On The Everest Trail

As Lakpa prepares for this year's Everest expedition, I got to thinking about our trip to the Khumbu in 2010. Our first acclimatisation stop was at the Sherpa village of Namche where the famous Bazaar is held every Saturday.

People travel on foot from miles around, carrying heavy loads of goods to sell at this weekly market - everything from chillies, spices and vegetables to kerosene, clothes and household goods.

We spent our spare day walking up to a viewpoint beyond the village where I planned to do some drawing. As we gained the higher ground an amazing panorama spread itself before us. Standing sentinel on the right, the distinctive form of Ama Dablam. Beyond in the distance the mass of cloud streaming from the summit of Lhotse with Everest unusually cloudless on the right. And all under the bluest skies. Magnificent!

Nothing to do but set to work! What a privilege to have this amazing landscape all to myself. Then, after an hour or so drawing, a nice cup of tea with Lakpa and Mingma, one of our porters - in the background the loos with the best views in the world - probably!

 

The watercolour!