkers' highway through scenes of rural beauty, where we're most likely to see the peak rhododendron bloom. Kusum Kangru is the first high peak we'll see at nearly 21,000 feet. Three hours of up-and-down hiking bring us to camp at Phakding, 8,700 feet.

Day 4: Phakding-Namche Bazaar: A steady climb up to Namche with the sheer face of 21,700-foot Thamserku coming into view. Rhododendron and magnolia flowers decorate the trail while musk deer and Himalayan tahr may be seen on the cliffs above. A slow pace is required on the final long ascent to lessen the chance of altitude sickness. Seven hours and 2,600 feet up brings us to Namche Bazaar at 11,320 feet, a bustling town set in a bowl circled by snow-clad peaks. Two nights are spent here to acclimatize.

Day 5: Namche Bazaar: A rest and acclimatization day with plenty of time to explore this large mountain town complete with shopping and bakeries. A walk to the Namche Gompa (monastery), Sagarmatha (Nepalese name for Mt. Everest) National Park Headquarters, and the Sherpa Cultural Museum are all worth visiting, plus there are superb views of Everest, the Nuptse-Lhotse wall, Ama Dablam, and Tengboche Monastery from here.

Day 6: Namche-Khumjung: A climb of 1,100 feet in four hours brings us to picturesque Khumjung, 12,430 feet, the largest village in the Khumbu (Everest area) that's set at the foot of sacred Khumbi Yul Lha, 18,900 feet. Taking the afternoon to further acclimatize, we'll visit Hillary's first school, opened in 1960 and enlarged to add a high school in 1983 by the Himalayan Trust. We may also visit the Khumjung Gompa, which is said to possess the skull of a yeti, the abominable snowman.

Day 7: Khumjung-Dole: Continue climbing to a 13,000-foot ridge with stunning views to Ama Dablam and overlooking Tengboche. Descend 1,000 feet, then regain it again up through rhododendron and birch forest to Dole, 13,250 feet, in five hours. See even more impressive views with a short hike up a ridge behind Dole.

Day 8: Dole-Machhermo: Although this is a short day, only three hours, we will need to stop at Machhermo, 14,700 feet, so we do not ascend too quickly. Views hiking out of Dole include Kangtega, 22,200 feet, and Thamserku. Up the Gokyo Valley Cho Oyu, the planet's sixth highest peak, comes into view. The vistas become more dramatic the farther up the valley we go.

Day 9: Machhermo-Gokyo: Continuing up the valley we reach the terminal moraine of Ngozumpa Glacier, the longest in Nepal. The Gokyo Valley is characterized by a series of lakes, starting with First Lake, barely a pond. Climbing higher we come to Taujung, or second lake, then stop at Gokyo along Dudh Pokhari, the third lake. In four hours we'll ascend to 15,600 feet and stay here for two nights.

Day 10: Gokyo: For tremendous views and to aid our acclimatization even more, we'll do an early morning climb of 17,500-foot Gokyo Ri, considered a small peak next to Gokyo. The two-hour climb culminates with panoramic views of 26,900-foot Cho Oyu, Gyachung Kung (the highest peak under 8,000 meters), Everest, 27,930-foot Lhotse, and Makalu (the fifth highest mountain on Earth). In the afternoon we can hike farther up along the Ngozumpa Glacier to Fourth Lake for more amazing views.

Day 11: Gokyo-Phortse: Retreating down-valley, we cross the headwaters of the Dudh Kosi (river) below the snout of the glacier to hike down the other side of the river. A 100-year old ban on wood-cutting in the forests around Phortse have made them a refuge for wildlife, so we're likely to see impeyan pheasants, or danphe (the national bird), blood pheasants, and deer. Descend to 12,670 feet in seven hours.

