Bathing Optional

Nepal : Everest Region, Apr. 2007

Continents

$Day 1: Lukla to Monjo.\r\nOn the plane from Kathmandu to Lukla, the access village for the Everest region. First time flying on a small, 20-seater, commercial propeller plane!$	$Day 1: Lukla to Monjo.\r\nOur plane, Yeti Airlines, on the tarmac at Lukla.$	$Day 1: Lukla to Monjo.\r\nTerraced hills as we set off towards Everest.$	$Day 1: Lukla to Monjo.\r\nLocal child.$	$Day 1: Lukla to Monjo.\r\nDespite the many trekkers that come to this part of Nepal, the local culture perseveres.$
$Day 1: Lukla to Monjo.\r\nVillage lady near Lukla.$	$Day 1: Lukla to Monjo.\r\nSherpas and porters carry loads like these (yes, those are full of liquid!) for days and days into the mountains so that Westerners can enjoy all kinds of comforts while hiking in the Nepalese Himalaya.\r\n$	$Day 1: Lukla to Monjo.\r\nTypical mountain home with a tasty looking field of greens in front.$	$Day 1: Lukla to Monjo.\r\nWe rarely found a trail marker or sign along the trail, but plenty of mani (prayer stones) showed us that we were still on the right trail.$	$Day 1: Lukla to Monjo.\r\nSpring is a good time to be in the Himalaya.$
$Day 1: Lukla to Monjo.\r\nOne of many small shrines with a single, man-sized prayer wheel inside, that we would pass during our trek.$	$Day 1: Lukla to Monjo.\r\nThe Dudh Kosi River. We would follow it for much of our trek towards Mt.Everest.$	$Day 1: Lukla to Monjo.\r\nCow or yak? One never quite knows as these animals have been cross-bred here in the mountains for centuries.$	$Day 1: Lukla to Monjo.\r\nSpring blossoms.$	$Day 1: Lukla to Monjo.\r\nAnother trail marking mani stone.$
$Day 1: Lukla to Monjo.\r\nVillage boy with a dangerous toy.$	$Day 2: Monjo to Thami.\r\nApril Fools begins with perfectly clear skies in the morning, something we could expect every single day of our 2-week hike with clouds rolling in, like clockwork, by early afternoon.$	$Day 2: Monjo to Thami.\r\nThe tiny monastery over Monjo town.$	$Day 2: Monjo to Thami.\r\nThe writing is most definitely on the wall.$	$Day 2: Monjo to Thami.\r\nSpring blossoms.$
$Day 2 : Monjo to Thami.\r\nFrom Monjo it was all uphill towards Namche Bazaar and the Himalaya.$	$Day 2 : Monjo to Thami.\r\nThat bridge would mark the beginning of our climb out of the 2500 meter valley and up into the mountains.$	$Day 2 : Monjo to Thami.\r\nAshe on one of many suspension bridges we would cross this day. Hope that more than faith and those prayer flags are holding these bridges up!$	$Day 2 : Monjo to Thami.\r\nOnce we got over 3000 meters, we wouldnt see trees like this too much anymore. Appreciating them while we had them!$	$Day 2 : Monjo to Thami.\r\nLooking back down the valley we had come down as we kept on climbing.$
$Day 2: Monjo to Thami.\r\nAshe is UNimpressed with all the waste that flows through the streams and waterfalls under most villages. Needless to say, all this came with us to the next town.$	$Day 2: Monjo to Thami.\r\nOver 3000 meters and our first real mountain views!$	$Day 2: Monjo to Thami.\r\nNamche Bazaar, once a very, very simple and small Sherpa settlement, is now a large and happening town and the the main base for trekkers in the Everest region.$	$Day 2: Monjo to Thami.\r\nThe stupa with eyes at Namche Bazaar is one of many of this Nepali style that we would pass during our trek.$	$Day 2: Monjo to Thami.\r\nThe Thamserku range beyond Namches monastery.$
