The trail descends from the first pass to the Thulo Pokhari (3990m, big pond), and then climbs steeply up a shallow rocky gully to the prayer flags and stone chorten at Shipton La (4216m), in 60 minutes from the first pass. The Shipton La was named after Eric Shipton who, with Edmund Hillary, used this route to trek out from their 1952 Everest reconnaissance. The trail descends from the Shipton La in just 15 minutes to two lakes (4030m), with a few buildings where we ate our lunch. The trail then ascends through large boulders for another 20 minutes to the third pass at 4145m.