Gokyo Lakes, Cho La Pass, Lobouche East - Thursday 4 May to Sunday 7 May
We had a lazy start to the day as Tom (one of our guides) and Iain started up Goyko Ri at 3am. After breakfast, we sat around the camp until about 11 then had an early lunch on Tom and Iain’s return from the summit. After lunch, we set of from Gokyo to cross the Ngozumba Glacier, following the well-marked route. Only a short walk compared to some days, and it wasn’t long before we were climbing off the glacier to reach our next camp close to Dragnag, far below the Cho La pass. Not feeling particularly good today, so soon in my sleeping back. Bit of altitude problem and probably not enough intake of water! So, it was an early start in the morning for crossing Cho La. A steady plod up a rocky path to a rise, then dropped down and across open ground before starting the steep scramble ascent over the pass. Plenty of snow, but soft enough not to need crampons. Tiring work getting to the top, understandable as the Cho La pass is at 5240 metres. Would have been more impressive views if it had been clearer at the pass.
The descent involved crossing a small glacier, beyond which a rocky scramble led down to our campsite beside the lodges of Dzongla. The following morning we climb up to Lobouche East high camp, and our tents sat on snow for the first time. (It also started to snow soon after our arrival.) A very tiring steep ascent, involving a little scrambling and loose rock paths. Brilliant location though on a rock shelf below Lobouche East. This summit was the first serious climb, via the south east ridge, for the group. An early start at 2am, but I wasn’t feeling very good. Managed to get all my equipment on and set off in the first roped-up team, but I just didn’t feel happy. So, disappointingly I turned back about 30 minutes into the ascent. Great pity, but no point taking chances in those conditions, so I returned to bed and slept some more. Frank had decided not to summit, and John had returned having injured his Achilles tendon.
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