| The next three days were long
trekking days as we had spent an extra day at Khare waiting for the
weather to improve. (photo: Detour to take a look at Lake Sabai Tsho that burst in 1998. The original water-line can be seen on the left) |
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| We retraced our route down the Hinku
Valley, one overnight camp, then up to Cetera (4300m/14046ft) where we
spent our final night before Lukla. The last day to Lukla was probably
the longest trekking day. An 0600 start took us up the steep trail to
the Zatra Wala Pass at 4580m/14961ft, the gateway back to the Dudh Khosi
valley we had left 20 days earlier. (photo: Return trip over the boulder strewn Hinku Valley) |
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| From the pass we contoured to the
Zatra Og pass (4490m/14667ft) high above the valley. The initial descent
from here was steep and snow cover, so a safety line was rigged to
assist with the descent. More snow had to be crossed and descended, so
most group members, including guides/porters, decided to ski and slide
down. Produced some good laughs! (photo: Ascending up to the Zatra Wala Pass) |
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| After lunch, at which time we were
below the snow line for the last time, we continued down the
well-established rocky path. It was late afternoon as we entered the
outskirts of Lukla. We stopped for our final group photo, kindly taken
by a Nepalese soldier. (photo: Some of the crew with Mick, second from right, our western leader) |
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| We had descended almost 2000m/6500ft
from Zatra Og pass. (photo: Looking down from the Zatra Og Pass) |
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(photo, right: Looking
back up to the Zatra Og Pass) |
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(photo, right: Looking
down the runway of Lukla) |
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It was with relief that we arrived at our camp site, our final night under canvas, and the end of what had been a brilliant adventure. |
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