$Day 2 : Monjo to Thami.\r\nPrayer flags over a particularly beautiful mani stone as we took a side trip up a west pointing valley from Namche Bazaar to Thami.$	$Day 2 : Monjo to Thami.\r\nMost ridges and hilltops are crowned with stupas, large or small, and a few waving prayer flags.$	$Day 2 : Monjo to Thami.\r\nPassing one of the largest mani stones we would see during our entire trek!$	$Day 2 : Monjo to Thami.\r\nHilltop stupa.$	$Day 2 : Monjo to Thami.\r\nGearing the yak up for a long walk through the mountains.$
$Day 2 : Monjo to Thami.\r\nSome days, that tinkling of those yak bells would be the only sound we would hear in the mountains.$	$Day 2 : Monjo to Thami.\r\nAt particularly auspicious sites, gates like this would proceed a long line of stupas, prayer wheels or would even allude to a temple or monastery to come sometime in the following kilometer, two, or even more!$	$Day 2 : Monjo to Thami.\r\nThami, not much more than a collection of stone homes built around a tiny, cliff-side monastery. Probably one of the more authentic and beautiful villages we would visit in the Everest region.$	$Day 2 : Monjo to Thami.\r\nThe monastery at Thami.$	$Day 2 : Monjo to Thami.\r\nGiant prayer wheel, a common sight in the Himalaya.$
$Day 2 : Monjo to Thami.\r\nAs usual, a deep fog set in as the afternoon wore on.$	$Day 2 : Monjo to Thami.\r\nOne of Thamis cliff homes near the monastery.$	$Day 2 : Monjo to Thami.\r\nA rainbow pheasant. Nepals national bird? Perhaps, but, if not, very important nevertheless.$	$Day 2 : Monjo to Thami.\r\nLocal lady.$	$Day 3 : Thami to Tengboche.\r\nEarly, early morning, looking out at the mountains that tower over Thami village.$
$Day 3 : Thami to Tengboche.\r\nThami is in one of those places where the mountains that surround it feel close enough to touch!$	$Day 3 : Thami to Tengboche.\r\nSunrise colors one of the peaks over Thami.$	$Day 3 : Thami to Tengboche.\r\nAnother peak is covered in morning sun.$	$Day 3 : Thami to Tengboche.\r\nReady to begin another long day of hiking.$	$Day 3 : Thami to Tengboche.\r\nThami in the morning, with all that evening fog burnt out.$
$Day 3 : Thami to Tengboche.\r\nPrayer wheel along the path as we descended from Thami.$	$Day 3 : Thami to Tengboche.\r\nFollowing the stupa-topped ridge that leads to the monastery at Thami.$	$Day 3 : Thami to Tengboche.\r\nMani stones and flag along the trail.$	$Day 3 : Thami to Tengboche.\r\nLoving the blue skies and white mountains the morning has brought us.$	$Day 3 : Thami to Tengboche.\r\nLone stupa.$
$Day 3 : Thami to Tengboche.\r\nLooking back towards Thami as we moved away.$	$Day 3 : Thami to Tengboche.\r\nTypical Sherpa village on a small, mountain plateau.$	$Day 3 : Thami to Tengboche.\r\nAshe on the trail out of the Thami valley.$	$Day 3 : Thami to Tengboche.\r\nEvery once in a while along the trail we would come to a pile of stones like these, left as both markers and sacred offerings.$	$Day 3 : Thami to Tengboche.\r\nWith no showers in sight, Ashe had to use a local well as the source of water for her hair washing.$
