LHOTSE NEWS and PHOTOS of our April 2026 EXPEDITION

Please scroll down for latest news and photos.

Photo : Ang Dorji.

Photo : Igor K.

12 April : Today our Everest Member Vibhu is helping write our dispatch. Thanks Vibhu!! Now is our rest and refreshment day, well deserved after yesterday’s big climb. It is so gorgeous this morning: Incredible views of high altitude jutting ice peak Kwangde Ri hit by golden sunlight through slowly churning clouds makes us feel so tiny down here in Namche. A cup of coffee and tea with such a vista is the perfect start of our lazy recuperation day. After appetizing breakfast of cheese omelets and Tibetan fried bread we drop off laundry and then set off on a morning stroll up to Everest View Hotel, in a quest for our first views of Mt Everest. The hike is short but steep. Panting ensues, but high spirits make the time fly by and soon our entire group is at the top. Congratulations Team! The Weather Gods are kind to bathe us in bright sun as we settle down at the Everest Hotel terrace for a rich cappuccino. Cloudy curtains open and close, allowing us brief shimmering glimpses of mighty Mounts Thamserku and Kusum Kanguru. The highlight is Mt Ama Dablam poking unexpectedly out of the clouds. Such a tall but delicate mountain beauty, perfectly shaped: pointy yet expansive. Clouds are a bit uncooperative today and are keeping Everest hidden from us. We can’t see her, but somehow we feel the power of mighty Mount Everest drawing us to her. We visit the Sagarmatha Next Museum to see the recycling displays and watch the interesting movies about climbing and Sherpas. Ok friends, lets head back down to Hilltop Lodge, just in time for delicious lunch and hot drinks. This afternoon we walk down to Namche, relishing the luxuries of Spa, Bakery, Coffees, Pubs, and Shopping. We all are meeting up NOW back at the Hilltop Lodge to celebrate our friend Luke’s Birthday. Luke is a member of our Everest Base Camp Family Trek. HAPPY BIRTHDAY LUKE!!! What a lucky place to be for your birthday. Everyone, lets dig into this delicious chocolate cake. Yummm!

Caption : Happy Birthday Luke. Photo Charlotte.

Caption: Hilltop Lodge Lhakpa Sherpa. Photo : Dan.

Photo : Vibhu J.

Caption : What are unique ways to manage waste in the Everest region? Everest Base Camp Trek members are in Namche. Photo : Ang Dorji, Igor K.

Caption : The Namche Bazaar. Photo Sange.

Caption : What a great way to take a break! Please advise a good caption for this photo. Photo : Ang Dorji.

Caption : Team at Hill top. Photo : Tenji.

Caption : Enjoying beautiful day at Namche. Photo : Dan.

Caption : Toktak and Phakding.

11 April : Today we enjoy a delicious breakfast and begin hiking through sunlit forests, flowering Rhododendron trees, waterfalls and tiny terraced villages in the Dudh Khosi River Valley. Inside a narrow cliff lined gorge, we come to the National Park Gate in Monjo Village. An epic moment in our Everest Base Camp trek to be sure. Now we are in Sagarmatha National Park. Welcome Everyone! We eat lunch at the cute Buddha Lodge where three lovely Sherpa women attentively prepare us a delicious lunch of momo dumplings, potato chips french fries and salad. We eat and drink heartily and then set off up valley to cross a precarious cable swinging bridge high above the confluence of the Bhote Khosi river coming from Tibet and the Dudh Khosi River from Everest Nepal. We climb the mighty Namche Hill, through whispering pines on a well maintained trail laden with switchbacks. Working our way to the top, we are treated with views of snowy peaks and the steep precipices at the base of Kwangde Massif, festooned with hanging frozen waterfalls melting into lacey spray. Finally, after a grueling uphill trek, we reach Namche Bazaar, the capital of the Khumbu Sherpa People. A gorgeous water park greets us with rushing streams, waterpowered prayer wheels, and statues of famous Sherpa heroes. We head straight into a local café to feast on freshly brewed cappuccino, chocolate cake and pepperoni mushroom pizza. Enjoying our café’s sunny balcony, we watch the streets of Namche teem with trekkers, porters, jingling yaks; perfect people watching. The final hill climb up to our hotel reminds us where we are, and eventually we reach our rest spot for tonight, the lovely Hilltop Lodge, perched in yak pastures just above town. The sun sets over the mountains, and we are plunged into chilly twilight. Lets head inside now to get warm by the fire. Thanks for following our trip

Caption : One of the many suspension bridge.

Video : Sange

Caption : Sagarmatha Nation park gate at Jorsale. It is a small Sherpa village in the Khumbu region of Nepal, located at 2,740 meters (8,990 feet) on the banks of the Dudh Koshi River. Photo : Igor K

Video : Sange

Photo : Ang Dorje.

Photo : Sange S.

10 April : We flew from Kathmandu to Lukla by helicopter. There were no fixed wing airplane flights today due to clouds. Many of our bags arrived, some did not. Later in the day all of our bags finally arrived. A few of our Sherpas couldn’t fly, they will tomorrow. We trekked down to Zamfute, arriving just before dark and stayed in the lovely Sonam Guesthouse in amongst tall pines. It didn’t rain today, so the trekking was nice and dry. Everyone is feeling well, albeit a bit tired from waking up at 5am. Looking forward to a good nights sleep.

Photo : Igor K, Dan.

Video : Calen.

Photo : Igor K

9 April : We had our team briefing at the Harati Manor Inn and packed all of our bags for trekking and climbing. We enjoyed a wonderful group dinner at one of Thamel’s best restaurants.

Photo : Calen, Igor K.

8 April : our climbing and trekking teams arrived in Kathmandu and we checked their gear and went for shopping and renting gear, especially the high altitude down and 8000 metre boots.

Caption : Team trekked to monkey temple this morning. Beautiful ! Photo : Calen.

Caption : Preparing expedition medical kits. Photo : Dan.

7 April - Thamel - The vibrant heart of Kathmandu buzzes with energy as SummitClimb Everest & Lhotse team members explore the mountaineering shop, preparing for the journey ahead. From technical gear to last-minute essentials, every step through these lively streets brings the expedition closer to the world’s highest peaks.

Caption : Climbing Members at kathmandu trekking shop.

Caption : Boarding our flight with a few expedition bags. At HKG Airport. Photo : Dan.

Lhotse / Everest Training Team Roster -

Dmitri N. - USA
Cal C. - Ireland
Rytis N - Lithuania
Timothy A. - UK

Sherpas And Staff -

Gombu Sherpa
Dawa Sherpa
Sabin Magar
Gelji Sherpa (Small)

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