| Proposed Itineray - Richard & Elisabeth and Mark & Andrea | |||
| Friday | |||
| Melb/Bangkok 11.30pm-6am (9hr 30min flight). Booking Ref. 36L8SC. | |||
| Day 1 | Saturday | Bangkok/KTM 10.15am-12.25pm (3hr 15min flight). Booking Ref. 36L8SC. | |
| Arrive KTM International Airport at, meet NEAT airport representative, transfer to Courtyard Hotel, Then sightseeing around KTM. | |||
| Day 2 | Sunday | Sightseeing in KTM. We will arrange this - not included in NEAT costs. | |
| Day 3 | Monday | Fly KTM to Lukla (2,840m). Depending on arrival time, we may wish to either look around or commence trek to Thalsharoa (2,678m) | |
| Day 4 | Tuesday | Trek to Phakding (2,610m. 6/7 hours walking) overnight at lodge. | |
| Day 5 | Wednesday | Trek to Namche Bazar (3,440m. 5/6 hours walking) overnight at lodge. | |
| Day 6 | Thursday | Rest day at Namche Bazar - acclimatization day. | |
| Day 7 | Friday | Trek to Khumjung (3,780m. 3/4 hours walking.) | |
| Day 8 | Saturday | Trek to Thenboche (3,860m. 6 hours walking) overnight at lodge. | |
| Day 9 | Sunday | Trek to Pheriche (4,240m. 6/7hours walking) overnight at lodge. | |
| Day 10 | Monday | Trek to Chhukung (4,730m. 4 hours walking) overnight at lodge. | |
| Day 11 | Tuesday | Acclimatization day to Chhukung Ri (5,550m), back to lodge overnight stay. | |
| Day 12 | Wednesday | Early morning cross Kongma La (5,535m), to Lobuche (4,910m. 9/10 hours walking.) Overnight at lodge | |
| Day 13 | Thursday | Visit to Kala Patthar (5,500m. 4 hours walking) early in the morning for the best sun rise view back to Gorak Shep (5,140m). Over night stay. | |
| Day 14 | Friday | Visit Everest Base Camp (5,364m), overnight stay at Gorak Shep (5,140m). | |
| Day 15 | Saturday | Trek to Dzonghlha (4,830m. 6 hours walking) overnight at lodge. | |
| Day 16 | Sunday | Cross Cho La pass (5,368m. 8/9 hours walking.) Gokyo (4,790m) overnight at lodge. | |
| Day 17 | Monday | Early morning visit Gokyo Ri (5,357m. 3 hours walking) overnight at same Gokyo lodge (4,790m). | |
| Day 18 | Tuesday | Early morning cross Renjo La pass (5,360m. 7/8 hours walking) to Lungdhen (Lugane?) (4,380m). Overnight at lodge. | |
| Day 19 | Wednesday | Trek to Thame (3,800m. 6 hours walking) Overnight at lodge. | |
| Day 20 | Thursday | Trek to Monjo (2,835m. 6/7 hours walking.) Overnight at lodge. | |
| Day 21 | Friday | Trek back to Lukla (2,860m. 7 hours walking) overnight at lodge. | |
| Day 22 | Saturday | Fly Lukla to KTM - time TBA. NEAT to arrange. KTM airport to Courtyard Hotel, Z Street, Thamel. Reservation for 2 rooms confirmed 11.12.13. | |
| Day 23 | Sunday | Spare days in case of sickness on trek or problems with Lukla/KTM flights | |
| Day 24 | Monday | Spare days in case of sickness on trek or problems with Lukla/KTM flights | |
| Day 25 | Tuesday | Spare days in case of sickness on trek or problems with Lukla/KTM flights | |
| Day 26 | Wednesday | Rest Day in KTM - sightseeing. Overnight at Courtyard Hotel, Z Street, Thamel. Reservation for 2 rooms confirmed 11.12.13. | |
| Day 27 | Thursday | Rest Day in KTM - sightseeing. Overnight at Courtyard Hotel, Z Street, Thamel. Reservation for 2 rooms confirmed 11.12.13. | |
| Day 28 | Friday | Flight to Melbourne via Bangkok | |
| Saturday | |||
| Sunday | |||
We started overnight hikes in Jan 2012 after a friend suggested we do the Overland Track. I didn't require any convincing, trained in PE and Outdoor Ed, I involved my passion in the outdoors in wilderness programs for at risk youth. Andrea also loves walking, be it the dog or up a mountain. The only thing she wasn't sure of was the 15kg pack. So we did a trial run, borrowed equipment, raided the shed. The rest is a developing story of journeys, initially in Victoria but hopefully far and wide.
