16 Kng'bachen-Rtn
A 22-day Teahouse Trek from Sukhetar to Kanchenjunga S-BC and then via SeleLa pass to Kanchenjunga N-BC and back to Taplejung in Eastern Nepal.
Trek Day - 16 Return Trek from Lhonak to Kangbachen
View East in the morning (6:45AM) from Lhonak; the weather seem to be clearing ... but only for short while, soon the clouds came in
Trek Day - 01 Trek Sukhetar to Kunjari
On 15th Oct 2015 - I was awake early and came out to see teh weather outside. It looked like weather would be clearing as I could see some nearby hills and peaks. but that was only for short time of some 30 minutes. And soon mist and clouds rolled in thick.
View towards teahouses
After breakfast we discussed a bit if wanted to go on to Pang Pema. But it was clear to all of us, that we would not get any views today with the weather being what it was. So we decided to go back and give Pang-Pema a miss. Disappointing, but our consolation was that we had a lucky sunny day at South BC.
A last look at Lhonak (8:30AM) .. now fully clouded as we depart
We saw 18+5 Blue sheep (Bharals) during our return trek
I was lucky to get a clear pic of a Bharal (Hi-Zoom shot) grazing high up on the mountain side.
We reached Kangbachen by 1:30PM and the weather was throughout the trek cloudy and gloomy. We stayed in the same GH i.e. Kanchenjunga White House.
Later in the afternoon around 3:30PM it started snowing and soon the entire scenery outside the GH changed to white. The snowfall became very heavy that night; as you will see in next days diary.
Snowfall view outside from our Kangbachen Teahouse at 3:30PM
In the evening we gathered in the Dining Hall drinking Tongba around the fire-place radiator; while going out briefly to watch the snow fall. It was a nice party and great atmosphere.
You can see location of Kanchenjunga White House our Teahouse at Kangbachen (on GMaps) click here: Kangbachen White House
Album of all Pics of Trek Day-16:
Our Day-wise trek details are in the sub-page Menu links
By 7:30AM the weather started getting cloudy
Clouds and Mist descended on our teahouse
On return walk to Kangbachen
There is that Pinnacle again ..that we saw yesterday on our way in.
We stopped for some rest just before descending into Kangbachen
Reached Kangbachen 1:30PM .. stayed in same GH "White-House"
Our Group gathered around the fire in the Kangbachen Kitchen
Tongba Party in the evening ...(LtoR)> Bill, KS, Roger and Manzey
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Itinerary :
A 22-Day Kanchenjunga Base Camp Trek - first to South Base Camp (Oktang) and then to North Base Camp (Pang-Pema) via the SeleLa pass crossover .... as per following schedule:
7-10th Oct 2015 Kathmandu - Preparation, Purchases and Permits
11th Oct 2015 Bus Kathmandu to Birtamode
12th Oct 2015 Bus Birtamode to Taplejung
13-14th Oct 2015 Rest Days in Taplejung
Day-1 Thu 15th Oct > Taplejung - Sukhetar - Kunjari
Day-2 Fri 16th Oct > Kunjari - Yanglang
Day-3 Sat 17th Oct > Yangland - Mamanakhe
Day-4 Sun 18th Oct > Mamankhe - Yamphudin (Sherpagaon)
Day-5 Mon 19th Oct > Yamphudin - Lasiya Bhanjyang
Day-6 Tue 20th Oct > Lasiya Bhanjyang - Tortong
Day-7 Wed 21st Oct > Tortong - Cheram (Tseram)
Day-8 Thu 22nd Oct > Acclimitization Day in Cheram
Day-9 Fri 23rd Oct > Cheram - Ramche
Day-10 Sat 24th Oct > Ramche - Oktang (South-BC) - Ramche
Day-11 Sun 25th Oct > Ramche - Selela Camp
Day-12 Mon 26th Oct > Selela Camp - Gunsa
Day-13 Tue 27th Oct > Gunsa - Rest Day
Day-14 Wed 28th Oct > Gunsa - Kangabachen
Day-15 Thu 29th Oct > Kangbachen - Lohnak
Day-16 Fri 30th Oct > Lohnak - Kangabachen (PangPema-NBC skipped due to bad weather)
Day-17 Sat 31st Oct > Kangabachen - Gunsa
Day-18 Sun 1st Nov > Gunsa - Thangyani
Day-19 Mon 2nd Nov > Thangyani - Sukhetham
Day-20 Tue 3rd Nov > Sukhetham - Chiruwa
Day-21 Wed 4th Nov > Chiruwa - Gadi Danda
Day-22 Thu 5th Nov > Gadi Danda - Taplejung
6th Nov 2015 Bus Taplejung to Kakarbitta
7th Nov 2015 Rest Day in Kakarbitta
8th Nov 2015 Kakarbitta - Bagdogra Airport (and flight home)