Traverse of Central and Eastern Nepal (2011)
Leg 15: From Honggu Khola to Tumlingtar (May 2-8)
After our unsuccessful descent of Honggu Khola, we returned to the Inkhu valley. Soon after the village of Kote
we left this valley to climb to Khola Kharka. After a couple of passes, we descended to the
villages of Khiraule and Bung on the main trail to Tumlingtar. From Bung we followed that trail to Tumlingtar through the villages of Gudel
and Sanam, the Salpa pass
(3565m), and the villages of Phedi and Chalise. Our original plan had not been to go to Tumlingtar, but, instead, to follow the Arun
river up and then cross the Lumba
Samba pass to reach the Kangchenjunga region. However, we were several days
late and Kame became seriously ill when we reached Gudel.
Going to Tumlingtar allowed Kame to fly back to
Kathmandu and the rest of us to take a shorter route in order to complete the
Nepal traverse before I had to leave Nepal.
Rhododendron forest before climbing to Khola
Kharka.
Reaching Khola Kharka,
where we spent a night.
In Khola Kharka
(4175m).
Panch Pokhari
above Inkhu Khola valley.
Another view across Inkhu Khola valley of the mountain range that we had crossed
several days earlier, after we had left Lukla.
The steep descent from the last pass above Khiraule.
Long mani stone
wall and stupa above Khiraule.
Gompa of Kirhaule.
Crossing the infamous Honggu river (this time over a suspended bridge) below Bung village.
Bung village seen from Gudel village
(the Honggu river flows between them).
View from Gudel of the mountain range
that we had crossed during the previous two days (the last pass above Khiraule is clearly visible on the left side of the range).
Between Gudel and Sanam.
Stupa at Salpa pass.
Blooming rhododendrons at Salpa pass.
During the descent to Phedi from Salpa pass.
In the Rai village of Phedi.
Along the trail below Phedi.
Houses and porters along the trail above Arun
valley.
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Reaching the Arun valley.
Crossing the Arun river
on an unusually long suspended bridge.
Children playing in the Arun river.
We arrived in Tumlingtar on May 7. On
the 8th, Kame flew back to Kathmandu and the rest of us took a rest
day.
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