Day 12: Phortse-Pheriche: The trail continues high and with some exposure around the ridge that separates the Gokyo Valley from the main route to Base Camp. Climbing in and out of bluffs, we first come to Pangboche, where there's an old monastery that was founded in the 1600s. Proceeding on, Everest peeks over the Lhotse-Nuptse ridge, which becomes more dominant upon entering Pheriche, 14,040 feet, in six hours. The Himalayan Rescue Association (HRA) runs a medical post here where Western volunteer doctors give consultations. They also have daily lectures on altitude sickness. Fortunately, we should be well acclimatized by now.

Day 13: Pheriche-Lobuche: Meander up the open valley to the steep climb up the terminal moraine of the Khumbu Glacier to Thuklha Pass, where there are many memorials dedicated to the Sherpas who never made it back from Everest. Climb more gently now to Lobuche, 16,200 feet, where the steep ramparts of Lhotse can be seen. Our hike today is five hours with a memorable sunset on Nuptse.

Day 14: Lobuche-Kala Pattar-Gorak Shep: An exciting day starting with the three-hour walk to Gorak Shep, 17,000 feet, situated on the rough moraine of the Changri Shar Glacier. After a long break, continue two more hours to summit Kala Pattar at 18,500 feet. This is the most popular viewpoint of the trek -- having close-up views of Everest and the Khumbu Icefall, and overlooking Base Camp, which is 1,000 feet below. The afternoon sun lights up the peaks and a quick scramble down returns us to Gorak Shep for the night.

Day 15: Gorak Shep-Everest Base Camp-Lobuche: Another day of highlights including the long, arduous, difficult hike to Everest Base Camp, 17,600 feet, six hours round-trip. We walk on top of the bouldery moraine of the Khumbu Glacier quite a distance before dropping onto the glacier itself. Avoiding crevasses, we finally arrive at Base Camp, where there is no view of Everest, just camps of the expeditions preparing for their climbs. The 50-foot-high seracs of the Khumbu Icefall are intriguing and a feature peculiar to Himalayan glaciers. Back at Gorak Shep, it's another 2-3 hours down to Lobuche.

Day 16: Lobuche-Dingboche: Take it easy on a four-hour descent to Dingboche, 14,270 feet, along a high plain far above the river. If there's time and energy, a hike up the Imja Valley toward Chhukhung reveals views of the south face of Lhotse, immense fluted walls of the Amphulapcha Glacier, the sheer face of 20,300-foot Island Peak, and the eastern face of oddly shaped 22,350-foot Ama Dablam.

Day 17: Dingboche-Tengboche: Hike four hours to Tengboche Monastery at 12,700 feet. Descend the Imja Valley to cross the Khumbu Khola (river), then cross it again and ascend to Tengboche, the largest and most active monastery in the Khumbu. Destroyed in a fire in 1989, the new gompa is bigger and better than before. An attached school provides for about 30 young monks and we may observe daily ceremonies and have a tour of the monastery. This is also one of the world's most magnificent views of Everest, Nuptse, Lhotse, Ama Dablam, Kantega, and Thamserku.

Days 18-19: Tengboche-Monjo-Lukla: Descend to cross the Dudh Kosi and climb 700 feet back up to Namche. After a stop for lunch, continue down to Monjo, 9,235 feet, in eight hours. Continue down the next day to complete the trek at Lukla in six hours. We celebrate our accomplishment and thank our hard-working staff with a porter party.

Day 20: Lukla-Kathmandu: We bid farewell to most of our staff as we board our early morning flight to Kathmandu. Transfer to the Potala Guest House, where hot showers await us. The afternoon is free for decompressing and shopping. Dinner at a restaurant of the leader's choice.

Day 21: Kathmandu: After breakfast we'll have a guided tour of the ancient cities of Patan and Bhaktapur. They each had their own kings, temples, and Durbar Squares to show off their offerings to their gods. Patan's museum is well worth visiting, and the peace and quiet of Bhaktapur is like going back in time. We'll honor our trekking staff again at our farewell dinner at a favorite Thamel restaurant.

Day 22: Depart Kathmandu: We'll decompress over breakfast at a restaurant that serves American favorites before transferring to the airport for our flights home.

