Lobuche East (6,119mt.) and Lobuche West (6,145mt.) are popularly known as ‘Lhauche’ among the Locals. This majestic summit rises above the town of Lhauche which is just a few kilometer away from the Mt. Everest. Lobuche consists of two different summits, east and west with the height of 6119m and 6145m respectively. An unremitting rim holds them together; however there is a distinct gap and a considerable distance between these two summits. The east is recognized as a trekking peak whereas the west is popular for expedition. Our destination is to get on the 6,119m/20.075ft. high eastern summit called Lobuche East. We follow South Ridge on this climbing. It was Laurice Nielson and Ang Gyalzen Sherpa who recorded first ascent on this peak on 25 April 1984. Being an attractive peak, Lobuche East is waiting to offer various existing routes and a unique experience that would cherish for the rest of traveler’s life. Forming the south face, the dark triangle of its rocky east face rises down the moraines of Khumbu Glaciers to a pleasant skyline. Lobuche East can be climbed by descending a marked notch and climbing steep snowy slopes to the top.
Our trek starts from Lukla the ‘Gateway for trek and climbs in the Everest area’. The major attractions on our way to the base camp are the famous Sherpa town called Namche Bazaar, the Tengboche monastery (the cultural / religious center for the Sherpa people of Everest region), Pangboche (oldest and permanently settled highest amongst all Sherpa villages), Dingboche (probably highest place in the world for barley cultivation). It is our pleasure to trek up to Kalapathar before commencing the climb for a close view of Mt. Everest. Our base camp is established at the periphery of a hidden lake in a rocky hollow at the base of the glaciated South West Face near Point 5,551m/18,212ft. No doubt, the spectacular views of Amadablam and Tawache are clearly viewed from here. We gain our climb steep terrain leading beneath the main glacier on the South West Face of Lobuche and attain access to the South Ridge. We establish our camp higher on the ridge. We continue further on the South Ridge and then follow the summit ridge; north-west from the high camp. We have a great view of Mt. Everest and a 360 degree Himalayan panorama that include all important peaks in the Khumbu Valley from the summit. Gradually, we descend from the summit to the base camp for the night and next day head down to Lukla to catch our flight to Kathmandu.