Everest Base Camp Trek - Lobuche to Kala Pattar

The next day was truly an epic day. We prepared to leave for Kala Pattar just before sunrise. Overnight virtually everything not kept in our sleeping bags froze solid. This included water bottles, treasured Snickers bars and even our boots. It’s hard to start an ambitious day of hiking only to have to put on a pair of boots that are nearly frozen bricks. We had to get up at 5:30 am and leave by 7:00 am to make sure that we had enough time to get back before sunset.

The trails wound up and down, over glacial moraines following along the beautiful Khumbu Glacier. Making our way to a place called Gorak Shep, or “Graveyard of the Crows,” our energy was depleted by cold and lack of oxygen.

That day was a triumph of will. After several false summits, we all made it to the very top of Kala Pattar. Prayer flags covered every inch of the summit signaled our arrival and feelings of jubilation were shared by all. Having heard that many Sherpa never got the recognition they deserved, often not even a photograph, I made sure to take pictures of our porters. It is such a simple gift to those supporting your goal. As it turned out, my efforts were rewarded as the photograph of Ganesh was one of my first images to be published.

The summit wasn’t the end, we still had to return to Lobuche before sunset. Admittedly, it was easier to go down, but it was still a challenge. It was a long day and all of us were tired after many hours of hiking. We arrived back at our guest house exhausted just as twilight came upon us. My friends didn’t seem too upset that I went without them and we agreed to try to walk together to the halfway point of Gorak Shep the next day.

The story continues...