SKi8000 expedition 2004: Update Three

After finishing our trek in Langtang we headed back to Kathmandu. There we made our final preparations for our departure to Cho Oyu base camp.

We went to the Bodnath, the largest Stupa of the world where we walked three rounds around it, according to boudhist principles. We bought a lot of prayer flags which will be used on several occasions. Our Sherpa's took them to a Lama who gave his blessings for the success of the expedition.

These four days in Kathmandu were probably too long as both Greg and Herman got intestinal problems. Kathmandu's food with all its "foreign" organisms, is hard on our western stomachs. After having a hard time with diarrhea we are now recovering with some help of antibiotics.

As you can imagine we were all very happy to start our journey to Cho Oyu base camp. After a few hours in the bus we arrived at the Chinese border. Since the middle of the 20th century China occupies Tibet. Therefore officially we entered China but were very happy to enjoy the beautiful landscape of Tibet!

Unfortunately because of some delay at the Nepali side of the border we were to late to go directly to Nyalam and forced to spend the night at the filthy border town Zangmu, 2250m. The next morning we cleared all the cargo and headed off to Nyalam via the Friendship Highway, a beautiful road up the Tibetan plateau.

After a rough night, because of barking dogs, we were anxious to leave Nyalam and to go to Tingri (4350 m), our next destination. This meant being able to see the Cho Oyu for the first time. After the Tongh La Pass, 5200m, we got where we came for, the Cho Oyu within our sight. On the 29th of the march we should arrive at Cho Oyu base camp.

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Dispatches

 

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