Days 09-11 Diary

16th May --> Day-9 Trek Khiraule (2500M) to Najingdingma (2645M)

We Khiraule at 7:00AM after saying bye to the owner couple and started climbing to join the main track at higher level and then steeply up further through some nice rhododendron forests. We passed the village of Charkot about 150M below the top of the ridge (at 9:30AM). And we reached the Surkhe-La / Sipki-La (3085M) top at 10:00AM. We crossed over through a narrow cleft in the ridge and then descended down on the other side quite steeply.

We reached Najingdingma at 11:50AM and stopped there for coffee at the Namaste Lodge; thinking we will go down further after Lunch there. But then decided to stay here and not make it a very long day going to Sibuje today.

The nice Rooms section of Namaste Lodge in Najingdinma .... I was in Cabin-A

17th May --> Day-10 Trek Najingdingma (2645M) to Sibuje (2780M)

We were up early to leave at 6:00AM for the long walk to Pango; but it was raining and so we had to wait until it stopped. Finally at 8:30AM when it stopped we left at 8:30AM going gradually downwards initially. Met a Brazilian a trekker and his wife, on the outskirts of Najingdingma also headed same way. They were following us as went ahead.

Soon it became a steep climbdown on a rain drenched trail of stony steps. We reached the village of Gai-Kharka (10:45AM) and just as we passed beside a hut, heard a short scream from behind, of a female voice. We could not see from the the turn; so I sent my porter Dawa up to see what had happened.

He came back after 10 minutes, saying the Brazilian lady (Kathy?) had slipped and fallen and hurt her leg ... and so they may not go ahead today, but stay in Gai-Kharka till she recovers. We moved on and soon crossed the S-bridge (1930M) over the river after coming down 700M. At 11:00AM started steep climb on the other side and at 2:15PM reached Sibuje. I decided not to go on to Pangom today. So we took a room at Namaste Lodge and ordered Dal-bhat for lunch while sipping a glass of 'Chang' the local beer-like drink. After Lunch at 3:15pm went to room for a short nap.

The kitchen/dining part of Namaste Lodge of Sibuje ... where we stayed 1 night

18th May --> Day-11 Trek Sibuje (2780M) to Kharte (2615M) ...

...... via Pangom-La (2850M) and Pangom (2615M)

In the morning it was a very cloudy and misty at Sibuje but through the clouds some snow peaks of the Mera range could be seen far away.

View of Mera Peak range from Sibuje .... through heavy cloud in the morning

We left Sibuje at around 7AM and started the climb to the Pangom-La pass and reached there in about 1.5-2 Hours. It was cloudy & misty when we reached the pass with lots of prayer flags tried from moss-covered trees and a small stone Chorten where we took some pictures.

From the pass we descended swiftly and within 30 minutes reached teh Pangom Village which seem to be largish with many nice houses. We stopped at good-looking Teahouse "Himalayan Trekking Lodge" and stopped there to have for coffee and continued downwards at around 10:00AM

Me at the Surke-La/ Sipika-La Pass (3085M) ... the pass cleft gap to the Right

The main Dining and Kitchen part of Namaste Lodge, Najingdingma

Gai-Kharka ... looking back at Dawa where the Brazilian lady had slipped

The friendly smiling owner lady of the Namaste Lodge at Sibuje

The Pangom La pass coming up ahead at 8:30

Kids greet us as we reach Pangom Village at 9:00AM

Climbing up to "The Sherpa GH" Cabins ... at an upper level