CONTENTS:

 

- summit run / blizzard

- The ascent

- Last stage - The Killer

- Cheese Fondue on 3'830 meters above sea level

- Snowed in

 

summit run / blizzard

 

A big thermos jug of steaming black tea stands before us on the table, our faces are turned towards the sun. Everything around us is white, covered with a 50 to 100 cm thick blanket of snow. In the background, giants of the Himalayas rises into the sky, snowy, breathtaking. Behind us the Kyanjin glacier falls from the 7'225 m high Langtang Lirung into the depth. A 360 degrees panorama that is unrivaled.

 

After three exhausting days we have achieved Kyanjin gompa at 3'830 m and we are allowed to relax at last. A few days ago, a blizzard raged up here and put the landscape in a magnificent white dress. For us, this means that further trips are not possible, as all paths are blocked, and it also means that we must expect cold nights. We will have minus 5 degrees at night in our room in the little guest house with our always-smiling Tibetan hostess.

 

 

The ascent

 

Behind us lies a lot of work. I packed my backpack on a trial basis for a 14-day expedition-level and am unhappy with the 25kg. One of my ribs jumps repeatedly from their anchorage in the spine (an old "war wounds") and does not really inspire the advancement.

 

The trail leads from 1,500 m to 2,500 m on the first day. Mainly we follow the shimmering blue-grey river the whole day. The path is a constant up and down and usually leads through a dense forest. Every hard-fought meter, I would like to see that the path will not lead back down and every time it goes downhill again. AAAAH and latest after the third turn it will go uphill again.

 

I motivate Priti again and again with promises that the second and third day is a lot simpler. Forget it! I am also surprised by the second day. Again we climb 1000 meters in altitude and again the way leads often very steep through the heavily moss vegetated forest. The area reminds me exactly of "Lord of the Rings", an enchanted fairy forest.

 

Suddenly, the forest ends and before us a vast plain stretches on 3,000 meters above sea level, flanked by high mountain ranges. The river roars in the distance in front of us and we are freed from the oppressive forest. However, not long later, the "killer" climb awaits us. A long and steep path winds up a hill. Above, we deserve a break and eat the dried meat brought from Switzerland and cheese. Thank you for sponsoring Mela, we both needed urgently strengthened.

 

 

Two hours later we arrive completely exhausted in Langtang at 3,500 meters above sea level. Here everything is already snowed in and ten minutes after our arrival, dark clouds darken the sky suddenly. The fog is dense and we are glad not to be on the way. There was my first serious Timelaps video taken: Have fun look at ... :)

 

LINK TO THE TIMELAPS VIDEO OF LANGTANG

 

Last stage - The Killer

 

The final "go" to 3'830 m high Kyanjin gompa was not far but the lack of oxygen in this high and some very icy and snowy passages turned the short walk into a hard bit of work. Not too easy to balance on ice with 25kg on the back! :)

 

I think Priti's only motivation in the final meters was to catch up with me to kill me afterwards.  Because when we reached the huge rock, which I solemnly promised to mark the end of the climb, she saw instead another valley and another climb. :0) Sorry Priti, but you were really brave :) hi hi

 

 

Cheese Fondue at 3'830 meters above sea level

 

As a reward for all the hardships we were looking forward to our fondue dinner in the cozy parlor of our house guests. We asked our hostess to lit a fire in the stove and invited her to eat with us. I put the cheese fondue onto the top of the steel oven and let it melt slowly. This was too slow for the Tibetan lady. Harsh she takes the pot and throws it directly into the the oven and onto the fire. With bare hands, she pulls it out again after five minutes and our fondue was ready. Great, a Tibetan shows the Swiss how to cook cheese fondue... HA HA.

 

 

Snowed in

 

And as it fits to a fondue evening it began to snow outside. The snow storm was intense and left me to dream of being snowed in properly.

 

In the morning the sun appears again and the nightly snowfall transformed the landscape into a untouched white dress. The cold drives us into the kitchen where we can order an omelette with Tibetan bread. We are fascinated by the apparent corneal of our hostess. The red-hot coal is moved by hand. The fuel is yak dung which is called a Yak-Kak. :)

 

We then start or way down the valley and walk back in two days to Syabrubesi where Fridolin safely wait for us. (Safe just because of the understanding of some villagers. Cause I actually parked Frido under the only tree which was scheduled to be cut down in the day after our leaving) Thanks a lot that you've been waiting with this event! :)