Makalu Base Camp Trek

Ukufika kwisikhululo seenqwelo-moya iTribhuvan International Airport eKathmandu kubalwa njengosuku lokuqala lweMakalu Base Camp Trek yakho. Emva kokuba uhlile kwinqwelomoya, into yokuqala ekufuneka uyenze kukufumana ivisa yakho yabakhenkethi kwicandelo labafuduki. Ukuze wenze oku, kufuneka ucele isicelo sevisa, usigcwalise, uhlawule imali yakho yevisa njengoko ufuna ukuhlala, kwaye ubonise onke amaxwebhu afunekayo kwigosa levisa.

Kufuneka ubonise ipasipoti yakho, isicelo sakho se-visa, iifoto ezimbini ezilingana nepasipoti, irisithi yentlawulo ye-visa, ubungqina bendawo yokuhlala, kunye nobungqina bamatikiti okubuya. Emva koko, igosa lezokufuduka liya kuqinisekisa iinkcukacha zakho kwaye lifake i-visa kwipasipoti yakho. Le nkqubo yonke iya kuthatha ixesha elingaphezulu kweyure ukugqiba. Ungafaka isicelo se-visa yabakhenkethi kwi-intanethi, eyindlela entle yokonga ixesha kwizikhululo zeenqwelo-moya ezixineneyo ngexesha lexesha lokuhamba ngeenyawo.

Oku kugcinelwe ukufaka izicelo nokufumana iimvume zeMakalu Base Camp Trek kunye nohambo losuku lonke kwisixeko saseKathmandu. Okokuqala, siza kuqala usuku ngesidlo sakusasa esinomdla, silandelwe kukufaka izicelo zeemvume ezifunekayo kwiOfisi yeBhodi yezoKhenketho eKathmandu. Iqela leengcali zeGlory Adventure liza kukunceda ufumane ezo mvume ngelixa okufuneka ukwenze kukubonelela ngamaxwebhu afunekayo.

Emva kokuba iimvume zethu zilungisiwe, siza kukhwela i-jeep/imoto yabucala ukuze sizulazule kwintlambo yaseKathmandu. Uhambo lwethu losuku luquka iindawo ezifana neBouddhanath Stupa, iSwayambhunath Stupa, iPashupatinath Temple, iKathmandu Durbar Square, iBhaktapur Durbar Square, nezinye. Sikwakunika ukhetho lokuyila uhambo lwakho losuku. Isidlo sasemini nesangokuhlwa sanamhlanje asiyonxalenye yephakheji eqhelekileyo yeMakalu Base Camp Trek.

Namhlanje lusuku olunzima lokuhamba njengoko siza kuqala sibhabhe siye eTumlingtar, oluza kuthatha malunga nemizuzu engama-30 ukuya kwengama-50, kuxhomekeke kusuku lweveki. Siza kukhwela inqwelo-moya encinci edla ngokuhamba ngaphambi kwentsimbi yeshumi kusasa. Ukuze ufumane umbono ongcono, kufuneka ubhukishe izihlalo kwicala lasekhohlo lenqwelo-moya, esiza kuzilungiselela kangangoko sinako.

Emva kokuba sifikile eTumlingtar, siza kukhwela ijeep/imoto ukuze siqhube siye kwilali yaseNum. Olu hambo lumalunga ne-65 km ubude, nto leyo eza kusithatha iiyure ezi-4 ukuya kwezi-5 ukuba silugqibe kuba imeko yendlela ayintle. Indlela embi, egcwele imingxunya, iqala emva kokuba sinqumle iKhandbari, nto leyo ethatha malunga nemizuzu engama-30 ukuya kufika kuyo. Ngandlela thile, siza kufika kwilali yaseNum size sichithe ubusuku bethu bokuqala kwindawo yokutyela iti.

Usuku lwesine lweMakalu Base Camp Trek lusuku lwethu lokuqala lokuhamba ngeenyawo kuhambo lwethu. Umgama opheleleyo wohambo yi-8 km kunye nobude bohambo obuqikelelwa kwiiyure ezi-6 ukuya kwezi-7. Nangona utshintsho lokuphakama namhlanje luncinci kakhulu, indlela ibandakanya ukunyuka nokuhla okuninzi kunye nokwehla okupheleleyo malunga neemitha ezingama-772 kunye nokunyuka kweemitha ezingama-700. Ukusuka eNum, siza kuhla ngehlathi eliluhlaza size sifikelele kuMlambo iArun. Olu luhla lweemitha ezingama-772 oluthatha malunga neekhilomitha ezi-2.

