LHASA TO KATMANDU ON MOUNTAIN BIKES!

 
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Monday 14 September
 
  RONGBUK TO EVEREST BASE CAMP AND RETURN

Total distance cycled: 17 kms

Morning altitude: 5000 meters (16,400 feet)

Highest altitude: 5200 meters (17,060 feet)

Evening altitude: 5000 meters (16,400 feet)

Today was the day we've all been waiting for. It was an easy one--and a great one! No one slept so well at the high altitude and all crammed in four to a teeny room like we were. After breakfast we pedaled 8 kms up to the Everest base camp. It was a wonderful ride. The road was rough and unpleasant, but the views were spectacular. We also saw LOTS of wildlife (small mountain goats, yaks, and marmotte-like creatures) rushing glacial waters that we followed up. At the base camp there is a small Chinese Army outpost to control access, a monument, some really smelly public toilets, and a cluster of expedition camping guys monitoring their climbs. (There are four different climbing expeditions on this side of the mountain today.) There was not a cloud in the sky, so picnicking directly in front of the north face of Everest was a truly special experience.

We took our time with an easy return trip to our grim guest house. I did my last load of laundry of the trip, and washed my hair again in the little basin. Then it was off on a quick tour of the Rongbuk Monastery, the highest in the world. There are only ten monks here now, and most of it is in ruins. Looks like a fairly rough life.

Photos below, left column, then right column: Heading up the hill with spectular views. At the monument. This is as close as you can get without an expedition permit, and where we had lunch. The Rongbuk Monastery.