2 Ama Dablam BC

Day-8  Namche Bazaar  to Tengboche (3rd May 2022)

After breakfast at Khumbu Lodge started at 7:30am for Tengboche. First the steep climb on stony stairs and then the long traverse along the  level trail to Thangjuma where we get the first views of Ama Dablam. After a  lemon tea stop there walked first to  the junction of Gokyo/EBC trails and then a climb down to the river level at Phunki-Tenga where stopped for a Dal-Bhat lunch at 1:00pm. 

After lunch a steep climb of 3 hours to reach Tengboche. Reaching Tengboche at 4:00pm, took a room at Tengboche GH. In teh evening a San Migual beer  shared with my porter and then dinner of Veg Fried Rice and early to bed by 7:30am. 

Day-9 Tengboche Monastery visit and walk to Pangboche (4th May 2022)

Got up early at for views of Everest massif from there. Also view south of the Monastery framed in clear view of Kongde-Ri in the background. But soon clouds rolled in and the snow peak views disappeared . At 6:30am walked to the Monastery and attended the  morning prayers inside for 15-20 minutes. Got some very nice shots from the Monastery front yard. 

After breakfast left the Tengboche GH at 8:30am and headed down through the beautiful Rhodendron forest to Deboche past the Paradise GH where I had stayed earlier. Past the Deboche  Nunnery and then crossed the new long suspension bridge to other side of river. There is a nice paved path now going to Pangboche now. Reached Keyul Alpine Lodge at Pangboche at 11:30am and had a Dal-Bhat lunch there.  In the evening a glass of Rakshi before dinner and slept early. 

At the Alpine Lodge met another guide ,Kirat Rai, who was enthusiastic for me to try the Chola-Pass  crossing to Gokyo side. He was sure I could do it and said there were now steps cut and even iron-ropes put in during Covid Lockdown ,that would make it easy for me to descend even if there was ice on the Pass. He recommended that I buy a Micro Crampon ,at Pangboche, and it will be easily done! The Rakshi fumes in my brain made me think  I could do it and so I sent Bicharey down to the Village Shop to buy me a Micro-C for NRs 4500/- ( a bit costly, but this was Panboche! ). 

Day-10 Pangboche to Mingbo near Ama-Dablam BC (5th May 2022)

Got up early  and after breakfast started for Ama Dablam BC (4600M) at 7:10am. First a climb down to a bridge  crossing the river and then steep climbs past several ridges . It was a  tough walk  and we reached the Mingobo Teahouses at 11:40am after 4.5 hours of trek. We stayed at Ama Dablam Lodge. There was no working Wi-Fi here. But it was nice scenic location. And later I discovered  that the Ama Dablam base camp was  further NE to Mingbo, just 20-30 minutes walk away beyond one or two low ridges.

Day-11 Walk to Ama-Dablam BC and return to Panboche (6th May 2022)

At Mingbo, early in the morning  when I got up, I saw a Tibetan Monk and the GH owner also up and setting up a table out in the front yard. And soon teh Monk started chanting Buddhist hymns and performing a puja with some trekkers & climber sitting around him in a circle. Apparently  my GH owner  was planning to add another wing of Rooms ; as an annex and he had called the Monk to do this ground breaking Puja ceremony. 

At 8:00am we left with just a  small back of water  to go an see Ama Dablam the Base Camp. It was just 30 minutes walk away crossing a few ridges. The BC was huge flat  flat land with lots of orange-yellow  tents set up for  the Climbers by their agencies.

We stood by the mound of Prayer Flags at the BC and took some pictures while sipping Tea offered by one of the Kitchen tents there. There were no views of Ama Dablam snow peaks due to heavy clouds. Disappointing! After 15 minutes hanging around we started back our walk to the Mingbo Teahouse and form there at 9:30am we started back for Pangboche. We reached Pangboche at 11:45am and stayed at the same Beyul Alpine Lodge there. 

The other foreigners trekking team ,led by Kirat Rai ,had already reached back here and were just leaving after lunch to go to Phortse.  We had decided to rest here on night. I was still  undecided to go to Pheriche/Dhugla and try the Chola-Pass or not on the next day.