On The Trail

Susan sent a final email before leaving Namche with Rebecca, Pemba, and one porter, to begin the long trek toward Mount Everest. Here is part of what she had to say:
"We are on our way. Pemba slept in because we have had so many false starts. No view of the mountains this morning. It is cloudy and rainy. We are going to Kala Patar first, then the Cho La if there is not too much snow. We are going the other direction this time. That's about five days. Then Goyko and Gokyo Peak and then a new pass called Ranger La and over to the Bhod Kosi about two days up from Thame. They say it is easier then the Cho La, but it is raining here which means the passes might be very snowy. Pemba does not have good shoes. I bought him a jacket in Bangkok."
This is an ambitious trek.
First the expedition is following the main trail up valley northeast to Kala Patar, the principal trekker's viewpoint for Mount Everest across the moraine from the famous Khumbu ice fall. Then they will backtrack and head over the Cho La pass into the next valley west, to a village called Gokyo. From there the plan is to continue west over another pass, Renjo La, whence they can descend into the north-south valley of the Bhod Kosi river coming down from Tibet, two days walk above the same village of Thame where they visited the Gompa on Sunday.
The poor weather will be their biggest difficulty. Several days are predicted with 60% and 80% chance of rain. Seasonal snows may close the passes the team must cross. Fortunately, alternate trails lead back into the main Khumbu valley if they decide to turn back. Check the link at right to Syangboche Airport weather for the latest report from the ridge above Namche.