Dingboche and Nangkartshang Peak Acclimatization

Nangkartshang peak was our second acclimatization exercise. The third and final would be Kala Patthar (5,545m), located at Gorak Shep (5,164m).

We were initially scheduled to trek all the way to Chhukung Village (4,730m) and all the way up to Chukkung Ri (5,559m) for our acclimatization exercise but was changed at the last minute due to unknown reasons. I guess it was a blessing in disguise. Not sure how I’d turned out if we were headed for this path.

The start of trail was OK, located just a stone throw away from our lodge. Slow and easy, we gained some elevation, but more in a zig-zag pattern, so the ascent wasn’t a direct uphill attack. In a short span of time, Dingboche was reduced to small boxes from where we were.

My speed at this point was still OK, going at a normal humanly pace – but then again it was only 15 minutes into the trek. A very common sight along the way would be the stacked stones of various heights. Truly an art to get them stay erected when strong winds are quite common at this altitude.

Either I was too excited to interpret the slightest hint of an incoming snow or it was just simply a normal frozen morning dew at this altitude. Nonetheless, it was a good sign! If my memory serves me well, we did take it as easy as we could, stopping occasionally to take pictures and just simply enjoying the whole experience.

As expected, it looked way too easy for Nabin, our guide. Same went for Kah Wane.

Trekking or hiking, or however you call it, tends to trick your eyes especially with very unique optical illusion, giving you a false impression of the true measurement of distance. It looks pretty near at a glance but takes forever to reach. Maybe it’s just your mind tricking you that the objective is just around the corner, encouraging you to stay positive. I think this applies pretty much to any summit out there.

Nangkartshang Peak is a spectacular viewpoint in the Khumbu. Locals seem to call it Nangar-JOONG. Since most people spend a few rest days acclimatizing in Dingboche before going to higher places such as Kala Pattar, Everest Basecamp, or Island Peak, climbing Nangkartshang is one way to kill one of the “rest” days and one of the most worthwhile as well.

It’s a great half day excursion. The peak is climbed frequently, but not nearly as frequently as other similar peaks in the region such as Gokyo Ri and Kala Pattar.
– Summitpost.org

The peak is above Dingboche in the Khumbu and like almost all the other “walkable” peaks in the region, this one is more a sub-peak of a higher ridge than it is an independent mountain. The views are among the best of any walkable peak in the region as well. Mt. Makalu (8,463m), Lhotse (8,749m), Cho Oyu (8,201m) and Island peak (6,189m), Amadablam (6,812m), Kangtega (6,782m), Thamserku (6,623m), Taboche (6,542m), Cholatse (6,440m), etc.

On the next post – it’ll be a relatively shorter post than usual, covering our descent back to Dingboche and the official kickoff of a white cold evening.

The video below captures the very essence of what it would feel like to be at the top of Nangkartshang. I managed to capture a short time-lapse at the top and a few other amateurish panaromic video recording of what it’d look like up there. Perhaps if I can find some time to digitally stabilize the shots, it’d be a nice 360° video. For the time being, do enjoy the video below.

1. Day 1 (Kathmandu to Lukla)
2. Day 1 (Lukla to Phakding)
3. Day 2 (Phakding to Namche Bazaar)
4. Day 2 (Namche Bazaar)
5. Day 3 (Syangboche Acclimatization)
6. Day 3 (Back to Namche Bazaar, dropping by at Sagarmatha National Park)
7. Day 4 (Namche Bazaar to Tengboche)
8. Day 5 (Tengboche - Dinboche)
9. Day 6 (Dingboche & Nangkartshang - Acclimatization)
10. Day 6 (Getting down from Nangkartshang & Snow)
11. Day 7 (Dingboche to Lobuche)
12. Day 7 (A Heart-Wrenching Stop at Thukla Pass and Scott Fischer’s Memorial)
13. Day 8 (Lobuche to Gorak Shep)
14. Day 8 (Kalla Phatthar Acclimatization)
15. Day 9 (Gorak Shep to Everest Base Camp)
16. Day 9, 10 & 11 (Gorak Shep to Pheriche, Namche Bazaar and Phakding)
17. Day 12 (Phakding to Lukla)
18. Day 12 (Flying back to Kathmandu from Lukla Airport)
19. Day 13 (Kathmandu - Swayambhunath Buddhist Temple)
20. Day 14 (Kathmandu City Adventure)
21. Journey to the Roof of the World: A Trekker's Final Post and Summary of the Epic Everest Base Camp Trek