Our 15th day on the trail was short and relaxed. We only had a few hours of mostly flat and downhill walking to reach our base at Dingboche, going through the village of Chukhung. The views were even more magnificent than usual, due partly to the high altitude clouds that came in suspiciously early. As the afternoon progressed, a giant lenticular cloud appeared above Lhotse, which left little doubt that bad weather was headed our way. This could be a major problem for both our next summit, Lobuje East, and for the high-altitude pass we would have to cross later, the Cho La.

We reached Dingboche and its now familiar lodge by lunchtime, and met again with Torben and John, who were both doing much better and were eager to get back on the trail. The afternoon was fittingly spent honing our card playing skills and finishing books.

The view from our alternative Island Peak BC.

Rachel enjoying some reading in Island Peak BC, despite a chilling wind.

The summit of Ama Dablam under peculiar cloud formations.

Ama Dablam above the trail going down the Imja valley.

A yak caravan going up to Island Peak.

Norrie below Taboche.

Norrie admiring Ama Dablam, with Taboche in the background.

360° panorama above Chukhung, showing from left to right, Taboche, Cholatse, Pokalde, Chukhung Ri, Pumori, Nuptse, Lhotse, Lhotse Shar, Island Peak, Amphu and Ama Dablam.

Click on the image for a larger version.

Mungo and Rachel being Mungo and Rachel.

Toilets with a view.

Thawing river on the Imja valley, with Taboche in the background.

The same river below Ama Dablam.

Memorial to Jerry Kukuczka, the second man to climb all 14 summits above 8000m, and who tragically died putting a new route on the visible south face of Lhotse.

The mountains above Namche, seen from Chukhung.

Going back from Island Peak.

Prayer flags on a background of rock and ice, on the east face of Taboche.

A massive lenticular cloud above Lhotse, forecasting the bad weather that hit us the next day.