Dingboche to Lobuche

10/24/2012
Another cold night in Dingboche, but nothing compared to what was to come. Departing Dingboche a little after 8AM we crested the ridge above town and hiked upwards along the side of the ridge until we headed down into the stream bed and crossed a steel bridge before entering the small community of Dughla, which is really only a couple of trekking lodges. Stepping off the bridge, Patrick slipped on the granite blocks and sprained one ankle and bruised both his pride and his gluteus maximus. Patrick hobbled the several hundred yards into Dugla and when the shoe was removed, the swelling was obvious. Sean had tape and so the ankle was taped and any decision of continuing was deferred until morning.
The lodge was crowded and the dining hall was nearly standing room only. As we played Dhumble the snow started and the temperature dropped. We broke out the down jackets and were in bed by 8PM, which is when the lights go out anyway.

Dugla at Dawn

Scott Fischer Memorial

Other stone memorials above Dugla

More stone memorials to climbers killed on Mt. everest

10/25/2012
We were awakened with cups of hot tea at 0700. There was a little snow on the ground and it was cold. Patrick's ankle was taped once again for the trip to Lobuche and uphill travel proved to be possible on the taped ankle. The trail stretched steeply upwards from Dughla to a ridge where the stone memorials to the climbers killed on Mt. Everest stretch along several arms of the ridge. Most of the climber's bodies still remain on the mountain. We arrived at the Himalayan Eco Resort at an elevation of 4950 meters (16,272 feet) in sunny but cold weather. After lunch we took a training hike up to 5050 meters to a ridge overlooking the Khumbu Glacier. From this ridge we could now see both the summit of Kala Patar and Everest Base Camp in the distance.

View from ridge above Lobuche to Khumbu Glacier and Everest Base Camp

We spent the evening playing Dhumble before hitting the sack at 8PM.