Dingboche to Chhukung – and climbing Chhukung Ri

Today was a relatively easy trek up to Chhukung in the morning, climbing up to 15,500 feet. The route is shown towards the bottom of the map.

As we set off there were tantalising glimpses of the mountains surrounding us through the clouds.

We got a good pace going and we’re soon able to look back at Dingboche down below the cloud level.

And with a sad reminder that those who are brave enough to climb the peaks, around which we only trek, frequently pay the ultimate price. God bless lads. And lasses.

We are well into glacier country now and vegetation is becoming sparse.

Chhukung ahead and when we made it to the tea house we left our stuff in the room. After an early lunch, the four of us (the Fellowship of the Trek) set off for Chukhung Ri, the peak on the map marked at 5550 metres.

Sadly we became enveloped in cloud, like being inside a ping pong ball.

It was a steep hard slog with every step forward tearing at your lungs. We were down to 50% of the normal level of oxygen in the air and it hurts. Then the ridge appeared with cairns erected by climbers over the years. We had made it to well over 18,000 feet. The highest place on earth either David or myself had stood. The summit was brooding above us, surrounded by steep slate that was unacceptably slippery in the rain. We accepted our ascent of the ridge as an overriding success.

Flags come out, as did indiscernible tattoos.

Both Uniteds united.

Then an amazing moment of grace and spiritual uplifting occurred. The clouds momentarily parted above us and the massive peaks towering over us shone through. I heard David say, ‘we’re looking at angels.’ It was exactly like that. I burst into tears and he patted me on the back and comforted me. Something beyond the mountains is here.

After a long drag down we made it to the tea house. Uplifted, exhausted and happy.

Night night.