$Day 3 : Thami to Tengboche.\r\nMountain man along the trail.$	$Day 3 : Thami to Tengboche.\r\nAnd his wife.$	$Day 3 : Thami to Tengboche.\r\nInside one of the small temples along the way.$	$Day 3 : Thami to Tengboche.\r\nStupa with flags.$	$Day 3 : Thami to Tengboche.\r\nLike clockwork, everyday after noon, the clouds would begin to roll in, quickly.$
$Day 3 : Thami to Dingboche.\r\nMost mani stones have only symbols and text carved, then painted on them, but some also have nice Buddhist images like this one of Green Tara.$	$Day 3 : Thami to Dingboche.\r\nOne of hundreds (thousands?) of yaks that crossed our path during our Everest hike. We grew to love those hairy, colorful beasts.$	$Day 3 : Thami to Dingboche.\r\nWe knew we had arrived at ridgetop Tengboche Monastery when we spotted this group of young monks hanging out.$	$Day 3 : Thami to Dingboche.\r\nA couple of the older masters.$	$Day 3 : Thami to Dingboche.\r\nOne of several stupas scattered about the ridgetop on which the amazing Tengboche Monastery sits.$
$Day 3 : Thami to Tengboche.\r\nMonastery monk.$	$Day 3 : Thami to Tengboche.\r\nMonastery Buddha, grounded.$	$Day 3 : Thami to Tengboche.\r\nIn Nepali style, each monastery has a courtyard with tall prayer pole at its center.$	$Day 3 : Thami to Tengboche.\r\nViews from the Monastery are spectacular in every direction.$	$Day 3 : Thami to Tengboche.\r\nReflection.$
$Day 4 : Tengboche to Dingboche.\r\nSunrise light on the Thamserku Range as seen from Tengboche Monastery. Looking back from where we had come.$	$Day 4 : Tengboche to Dingboche.\r\nMountains surround Tengboche Monastery.$	$Day 4 : Tengboche to Dingboche.\r\nTengboche Monastery with a dramatic peak right behind it.$	$Day 4 : Tengboche to Dingboche.\r\nMore beatutiful peaks over Tengboche.$	$Day 4 : Tengboche to Dingboche.\r\nMonastery lodging.$
$Day 4 : Tengboche to Dingboche.\r\nSteam rising from the mountains as the morning sun warms things up.$	$Day 4 : Tengboche to Dingboche.\r\nOne last look at the Monastery before heading off.$	$Day 4 : Tengboche to Dingboche.\r\nNepalis use door hangings like these, often in lieu of a door itself!$	$Day 4 : Tengboche to Dingboche.\r\nMonastery gate with Ama Dablam, one of the regions most dramatic peaks, beyond.$	$Day 4 : Tengboche to Dingboche.\r\nPrayer flags seem to border most sacred peaks.$
$Day 4 : Tengboche to Dingboche.\r\nIts easy to get out of bed at 6 a.m. with views like these.$	$Day 4 : Tengboche to Dingboche.\r\nMonastery monks.$	$Day 4 : Tengboche to Dingboche.\r\nWow! (The mountains, not us)$	$Day 4 : Tengboche to Dingboche.\r\nJagged peak over Monstery lodging.$	$Day 4 : Tengboche to Dingboche.\r\nAshe enjoying the view of Everest (the tiny peak just barely coming over the range) from our room window at the Monastery.$
$Day 4 : Tengboche to Dingboche.\r\nAshe ready for another day of hiking to begin. Everest, in the distance, is our goal.$	$Day 4 : Tengboche to Dingboche.\r\nMaciejs also ready to head off. Ama Dablam would be our compass for the day.$	$Day 4 : Tengboche to Dingboche.\r\nYak!$	$Day 4 : Tengboche to Dingboche.\r\nA tiny nunnery we passed as we descended the far side of the ridge, down into another valley from Tengboche Monastery.$	$Day 4 : Tengboche to Dingboche.\r\nVillage girl.$
