Loading the plane in Kathmandu in preparation for the flight to Lukla
Our whole crew before leaving Kathmandu
Rob Hill
Canada West Guide John Furneaux
Wayne Browning
Canada West guides Brian Jones and John Furneaux, along with Sebastien Sasseville and our Sirdar, Bhola Paudel in the plane to Lukla
Erik Bjarnason
The mountain village of Lukla, with the only airstrip in the Khumbu region
Breakfast in the Paradise Lodge teahouse on day 1
One of many Buddhist religious sites along the trails maintained by local monks
Typical hiking conditions in the lower valley
Stone carvings and prayer flages such as this are commonplace, every 1/2 hour or so along the trails
Everything is transported by porters up and down the valley, sometimes with loads in excess of 100 kgs! Here a man carries 4"x4" lumber to a construction site, perhaps 2-3 days travel.
Most of the bridges in the Khumbu have been upgraded to steel cables and decking
A porters typical basket and "resting stick" that they will use to sit on for a rest without taking their baskets off
Many tea houses along the way are popular with porters, just as truck stops are in North America
Lots of cows, Yaks and Zopkios (a cross between the two) are found along the way
The Sherpa families are all very friendly and the kids love to check out all the people passing by
Zopkios and Yaks are used extensively as well as porters for carrying bigger loads.
More prayers etched into the rocks on the trailside.
The entrance to Sagarmatha National Park
Our Sirdar, Bhola Paudel, turning a series of prayer wheels as he enters the park
One of the highest suspension bridges before the climb up to Namche Bazar
Looking down onto the suspension bridge before the climb up to Namche Bazar
The winds blow constantly up-river here, so all prayer flags are attached to one side only.
Namche Bazar, the central trading an comercial hub of the Khumbu region, as well as the location of many monastaries and temples.
Looking down onto Namche Bazar
The first view of Everest (left), Lhotse (centre) and Ama Dablam (right) from above Namche Bazar.
Erik Bjarnason and Daniel Fletcher give "2 thumbs up" with Mt Everest in the background
Great views and backdrops as we hike higher up the valley
Looking down the Khumbu valley, Lukla would be at the very end of the visible section
Rob Hill with Ama Dablam in the background
Darrel Ainscough and Wayne Browning
The town of Khumjung above Namche Bazar
Prayer stones piled up on the main trail through Khumjung, Ama Dablam in the background
Doves flying over Khumjung
Prayer stones carved by the Buddhist monks over the centuries are piled throughout the valleys
Young Buddhist monks playing hacky sac
Khumjung monastary and village
Yaks heading for the village of Phortse
Walking back from Khumjung to Namche Bazar
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Our team before leaving Namche Bazar
The entrance to Tengpoche Monastary, established around 1650 bc.
Entrance detail at the Tengpoche Monastary
Tengpoche Monastary with Mt Everest in the background
Mt Everest (on the left)
Inside the monastary temple
Mingma Lama gave us a fine tour and wonderful welcome
Afternoon prayers with the monks
This was a very spiritual place, yet very welcoming and comfortable for everyone
Brian and Mingma Lama in Tengpoche
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After Tengpoche we stayed in the village of Deboche
A modern steel bridge to replace the collapsed suspension bridge underneath
Ama Dablam from below Tengpoche
In early April the fields are still frozen and local people are just starting to prepare them for May planting
Brian and Then Dorjee's mother on the trek into base camp
We spent 3 days based out of Dingpoche at 4,300 meters in order to acclimatize. This is the tea house we were based in.
Dave Sarkabny relaxing in Dingpoche
Our team in Dingpoche
The begining of many, many card games....
Darrel on a day hike to Chhukhung Ri above Dingpoche
Chirstine and Louise above Dingboche with Taboche Pk behind
Taboche Peak above Pheriche
Wayne Browning with the South Face of Lhotse and Nuptse behind
Paul Head enjoying the scenery
Heading up towards Chhukhung with Island Peak straight ahead
More prayer stones with Lhotse behind
Looking at the North ridge of Ama Dablam from Chhukhung
Louise at the Chhukhung tea House
Island Peak at the head of the Chhukhung Valley
John O'Shaughnessy enjoying a break in Chhukhung Teahouse
Jeremy Wilson enjoying his "milk tea"
Ama Dablam from the north, with the West ridge on the right skyline
Jeremy taking in the view from the top of Chhukhung Ri at 5,040 meters.
Paul head on Chhukhung Ri
Wayne Browning and Dhipendra (John)
Darrel pondering the climbing possibilities on Ama Dablam
A playful crew at 5,040 meters on Chhukhung Ri
Descending from Chhukhung Ri with a few hundred meters of prayer flags strung across the valley
Phil Wu heading down to Chhukhung
A yak herders stone house above Dingpoche on the way up to Everest Base Camp
Passing through Tuglha at the toe of the Khumbu Glacier
Yaks on the final approach to Everest Base Camp
Looking up the Khumbu Glacier to Base Camp at the very end
The trail leads out onto the rock-covered glacier for the last few kilometers
Finally, settled into Everest Base Camp
Everest Base Camp in early April, before it has grown into small city!
