Maldives trekkers cross Cho La Pass and summit Gokyo Ri

Elvis and co have updated their blog from Namche, after crossing the difficult Cho La pass, summiting Gokyo Ri, and descending down the Gokyo valley. Check out Kala Pattar summit, EBC, Cho La, and Gokyo Lake photos on their blog.

Breaking news: six Maldivians summit Kala Pattar!

I've just had a call from Saaxu that six out of the nine Maldvians trekking in Nepal summited Kala Pattar (5,600m) a few days ago. This a record for the highest number of Maldvians on the summit of Kala Pattar in a single day.

Saaxu, Elvis and Athi developed headaches and nausea, symptoms of altitude sickness, and did not ascend to the highest point of the trek; a very wise move since people who ignored the symptoms and go up have died!

All nine of the 2010 team made it to Mount Everest Base Camp (5,360 metres, which should have been buzzing with activity since it's the climbing season.

Saaxu, Athi, Shadu and Nasee today returned to Lukla, to catch a plane back to Kathmandu, and to visit Pokhra, as they wait for the others to return from the trek. Again, this is a good decision because they appear to have assessed their performance at 5,000 metres and decided who should attempt the much more difficult Cho La pass.

By my calculations the Cho La pass crossers would have accomplished that challenge yesterday and would now be relaxing in the beautiful Gokyo valley (pic) to re-energise for the relatively easy climb up Gokyo Ri tomorrow.

If Elvis didn't get to climb Kala Pattar he shouldn't be too bothered; Gokyo peak affords arguably a more spectacular view of Mount Everest and three other 8,000-metre giants, as well as the stunning Gokyo Lakes.

Hopefully they'll update their own blog so that we can see the photos!

Nine Maldivians to 5,600 metres today

If all goes well nine Maldivian trekkers, who are currently in the Khumbu region of Nepal, will summit the brown hill behind Narcu in this image from Maldivians on Mountains. They should be at the top at around 9, Maldives time, this morning.

At 5,600 metres, the hill affords a stunning panorama of Mount Everest, which is immediately to its east, and the surrounding mountains.

The first part of the climb is fairly steep, but slopes off after 50 metres or so. Then on it's relatively easy, if there's no ice. But the final climb up the rocks is tough and disorienting. It can take anywhere from one and a half to three hours, depending how acclimatised the trekkers are, to summit Kala Pattar.

Seven Maldivians, including three women, have climbed this peak. But if all of the 2010 team make it up there, it would be the highest number of Maldivians summitting Kala Pattar in a single day.

The current record is three; achieved in 1990 and in 2009.

At this altitude the air has only half the oxygen at sea-level, the wind is strong and biting, and night-time temperatures can plunge to -20 degree celcius or more.

I'm hoping to see all of the 2010 team on the summit of Kala Pattar in the classic pose with Mount Everest in the background, later today, on their website.

They last updated their blog on 1 May 2010 to report their arrival at Pangboche, which is 3,800 metres above sea-level, and their plans to trek to Dingboche (4,300m) on 2 May. Although there is a cyber cafe at Dingboche, they didn't bother to update the blog. But if they kept to their schedule, they would have arrived in Gorak Shep yesterday.

The village of Gorak Shep is at an altitude of over 5,000 metres, but boasts an internet cafe. Mount Everest Base Camp is just over two hours from here.