Taplejung to Jiri via Lumba Samba Pass, Sherpani and West Cols, and Amphu
Lapsta (October-November 2012):
3. Crossing Lumba Samba pass (3 days)
At 5159m Lumba
Samba pass was our first major pass of this trip (but an easy one). To
acclimatize further we put two intermediate camps between Olangchun
Gola and the crossing of the pass, respectively at 3880m and 4450m. A small
snow fall (the only one during the entire trip) occurred during the night
spent at the higher camp. Upon reaching the pass we had spectacular views
over Kanchenjunga (8450m) and Jannu (7710m). Lumba Samba pass is in fact a triple pass. At the ′third′
(most western) pass, we could see Kanchenjunga (and Jannu)
on one side and Makalu (8481m) on the other side. |
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Leaving Olangchun Gola.
Caravan
of yaks heading toward Tibet, at the point where the trail from Olangchun Gola bifurcates into two trails, one leading to Lumba Samba pass, the other to Tiptala
Laon the border with Tibet.
The path
toward Lumba Samba pass then traverses a dense
rhododendron forest.
We set our last
camp before crossing Lumba Samba at the end of this
valley at 4450m.
View of the
valley in the opposite direction, with our camp on the left side of the photo.
At our camp in
the late afternoon.
Next morning
at the camp after a small snow fall.
Starting our
ascent of Lumba Samba pass with perfect weather. (Second photo
by Matt Scott)
Spectacular
views of Kanchenjunga (center left) and Jannu
(center) during the climb.
The same two
mountains after crossing the ′first′ (most eastern)
pass of the triple Lumba Samba pass.
View of Makalu
from the ′third′ (most
western) pass of Lumba Samba pass.
The isolated
village of Thudam (3560m) reached after a long
descent from the pass. This village, where we set our camp for one night, seems
extraordinarily poor. It has no easy connection to any other village in Nepal
and does some trade with Tibet through Umbak La
(5232m).
Children in Thudam.
Links to all sections of
the trek:
1.
Taplejung to Olangchun Gola
(4 days)
2. Olangchun Gola (1 day)
3. Crossing
Lumba Samba pass (3 days)
4. Tudham to Hongon (3 days)
5. Hongon to Yangla Kharka (5 days)
6. Yangla Kharka to Sherpani Col High Camp (4 days)
7. Crossing
of Sherpani and West Cols (1 day)
8. Hongu basin to Namche across Amphu Lapsta (3 days)
9. Namche to Jiri (5 days)