The Trail to Everest Day by
Day – The High Road
Join Us March 26-April 14. 2006 March 26 – Depart Minneapolis-Los Angeles, cross the international dateline over the Pacific. March 27 -- Arrive Bangkok, Thailand late at night, overnight Hotel Asia. March 28 – Kathmandu, Nepal. Fly from Bangkok at midmorning and arrive Kathmandu early afternoon, transferring to Yak and Yeti Hotel. March 29 – Kathmandu. Full day sightseeing, browsing the shops, followed by a briefing by Tiger Mountain, our providers. March 30 – Chomoa (9,200 ft). We’ll fly from Kathmandu to Lukla, a prosperous Sherpa village at 9,300 feet, which has served as the departure site for more than 40 years of trekking into the Solu Khumbu of the Himalayas. Lukla puts us into the Himalayas immediately and spectacularly. We meet our Sherpas here and then head out for the first day’s trek to Chomoa. March 31 – Namche Bazaar (11,300 ft). The trail carries into the Sagamartha National Park, through forests of rhododendrons and over an airy (but very safe) bridge above the Dudh Khosi River and gives us our first glimpse of Everest. Namche is the celebrated trade center of the Sherpas in the heart of the Himalaya. April 1 – Namche Bazaar. This is a day of acclimatization, a chance to prowl among the fascinating shops and/or to take a day hike on the slopes above it. April 2 -- Tengboche (12,687). The trail descends to the Dudh Khosi with sensational views of Ama Dablam and Kantega as well as the more distant Everest and Lhotse. Here we may see great lammergeyer eagles with 9-foot wingspans and the wild sheep, the tahr, of the Everest slopes. After lunch at the quaint riverside hamlet of Phunki Tenga with its giant prayer wheels, we trek slowly but steadily to one of the landmarks of Himalaya trekking, the great Buddhist monastery at Tengboche. April 3 - Pheriche(13,950 ft). From Tengboche we descend for an hour through fir forests and rhododendrons and cross a bridge above the cascading river to Pangboche, where a monastery houses what is reputed to be the fur skull of a yeti or abominable snowman. The story is usually told with a wink. From Pangboche we continue the upward trek to Pheriche, tucked deep in a valley between some of the mightiest of Himalayan peaks. April 4 –Pheriche. We’re now well launched on the trek and can take an acclimatization day to explore the nearby slopes at leisure, possibly venturing over the ridge to view Makalu above the neighboring village of Dingboche. April 5 - Lobuche (16,175 ft). We trek two hours on an airy trail that reaches deep into the history of Everest expeditions, lunch in the village of Dugla and then within an hour gain a relatively steep slope above the tree line beyond Dugla, beyond monuments dedicated to the Sherpa guides and then flank the lateral moraine of the Khumbu glacier to an overnight at Lobuche. April 6 – From Lobuche we cross a pass of glacial debris and descend to the village of Gorak Shep at the edge of the glacier leading to Everest’s base camp. After a rest and lunch at Gorak Shep at 17,000 feet, we reach the crux of our trek, the ascent to a historic promontory of Kala Patar at 18,400 feet, with a stunning head-on view of the dark and titanic face of Everest and the route of its climbing expeditions from the South Col to the summit. Almost a thousand feet below us are the multi-colored tents of Everest Base Camp. It is a scene never to be forgotten. After rest, we return to camp at Lobuche. April 7 - Phortse (12,460 feet). From Lobuche we retrace our route to Dugla and continue to Pheriche. From there we take a lofty trail that carries us to the village of Phortse. April 8 - Namche Bazaar (11,300 ft). The route from Phortse lifts us to a lovely view of Themserku with its fluted precipices and then down to the frothing rivers to Namche Bazaar. April 9 - Monjo (8,900 feet). We descend through Himalayan fir, turn for a final glimpse of Everest and camp above the Dhudh Kosi via the great suspension bridge. April 10 - Lukla. We descend beside the river to Phakding beyond a gorgeous waterfall and then retrace the trail to Lukla, where we’ll relax, enjoy the evening and spend our final night with the Sherpas. April 11 – Kathmandu. From Lukla we fly to Kathmandu in the morning and enjoy Kathmandu at leisure. April 12 - Kathmandu. We spend a full free day in Kathmandu, shopping, unwinding, packing and enjoying one of the more exotic cities of Asia. April 13 - Bangkok. From Kathmandu we take an early afternoon flight to Bangkok, and have a farewell dinner in this extraordinary city. April 14 - Bangkok-to-USA. We’ll take a morning flight from Bangkok, stop for fueling in Japan, cross