Table of Contents:
Previous Post: The High Passes of Everest Trek: Lukla to Namche Days 1 – 3
Maps, Basic Stats with Elevation Gain, and KML file
- Day 4: Namche to Tengboche
- Day 5: Tengboche to Dingboche
- Day 6: Dingboche to Chhukung
- Day 7: Chhukung Ri Acclimatization Hike
Next Post: Chhukung to Kala Pathar Via Kongma La – Days 8 – 10
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Maps, Basic Stats, KML file
Namche to Chhukung satellite image – from bottom left to top right
Dingboche to Chhukung
Days 4 – 7 :
- distance: 24 km
- elevation (meters): Namche 3440 to Tengboche 3860 to Dingboche 4410 to Chhukung 4730 to Chhukung Ri 5550 to Chhukung 4730
- kml file of route: click on the download prompt in the top left-hand corner and open in Google Earth
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Table of Contents:
Previous Post: The High Passes of Everest Trek: Lukla to Namche Days 1 – 3
Day 7: Chhukung Ri Acclimatization Hike
Next Post: Chhukung to Kala Pathar Via Kongma La – Days 8 – 10
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Day 4: Namche To Tengboche
- distance: 9 km
- time: about 4 hours
Namche to Dingboche – Himalayan Maphouse map…hard copies available in Kathmandu
On Day Four we left Namche and headed up the trail on the west side of the Dudh Khola We way, we went down to the river and crossed over to the other side before heading to the spiritual heart of the Khumbu, the monastery village of Tengboche.
(It is also spelled Thyangboche in some guidebooks and reports, and not to be mistaken for Pangboche or Dingboche, settlements further up the trail!)
Mani Wall and our tent site above Namche at dawn
boy in upper Namche at 6:25 a.m.
mani wall and Himalaya peaks above Namche Bazaar
our trekking crew in a meditative mood at breakfast inside the lodge where we tented
the trail from Namche to Tengboche Monastery on the west slope of the Dudh Kosi valley
a view of the trail from Namche to Tengboche and its monastery
The trail from Namche is on the west side of the Dudh Kosi. The images above and below show a small section of it. Eventually, it leads down to the river itself, making a crossing on a suspension bridge. But before we descend, we pass through another small settlement. Tables sit on the side of the trail with souvenirs to tempt the trekkers passing by.
section of trail on the west side of the Dudh Kosi with a bridge on the bottom right
approaching a stupa on the way to Tengboche
souvenir yak bells tempt trekkers returning to Namche from higher up
souvenirs on a table on the trail to Tengboche
Crossing the bridge in the image below, we walked up the switchback trail to Tengboche. Its famous Gompa or Monastery and our tent spot for the night were not far.
suspension bridge over the Dudh Kosi to Tengboche
trail-side huts with precious firewood stacked high
Tengboche satellite view
We arrived at Tengboche in the early afternoon. Our tents were already set up in front of the café/bakery not far from the settlement’s reason for existing – the Tengboche Monastery (Gompa in Tibetan). The monks there belong to the oldest of the various Himalayan Buddhist sects, the Nyingma. [Tengboche Monastery’s history – a Wikipedia entry.]
Construction on the original gompa was finished in 1916. Eighteen years later, it was destroyed by an earthquake and rebuilt. It was not to last very long; in 1989, a fire would badly damage it. It has been rebuilt again and is a major attraction for trekkers on the trail up to Gokyo, Everest, or Imja Tse. A typical ritual involves the head monk bestowing blessings on Everest climbers before continuing their way up to Base Camp at the top of the Khumbu Glacier.
Tengboche Gompa complex (3860m) as you arrive on the trail- the spiritual center of the Khumbu region
looking down from the steps of Tengboche Gompa to the trekking trail beyond the gate
Tengboche Gompa (Monastery) gate from the gompa steps
prayer wheels at Tengboche with workers behind
workers adjusting a decorative piece on the stupa with the gompa behind
looking out the main entrance of the gompa at Tengboche
our Exodus blue tents at Tengboche- and the yellow tents from Phakding too!
Inside Tengboche Monastery’s Central Prayer Hall:
At around 4 p.m., we were ushered into the central prayer hall in the monastery and found places to sit around the periphery of the large and highly decorated room. At the same time, the monks went through their daily chants and meditations. No videos were allowed; photos were okay. My camera struggled with the low light, but the images still helped me recall the feeling of sitting on the wood floor and listening to the bells and rhythmic chanting while the incense floated about the room.
inside the main hall at Tengboche Gompa
trekkers/pilgrims watch the service unfold at Tengboche Gompa
the scene during service at Tengboche Gompa
a moment during the service in the prayer hall at Tengboche Gompa
Tengboche prayer hall scene
Tengboche Gompa meditation ritual
the stupa (chorten) outside Tengboche Gompa- from the gompa darkness to outside light!