$Day 4 : Tengboche to Dingboche.\r\nVillage child.$	$Day 4 : Tengboche to Dingboche.\r\nOn the trail, heading straight for beautiful Ama Dablam.$	$Day 4 : Tengboche to Dingboche.\r\nStupa with Ama Dablam, one of the more memorable peaks.$	$Day 4 : Tengboche to Dingboche.\r\nYak caravan coming through! When these guys come rumbling down the hill, theres no choice but to get out of the way!$	$Day 4 : Tengboche to Dingboche.\r\nYet another stupa high along the trail.$
$Day 4 : Tengboche to Dingboche.\r\nPrayer flagpoles.$	$Day 4 : Tengboche to Dingboche.\r\nMore carved stones along the trail.$	$Day 4 : Tengboche to Dingboche.\r\nMaciej in his element, despite the rapidly thinning air.$	$Day 4 : Tengboche to Dingboche.\r\nWalking the trail.$	$Day 4 : Tengboche to Dingboche.\r\nTheres almost always a Sherpa in sight to let you know exacty where the trail is.$
$Day 4 : Tengboche to Dingboche.\r\nStupas over Dingboche.$	$Day 4 : Tengboche to Dingboche.\r\nWindy afternoon in Dingboche!$	$Day 4 : Tengboche to Dingboche.\r\nThe all-seeing eyes look out at mountain vistas.$	$Day 4 : Tengboche to Dingboche.\r\nPrayer flags.$	$Day 4 : Tengboche to Dingboche.\r\nSunset puts one of the peaks over Dingboche on fire.$
$Day 5 : Dingboche to Dugla.\r\nSunrise peaks over Dingboche.$	$Day 5 : Dingboche to Dugla.\r\nIn order to better acclimatize, we took a morning hike from Dingboche (4300 meters) up the valley to Chukkung (4800 meters) passing summer yak-herding villages along the way.$	$Day 5 : Dingboche to Dugla.\r\nFantastic valley views.$	$Day 5 : Dingboche to Dugla.\r\nMorning mist.$	$Day 5 : Dingboche to Dugla.\r\nOn the trail.$
$Day 5 : Dingboche to Dugla.\r\nPrayer stones tied with a silk scarf offering.$	$Day 5 : Dingboche to Dugla.\r\nStunning views. If we sat to take in every amazing peak we passed while trekking, we would never get any walking done.$	$Day 5 : Dingboche to Dugla.\r\nAlong the trail deep into the Chukkung Valley, we found this memorial to a fallen Polish climber.$	$Day 5 : Dingboche to Dugla.\r\nWow, what a glacier!$	$Day 5 : Dingboche to Dugla.\r\nWe climbed all that?!$
$Day 5 : Dingboche to Dugla.\r\nUs beside Ama Dablam.$	$Day 5 : Dingboche to Dugla.\r\nWhat a valley!$	$Day 5 : Dingboche to Dugla.\r\nNear the end of the Chukkung Valley, we were caught with a range of mountains on three sides.$	$Day 5 : Dingboche to Dugla.\r\nMountain home.$	$Day 5 : Dingboche to Dugla.\r\nTattered prayer flag.$
$Day 5 : Dingboche to Dugla.\r\nAnother all-seeing stupa!$	$Day 5 : Dingboche to Dugla.\r\nMountains peaking over the ridge at Dingboche.$	$Day 5 : Dingboche to Dugla.\r\nWe climbed up the the amazing plain between Dingboche and Dugla at a time of day when the entire region looked magical!$	$Day 5 : Dingboche to Dugla.\r\nAshe in the high plains over Dingboche.$	$Day 5 : Dingboche to Dugla.\r\nCrumbling home high on the plain.$
$Day 5 : Dingboche to Dugla.\r\nBeautiful!$	$Day 5 : Dingboche to Dugla.\r\nWhat a homestead!$	$Day 5 : Dingboche to Dugla.\r\nAshe on the trail.$	$Day 5 : Dingboche to Dugla.\r\nYaks!$	$Day 5 : Dingboche to Dugla.\r\nLove those yaks.$
$Day 5 : Dingboche to Dugla.\r\nANOTHER caravan. They keep moving all the time.$	$Day 6 : Dugla to Gorak Shep.\r\nSunrise peak over Dugla.$	$Day 6 : Dugla to Gorak Shep.\r\nThere wasnt a single day during the hike when we couldnt enjoy a mountain sunrise like this.$	$Day 6 : Dugla to Gorak Shep.\r\nMaciej taking it all in.$	$Day 6 : Dugla to Gorak Shep.\r\nAshe, bright eyed and ready for another day on the trail.$