Tuesday, 22 July 2014
Sagarmatha National Park - THREE PASSES TREK ITINERARY!
I have been asked by several people what our itinerary is for the trip. So here it is. We have built a great deal of flexibility into the trip with spare rest days if required.
Sunday, 20 July 2014
Briggs Bluff - Grampians National Park
Briggs Bluff - 10.3kms, 4hrs 10mins
Not an overnight but worth mentioning, Briggs Bluff walk.
The path starts out flat and meanders 1.4kms to Beehive Falls. After enjoying the lovely falls the path quickly climbs to the top of the range. It is a constant rock hop until you hit the ridge, from here you get views to Mt Stapylton, Mt Difficult and Briggs Bluff. The path levels off for a while before once again climbing all the way to the Bluff, once again you are rewarded with 360 degree views of the surrounding area including Langi Ghiran, Bungador and Arapiles.
We stopped for lunch but quickly cooled off and head back to the car. All up an excellent energetic walk well worth doing!
Not an overnight but worth mentioning, Briggs Bluff walk.
 |
| Beehive Falls |
We stopped for lunch but quickly cooled off and head back to the car. All up an excellent energetic walk well worth doing!
 |
| Fast Forward on the Summit! |
Wednesday, 16 July 2014
LESS THAN 10 WEEKS TO GO!
Our VISAs have been approved, thanks to Liz who shouted us entry into Nepal!
It is great having both Richard and Liz as our personal tour guides/support crew. Given, they are returning with enthusiasm and knowledge, we are more than happy to be lead around holding their hands! While we might have considered a trip to Kathmandu we may never have taken on the challenge of EBC and Gokyo Lakes if they hadn't have asked!
We are comfortable with the level of training we are doing and the plan to slowly increase the intensity over the coming weeks. We will begin altitude training 6 weeks prior to our departure with the goal of developing some level of understanding of the effects of altitude on our bodies as well as prepare ourselves physically.
In terms of walking, our training revolves around finding hills to walk up and down. We have completed the 1000 Steps, a variety around our streets as well as Mt Lofty - Warrandyte. Most recently we covered near 25kms in the Grampians National Park over 3 days.
I have found the Strava App really useful in tracking our walks, especially with the graphics available. You can use it for running, walking, bike riding etc... and it can also measure split times and improvements in time taken.
I will be using it while on the trek to keep track of each day distance and elevation gain. Certainly saves buying an expensive GPS. Also download and altitude app.
Our doctor is pleased with our training and we will be finalising necessary injections and planning the veritable pharmacy that we will be taking with us, mostly just in case.
There is no doubt that we both are excited albeit a little anxious about the forthcoming experience. So many people have asked us, "Why?" But, an equal number have expressed their desire to complete a similar trek at some time in their lives! There is part of me that can't really believe it is happening, that will change as I start taking photos of the mountains of Sagarmatha National Park!
So for now we continue to train, plan and get more and more excited as the departure day approaches.
For the record we commenced altitude training today 18/07. To bring us up to coping with the reduced O2 at 5560 metres the training is designed over 8 weeks and 24 sessions. Our first session saw us training around 2750 metres. Thanks to Jan and Jason at Vibromania - http://www.vibromania.com.au
Check out the chart for the reduction in oxygen saturation at altitude, we will be working our way down to <10% before departure. Our first session had us training at 2750 metres - 14.5% O2.
Cheers
Mark
http://www.higherpeak.com/altitudechart.html
Mark
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)