Getting There

You will need to make your own travel arrangements to and from Nepal. You may wish to take advantage of the services of our Nepali travel agent who has been booking flights for members of Sierra Club Asian treks for many years. The leader will provide contact information in a future trip bulletin.

You must have a passport valid for at least six months beyond the date of exiting Nepal. A Nepal visa is also required, and details to apply for that will be provided later.

Accommodations and Food

Double-occupancy rooms in Kathmandu are included with the trip. Our hotel features rooms with private baths and hot showers. It's centrally located within walking distance of many temples and shops, plus it's staffed by friendly, English-speaking folks. Although not fancy, it is clean, with several lovely gardens to relax in.

On trek, we will be sleeping and eating in rustic, spartan trekking lodges. The rooms have simple wooden bed frames with comfortable mattresses and pillows and usually a single overhead light. "Night toilets" are usually provided indoors so you do not have to go outside at night. The bedrooms are not heated, but the dining rooms are. Hot showers may sometimes be available for a price, but this is not included. Boiled water and tea will be available at all meals and water purification will be provided for treating your drinking water. Buying bottled water is discouraged as the bottles are rarely recycled and end up along the trails.

Meals in Kathmandu will be in restaurants catering to Western tastes and hygiene. On trek our staff will supervise meal preparation to make sure water is boiled, dishes are properly cleaned, and that hygienic practices are followed during meal preparation. We will be having all our meals in lodges that have extensive menus offering Nepali, Tibetan, and Western specialties. Vegetarians are easy to accommodate since dal bhat (lentils and rice) is the Nepali staple and always available. Any other food restrictions should be indicated to the leader as far in advance as possible.

Trip Difficulty

Any Himalayan trek should be considered moderately strenuous, meaning mostly moderate hiking with a few strenuous days. Trekking in the Khumbu is especially difficult because of the elevation gain made in a short amount of time. Flying into Lukla gets us to 9,350 feet without any acclimatization, and then the next day we're at Namche at 11,300 feet. Daily elevation gains and losses could be as much as 3,500 feet. The highest mandatory altitude is at 17,000 feet at Gorak Shep, which is also the highest camp. Most camps will be above 10,000 feet. You should be in excellent physical condition to do this trek, with recent hiking experience above 10,000 feet. Recommendations for an adequate conditioning regime will be provided in a future bulletin to approved trip members.

Spring is the ideal time to trek in Nepal, with typically dry, clear weather. Rain is infrequent and usually only lasts a day. However, mountains create their own weather and rain, snow, or a surprise storm can happen unexpectedly anytime. There could also be some snow and ice at our highest elevations. Daytime temperatures of 50-70 degrees can be expected depending on elevation and nighttime temperatures may go down to the 20s at our high locations. Ultra-violet rays from the sun are especially strong above 10,000 feet, so long pants, long-sleeved shirts, and high-value spf sunscreen and lip balm are essential.

Although porters will carry most of your gear, you will need to carry what you need for the day in a day pack that weighs up to 15 pounds. You are encouraged to hike at your own pace, stopping when you wish for photography or other interests. We will have English-speaking sherpa guides hiking with us to keep us from getting lost. You should be comfortable hiking 3-4 hours in the morning and 2-3 hours in the afternoon, after about a 1.5-hour break for lunch. Because of the rough nature and steepness of the trails, hiking poles are strongly recommended.

As important as your physical conditioning is your mental preparation. The more you familiarize yourself with Nepal before the trip, the more you will be able to absorb and enjoy once you get there. The books in the reference section would be a good starting point. Also, flexibility, patience, and a spirit of adventure are necessary. You should be comfortable traveling in close proximity with a group of people and be able to adapt easily to changing conditions. This trip will be especially enjoyable for those with an open mind to embrace new cultures and experiences.

Equipment and Clothing

A detailed equipment list will be sent to approved trip participants. Your personal gear should be packed in a soft duffel bag, no hard-frame packs or suitcases. Duffel weight is limited to 22 pounds since each porter will carry three of these. What you carry in your day pack is not counted in your duffel weight.