the Pacific and return home by way of Los Angeles. Namaste. The Trail to the Sherpa Cities The early portion of the trek is identical to the High Road option. March 30 - Phakding (8,300 feet). The 45-minute flight to Lukla (at 9,300 ft.) from Kathmandu takes you into the heart of the Himalayas. After lunch at Lukla you’ll descend to the riverside village of Phakding and have dinner at your campsite. March 31 – Jorsale (9,100 feet). The first full day of the trek carries through forests of Himalayan fir and rhododendrons on trails laced with prayer walls and flags. Camping. April 1 - Namche Bazaar (11,300 feet). Enter the national park at Jorsale, pass through blue pine forests, walk beside the whitewater of the Dudh Kosi and the cross a high suspension bridge to begin the trek to Namche Bazaar, the shopping center of the Khumbu. You’ll have your first glimpse of Everest within an hour after you cross the bridge. From there it’s slowly upward until you reach the trading center of Namche Bazaar. It’s a place alive with the sights and sounds and the history of Himalayan climbing, a crossroads for trekkers and Everesters. Camping. April 2 – Namche Bazaar. This is an exploration or free day. You can enjoy Namche, shopping or sipping tea, watching the fascinating mix of humanity. Or you can combine a half-day of shopping with a few hours of hiking and visiting the Himalayan museum above the village. Camping. April 3 – Phunki Tenga (10,650 feet). Shortly after you leave Namche you’ll pass a chorten honoring the memory of the great Sherpa, Tenzing Norgay, who with Ed Hillary first reached the summit of Everest in 1953. The trail leads downward below slopes where the Himalayan sheep, the thar, are often seen. A bridge takes you into the village of Phunki Tenga, a charming hamlet with distinctive water-driven prayer wheels. Lodges. April 4 – Tengboche (12,687 feet). You hike along the ascending ridgeline above a deep Himalayan ravine with a rewarding view of the glaciers on the slopes beyond. Tengboche’s monastery is one of the most sacred sites in Buddhism. In the morning you’ll have an unforgettable view of Everest reaching nearly six miles into the sky. Camping. April 5- Pheriche (13,950 feet). From Tengboche you’ll descend for an hour through rhododendrons and cross a bridge above the cascading river to Pangboche, where a monastery houses what is reputed to be the fur-covered skull of a yeti or abominable snowman. From Pangboche we continue the upward trek to Pheriche, tucked deep in a valley between some of the mightiest peaks. After a night in Pheriche, you’ll link up with your friends in the Kala Patar group. Lodges. April 6 – Pangboche (12,800 feet). Trek at a leisurely pace from Pheriche to the high trail leading into the village of Pangboche, sequestered in a lovely grove of cedars. Lodges or Camping. April 7- Phortse (12,460 feet). You’ll trek one of the most dramatic trails in the Himalaya this day, the route from Pangboche to Phortse. Through a series of stone staircases it presents you with an absorbing view revealing Tengboche, the great gorge carved by the Dudh Khosi and outer reaches of Namche Bazaar miles away. April 8 – Khumjung (12,400 feet). From Phortse you’ll gain an outlook beneath one of the most elegant of all Himalayan peaks, Themserku. From there you descend to Khumjung, the site of one of the major schools built through the efforts of Ed Hillary. April 9 - Monjo (9,300 feet). You’ll ascend the ridge overlooking Namche Bazaar, then trek down for the rest of the day, first into Namche and then more than 2,000 feet lower, over the suspension bridge to the campsite at Monjo. There once more you’ll rejoin your friends. April 10 – Lukla. Retracing your steps of Day 1, you pass the teahouses of Phakding, cross the river and gradually ascend to Lukla, where you’ll spend your final night in the mountains. April 11 to April 14 duplicates itinerary for Kala Patar group. But nothing on earth quite duplicates the Himalaya. You’re invited. Join us. Registration Please register me (us) for the Trail to Everest Trek. Enclosed is a per person deposit of $300. Check one of the following. Please send registrations to Jerstad Adventures, P.O. Box 612, Beaver Creek OR 97004. ______I prefer the High Road option. ______I prefer the Trail to the Sherpa Cities option. Name(s)__________________________________________________________________________________ Address __________________________________________________________________________________ Phones______________________________________ E-Mail____________________________________
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