Solu Khumbu -----Everest Trek

Arrival in Lukla and the trek begins.

 To make this trek in the Everest region a little different, we are going to to the "3 Pass Route' Each pass is over 5000 meters -16,000'. A little acclimatization is involved and a slow hike is in order.....at least for the first few days.

Stopped at at the Ghat Gompa and sent a few prayers flags
 flying with instructions for a great trek.

Each bridge, pass, ridge seems to have the same message...
Prayer flags for everyone!

The first view of the big guy......Pick a name,
 Nepali - Sagarmatha, Tibetan - Chomolungma
 or Everest....Whatever the name, the best description
 is "A fat man in a room surrounded by beautiful women"

Arrival in Namche Bazaar....market center for the Sherpa region and hotel
central for the trekkers (kinda like Alice's Restaurant)

Arrival in Tengboche Monastary...spiritual center of the Khumbu.
Background on left is Everest and Lhotse in the clouds an
Ama Dablam on the right.......
.It's also Becky's B-day.....what could be in store?

Luckily the monks were easily persuaded to play
 some tunes with their nice hats........

Do a little dance with the mask and costume (it was Halloween)

An blow on some crazy conch shell all in
Becky's honor....In the Khumbu they call
Becky's B-day...Mani Rimdu and
put on quite the show.....

The morning after  was made tolerable by hiking
under the shadow of Ama Dablam

Day hike up to the base camp of Ama Dablam......
great lunch with a Korean team of 3 that were in Alaska
last January to walk from Russia to Nome.......Fun guys..

Yak train traffic jam........Stay well clear of the horns......

Pasang our awesome Sherpa guide with Becky and I before
Kongma  La  our 1st pass  at  5535 meters (18,155') 

Our approach and Kongma Lake...
small black peak in the center (Island Peak)
 is about the same height as Denali....

Pass photo @ 18,155', moments later my 23 year old scarf
 was hung up as a prayer flag.....good scarf and good luck.......

More mountains and "facts" to come.....