down from tha hills...

hey everybody!
greetinz from lakeside in pokhara, a world away from the land of snow 'n ice...
spent a bit over 6 weeks in the mtz, this last bit, counting my time from shivalaya to lukla, and tho it was harsh n steep at times,
twas worth every step!
since tha last post from namche, ive been largely off the beaten tourist track,
heading east thru makalu-barun np, down to bhojpur, famous for its kukuri knives, and across to tumlingtar, where i'd planned to fly
back to kathmandu. went over 2 weeks without seeing another westerner, finding my way with tha lil bit of nepali i picked up along the way,
the occasional local with english skills, and a lotta luck... Great adventure!!















leaving lukla, i headed over zatrawa-la, the pass just east of town, and in so doing, passed from from solu-khumbu region into makalu np.
beautiful, remote, country up there, rhodedendrons in full bloom, and panoramic views back north and east into solu-khumbu.

















yaks in tha hinku river, keepin cool!
















buff momos, anyone??















views north up the hinku valley, makalu-barun np...

at the head of the Hinku valley, near the base of mera peak, i was able to buy a climbing permit from the local "sherpa mafia" ;-), and find a superb climbing guide, Lakpa Gyalgin Sherpa.

after a lil "difference of opinion" on the permits validity between the kathmandu "authority" and the localz was resolved, (the mafia, and consequently, i, won ;-) ), we were off to climb mera...
nexzt installment- mera pics and southward ta bhojpur-
peace, yall-