Trail Running Nepal’s Three Passes, 2018
I’d spent a lot of time in Nepal’s Khumbu Valley, aka the Everest Region, and knew that the famous 3 Passes trek would make for a great trail run. Ueli Steck and David Göttler had already done it and reported that it truly was the perfect run. As far as big mountain running tours go, the numbers aren’t particularly impressive, 60km with 3200 meters of vert. But, and it’s a huge BUT, three 5000 meter passes must be crossed; Kongma La at 5550 meters, Cho La at 5420 meters, and Renjo La at 5360 meters. Going so high multiple times, combined with rugged mountain terrain, takes its toll on the body.
After three weeks acclimating, Kim and I set off from the village of Chukhung to get it done. Kim had a nagging sinus infection and after the second pass we knew we were in trouble to get over the third pass. With a throbbing head and mucus draining from her eyes, we opted to spend the night at Gokyo, just ahead of the third pass, Renjo La.
The next morning, feeling only slightly less miserable, we started up Renjo La headed for Namche Bazar. This image is crossing Renjo La Pass, with Everest visible in the distance, and about 30 km still to go. Two hours later, Kim was vomiting non stop and could barely walk. We arrived to Namche that evening, spent.
Camera: Sony a6500
Posing Scale: 1 – Kim was in no condition for “one more time.”
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