Everest Base Camp
Day 6: 12 April 2012 It was an early start on a cold morning. The heater – or the electricity, I suppose – had given out at some point during the night, so it was a bit of a struggle to crawl out of my sleeping bag into the chill. Today was “the day”, though, and while I would have been reluctant to wake up for a temple or monastery visit, Everest Base Camp was one of the highlights...
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Shegar
Day 5: 11 April 2012 At 4,050m, Shegar (or New Tingri) was to be our last stop before Rongbuk Monastery and Everest Base Camp. The drive from Shigatse was expected to take most of the day and, sure enough, we arrived in the mid-afternoon after crossing over the Tropu La (4,950m) and Gyatso La (5,248m) passes. It would be out first night sleeping above 4,000m. The ride was mostly uneventful and as usual, I...
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Shigatse
Day 4: 10 April 2012 The trip to Shigatse (3,900m) was fairly short and did not involve any significant passes, so we were in the city by midday. After checking in at the Manasarovara Hotel, we headed to lunch at a restaurant that was as tourist-oriented – in other words, full of foreigners – as all the others we had visited so far. For the first time since Lhasa, I braved slightly more substantial...
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Gyantse
Day 3: 9 April 2012 According to our itinerary, the drive from Lhasa to Gyantse would last roughly six hours. We would also be venturing into higher altitudes again, with our highest point being Karo La pass at 5,010m. It was a day aimed not only at getting us from Point A to Point B, but at giving us a chance to acclimatise by following the “climb high, sleep low” principle. Although the trip along...
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Lhasa
Day 0: 6 April 2012 The train pulled into Lhasa at around nine in the evening. Bruno and I took our time stepping off into the rainy, chilly night – we had been advised to transition slowly from the partially oxygenated train cabins to the outside world, mainly to give our bodies more time to adjust. By the time we did leave the train, Blas and Elizabeth were standing outside and Blas was already...
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Train to Lhasa
I am typing this from the top left bunk in cabin one, carriage six of the Shanghai to Lhasa train. The two bottom bunks are occupied by a quiet, friendly couple from Berlin, and Bruno’s gear (plus some of mine) is scattered all over the other top bunk. He himself is off taking photos somewhere. The train is moving fairly smoothly over the tracks built over permafrost, and all in all, it is quite...
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Most Recent Articles
Everest Base Camp
Day 6: 12 April 2012 It was an early start on a cold morning. The heater – or the electricity, I suppose – had given out at some point during the night, so it was a bit of a struggle to crawl out of my...
Read More
Shegar
Day 5: 11 April 2012 At 4,050m, Shegar (or New Tingri) was to be our last stop before Rongbuk Monastery and Everest Base Camp. The drive from Shigatse was expected to take most of the day and, sure enough, we...
Read More
Shigatse
Day 4: 10 April 2012 The trip to Shigatse (3,900m) was fairly short and did not involve any significant passes, so we were in the city by midday. After checking in at the Manasarovara Hotel, we headed to lunch at a...
Read More
Gyantse
Day 3: 9 April 2012 According to our itinerary, the drive from Lhasa to Gyantse would last roughly six hours. We would also be venturing into higher altitudes again, with our highest point being Karo La pass at...
Read More
Lhasa
Day 0: 6 April 2012 The train pulled into Lhasa at around nine in the evening. Bruno and I took our time stepping off into the rainy, chilly night – we had been advised to transition slowly from the partially...
Read More
Train to Lhasa
I am typing this from the top left bunk in cabin one, carriage six of the Shanghai to Lhasa train. The two bottom bunks are occupied by a quiet, friendly couple from Berlin, and Bruno’s gear (plus some of...
Read More
