Everest’s Three Passes Solukhumbu Region Nepal
This challenging 18 day trek is guaranteed to satisfy the most addicted
mountain-junkie, traversing three of the world’s highest passes without
the need of technical mountaineering gear.
If you’re crazy about mountains, which you should be, then the Everest
region has been on the top of your bucket list for a while now. Most people just join the crowds and make their way directly to Base Camp. Yet with over 1,000 people now living there during the on-season, an alternate route is developing that is even more challenging, more remote, and more rewarding– The Three Passes. The hike starts off from the “world’s most dangerous airport”, at an elevation greater than any point in Australia. Passing ancient monasteries and Sherpa villages, it doesn’t take too long before you leave the tree line behind and find yourself completely surrounded by the world’s highest peaks. From here you’ll spend the better part of the next fortnight descending and ascending
the Kongma La (5,528m), Cho La (5,420m) and Renjo La (5,340m) – staying in a series of small hiking villages between. Prepare yourself for daily alpenglow, massive glaciers and some serious altitudes.
The best bit: during the seasons this route doesn’t require any technical
mountaineering gear or experience. Leave that icepick at home and bring spare camera batteries instead. Getting there: many major airlines fly from Australia to Kathmandu. From there catch a domestic flight with Tara Air to Lukla where you will begin the trek.
by Michael Poland
