Thame to Khumjung

Saturday, 11th March 2012

Distance	7 miles
Total Ascent	1,928 feet
Maximum Altitude	12,663 feet
Time	6 hours 30 minutes

It was a beautiful morning as we left Thame to cross to the opposite side of the Bhote Kosi for the initial part of our return down the valley. This was a more remote path than the one we had used the previous day and required a little more concentration on where we were putting our feet, especially when we made the interesting descent to cross the river. A gradually ascending path took us to Thamo to rejoin the path we had used the previous day. Making our way on towards Namche Bazar we turned off the path to climb up past the airstrip at Shyangboche. This seemed to be a long ascent and we were pleased to have a break near the airport before continuing on to Khumjung where we stayed at the Ama Dablam View Lodge. After a late lunch at the tea house we visited the Hillary School. Unfortunately the staff were on strike that day so we just saw the headteacher and a few children. The children were revising for some exams the next day but were happy to practise their English.

From my bedroom window

The dish is used to heat the water in the large pan in its centre

The group assembles beside the tea house . . .

and we soon meet one of the local residents . . .

who shows no interest in us

Looking down the valley . . .

before we begin our descent, letting more locals pass us . . .

on the way down

The heli pad serves the small hydro electric station

Al beside the Dudh Kosi river . . .

which we crossed via a small bridge

Possibly Himalayan Thar . . .

but they don't have much to eat

Rose investigates what the locals are doing with the potatoes they had stored in the ground

Flag festooned Stupa

A snow plume on Everest

Check out the horns!

One of our Boys takes a rest (he really doesn't look the 19 years he claims to be)

Khumjung sits in an unusually flat area . . .

and houses the Hillary School

Ama Dablam rises above Khumjung, the long ridges on each side like the arms of a mother protecting her child. The summit is 22,349 feet

After settling into our tea house, The Ama Dablam View Lodge . . .

we headed across to the Hillary School . . .

a Secondary School for local children and those from nearby villages . . .

though it is quite deserted today

The school was originally set up by Sir Edmund Hillary . . .

but has some modern decoration

The Nepalese flag

One building is a wooden structure . . .

but most of the others are built from stone . . .

and have been sponsored by various groups

The original building

Some boys have gathered to do some revision - or to practise their English with us

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