Himalaya day #8 - Gokyo Ri summit 5,360m

3.30am wake up call for the 700m scramble up to the summit. At 4.00 on the dot we all piled out into the snow with our head-torches on. I’m not a fan of climbing in the dark and am always shit scared though as we got closer to day break the light slowly slowly improved.

The first 30 minutes was just a case of head down as we followed Sheilesh step for step. The breathing was heavy and my calf muscles were screaming. On the first break, we all turned and there was was the silpihetted vista in all its glory right in front of us illuminated by the stars. Immediately I could make out Lhotse, with the menacing Everset to its left, the classically v-shaped and glowing Makalu to the right and Ama Dablam individually jolting out further to the right again. On the far left hand side  Cho Oyu was now also clearly visible. 

The higher we climbed the more the light improved with brilliant rays becoming visible above Everest. Soon after dawn broke around 5.45 we arrived at the summit around 6.15. 5 minutes later we caught a first glimpse of sunshine as it imperiously rose above Everest. It was a surreal experience.

We were incredibly lucky as notwithstanding the snow cover there were no clouds and hardly any wind for one of the best views in Nepal. I actually got a little emotional at that point. 

30 minutes max on the top and we headed back down for breakfast before the traverse of the Ngozumpo glacier to our next tea house. From up top the glacier looks resplendent as it funnels down the valley but up close it’s a largely covered in grey rock. It’s a crying shame as global warming is destroying nigh on all of the world’s largest glaciers. 

When we arrived at the Chola Pass Tea House the snow was falling again. Tomorrow is going to be massive as we tackle the Chola Pass and probably the toughest day of the trip. The pass is the only way to get from the currrent Gokyo valley to the Khumbu. Looking outside the yaks are almost entirely covered in snow. If the snow does not abate it’s going to be super difficult to navigate.

day 8 video: https://youtu.be/HHsMuK4zEFI