Nov 12 2024 – Periche to Tengbouche

Opted for better the devil you have some familiarity with, in terms of climbs, so basically retracing my steps. I did ponder taking the high trail from Pengbouche to Phortse in reverse of the route I had originally planned to come up, but I opted against it.

Monastery is closed this time while the monks prepare for the festival of Mani Rimdu. An original version of my itinerary had me being here for that festival, before giving up on it because it was allegedly going to be too touristed to find accommodation. I don’t know if it’s because a lot of people cancelled their vacations due to the late monsoon flood in Kathmandu, but so far the expected fall crowds in the region have not been a thing. I’m okay with that, there have still been crowds a plenty in certain places.

I’d be tempted to stay here for the festival, but that itinerary was also based on people telling me it’s absolutely possible to get from here to Lukla in a day. Them maybe, but having come up that trail I don’t think I could do it in less than 3.

Tomorrow’s destination is back to Namche bazar. 1000 vertical feet of climbing to a lower altitude, boy are the Himalayas fun.

Anyway, last time I was here the whole place was clouded over. So, the tengbouche monastery at night: