71 Goyko
A 16-day Trek to Goyko Lake and Climb to Gokyo-Ri (5360M) in Nepal
Background, Trek Summary, Pictures and Videos of the entire Trek:
Mt. Everest (tall black peak on left at back) and other high peaks ... as seen from Gokyo-Ri (5360M on 26th Oct 2019)
Background
I had missed doing the Gokyo trek three times, since the first time I did EBC in 2007 and decided to skip this trek as I was too tired to climb over Chola Pass. Since then had been planning to do this along with several other treks to Everest region, but that never worked out. So this 'missed' trek was playing in my mind all the time and I decided to make one final attempt for this as an exclusive (i.e. Only Gokyo!) trek this year in October-2019.
I decided to start from Salleri (the road-head near Phaplu) rather than from Lukla, to get an extra 4-5 days acclimatization and thus avoid any Altitude issues. Initially some friends had indicated their interest to join me but dropped out as we came closer to the date.
For me Gokyo had become a nagging unfinished trek and so I decided to go it solo. Solo treks have some great advantage; you are the master and don't have to average down to a groups' whims. It helps to stop for night halts when your own energy and body demands dictate. You can decide the pace and rely on your own judgment
Trek Summary:
My porter for this trek was Bacheri Shrestha of Baseri village and he was very adjusting to my pace and sudden desires to halt at some smaller and more basic Teahouse places. And he would hold my hand firmly when going down steep places and thus speed my pace considerably!
This entire trek got done in near 'perfect' fashion and everything including the changing weather coordinated well for me. Never got rain or snow while walking. I reached my destination and stopped each day by Noon or 1pm, beating the clouds and snowfalls on some days by minutes!
It took me 16 walking days for the entire trek starting from Salleri (Ringmo actually) to reach Gokyo-Ri and back to Lukla. I took only one rest day at Machermo; more so because of heavy overnight snow than acclimatization need.
View of Gokyo Lake &Tea-houses from Gokyo-Ri ( click to enlarge)
Day-wise Trek Diaries are in the sub-pages (select from the Menu Column on the Left margin)
Some YouTube Videos about this Trek:
Day-wise Itinerary (Actual) :
Gokyo Trek October-2019
12OCT Day-1 Flight Mumbai (01:00) Kathmandu (05:00) Trek/guide arrangements
13OCT Day-2 Share Jeep Kathmandu (04:30) to Salleri (16:00)
14OCT Day-3 Share Jeep to Ringmo & Trek Start (10:00) to Nunthala (14:00)
15OCT Day-4 Trek Nunthala (07:00) to Khari-Khola (13:30)
16OCT Day-5 Trek Khari-Khola (07:15) to Tham-Danda (11:50)
17OCT Day-6 Trek Tham-Danda (07:30) to Pakhepani (11:30)
18OCT Day-7 Trek Pakhepani (07:40) to Chepplung (12:40)
19OCT Day-8 Trek Chepplung (07:35) to Monjo (14:00)
20OCT Day-9 Trek Monjo (08:00) to Namche (12:10)
21OCT Day-10 Trek Namche (07:40) to Mong-La (12:00)
22OCT Day-11 Trek Mong-La (07:30) to Dole (12:30)
23OCT Day-11 Trek Dole (07:30) to Macherma (11:30)
24OCT Day-12 Macherma Rest Weather Snowy Trek to both side Ridges
25OCT Day-13 Trek Macherma (07:30) to Gokyo (12:00)
26OCT Day-14 Trek Gokyo (10:15) to Gokyo-Ri (13:45) back to Gokyo (16:00)
27OCT Day-15 Trek Gokyo (08:00) to Machermo (12:00)
28OCT Day-15 Trek Machermo (07:45) to Mong-La (15:00)
29OCT Day-16 Trek Mong-La (07:45) to Namche (11:00)
30OCT Day-17 Trek Namche (08:00) Benkar Lunch 2Hrs to Phakding (15:00)
31OCT Day-18 Trek Phakding (08:15) to Lukla (12:45)
01NOV Day-19 Flight Lukla (08:30) KTM (09:05)
02NOV Day-20 Flight Kathmandu to Mumbai via Delhi