DAY: 20 From Kobuk we follow along the terminal morraine forming Tsho Rolpa. Before long, the trail turns uphill and we make a 1500' climb detouring around an area of dangerous rockfall only to drop immediately back down to the Trakarding Glacier. We follow the trail through boulders and glacial debree untill reaching a somewhat flat area on the glacier where we spend the night. This is a challenging day!
DAY: 20 Leaving the camp beneath Cho La we climb a small pass and descend the the trail westward, to the Ngozumpa glacier which flows down from the southern slopes of Cho Oyu. The passage across this enormous glacier takes about one hour and we come out near the village of Gokyo. Our camp will be in a high alpine meadow next to one of the turqouise lakes of Gokyo, Taujun Tsho.
DAY: 21 This too,is a challenging day of glacial travel. Continuing to the head of the Trakarding Glacier beneath the slopes of Bigphera-Go Shar, we turn north and climb up to the Drolambao Glacier. We then follow it to the base of Tashi Lapcha Pass (18,881') and begin the ascent. We will camp on the pass, conditions permitting, to gain easy access to our final climb, Parchamo. 
DAY: 21 Today we hike to the top of Gokyo Ri, 17,519'. The trail leads north through the village of Gokyo and around the shore of Taboche Tsho (lake) to the foot of the Ri. Then it turns upward and meanders to the summit which provides us spectacular views of Cho Oyu, Everest and surrounding giants. We gain approximately 2000' and the climb takes 1-3 hours for most people. We enjoy lunch on top and return to the same camp at your own leisure. 
DAY: 22 Today we have the option to make the last and highest climb on our trek, Parchamo, 20,700'. This is another snow climb and camping on the pass, will probably be the coldest of the climbs. Rockfall is a concern while crossing the pass and the members opting not to climb Parchamo will get an early start and descend beneath the walls of Tengi Ragi Tau and down the valley into Mt. Everest National Park. The climbers will follow late in the day after returning from the summit.
Photo: Dave with friend and Exum Guide Forrest McCarthy on Parchamo
DAY: 22 Again we follow the trail around the shore of Taboche Tsho, this time bypassing Gokyo Ri and continuing up the long climb to Renjo La (17,772'). This pass was only recently opened to westerners and we were reportedly the first to cross it with yaks in 2003. We descend the west side of the pass, past the small lake, Reimo Tsho and camp in a yak pasture beyond. We probably won't see many people other than Tibetan nomads in this remote valley.
DAY: 23 We have now reached the high point of the trek and the rest is downhill! We continue to descend the valley leading into Mt. Everest National Park. This is a beautiful segment of the walk from Tashi Lapcha to the village of Thame as we pass beneath the enormous walls of Teng Kang Poche.
DAY: 23 This is a more casual day as we move camp to a high yak pasture beneath the northeast face of Kyajo Ri. We can use the afternoon to rest up for our final climb of Pk. 5880.
DAY 24: Today we reach Thame, a classic Himalayan village with it's monestary perched on the mountainside. We will spend the night here and have time to visit the gompa (monestary) the next morning.
DAY: 24 This is the last big day of the trek as we climb the remote Peak 5880. We'll leave camp before first light and begin the long traverse and approach to the peak. This is another snow climb which leads to a small summit with yet another spectacular view of Everest and the other peaks of the Khumuche Himal. This Is the grand finale of our trip and it is literally down hill from here!
DAY: 25 Today we take time to visit the Thame monastery after breakfast. One of the oldest in the Khumbu, it sits perched on the mountain side above this picturesque village. Then we head down the trail to Namche Bazaar. Namche is situated at the crossroads on the trail from Tibet, Everest National Park and the mid-hills of Solu Khumbu. From park headquarters on top of the hill, we get a glimpse of Everest.
DAY: 25 We leave the Kyajo Ri base camp and descend to the valley trail, following it down to the village of Thame. This is one of my favorite Himalayan villages with it's picturesque monastery perched on the mountainside above.
DAY: 26 It's downhill today as we make the steep descent from Namche and follow the Dudh Kosi (Milk River) to the village of Phakding, 8500'.
DAY: 27 Our last day on the trail, we make the slow climb up to the airstrip at Lukla. We'll spend the last night in a teahouse near the airport and be ready for an early flight the following day.
DAY: 28 We'll get up early and be ready for our flight as the first planes come in from Kathmandu. Lukla is a busy place with hundreds of trekkers eager
to catch their flight back to the city, a shower, and a real bed! You will be too!
DAY: This is another free day in Kathmandu. You can do a little shopping, or explore on your own and I will have a van available for some sightseeing.
DAY: 30 Our trek has come to an end and it's time to leave Nepal behind. The Thai Airways flight leaves Kathmandu in the afternoon and gets into Bangkok around 6:00 pm. You can spend the night in Bangkok and return home the following day or detour to the beaches
in the south and delay your return just a few more days!
DAY: 31 It's chillin' on the beach or back to the USA!
DAY: 26 Today is a casual walk down to Namche Bazzar. Namche is a fascinating village situated at the crossroads between Tibet, Everest National Park and the lower Solu Khumbu region.
DAY: 27 After the steep descent from Namche, we follow the Dudh Kosi (Milk River) down to the village of Phakding.
DAY: 28 We make the slow climb back up to the village of Lukla where we will spend our last night in a teahouse.
DAY:29 We'll catch an early flight back to Kathmandu and have most of the day for sightseeing or shopping.
DAY:30 We have another free day to explore Kathmandu.
DAY: 30 It's time to say goodbye to Nepal. The afternoon flight gets you into Thailand about 6:00 pm.
DAY: 32 Head for home or delay a few days on the beaches in the south of Thailnd.