$Day 6 : Dugla to Gorak Shep.\r\nThats the way were headed.$	$Day 6 : Dugla to Gorak Shep.\r\nAs we ascended into this valley, we surpassed 4500 meters.$	$Day 6 : Dugla to Gorak Shep.\r\nAs we ascended to Gorak Shep, the final small settlement of shelters and lodges before Everest Base Camp, the trail turned to sand and boulders. We were on the moraine of the Khumbu Glacier.$	$Day 6 : Dugla to Gorak Shep.\r\nGorak Shep, just ahead.$	$Day 6 : Dugla to Gorak Shep.\r\nLooking back. It had been quite a climb to reach this plateau.$
$Day 6 : Dugla to Gorak Shep.\r\nLooking up the Khumbu Valley. The glacier can be seen far ahead and Mt.Everest is the black peak at the very right!$	$Day 6 : Dugla to Gorak Shep.\r\nMt.Everest!! We will never forget seeing the highest point on earth from so close by.$	$Day 6 : Dugla to Gorak Shep.\r\nIn order to get those wonderful Everest views we had to make the climb up Kala Pattar, the black rock 5534 meter peak that towers over the tiny settlement of Gorak Shep. From Kala Pattar, we got this amazing view back at the mountains and valleys we had passed in order to get here.$	$Day 6 : Dugla to Gorak Shep.\r\nRock statue with prayer flags points the way to Mt.Everest.$	$Day 6 : Dugla to Gorak Shep.\r\nSome of the worlds highest peaks. No peak around here is smaller than 6500 meters.$
$Day 6 : Dugla to Gorak Shep.\r\nLooking down at Mt.Everest Base Camp from Kalla Pattar. Way down there at the very edge of the Khumbu Glacier is the collection of tents that is Everest Base Camp.$	$Day 6 : Dugla to Gorak Shep.\r\nCan you see the tents at Base Camp?$	$Day 7 : Everest Base Camp.\r\nAshe got out of bed early the next morning after her 20-hour fight with altitude sickness and decided, Lets go higher! We started the 2 hour hike up to Everest Base Camp stuck in behind a traffic jam of yaks!$	$Day 7 : Everest Base Camp.\r\nCrystal clear ice.$	$Day 7 : Everest Base Camp.\r\nYak caravan on its way to Everest Base Camp.$
$Day 7 : Everest Base Camp.\r\nAs we approached Base Camp, we finally reached the Khumbu Glacier. Before this, we had just seen glacial residue and broken rocks.$	$Day 7 : Everest Base Camp.\r\nIce pinnacles.$	$Day 7 : Everest Base Camp.\r\nOn the glacier.$	$Day 7 : Everest Base Camp.\r\nA comforting sight as we neared Everest Base Camp.$	$Day 7 : Everest Base Camp.\r\nWe had no gloves and it was MUCH colder than we expected at Base Camp so Ashe had to improvise.$
$Day 7 : Everest Base Camp.\r\nWe made it! Ashe at Base Camp.$	$Day 7 : Everest Base Camp.\r\nMaciej at Base Camp. One of the more challenging sections of the Everest climb is that glacier beyond the tent village.$	$Day 7 : Everest Base Camp.\r\nA U.S. team at Base Camp.$	$Day 7 : Everest Base Camp.\r\nUs in the heart of the Camp.$	$Day 7 : Everest Base Camp.\r\nEnjoying the scenery.$
$Day 7 : Everest Base Camp.\r\nBack at Gorak Shep, one last look before heading into a lodge to rest and eat.$	$Day 7 : Everest Base Camp.\r\nGorak Shep, nothing more than a few lodges and tents, is a very typical trail summer-only village.$	$Day 7 : Everest Base Camp.\r\nA lake by Gorak Shep is now a field of sand. Trekkers leave their mark in stone.$	$Day 7 : Everest Base Camp.\r\nAshe literally passed out following the Base Camp trek. Her bout with altitude sickness the day before had depleted all her energy and the headache persisted. Following a quick nap and lunch we made a quick descent, down several hundred meters in order to get rid of her symptoms.$	$Day 8 : Dugla to Phortse.\r\nThe dawning of another beautiful new day.$