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Day 5: Tengboche to Dingboche
- Distance: 11 km.
- time; 3 hours
- altitude gain: 550 m from Tengboche (3860) to Dingboche (4,410)
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Tengboche to Chhukhung
Tengboche Gompa at 6:00 a.m.
Tengboche wall detail – Buddha figure in dancing Shiva-like pose
yaks still chillin’ at Tengboche at the beginning of a trekking day- and workers are back at the stupa for final touches
sign detailing climbing rules and expectations
bridge over the Imja Khola above Tengboche
a view of Ama Dablam from the trail near Dingboche
passing to the left of all chortens, stupas and mani walls
nearing Dingboche (4410m) on the route from Tengboche (Thyangboche)
Dingboche and the trails up the Khumbu Glacier and Imja Khola valley
Dingboche is the doorway to some of the world’s most iconic – and epic – mountain scenery. It sits at the junction of two trails:
- the trail going up the west side of the Khumbu Glacier to Everest Base Camp
- the path going up the Inja Khola valley to Chhukung and Imja Tse (aka Island Peak)
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Day 6: Dingboche to Chhukung
Himalayan Maphouse map…hard copies available in Kathmandu
looking at the trail up ahead on the way to Chhukung
the path on the way to Chhukung
a simple bridge across the Imja Khola
the trail along the Imja Khola towards Chhukung, our tent site for the next two nights
Chhukung is made up mostly of trekkers’ lodges and serves those heading for one of the nearby climbing peaks, Inja Tse (aka Island Peak) being the most popular. Base camp for that climb is seven kilometres up the valley, and the hike is sometimes made by trekkers.
Chhukung -Imja Khola valley
Chhukung with Island Peak further up the valley
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Day 7: A Hike Up Chhukung Ri (5550m)
Like Day 3, Day 6 was an acclimatization day. The idea is to hike to a higher altitude during the day and then return for another night’s sleep at a lower one. The “Climb high, sleep low” mantra for trekkers is often built into itineraries followed by trekking agencies. It makes sense.
Already mentioned was the hike up the valley to Island Peak Base Camp at 5040m. It is located just above Imja Tsho, one of the fastest-growing lakes in the Himalayas, thanks to the melt of the two nearby glaciers. The likelihood of a glacial lake outburst flood was strong enough that Nepalese Army engineers and local villagers constructed a canal that drained off some of the accumulating water and lowered the water level by some 3.4 meters in 2016.
Since the hike to Imja Tse Base Camp only involves an altitude gain of 310 meters, a better choice for acclimatization is Chhukung Ri, easily accessed from the lodges.
Chhukung (4730m) from the hills above- our blue tents are visible on the bottom left.
In the satellite image below, you can even see the well-trodden path up the spine of the hill right to its 5550-meter summit. A total altitude gain of 770 meters had me occasionally stopping to catch my breath and pulling out my camera! Incredible views in all directions -the Nuptse ridge to the north, east to Inja Tse, south to Ama Dablam, west to Dingboche…One big WOW! I really should have done a short video of the scene!
the walk up Chhukung Ri (5550m)
a view of the north face of Ama Dablam (6856m) from the top of Chhukung Ri (5550m)
Looking east up the Imja Khola valley with Amphu Gyabjen (5630m) on the right and Imja Tse (Island Peak) (6189m) on the left
The view from Chhukung Ri of our previous day’s walk up along the Imja Khola from Dingboche
We returned from our acclimatization hike around noon and spent the afternoon in the dining room of the lodge in whose yard we had tented. I also had a basic hot water shower in a small shed at one of the other lodges. It was an extravagance at US$3 for a hot bucket of water – mainly for the cost of the wood that someone hauled to Chhukung from below. However, it felt great to wash off a week’s worth of dust and sweat.
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Crossing The First of the High Passes – Kongma La:
The trek continued with our crossing of the first of the three high passes, Kongma La and a walk across the Khumbu Glacier to Lobuche. We walked up to Gorak Shep on our second day there and ascended Kala Pattar. The thin yellow line on the satellite image above shows the route. The following post has the details, maps, and photos.
Next Post: Chhukung to Kala Pathar Via Kongma La – Days 8 – 10
See also:
- The High Passes of Everest: Lukla to Namche Days 1 – 3
- The High Passes of Everest: Lobuche to the Kokyo Lakes Via Cho La Days 11 – 14
- The High Passes of Everest: Gokyo to Lukla via Renjo La Days 15 – 19
Ramblin' Boy 