29th Oct. DAY 10 Trekking

From	To	Distance	Start Elev	Finish Elev	Gain	Total Ascent	Total Descent
Limithang	Laya	10.6	4153	3818	-334	323	657

We woke to this amazing view of Great Tiger Mountain and had breakfast in the sun.

On the way to Laya Chris bought himself a hat from one of the Layap ladies.

We arrived in Laya to spend 2 nights in this traditional house.

The main room had the usual smokey stove with yak meat and cheese hanging up to cure.

We made ourselves comfortable by lounging around the place and drinking the local beer called 'HIT'. It was excellent and was surprisingly light on the brain next morning.

Tensing administers the first dose of Hit.

However, the local spirit - called Arra - was served hot with egg stirred into it and this was very much one for the afficiandos of finer drinks.

28th Oct. DAY 9 Trekking

From	To	Distance	Start Elev	Finish Elev	Gain	Total Ascent	Total Descent
Robuthang	Limithang	13.1	4163	4153	10	920	930

Over the high point of the trip - the Sinche La at 5005 m. Snowing of course.

Tensing, Sue & Chris.

Almost there - Andrew & Gary foreground.

The Sinche La.

Just about spot on.

27th Oct. DAY 8 Trekking

From	To	Distance	Start Elev	Finish Elev	Gain	Total Ascent	Total Descent
Shomuthang	Robuthang	11.8	3996	4163	167	1066	903

26th Oct. DAY 7 Trekking

From	To	Distance	Start Elev	Finish Elev	Gain	Total Ascent	Total Descent
Lingshi	Shomuthang	17.1	4065	3995	-70	931	1001

Perfect weather so we were able to continue on. This was leaving Lingshi.

Entering Goyul we could look back at Tserim Kang 6789 m.

Chebisa had a Shangri-La feel about it. Monks were chanting as we arrived. We had lunch in the home of Tensing's cousin.
The monks were blessing a newly built home in the village.

We cross the Gogu La at 4440 m.

25th Oct. DAY 6 Trekking

From	To	Distance	Start Elev	Finish Elev	Gain	Total Ascent	Total Descent
Jangothang	Lingshi	16.3	4086	4072	-11	990	1001

A beautiful day, we climbed up close to the snow line.

We reached the cairn at the Nyile La 4880 m. Fabulous views in all directions.

Lingshi Dzong on the far side of the valley. Our campsite was the other side of this. The Dzong had been quite severely damaged in the earthquake of 18th September '11 that was a 6.9 magnitude.

By the time we reached camp the weather was threatening again - this meant a possibility that we may have to go back 4 days the way we'd just come.

24th Oct. DAY 5 Trekking

We got the news first thing that the helicopters were on their way.

We'd used the GPS to give Lat. &Lon. so all we had to do was light a fire to guide them in.

Once the girls had flown off Joe & I had to catch up with the others at the Jhomolhari base camp.

Village with Tserim Kang 6789 m. beyond.

Jhomolhari 7314 m. & Jhomolhari II 6942 m.

23rd Oct. DAY 4 Trekking

An enforced day in the yak-herder's hut. The only helicopter available was broken!

Negotiations were begun with the Indian Army to get Mary & Carolyn out.

This was the interior of the hut - a little smoky.

By the next morning Mary was stable and conscious. Joe and Carolyn visibly happy.

The outside of the hut.

We settle in for our 2nd night.

22nd Oct. DAY 3 Trekking

From	To	Distance	Start Elev	Finish Elev	Gain	Total Ascent	Total Descent
Thangthangka	Soe	7.0	3622	3900	276	417	141

My GPS data can be transferred to Google Earth to plot these 3D maps. (Clicking on it makes it bigger.)

This 3rd day started with a beautiful snowy morning.

However, after lunch Mary became seriously unwell. She went from eating lunch to being unconscious in less than an hour. We made her comfortable by the side of the trail and sent for help. It was clear that she had a Cerebral Oedema and was in trouble.

We were taken in by a family of yak herders. We got Mary up to their hut about 100 m. up the hill. There we gave her some Dexamethasone and the little oxygen we had ( one tank - less than 2 hours!)

Fortunately we had a PAC - pressurised Air Chamber - better known as a Gamow Bag. We put Mary in it overnight and took turns pumping. Joe and I were helped by Sonam, Tensing and Sonam's cousin. One of our team, Jigme, did our cooking. All we had to do now was get her evacuated by helicopter.

21st Oct. DAY 2 Trekking

From	To	Distance	Start Elev	Finish Elev	Gain	Total Ascent	Total Descent
Sharna	Thangthangka	16.6	2842	3622	820	1038	221

A wet day. After lunch sheltering under a cliff, it turned to snow.

You can't see it in this picture but I was still in my shorts.

Evening meal was in a stone building. Here Tensing is dishing out the soup to Carolyn & Mary.

20th Oct. DAY 1 Trekking

From	To	Distance	Start Elev	Finish Elev	Gain	Total Ascent	Total Descent
Drukgyel Dzong	Sharna	16.8	2514	2842	328	576	248

We leave Paro, saying goodbye to Ross who was heading back to the States.

Here, Joe, Ross & Sir Chris.

We started at Drukgyel Dzong where the local shop had the usual penises to ward off the evil spirits.

The walking was mainly along a road and very pleasant. Many chortens to circumambulate.

This was our first campsite. All our tents had rugs, thermarests, lanterns and - later in the evening - hot water bottles. Luxury!

19th Oct. BHUTAN at last.

Our Druk Airlines plane at Paro Airport - Paro Dzong in the background.

The 31 yr. old Bhutanese King, Namgyal Wangchuk, had married 22 yr. old Jetsun Pema on the 13th - less than a week before.

The newly weds were in Paro that day receiving gifts from the people. The town was closed to traffic and the population decked out in their best outfits. Sadly, but correctly, we foreigners weren't allowed in to the ceremony.

In the afternoon our guide took us on an hour's walk up to a pass at about 3,600 m. to get an initial whiff of low oxygen. Beautiful vertical prayer flags.

18th Oct. False Alarm

Exciting day - off to the airport for the flight to Paro in Bhutan.

Flight delayed but left in the afternoon. Good view of the mountains - this being Everest.

Suddenly flight turned around. It was getting too dark to land in Bhutan. Druk Airlines put us up for the night at the Hotel Annapurna back in Kathmandu - with a 4.30 am start to follow!

To KATHMANDU. 16th & 17th Oct.

To Kathmandu to start the trip to BHUTAN with the Boningtons.

Stayed at the fabulous Dwarika's Hotel - http://www.dwarikas.com/ - but into Thamel to have lunch with Sir Chris, Joe and Ratchna - Pertemba's grand-daughter.

Fellow trekkers arrived during the day hence the after dinner trip to Sam's Bar in Thamel with the Bennets. Here - Robert, Kevin, Joe & me - on the tequila at this stage.

AUSTRALIAN HIMALAYAN FOUNDATION Sydney dinner

Friday 7th October.

Sir Chris Bonington in Sydney to give the Edmund Hillary Memorial Lecture.

Joined by the Annapurna Crew from last year - Jeremy, myself, Sir Chris, Joe & David in front.
Also joined by Dick Smith.

A great evening.