Flying into Kathmandu, you can see the peak of Everest piercing through the cloud top.
Take note that this mountain is at the same altitude as cruising level of an Airbus 320 (29,029').
Namche Bazaar (11,300')
The hub of Sherpa trading.
A couple of Sherpa kids playing around the Syangboche Airstrip,
just above Namche (12,200')
The massive Lhotse Face trying desperately to be seen from behind the clouds.
Taken from Tyengboche (13,300').
The spectacular north view of Ama Dablam, a twin peak,
taken from Dingboche (14,400').
Lhotse Face taken from our campground in Dingboche (14,400').
Can't remember which mountain this is, but take a look at the lone silhouetted
figure in the foreground."
On our way to Duglha across the plateau. Lobuje is seen in the right hand side.
We were around 15,000' at the time.
A chorten (memorial grave marking) in the foreground with Ama Dablam in the background.
Taken from Duglha (15,300').
The great Pumori Mountain taken from the start of the Khumbu Glacier. Kala Patar
(Tibetan for Black Rock) can be seen in the foreground. Kinda looks a little piddly next to Pumori, eh?
At the top of Kala Patar. The GPS reads 18,557', our highest altitude for the trip.
The group at the top of Kala Patar. Even the Americans were holding onto the Canadian flag.
Guess they didn't want to be thrown off the peak ;-) (18,557').
Me with Everest and Nuptse in the background.
Taken from Kala Patar (18,557').
Looking down on Everest Base Camp from Kala Patar (18,557').
The magnificent trio of mountains from Kala Patar (18,557').
There's Everest in the middle, Nuptse on the right, and the
Everest West shoulder in the front left.
Closeup of Everest from Kala Patar (18,557').
Our group at Everest Base Camp with the Canadian Team led by
Byron Smith (17,600').
Me and Byron Smith, the leader of the Canadian Team at Base Camp (17,600').
The Great Khumbu Ice Field. The picture really doesn't do the field
justice as some of the "bumps" you see are fifty or sixty feet high.
This glacier has claimed hundreds of lives and is the most difficult
part of the ascent of Everest.
Another shot of the Khumbu glacier from Base Camp (17,600').
One more of the Glacier, and lets get me in it ;-)
A telephoto portrait of Mount Everest (29,028'), the highest
point on the planet.
saxer@nortelnetworks.com