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Monday, 06 November 2023: Kambachen – Lhonak
Kanchenjunga & Lumba Sumba Trek Day 7
Route: Khambachen / Kambachen / Kangbachen / Kangpachen / Khāṅpāchen / काङ्पचेन (4095m) - Lumbuchhemu (4222m) - Ladam (4291m) - Khando Waterfall (4381m) - Ramdang / Ramtang / राम्दङ (4596m) - Lonak / Lūnak / Lhonak / ल्होनक (4761m)
Distance 12km | Ascent 820m | Descent 150m
A fab day's walking. Cold initially as the trail stayed in the shade as we followed the river north east, but once we emerged into the sunshine it was lovely and warm. We still needed light down jackets, hats and gloves on mind you. The trail was stone paved for a lot of the way - a recent improvement - and led steadily ever upwards.
An exciting section over landslide brought to the spectacular Khando Waterfall. A tricky crossing stepping from one icy rock to the next, snow cover and icicles on the banks and buttresses. Seabuckthorn too. A lovely spot for a breather, once the crossing was completed. And plenty of photos.
A final flight of stone stairs brought us out onto a wide open plateau, home to Ramdang and its two tea houses. Lemon and ginger tea outside, taking in the spectacular views and the "Queen Mary" rock outcrop, then inside for veg thukpa and chat with an English guy who'd worked in Solukhumbu for 6 months in his younger years.
Another 90 mins across the plateau and up a narrow glacial moraine lined valley then the trail turned away from the Ghuna Khola and followed the Lhonak Khola instead. A wooden bridge brought the teahouses of Lhonak into view. Not many trekkers and teams in residence, in contrast to the tales we'd heard of groups sleeing in dining rooms and resorting to tents a week or so ago. The Andorrans were there though.
We settled into our lovely twin rooms in the Himalayan Guest House's new block, each complete with foam insulation lined walls and hooks for hanging stuff up - always a good sign - and a loo at the end of the corridor.
Relaxing at one of the outside tables in the afternoon sun we decided it was time to crack open the Kathmandu Coffee... and between Tenzee and the wife of the couple who ran the guest house and her kitchen, we cooked up the coffee and I headed outside with the saucepan and a sieve... and some biscuits. What A Treat.
Once the sun went the temperatures plummeted, and we were very glad of the yak dung stove in the Dining Room, where we also found the Koreans - reunited!
Big day tomorrow, so after tea and popcorn we tucked into chips, spring rolls and momos.
Overnight: Himalayan Guest House
Read more on Sparkly Trainers: Kanchenjunga & Lumba Sumba.
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A Lilac-breasted Roller is perched on top of a signpost with directions to nearby locations in Liuwa Plain.
Made by or for IRS Ltd, London. Positioned at TL 8527 4397. The post has subsequently been restored.
Thursday 10 November 2022: Chhauchha (~2850 m) - Upper Chyakhu (3800 m)
Nar Phu Day 2
Route: Chhauchha / Cho Cho / Chhomchu (~2850 m) - Singenge Dharmasala (3290m) - Meta / Methang (3560 m) - Upper Chyakhu / Upper Chyakho / Upper Chyako (3800 m)
A morning of up through forest and over and behind waterfalls. A signpost at Hulaki Odar (3000m) and a tea stop at Dharmasala (3210m) then on to Meta for lunch at the Terelha Guesthouse. And two very cute puppies.
At Meta the narrow section of the Nar Khola valley that provides the main route into Nar Phu broadens out and in the afternoon we followed the contours, branching off north east into the Phu valley. Another deep ravine, this time carved out by the Phu Khola that comes in from the mountains and glaciers that form the Nepal-Tibet border. Getting higher, it's cold once the sun goes - but we got a warm welcome at the lovely Karma Hotel in Upper Chyakhu. Stove on, darts (!), dinner.
Overnight: Karma Hotel, Upper Chyakhu
Read more on Sparkly Trainers: Val Pitkethly's Manaslu & Nar Phu.
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Scenes at the Metro Fountain Blues Festival in San Jose, CA.
On Saturday, May 9, 2009, Mika and I went to San Jose State University in downtown to attend the 29th annual Metro Fountain Blues Festival. The artists featured The Derek Trucks Band, The Tommy Castro Band, Lurrie Bell's Chicago Blues Band, and the Candye Kane Band with Laura Chavez.
Shot with a Pentax K10D camera using the smc P-DA* 50-135mm F2.8 ED (IF) SDM lens. PP with UFRaw to set white balance and crop.