Mount Everest sticking up above the ridge, with the Khumbu Icefall
Looking down the debris covered, 8 km long Khumbu Glacier
Paul Head on a day trip up to Kala Pattar, a few hours from Base Camp.
Mount Everest from Kala Pattar
A trekker taking in the view of Everest and Nuptse from Kala Pattar
Everest, the Khumbu Ice fall and Everest Base Camp (lower left corner)
Our final Trekking crew of Christine, Louise and Paul heading out with our trekking Guide Nima, along with two Sherpa brothers, Karma Sherpa and Pasha Sherpa
Ropework and ice climbing training begins on seracs near our Base Camp
Wayne practicing on some ice with Base Camp in the background
Rappelling underneath some prayer flags
Our team and all our climbing gear needs to be blessed by a Lama before we can begin climbing
This Puhja pole will support all our prayer flags that will cover our whole camp
Offerings are prepared before the Lama can perform the Puhja ceremony
We have a perfect day for the ceremony with great weather
Many offerings are given to the gods, including a lot of melted yak butter
This stone "altar" has many symbolic offerings, including much food, rice, yak butter confections and alcohol
The lama sits and prays throughout all this
This Puhja pole and prayer flags will have to stay up for 2 months, so it is important to get it right the 1st time!
The crows love the flags and the Puhja ceremony as lots of food is being tossed about
A small fire is started and incense is burned. This will take place every time anyone of our team heads up onto the mountain
more offering of yak butter
...and more crows gather
Soon everyone is rubbed with flour on the face
The lama blesses everyone and ties a prayer string around their neck, to be left on for the whole expedition
This is a very positive time of the expedition, all the Sherpas have been waiting for this blessing before we can climb
Our Climbing Sirdar, Lhkpa Chhiri getting blessed
finally, the whiskey is pulled out and everyone must take a drink (along with the beer and Chang!)
Note the yak butter smeared on the bottom of the cap
Much rice is offered to the gods by being thrown in the air
Spirits are running high and everyone is happy by the end of the ceremony
Much food and drinks are consumed, and all the gear is also blessed
The end of the Puhja, everyone is content and feels ready for the climb
After the Puhja, our team jackets and hats are given to all the climbing and camp staff
More card games.....
Now that the Puhja is done, we can start to climb above base camp into the icefall
Getting used to one of the many, many ladders in the Khumbu icefall.
Walking up though precarious blocks of ice and snow
Part way up the Icefall with Pumo Ri and Everest Base Camp behind
Pumo Ri and Base Camp
Sebastien cheking his blood sugar levels on the way up the Khumbu Icefall
John Furneaux in the Icefall
Sebastien modelling his dust mask
Erik, Wayne, Sebastien, Darrel and John
Wayne taking a break after a full day of going up and down the Khumbu Icefall
Base Camp is getting bigger...
Dr Clark Lewis teaching Dawa Bhote how to use a syringe
Sebastien demonstrating his diabetes testing kit to Dawa
The Khumbu Icefall under a full moon
A common occurence is large and spectacular ice avalanches ripping down the slopes above base Camp, though none ever come close to doing damage
Looking back to Pumo Ri on a rest break down to a lower elevation in between trips up the Icefall
Back to Ama Dablam region for a few days at a lower elevation
Lhotse (right) and Nuptse (left) from underneath Ama Dablam
Some green is starting to show up down in Dingpoche by late April
Yak herders stone houses
Traditional roofs made of local slate and stones
Back in Base Camp with our Sirdar Bhola ,as we prepare to head up to Camp 2 and 3 for acclimitization before the summit attempt
Camp 2 at 6,400 meters
Looking up from Camp 2 at the Lhotse Face with Camp 3 part way up at 7,200 meters
Dawa Bhote
Phurba Bhote (Dawa's father)
Wayne trying out his oxygen mask and setup at Camp 2
Rest day in Camp 2 with all the climbing Sherpas getting ready to start moving oxygen and loads up to Camp 4
Phura Sherpani and her son, Phura Tasi Sherpa, in the Buddha Lodge in Gorak Shep as we have our final rest days before the summit
Saying goodbye to Wayne (center) as he leaves the Khumbu with Basu (right). Waynes knees were causing him too much discomfort for him to risk climbing high on the mountain.
