大学を卒業するときにインドとネパールを旅して、間近にヒマラヤを見て以来、一度行きたいとずっと思っていたエベレストのすぐ近くまで行けるトレッキングですが、2001年末の正月休みに、行ってきました。
エベレストが目の前に見える、標高5,600mのカラパタールという丘まで、2,800mのルクラから、高度順応のためゆっくりと8日間かけて登ります。
夜はマイナス20度を超える寒さですが、日中は天気に恵まれ、最高の展望を満喫することができました。
高度のせいで夜は眠れず、途中は、もう二度と来たくないというくらい辛いときもありましたが、カラパタールお頂上に立ったときは、あまりの美しさに、涙が出るくらい感動してしまいました。
![Kathmandu Airport](https://farm5.static.flickr.com/4069/4479108578_aedb093442_m.jpg)
Kathmandu Airport
![Flight from Kathmandu to Lukla](https://farm5.static.flickr.com/4042/4478483061_374e446a0d_m.jpg)
Flight from Kathmandu to Lukla
![Lukla Airport at 2,800m above see level](https://farm5.static.flickr.com/4064/4478483193_7ca7a708a7_m.jpg)
Lukla Airport at 2,800m above see level
![Start to walk.](https://farm5.static.flickr.com/4037/4479116270_99374e31c8_m.jpg)
Start to walk.
![Path from Lukla](https://farm3.static.flickr.com/2744/4478483611_c3a1e7b5c3_m.jpg)
Path from Lukla
![Tea Spot](https://farm5.static.flickr.com/4036/4479109382_d49381e57b_m.jpg)
Tea Spot
![Lodge at Phakding. Far gorgeous than expected.](https://farm3.static.flickr.com/2723/4478484451_7e6c0f7ba8_m.jpg)
Lodge at Phakding. Far gorgeous than expected.
![Very small, but nice room.](https://farm3.static.flickr.com/2703/4478484543_510c1925fe_m.jpg)
Very small, but nice room.
![To Namche](https://farm5.static.flickr.com/4010/4478484311_4b30881f8f_m.jpg)
To Namche
![To Namche](https://farm5.static.flickr.com/4013/4478484887_0b54bea83a_m.jpg)
To Namche
![Walking up to Namche which is 3,600m above see level.](https://farm5.static.flickr.com/4014/4478485087_67b55d43d8_m.jpg)
Walking up to Namche which is 3,600m above see level.
![Gate to Sagarmatha National Park](https://farm3.static.flickr.com/2738/4478484681_b415486a82_m.jpg)
Gate to Sagarmatha National Park
![Namche Bazar, famous as the base to Mt. Everest.](https://farm3.static.flickr.com/2772/4479110826_afd91eca10_m.jpg)
Namche Bazar, famous as the base to Mt. Everest.
![Namche Bazar, famous as the base to Mt. Everest.](https://farm3.static.flickr.com/2781/4479111048_be0456ed47_m.jpg)
Namche Bazar, famous as the base to Mt. Everest.
![Tengboche Monastory, 3,900m](https://farm5.static.flickr.com/4051/4478485607_968858d5c7_m.jpg)
Tengboche Monastory, 3,900m
![Everest view from Tengboche](https://farm5.static.flickr.com/4020/4478485779_34ee2e44ab_m.jpg)
Everest view from Tengboche
![With my guide and porter and their friend](https://farm5.static.flickr.com/4064/4478485937_9b3c481490_m.jpg)
With my guide and porter and their friend
![Washing](https://farm5.static.flickr.com/4007/4478486143_a907e190b2_m.jpg)
Washing
![Lodge at Pangboche. Nice view of Mt. Ama Dablam](https://farm5.static.flickr.com/4035/4478486429_d06436232c_m.jpg)
Lodge at Pangboche. Nice view of Mt. Ama Dablam
![Everest !](https://farm3.static.flickr.com/2718/4479112656_e07e6b63b0_m.jpg)
Everest !
![My guide, Pasan Dawa](https://farm5.static.flickr.com/4063/4478486281_2d3e5906d4_m.jpg)
My guide, Pasan Dawa
![Pangboche village at 3,900m](https://farm3.static.flickr.com/2714/4478486623_a079f494ea_m.jpg)
Pangboche village at 3,900m
![Everest is nearer.](https://farm5.static.flickr.com/4057/4478486765_bd390c397b_m.jpg)
Everest is nearer.
![To Dingboche](https://farm5.static.flickr.com/4046/4478486915_4059888aff_m.jpg)
To Dingboche
![Dingboche village at 4,350m](https://farm5.static.flickr.com/4028/4479112862_7787ae9c90_m.jpg)
Dingboche village at 4,350m
![Warm at noon. But -20C at night.](https://farm5.static.flickr.com/4048/4479113106_d9b88a80e8_m.jpg)
Warm at noon. But -20C at night.
![Hill near Dingboche](https://farm3.static.flickr.com/2704/4478487677_e64648413b_m.jpg)
Hill near Dingboche
![From Dingboche to Thukla (4,600m)](https://farm5.static.flickr.com/4040/4478487921_414a774fe4_m.jpg)
From Dingboche to Thukla (4,600m)
![From Thukla to Lobuche. Finally I can see Kala Pattar.](https://farm5.static.flickr.com/4055/4478488517_01ef87050c_m.jpg)
From Thukla to Lobuche. Finally I can see Kala Pattar.
![Nice wheather every day](https://farm3.static.flickr.com/2716/4478488139_3d60d30a72_m.jpg)
Nice wheather every day
![River is frozen](https://farm5.static.flickr.com/4048/4479114354_cb78308285_m.jpg)
River is frozen
![Lobuche vllage at 4,800m](https://farm5.static.flickr.com/4064/4478488325_944dae3cdf_m.jpg)
Lobuche vllage at 4,800m
![At the foot of Kala Pattar.](https://farm5.static.flickr.com/4048/4478489853_072a2ef047_m.jpg)
At the foot of Kala Pattar.
![Finally ! Kala Pattar at 5,545m. Everest is so huge.](https://farm3.static.flickr.com/2698/4478489097_7a3592b61a_m.jpg)
Finally ! Kala Pattar at 5,545m. Everest is so huge.
![Smiling but exhausted.](https://farm3.static.flickr.com/2698/4478488875_87c2e0bef3_m.jpg)
Smiling but exhausted.
![Everest base camp is under us. No tents because of the season.](https://farm5.static.flickr.com/4036/4478489719_6fcddcb491_m.jpg)
Everest base camp is under us. No tents because of the season.
![Glacier from the foot of Mt. Everest.](https://farm5.static.flickr.com/4062/4479114864_0cfcb10dba_m.jpg)
Glacier from the foot of Mt. Everest.
![With my porter, Kami.](https://farm5.static.flickr.com/4027/4479114988_fc4f806af2_m.jpg)
With my porter, Kami.
![Going down.](https://farm5.static.flickr.com/4053/4479115748_8d2439581f_m.jpg)
Going down.
![Going down.](https://farm3.static.flickr.com/2728/4479115566_a4b77c1a91_m.jpg)
Going down.