Thanks to Rajendra and Sangey from www.mountainsunvalley.com for making this trip happen for me! It was an adventure! I did this trip alone with my Nepali friends, I would not have done it any other way.
Kangchenjunga from space. Nepal side KJ north side is on the upper left. South Nepal see is on the lower left. Indian side is on the right.
Every time I came to Kathmandu, this man sold me some small things. He was super nice. He died in 2015 and now his son sells the same trinkets from he same box in the same spot. Life is hard in Kathmandu.
The streets of Kathmandu
Jannu Peak from Ilam - the spectacular Kangchendzonga massif
Kngbechen and Kangchendzonga 1, 2 and 3 from Ilam. We are not even close to the start point and the mountain already looks HUGE. It is the third highest mountain in the world after Everest and K2.
En route to the BC - we got caught up in an outer band of a big cyclone from the Bay of Bengal.
Rain and leeches. But during brief breaks from the rain, spectacular views.
Misty and wet. Walking through the tropical forest.
an old man enjoying his Tumba - a traditional beer-like drink served in the wooden tumblers.
Having a good time in the teahouse. Sangey, the tea house owner and Kam. There were only 3 of us on this trip.
Taking a break in the farmer’s hut. Sangey ate some cheese here and got quite ill.
More rain. After a few days of constant rain, we started to loose hope that we would see the sun again.
Porters working for another group. This is a typical sleeping quarters for the porters.
Kangchendzonga South BC - surprisingly I was the only guest.
Ridge of Ratong 6,679m, the summit of Kabru South 7,311m is behind
Kanchendzonga 8,586m (left), Kanchendzonga Central (in the clouds) 8,482m
Kabru North (left) 7,338m and Kabru Sounth (right) 7,311m on the border of Nepal and India
Sangey and I exploring the upper Yalung Glacier
Kabru North and South
South face of Kangchendzonga after the snow storm. The same storm dumped a few feet of snow on the North side stranding people for days. Due to the lower elevation of our approach trail, we experienced only rain.
Kabru 7,311m and Ratong 6,679m
Kangchenjunga Main 8,586m, Central 8,482m and South 8,476m
Kanbachen 7,482m
Kokthang 6,148m
Hiking above the base camp to above 5,000m. Yalung Glacier and view to the south.
Kokthang 6,148m and Yalung Glacier
Ratong Peak 6,679m
The view from the Sinjon La Pass connecting the south and north side of the Kangchendzonga trek. The long ridge is Kabru North (left) 7,338m and Kabru South 7,311m. The peak on the right is Ratong 6,679m.
The view from Sinjon La Pass
Kangchenjunga Main, Central and South
Kabru North 7,338m
Kabru and Ratong above the Yalung Glacier
Kanbachen and 3 summits of the Kangchenjunga massif.
The Sinjon La Pass is not very high but the views are spectacular!
Sinjon La Pass 4.646m
Sinjon La Pass 4,646m - looking at mountains India’s Sikkim
The view from Sinjon La Pass to Chulima Himal and its 6,000m peaks.
The view from Selele La Pass 4,480m to Everest, Makalu and Chamlang almost 100km away!
Selele La Pass 4,480m. I am pointing at Mt. Makalu where I was the year before.
Hanging out with the porters at Selele La camp.
The valley to Kangchendzonga North
In Gunsa
The Ghunsa Valley with Janu Glacier ahead. The pointy peak is Sarpu 6,158m.
Looking back down the Ghunsa Valley.
Kumbhakarma (Janu) 7,710m
Pholesobi Thonje 6,645m and Sobi Thonje 6,670m along the Khumbakharna (Janu) Glacier
From left: Sobi Thongje 6,670, Pholesobi Thonje 6,645m and Temachungi 6,044m
Sobi Thongje 6,670m and Pholesobi Thonje 6,645m in the Janu massif
Janu Peak 7,710m, Sobi Thongje 6,670m, Pholesobi Thonje 6,645m and Temachungi 6,044m with the Kumbhakarma Glacier below - hiking above the Nupchu Valley and exploring the area.
The view to Janu 7,710m from Nupchu Valley
Himalayan Blue Sheep
Kanbachen north face 7,802m and Ramdang Glacier from the trail to Lhonak.
Kangbachen 7,802 and Kanchendzonga North Face as seen above Ramdang Glacier
Mera Peak 6,364m
Tent Peak 7,362m and Nepal Peak 7,177m above the Kanchendzonga Glacier.
Gimmigela 6,415m above the Kanchendzonga Glacier
Laser II 6,803m above the Lhonak Glacier. The Laser II peak is on the border with China (Tibet).
Looking down the Kanchendzonga Glacier from the moraine above Lhonak.
Kangchendzonga Glacier Wedge Peak and Gimmigela Peak.
Wedge Peak 6,802m and the Kangchenjonga Glacier.
Beautiful ridges above the Kangchendzonga Glacier.
The camp at Lhonak
Our small team in Lhonak: Sangey (left) and Kamsing (right).
Going from Lhonak to Pangpema.
Gimmigela Chuli and the ridge of the Wedge Peak near Pangpema. The massive Kangchenjonga is starting to appear from behind the ridge.
Gimmigela Chuli (The Twins) 7,350 and Kanchendzonga (on the right)
Kanchendzonga Main 8,586m and Kanchendzonga South 8,476m
Kanchendzonga South 8,476m
The Twins, Knchendzona North Face and the Wedge Peak above the Kanchendzonga Glacier
Kanchendzonga Glacier and Pangpema looking from the slopes above the Pangpema camp.
Wedge Peak 6,802m
Kanbachen 7,802m
Kanchendzonga Main 8,586m
Kanchendzonga South 8,476m
The complex glacier of the Kanhchenjonga massif.
Pangpema
Kangchendzonga north side - a Spanish trekker took this photo of me and emailed it to me after the trip.
Returning from Pangpema
The view from Dromo Ri above Pangpema
On Dromo Ri above Pangpema
Child porters
Preparing the pig for butchering - it is quite a process to see a pig killed by a bamboo stake. I could not eat it after it was cooked.
Going back to Kathmandu
Kathmandu
Kathmandu