$Day 8 : Dugla to Phortse.\r\nStools of bamboo and yak hide.\r\n$	$Day 8 : Dugla to Phortse.\r\nOn the trail.$	$Day 8 : Dugla to Phortse.\r\nAshe, energized and loving the walk.$	$Day 8 : Dugla to Phortse.\r\nOur trail companions.$	$Day 8 : Dugla to Phortse.\r\nPassing Maciejs favorite group of seasonal homes on the plateau between Dugla and Dingboche as we retraced our steps back down the valley.$
$Day 8 : Dugla to Phortse.\r\nGrazing plots wherever a flat piece of land can be found.$	$Day 8 : Dugla to Phortse.\r\nThe Everest regions oldest monastery at Pangboche.$	$Day 8 : Dugla to Phortse.\r\nAshe on the precarious cliff trail connecting Pangboche and Phortse. The weather changed quickly and, before we knew it, it was snowing!$	$Day 8 : Dugla to Phortse.\r\nLast views of beautiful Ama Dablam before the clouds completely obscured it.$	$Day 8 : Dugla to Phortse.\r\nMaciej on the cliff trail.$
$Day 9 : Phortse to Luza.\r\nThe first light of morning from our guesthouse in Phortse.$	$Day 9 : Phortse to Luza.\r\nPhortse homes.\r\n$	$Day 9 : Phortse to Luza.\r\nMorning peak.$	$Day 9 : Phortse to Luza.\r\nPhortse Monastery.$	$Day 9 : Phortse to Luza.\r\nPrayer wheels at the monastery.$
$Day 9 : Phortse to Luza.\r\nMorning scene.$	$Day 9 : Phortse to Luza.\r\nPassing yet another eyed stupa on our way down, donw, downhill from Phortse to the rushing river below.$	$Day 9 : Phortse to Luza.\r\nCliff waterfall as we climbed up, higher and higher into the Gokyo Valley, one valley west of and parallel to the Base Camp valley.$	$Day 9 : Phortse to Luza.\r\nMachermo, one of several villages we passed as we went higher and deeper into the Gokyo Valley. The two tiny stonehouses show what these villages looked like before all those (larger) tourist lodges went up.$	$Day 9 : Phortse to Luza.\r\nGirl with huge basketed load taking a break on a hilltop. It was rare to see girls carrying loads through the mountains. She must be brother-less.$
$Day 9 : Phortse to Luza.\r\nMountain home.$	$Day 9 : Phortse to Luza.\r\nPrayer pole.$	$Day 9 : Phortse to Luza.\r\nValley views.$	$Day 9 : Phortse to Luza.\r\nLooking back as we reached a high country.$	$Day 9 : Phortse to Luza.\r\nAshe taking a short break.$
$Day 9 : Phortse to Luza.\r\nPrayer pole.$	$Day 9 : Phortse to Luza.\r\nYou know the views are great when you see a prayer pole.$	$Day 10 : Luza to Gokyo.\r\nBack on the trail the next morning.$	$Day 10 : Luza to Gokyo.\r\nFinally, the Gokyo Lakes. A series of five high altitude lakes dot the 4800+ meter landscape around Gokyo town.$	$Day 10 : Luza to Gokyo.\r\nLake two.$
$Day 10 : Luza to Gokyo.\r\nRock sculptures surround each of the Gokyo lakes.$	$Day 10 : Luza to Gokyo.\r\nLake one was the only of the four that was completed thawed.$	$Day 10 : Luza to Gokyo.\r\nLake three, less than half thawed.\r\n$	$Day 10 : Luza to Gokyo.\r\nMost of the third lake is still ice and snow.$	$Day 10 : Luza to Gokyo.\r\nLakeside sculpture.$
