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We have 1 week for the final prep for our trip to Nepal. Making reservations, researching trails and teahouses, and working-out. And compiling packing lists for the trek: every item is carefully evaluated and weighted. For now, it looks like my total load “from bare to hiking” is 16 kg, Joanna’s 10 kg.
Phaplu-Gokyo-Lukla trek is the main goal of the trip: 18 days, ~167 km, altitude 1490-5345 masl, average slope 17%, ~13900 m total altitude gain, expecting dry weather, but temperatures at night may fall to -15℃. It will take us 12 days (~100 km) to hike to the upper Gokyo lakes, half-way between Gokyo and Cho Oyu, along the Ngozumba Glacier. Five of the 15 World’s highest mountains will be within sight: Cho Oyu (8188) and Gyachung Kang (7952) – closest, Everest (8848) and Lhotse (8516), and Makalu (8485) – further. We start on November 1 traveling all day by bus/jeep to Salleri/Phaplu and next day further up to Ringmo by jeep, if possible. We start hiking at low altitude and go slow, with a lot of flexibility how far we hike each day and where we stay. Namche Bazaar and Gokyo are the only fixed points. We plan 4 day-hikes, if we are strong and have enough time. We fly back to Kathmandu from Lukla. We will also visit Kathmandu, Patan and Bhaktapur, and Doha on the way.