Nepal

If you like to hike, this beautiful country should be on your list.

I have been planning to trek here for many years with my initial visit in 2020.

My 2020 trekking trip was postponed because of the worldwide Covid-19 issue.

The MJM 2022 Experience

I had 3 goals well before I traveled to Nepal & the Khumbu Valley:

#1 - Trek there and back under my own power

# 2 - Trek in the Himalayas

# 3 - Trek past 14,439'

Success with all 3

With my biggest fan and darling wife Rachel (RAMM). She has allowing me to capture my climbing & hiking goals since 1994!

RAMM seeing me off at the Colorado Springs airport

My Nepal Travel Company

I booked my 2022 Nepal Trekking trip with nepalguidetreks.com . Thanks to Prakash for his organization!

Nepal guide treks did a good job with my trip but there were some discrepancies.

MJM with Prakash

Special thanks to my excellent Guide Lhakpa Linja Sherpa www.lhakpa-trekking.com & his Brother in law Sona whom served as my excellent porter!

michaeljmcgee.com Nepal videos:

Kathmandu Nepal 9/2022

Nepal Khumbu Valley Trekking Part 1

Nepal Khumbu Valley Trekking Part 2

Nepal Khumbu Valley Trekking Part 3

Nepal Khumbu Valley Trekking Part 4

Nepal Khumbu Valley Trekking part 5

Nepal Khumbu Valley Trekking part 6

Nepal Khumbu Valley Trekking part 7

Heading to Kathmandu Nepal

Kathmandu

I was quite suprised by the conditions of the city.

I took the taxi though this large city several times and witnessed some alarming sights. Slum like conditions, people showering in the streets, dirty open meat markets, very few traffic lights (drivers yield to all traffic), Motorcycles everywhere to list a few.

WTF! This is an electrical pole I saw throughout Thamel.

Motorcycles everywhere

Sweet outdoor climbing center

I stayed at the very nice Aryatara Kathmandu Hotel

Nepal Rock Climbing

I was able to rock climb 2 days during my 18 day Nepal trip. Visit my Nepal Shivapuri Nagarjun National Park climbing page here

michaeljmcgee.com Shivapuri Nagarjun National Park video

Shivapuri Nagarjun National Park

Nepal Hattiban climbing page here

michaeljmcgee.com Hattiban video

My trekking trip was delayed 3 days because of weather issues flying into Lukla. So I decided to book a helicopter flight to Lukla after hearing that some trekkers were waiting in Kathmandu for over a week to get to Lukla. This Helicopter flight cost an additional $520 USD but IMO was worth it as I was able to begin my Trek.

Helicopter flight to Lukla

30 minute Helicopter flight. Arrived in Lukla at the Tenzing Hillary Airport.

Khumbu Valley Trek

First & for most this area in stunning! Lush forests, countless waterfalls & incredible moutain veiws.

My trip to the Khumbu Valley was September 10 thru September 23, 2022.

The weather

Clear in the morning from 5am to 10am then cloudy with intermittent rain showers. Humid & warm up to Namche Bazaar.

Once above this nice town it was cloudy & cool with occasional rain showers everyday. It only snowed a few inches at Gorak Shep.

MJM Trekking Specs

I did the Everest Base Camp Package but did not go to EBC because of my 3 day flight delay. I reached Gorak Shep at 17,027'.

I consider myself a slow to moderate trekker. This is a challenging Trek. You should be in good hiking shape.

MJM's Location, Time & Distance trekking in:

Lukla to Monju - 4 hours 45 minutes (30 minute lunch break) • 8.8 miles • 9,383' to 9,301'

Monjo to Namche Bazaar - 3 hours 50 minutes (3/5 minute breaks) • 5 miles • 9,301' to 11,286'

Rest Day Namche Bazaar

Namche Bazaar to Debouche - 5 hours 40 minutes (1/5 minute break) • 6.7 miles • 11,286' to 12,532'

Deboche to Dingboche - 3 hours 45 minutes (1/5 - 1/10 minute break) • 5.7 miles • 12,532' to 14,470'

Dingboche to Lobuche - 4 hours 20 minutes (2/5 minute breaks) • 5.1 miles • 14,470' to 16,177'

Lobuche to Gorak Shep - 2 hours 17 minutes (2/5 minute breaks) • 2.8 miles • 16,177' to 17,027'

Totals: Time 24 hours 5 minutes • 34 Miles

Location, Time & Distance trekking out:

Gorak Shep to Pheriche - 5 hours 25 minutes (2/5 - 1/10 minute breaks) • 8.2 miles • 17,027' to 14,000'

Pheriche to Namche Bazaar - 9 hours (1/10 minute break - 1 hour lunch break) • 12.6 miles • 14,000'' to 11,286'

Namche Bazaar to Phakding - 5 hours 10 minutes (1/10 minute break - 1 hour lunch break) • 7.1 miles • 11,286' to 8,562'

Phakding to Lukla - 2 hours 35 minutes (1/5 minute break) • 5 miles • 8,562' to 9,383'

Totals: Time 22 hours 10 minutes • Miles 33 Miles

*8 straight days of trekking with 1 rest day in 12 days of trekking.

Lukla 9,383'

Monju 9,301'

The food the entire trip was very good

The gateway to the Khumbu Valley

These are designed to block large animals from using the trail

Mt. Everest

Namche Bazaar 11,286'

You can find what ever you need for your trekking or mountaineering trip in this great little town.

The best place I stayed in my entire trip.

Neapali Chicken Dal Bhat. Excellent!

Trekking to Deboche. Lots of limestone in this valley.

Yak Dung

Tengbouche 12,687'

Thyangboche Monastery

Deboche 12,532'

Ama Dablam

L-R • Everest, Nuptse, Lhotse

Trekking to Dingboche

MJM with my excellent Guide Lhakpa Linja Sherpa visit him here: www.lhakpa-trekking.com

Lhakpa took many of the pictures & videos on this page. Thank you Lhakpa!

MJM with my excellent Porter Sona

Dingboche 14,470'

The best breakfast IMO, Tibeten Bread with eggs.

The higher you go the more expensive & primitive most things get depending on the Tea Lodge you stay at.

Ama Dablam 22,349'

Trekking to Lobuche

The Memorial for fallen climbers at Thukla Pass

Lobuche 16,174'

Lobuche Peak 20,161'

\Possibly the noisiest Tea Lodge I stayed at.

Trekking to Gorak Shep

The Khumbu Glacier

The trek up the the Khumbu Glacier

Gorak Shep 17,027'

The noisiest Tea Lodge I stayed at

Pumori 23,494'

Nupste 25,791'

Heading back down

MJM & Lhakpa www.lhakpa-trekking.com

Yak shelter

Pheriche 14,000'

Ama Dablam

Michael brings Rachel to Nepal

Continuing to head back down. This was my toughest day of trekking during my entire trip. 12.6 miles.

It seemed like every 10 minutes I saw a Helicopter going up & down the upper Khumbu Valley.

I thought it was tourist being ferried to & from Everest base camp but according to my guide Lhakpa www.lhakpa-trekking.com these were actually rescues....