References

Books:

The following books should give you a feel for what the trek will be like. Your local library is also a good resource.

• Mayhew, Bradley and Joe Bindloss, Trekking in the Nepal Himalaya, (9th edition). Lonely Planet Publications.
• McGuinness, Jamie, Trekking in the Everest Region, (5th edition). Trailblazer Publications.
• Mayhew, Bradley, Joe Bindloss, and Stan Armington, Nepal, (7th edition). Lonely Planet Publications.
• Moran, Kerry, Moon Handbook Nepal. Avalon Publishing.
• Nepal. Insights Guides, APA Production/Prentiss Hal.
• Krakauer, Jon, Into Thin Air.

Maps:

• Maps of our trekking area will be distributed in Nepal. Nelles Maps' Nepal is a good map of the entire country.

Conservation

The Sierra Club is an environmentally focused organization. We are concerned about conservation and sustainability of resources locally and globally. Our work is accomplished by volunteers and aided by a salaried staff, encouraging grassroots involvement. Our outings seek to empower participants toward environmental concerns at home and abroad.

Nepal suffers from the same ecological problems common to most of the third world: a growing population, deforestation, erosion, pollution, lack of clean water, and the melting of glaciers. We will observe firsthand the positive and negative influence of Western culture on a traditional society. We will be confronted with troubling dilemmas arising from our presence; we provide an important source of income, but impact their resources and lifestyle. Some of us will question many of our attitudes, particularly our inequitable consumption of the world's resources. Perhaps these experiences will make us better world citizens and involve us actively in searching for a more balanced and sustainable way of life for all of us on this planet. The Nepali people have much to learn from our successes and mistakes; we have much to learn from their spirit and positive attitude. Those of us perceptive and wise enough to open our hearts and minds will come away with a new awareness of the world and the way we live in it.

Trip Price

This trip requires a $200 per-person deposit. An additional payment of $300 per person is due six months prior to trip departure. International trip prices are subject to change and are based on double-occupancy or group accommodations as described above. Single rooms may not be available or may cost more than the listed price. If you have any questions regarding double occupancy, please contact the trip leader.

See the How to Apply for an Outing section for more details on registering for this trip and details about our Reservation and Cancellation Policy.

The payment of a deposit does not confirm you as a member on the trip. Participants must be approved by the trip leader. After signing up for this trip, you will be sent a confirmation packet containing approval materials (Participant Approval Questionnaire, Medical Form, Liability Release Form). Each applicant (including those on the waitlist) must fill out these forms and promptly mail them to the trip leader. The leader will review the approval materials and notify you of your acceptance in a timely manner.

The Sierra Club accurately and fairly budgets and prices our trips. However, unforeseen costs such as devaluation of the dollar compared to other currencies and fuel surcharges assessed by our international providers may necessitate adjustment in trip price. We will make every effort to mitigate and absorb these fees. If a price increase is necessary, however, you will have 14 days after announcement to cancel without penalty.

Staff

Melinda Goodwater went on her first trek to Nepal in 1990 and loved it so much she returned 5 months later. She began leading treks there with her future Nepalese husband in 1992 and lived there through much of the 1990's. She has led over 90 Sierra Club outings everywhere from Alaska, the Sierra, and Rockies, to the desert Southwest. Timesharing between the U.S. and her Nepalese family gives Melinda an insight into the people and culture of Nepal not easily gleaned otherwise. Along with years of experience leading trips in remote and high-altitude situations, Melinda is also a Wilderness First Responder with 80 hours of first aid training. She welcomes you to join her Nepalese trekking family.

E-mail: mgoodwater@sbcglobal.net

---

General Notes About Sierra Club Trips

• Carbon Offsets
• Electronic Devices
• Equipment
• How to Apply for a Trip
• Leader Gratuities
• Liability Release and Assumption of Risk
• Medical Issues
• Non-discrimination Statement
• Participant Approval
• Reservation and Cancellation Policy
• Seller of Travel Disclosure
• Travel Insurance
• Trip Feedback