Crossing over to Gokyo via the Renjola Pass (5,360m)

Please support my fundraiser related to this Lhotse expedition helping diabetes 1 research & disabled Nepalese children https://mydonate.bt.com/fundraisers/rocketontour-lhotse

Lungden @ 4,350m to Gokyo @ 4,800m (dist: 12km, asc: 1,075m, dsc: 660m)
By now I am sitting nice and relaxed (and showered) in the Fitzroy Inn in Gokyo. The view across the glacier lake is stunning though a bit clouded by now.
It’s been quite a day. We got up before 4am, had breakfast and departed for the Renjola Pass (5,360m) just after 4.30am.


I The conditions were mild and the sky plastered with stars. And on we went. The first 350m of the c1,000m total ascent start very steep up a gorge not far behind  the lodge. It took me just under an hour. From there the trail levels off significantly and you gain another c350m altitude over a long distance. The final 350m are again steep terrain as you climb the pass.

I noted that I had pretty cold hands (despite wearing my mountain hardwear winter mointaineering gloves). Other hikers mentioned the same. So go in with warm gloves. Same for the other clothing. I wore three layers (marmot wiki, north face softshell & thin windproof Rab top) and it was fine.
After just under four hours I reached Renjola (team best was Jon at 3:10hrs) and enjoyed a good snack amidst stunning views of Everest, Lhotse and Makalu.
After an hour or so rest, we moved on to Gokyo. It’s about 600m descent on a lot of rubble. Bring hiking poles. Also recommended are mini spikes for the small glaciated section. Mike’s bum remains ‘suboptimal & sore’ after a accidental slide on his backside.

I got to Gokyo at 11am trailing the fastest of us by 20mins. Jon is on fire! Even the slower hikers didn’t arrive later than 1pm. Respect to the team. Good fighting for the toughest day yet.
The welcome at Fixroy’s is great. Good coffee and some nice cakes from their bakery. Bring it on!

Ahh, not to forget how small the world is … while purchasing my wifi pass I bumped into Falk … also from Dresden, East Germany. His trip is coming to an end, but maybe we find a day in August to climb in the lovely sandstone formatioms of Saxon Switzerland. Safe travels home!