| Mera Peak 2006 | |
| Those Present: Jason Beverley, James Daniels, Andy Clifford, Sam Clifford, Henry Clifford | |
| Supported By: Kami Nurbu Sherpa and Nima Sarki Sherpa | |
| A selection of photos and comments from our successfully 2006 Mera Peak trip | |
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Departed Cumbria very early heading to Heathrow courtesy of KLM Travel and their party bus! We had 3 hours at Heathrow enjoying the VIP lounge and its complementary drinks before boarding our Biman Airways Flight to Bangladesh, flight was excellent and really enjoyed the 60's retro flowery seat covers. |
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Landed at Bangladesh airport and had 6 hours in the VIP lounge before boarding the kathmandu flight, once at Kathmandu (1800m) and through immigration Kami was waiting with fresh Leighs. We promptly checked in at Kathmandu Guest House and went searching Thamel for last minute bits for our trip and then a good meal at Rum Doodles restaurant. |
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We were up and back at the airport for our Lukla flight at 6am, once in Lukla the mountain airport (2840m) we had our first Tea House breakfast. After permits had been sorted we headed north up the Khumbu valley and had lunch in Ghat village of Raa Raa noodles. That evening we stayed at Phakding (2658m) |
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Our first views of Everest were seen today on the trek up to Namchee Bazaar (3400m). Once we had arrived we raided the german Bakery before checking into Dorgies 'Hotel Khangri' |
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Acclimatization day trekking to the Everest View Hotel, on the way we had great views of the big mountain, but after lunch the clouds had come in blocking the view. After hot chocolate at the hotel we went back to namchee via Khumjung and the Dir edmund hillary School. |
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Another days trekking from Namchee this time up to the Budist Monastery at Tarme. |
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| A days trekking back to Lukla today, | |
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We headed the down the hill from Lukla this time ready for a camping trek with 15 porters, cooks and guides present. Lunch was being prepared as we came into one village by our team That afternoon we arrived at a tea house at Puiyan (2790m) and as it was spitting we were offered tea house accommodation |
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A day on the trail heading downhill mainly but with plenty of uphill's to get us fit. The trail offered some great views and the evening was spent in Panggom (2930m) once at our campsite tea and biscuits were promptly served. |
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Jason's birthday and he was rewarded with a fantastic view first thing in the morning! The day was spent trekking into the jungle and in the morning we were welcomed into a sherpa house for a cup of tea. After battling through the jungle we arrived at a farm where we would be camping that night in heavy showers. That evening after dinner the cook team presented jason with a freshly baked birthday cake. |
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| Another day battling through the jungle, more jungle and even more jungle. | |
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| By mid morning we had ascended out of the jungle (at last) and presented with our first views of Mera Peak. We camped for the night at Koyte and attempted a camp fire with the wet timber available. | |
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| After deicing our tents we had a days trek to Thaknak (4245m) this involved walking up the river bead and on alpine meadows. It was fantastic surrounded by the steep mountains on either side including Mera Peak. | |
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| Sort of a rest day today, however keen to use some energy four of us climbed up to a nearby peak/cairn at 5100m to get some cloudy views of Mera, plus the opportunity to acclimatise at a higher height. | |
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| Breakfast was enjoyed while watching a few avalanches crash down the side of Mera Peak. The day was then spent trekking to the village of Kare (4892m), though still full of energy (even at this height) three of us climbed higher up a nearby ridge to 5200m. | |
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| Today was spent mainly walking very slowly up mera peaks main Glacier, past the Mera La a popular camping spot up to 'High Camp' at 5780m. | |
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| A 4am start was rewarded at 6am by a great sunrise over the Himalaya casting a red glow. By 10am we were all on the summit. After 20 minutes of photo taking and resting we descended much quicker and were back at high camp within an hour and back at Kare that afternoon very tired. | |
| From the summit we had panoramic views of Killamanjaro, Everest, Cho Oyo and Nuptse 4 of the 8000m peaks | |
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| A slow relaxing day back to Koyte. | |
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| This time we took the 'short cut' over the Zatra La a 2 day trek back to Lukla. We stayed at a tea house 300m short of the pass high point, that night we experienced a heavy dump of snow. | |
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In 4 inch deep snow we helped our porter team cross and descend the Zatra La. We arrived back in Lukla mid-afternoon, beers were promptly cracked and tasted fantastic. |
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| Departed Lukla back to Kathmandu, with various bits of sunburn and sores! But all with the achievement of getting everybody to the top of Mera Peak. | |
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