$Day 11 : Up Gokyo Ri.\r\nWe had a cold night inside but decided not to complain when we saw those poor yaks covered in frost the next morning.$	$Day 11 : Up Gokyo Ri.\r\nLodge with a view! Ashe at breakfast in our guesthouse in Gokyo town.$	$Day 11 : Up Gokyo Ri.\r\nThe next morning we decided to summit Gokyo Ri, the 5500 meter peak over Gokyo town for some incredible Himalayan views.$	$Day 11 : Up Gokyo Ri.\r\nMorning mist over lake three and Gokyo town.$	$Day 11 : Up Gokyo Ri.\r\nSculpture near Gokyo peak.$
$Day 11 : Up Gokyo Ri.\r\nLooking back down the Gokyo Valley. Amazing views!$	$Day 11 : Up Gokyo Ri.\r\nFantastic views!$	$Day 12 : Up the Gokyo Valley.\r\nCho Oyu, a favorite with climbers, at the head of the Gokyo Valley. We went further north from Gokyo town to see lakes four and five at the top of the valley.$	$Day 12 : Up the Gokyo Valley.\r\nAshe with the lady from our guesthouse in Gokyo. Very friendly!$	$Day 12 : Up the Gokyo Valley.\r\nUs by the lake.\r\n$
$Day 12 : Up the Gokyo Valley.\r\nBeautiful!\r\n$	$Day 12 : Up the Gokyo Valley.\r\nLocal water fowl.\r\n$	$Day 13 : Machermo to Namche Bazaar.\r\nToo young to be playing with knives like that?$	$Day 13 : Machermo to Namche Bazaar.\r\nWalking back out of the Gokyo Valley, descending past Ama Dablam down to Namche Bazaar.$	$Day 13 : Machermo to Namche Bazaar.\r\nStupa and mani stones along the path between Kuchung and Namche Bazaar.$
$Day 13 : Machermo to Namche Bazaar.\r\nDescending down to Namche Bazaar.$	$Day 14 : Namche Bazaar to Lukla.\r\nRhododendron blossoms along the low trail between Namche Bazaar and Lukla.$	$Day 14 : Namche Bazaar to Lukla.\r\nRiver scene.$	$Day 14 : Namche Bazaar to Lukla.\r\nHaving been up at treeless altitude for almost two weeks we had forgotten just how green the lower valley is.$	$Day 14 : Namche Bazaar to Lukla.\r\nVillage child.$
$Day 14 : Namche Bazaar to Lukla.\r\nApproaching the village of Monjo where we had spent our very first night in the Everest region.$	$Day 14 : Namche Bazaar to Lukla.\r\nFlowers.$	$Day 14 : Namche Bazaar to Lukla.\r\nVillage home.$	$Day 14 : Namche Bazaar to Lukla.\r\nAshe descending past a huge mani stone.$	$Day 14 : Namche Bazaar to Lukla.\r\nPrayer flags and blossoms.$
$Day 14 : Namche Bazaar to Lukla.\r\nVillage buildings.$	$Day 14 : Namche Bazaar to Lukla.\r\nThe Dudh Kosi River. Follow it and youll reach Everest.$	$Day 14 : Namche Bazaar to Lukla.\r\nValley views on our way down.$	$Day 14 : Namche Bazaar to Lukla.\r\nMini falls.$	$Day 14 : Namche Bazaar to Lukla.\r\nVillage.$
$Day 14 : Namche Bazaar to Lukla.\r\nWe made one final ascent up the side of the valley to visit one last monastery.$	$Day 14 : Namche Bazaar to Lukla.\r\nAt the monastery.$	$Day 14 : Namche Bazaar to Lukla.\r\nThe lucky one.$	$Day 14 : Namche Bazaar to Lukla.\r\nRice fields.$	$Day 14 : Namche Bazaar to Lukla.\r\nWe made it! Fourteen long days of tough hiking come to an end as we enter the city gates at Lukla.$
$Day 14 : Namche Bazaar to Lukla.\r\nHappy to have made it back safely and thankful for the amazing experience.$	$Day 14 : Namche Bazaar to Lukla.\r\nThe monastery and thangka painting school in Lukla.$	$Day 14 : Namche Bazaar to Lukla.\r\nIt was sad knowing that the next day we would fly out of these mountains. What a trek it had been!$	$Day 4 : Tengboche to Dingboche.\r\nAnother angle.$	$Day 4 : Tengboche to Dingboche.\r\nBlack and white.$

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