Back up to the Khumbu for our final ascent through the icefall as we head up for the summit
Pasang Ila and Erik on one of the final vertical ladders
Eric ascending the last steep headwall at the top of the Khumbu Icefall
Ascending the Lhotse Face towwards Camp 3
Brian Jones resting at Camp 3
Darrel Ainscough arriving at Camp 3
Erik Bjarnason ascending a steep ice bulge above Camp 3
Looking down the Lhotse Face above Camp 3 into the Western Cwm with Cho Oyu and Mt Pumo Ri in the distance
Pasang Ila Sherpa above Camp 3
Then Dorjee Sherpa high on the Lhotse Face, heading for the South Col
Brian Jones on the Lhotse Face with the Geneva Spur in the background
Looking down the Lhotse Face with the Western Cwm filling in with afternoon clouds
Everest with light summit winds
A busy day travelling between Camp 3 and the South Col
Sebastien and Dawa Bhote approaching the South Col, 7,960 meters (Camp 4)
Darrel arriving at the South Col, 7,960 meters (Camp 4)
Father and son Climbing Sherpas - Phurba Bhote and son Dawa Bhote
Sebastien, Brian and Then Dorjee at the "Balcony" at 2:30 am on May 25th
Brian Jones with the sunrise over Tibet reflected in his Addidas goggles
Sebastien Sasseville approaching the South Summit of Everest at sunrise
John Furneaux ascending a rock step below the South Summit of Mt Everest at sunrise
John Furneaux nearing the South Summit
John Furneaux reflected in Brian Jones's Addidas goggles
Chhedden Sherpa, Mingma Dhukpa Sherpa and Then Dorjee Sherpa at sunrise
Brian Jones at first light, covered in frost after climbing through the night.
Then Dorjee Sherpa at sunrise with the Southeast ridge of Everest below, the "Balcony" prominent below and right of Then Dorjee
Mingma Dhukpa Sherpa with Makalu in the background
Climbing through the final rock bands below the South Summit
High on the Southeast Ridge with the tents of Camp 4 below, and Lhotse behind
Lhotse with the whole Lhotse Face and Camp 3 in the lower right and Camp 4 in the lower left
The final corniced ridge leading to the South Summit
Looking down the Kangshung Face into Tibet
Heading up to the 8,700 meter level
John and Sebastien on the South Summit with the Hillary Step and the main summit of Everest behind
Brian Jones on the South Summit with the Hillary Step and the main summit of Everest behind
Brian Jones ascending the Hillary Step on Mt Everest
John Furneaux on the summit of Mt Everest on May 25th, 2008
ACMG Mountain Guides Brian Jones and John Furneaux on summit of Mt Everest, May 25th, 2008
Canada West Guide John Furneaux and Sebastien Sasseville on the summit of Mt Everest on May 25th, 2008
Climbing Sherpas (left to right) Then Dorjee Sherpa, Pasang Ila Sherpa and Mingma Dhukpa Sherpa on the summit of Mt Everest on May 25th, 2008
Empty and discarded oxygen bottles at the South Summit
Brian Jones below the South Summit of Everest on the descent
Brian rappelling through a tangle of old fixed ropes
Descending the fixed ropes towards Camp 4
Sebastien, John and Brian before arriving at Camp 4 after their summit climb
John Furneaux and Brian Jones enjoying a hot drink in the South Col after a successful climb of Mt Everest
Then Dorjee Sherpa, John Furneaux and Lhakpa Chhiri Sherpa before descending to Camp 2 after summit day.
Brian Jones, Sebastien Sasseville and Darrel Ainscough descending the Lhotse Face
Looking up to the South Col from Camp 3
Pasang Ila Sherpa descending with a full load
Darrel Ainscough on rappel down the Lhotse Face
Dawa Bhote passing by with a full load as John, Erik and Darrel take a break above Camp 2
Darrel Ainscough
Approaching Camp 2 in the Western Cwm
John Furneaux
A Climbing Sherpa heading down to Camp 2 with a very large load
Heading for the Khumbu Icefall for the last time, below Camp 1
Ladder crossing below Camp 1
Looking down into a crevasse near Camp 1
Erik entering the upper Khumbu Icefall on our descent
Heading up the Khumbu Icefall
Erik on rappel over a steep section of the Khumbu Icefall, Everest Base Camp in the background
Looking down into the chaos of the Khumbu Icefall route.
Melted out seracs in the lower Khumbu Icefall
Bt the end of May there is a lot of water in the lower Icefall
Creek crossings are where there used to be crevasses
Rivers now are flowing on the surface of the glaciers
Looking down into a glacial stream
A porter leaving Everest Base Camp with about 60 kg's of gear (wearing worn-out running shoes!)
Sherpa porters carrying all the Base Camp supplies out - a very busy time of year for porters
The village of Pheriche in the early morning as we depart the valley
The front-runner in the Tenzing-Hillary Marathon race on May 29th as we were hiking out
The final view of Mt Everest from the Tengpoche Monastary
The last of the blooms on the rhododendron trees below Tengpoche Monastary at the end of May as we head out - we've missed spring completely!