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Kangchenjunga Photo Gallery - 3. Kangchenjunga North Base Camp to Kangchenjunga South Valley

In October 2004, I trekked to Kangchenjunga's North and South Base Camps.

Kangchenjunga 05 01 Sele La Camp We trekked back to Kambachen one day and then the next day to Ghunsa and up to Sele La. Sele La camp (4290m) is situated in an idyllic setting with a few permanent and a few temporary huts, and a placid stream flowing through, disappearing down valley.

Kangchenjunga 05 01 Sele La Camp

Kangchenjunga 05 02 Sele La Camp Shopping As I entered Sele La camp (4290m) on the way from Kangchenjunga North to South Base Camp trails, I was surprised to see an open-air shop run by Lobsang. I bought a Pepsi and then looked through his merchandise, and bought five pieces: two stamps (om mani padme om and the never-ending knot), a pendant with Buddha's head on one side and om on the other, a brown bracelet of Buddhas, and a brown necklace with om interspersed. Now that’s customer service.

Kangchenjunga 05 02 Sele La Camp Shopping

Kangchenjunga 05 03 Sele La Camp Eating Here I am eating my soup in the makeshift shop and trekking kitchen at Sele La camp. The hut is owned by a family of three from Ghunsa. They sell Beer, Coke, Sprite, Pepsi, noodles and cigarettes all transported from Tibet via a pass just south of Ghunsa.

Kangchenjunga 05 03 Sele La Camp Eating

Kangchenjunga 05 04 Sele La Camp Sleeping Here we are settling down for the sub-zero night in our tent at the Sele La (4290m). From left to right are Big Nose, the Zig-Zagger and Danger Dangles (both wearing our new Tibetan Buddhist necklaces). On the right are my daypack and the edge of my hiking boots. I always put my hiking boots near me inside the tent ever since our group had many things stolen near Kharta back in 1998 on the way to the Kangshung Face of Everest.

Kangchenjunga 05 04 Sele La Camp Sleeping

Kangchenjunga 06 01 Khabur, Sobithongie-Phole and Jannu South-west Face From Sinion La From the top of the Sinion La (4663m), Jannu’s south-west face came into view. From left to right are Khabur (6332m), the twin peaks of Sobithongie (6670m) and Phole Peak (6645m), and Jannu (7710m). Freshfield wrote in Round Kangchenjunga: “The crests of Jannu and its two attendant peaks, just visible over the dark ridge in the foreground, gave a splendid promise and foretaste of the view that awaited us. At every upward step they rose more boldly and defiantly above the intervening crags.”

Kangchenjunga 06 01 Khabur, Sobithongie-Phole and Jannu South-west Face From Sinion La

Kangchenjunga 06 02 Jannu South-west Face From Sinion La Jannu's south-west face, as seen from the Sinion La (4663m). The complex and difficult route of first ascent came in from the right glacier, went up the glacier below the face and then up to the right-hand southeast ridge, and followed this ridge to the summit.

Kangchenjunga 06 02 Jannu South-west Face From Sinion La

Kangchenjunga 06 03 Jannu South-west Face Close Up From Sinion La Here is an extreme close-up of the summit area of the south-west face of Jannu (7710m), as seen from the Sinion La (4663m).

Kangchenjunga 06 03 Jannu South-west Face Close Up From Sinion La

Kangchenjunga 06 04 Makalu East Face from Mirgin La A long range view of the east face of Makalu (8546m) taken from the Mirgin La (4660m). On the right is Chomolonzo.

Kangchenjunga 06 04 Makalu East Face from Mirgin La

Kangchenjunga 07 01 Kangchenjunga, Talung, Kabru and Ratong From Unnamed Pass Just below the final 4724m pass, called either the Unnamed Pass or the Sinelapche La, on the beginning of the descent to Ramche, a fantastic mountain vista opened up. On the far left is Kangchenjunga’s main (8586m), central (8482m) and south (8476m) summits. After the dip from Kangchenjunga is Talung (7349m), the broad four peaks of Kabru (7738m), and Ratong (6679m). Scouring the valley bottom is the Yalung Glacier. Ramche is just before the turn to the left towards Kangchenjunga.

Kangchenjunga 07 01 Kangchenjunga, Talung, Kabru and Ratong From Unnamed Pass

Kangchenjunga 07 02 Kangchenjunga Close Up From Unnamed Pass Here’s a close-up of Kangchenjunga’s main (8586m), central (8482m) and south (8476m) summits, taken from just below the final pass at the beginning of the descent to Ramche.

Kangchenjunga 07 02 Kangchenjunga Close Up From Unnamed Pass

Kangchenjunga 07 03 Lunch On Descent To Ramche Danger Dangles reads a book, the Zig-Zagger fools around with my hiking stick while I have a lunch of Snickers and Pepsi overlooking a beautiful pond on the way down to Ramche and the south side of Kangchenjunga. Kabru (7738m) and Ratong (6679m) are reflected in the lake.

Kangchenjunga 07 03 Lunch On Descent To Ramche

Kangchenjunga 06 05 Trekking Crew from Sinion La Here is my full trekking crew at Sinion La, from left to right: porter Suba Sing, guide Gyan, porter Pemba Rinji holding Zig-Zag, Jerome Ryan, porter Purna and cook Nima Dorje.

Kangchenjunga 06 05 Trekking Crew from Sinion La


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