Emva kokuhamba ngeenyawo kangangeeyure ezi-2 ukuya kwezi-3, siza kufikelela kwibhulorho yoMlambo i-Arun. Ukuwela ibhulorho kusingenisa kwiMakalu Barun National Park. Iibhulorho zokumiswa ziyinxalenye enkulu kuyo nayiphi na amava okuhamba ngeenyawo eHimalaya njengoko zikuphela kwento edibanisa iilali ezikude nehlabathi langaphandle. Ezi bhulorho zinokuba yinto eyoyikisayo okokuqala, kodwa uza kuziqhela ekugqibeleni.

Ukuwela uMlambo i-Arun kukwayindawo apho kuqala khona ukunyuka okuphakame kangangeemitha ezingama-700. Le ndawo imalunga neekhilomitha ezi-3 ubude, ithatha malunga neeyure ezi-3 ukuya kwezi-4 ukugubungela, kwaye idlula kwilali yaseRunmura, apho siza kuthatha ikhefu elifutshane. Ukuqhubela phambili, indlela yenziwe ngamatye ukuya kwilali yaseSeduwa, apho kukho indawo yokuqala yokuhlola uhambo lweMakalu Base Camp Trek.

Umgama wokuhamba ngeenyawo namhlanje umalunga ne-10 km kunye nokunyuka kokuphakama kweemitha ezingama-600. Ixesha eliqikelelweyo lokuhamba ngeenyawo ziiyure ezi-5 ukuya kwezi-6, nto leyo esithatha ukuya kwiimitha ezingama-2200 ngaphezu komphakamo wolwandle. Nje ukuba siphume eSeduwa, indlela inyuka kancinci kancinci kwiilali ezincinci kunye namahlathi ngamanye amaxesha. Siza kuwela imilambo emininzi phezu kweebhulorho ezincinci, sidlula kwiilali zaseSherpa kunye neendonga zemani endleleni.

Kungekudala, siza kufika eTashigaon, ilali yokugqibela esisigxina kuhambo lwethu. Siqhubeka phambili, zonke iilali ezingaphambili zihlala abantu ngokwexesha lonyaka, ngexesha lasehlotyeni, entwasahlobo, nasekwindla. Abantu balapha abakuthandi ukuchuma kwemvula nobusika, kwaye bathanda ukuya kwiindawo ezisezantsi ukuze baphephe iimeko zemozulu ezimbi ngelo xesha lonyaka.

Usuku lwesi-6 lweMakalu Base Camp Trek lubude obuziikhilomitha eziyi-8.5 kunye nokunyuka kokuphakama kweemitha ezili-1400. Olu hambo luza kusithatha iiyure ezi-6 ukuya kwezi-7 ukugqiba, lusithatha lusiya kwiimitha ezingama-3500 ngaphezu komphakamo wolwandle eKhongma Danda. Uhambo luqala ngokunyuka phezu kwezinyuko zamatye, indawo ethe tyaba enokuba tyibilizi. Le ndlela iza kusikhokelela kwilali yaseDhara, ephakame kangangeemitha ezingama-2867, ithatha malunga neeyure ezi-3 zokuhamba.

Siza kuba nekhefu elifutshane apho ngaphambi kokuba siye kwilali yase-Unshisha, sifikelele kwiimitha ezingama-3200 ngaphezu komphakamo wolwandle. Eli candelo lohambo lifuna ukunyuka phezu kwamatye amakhulu. Emva koko, siza kufika kwinxalenye yokugqibela yohambo lwanamhlanje, ukunyuka okuphakamileyo okudlula kwiindawo zamadlelo asezintabeni. Emva kweeyure zokunyuka intaba, ekugqibeleni siza kufika eKhongma Danda, apho kwakhiwa khona izindlu ezimbalwa zeti.

Ukuze sisebenzise kakuhle usuku lwethu lokuphumla, siza kuthatha uhambo lokuqhelana neKhogma La Pass, sifikelele kwiimitha ezingama-3890 ngaphezu komphakamo wolwandle. Olu hambo lokuphakama oluziimitha ezingama-390 luza kusinceda siqhele imeko yezulu ngcono. Kuza kusithatha malunga neeyure ezi-3 ukuya kwezi-4 ukugqiba olu hambo. Siza kuqala uhambo ngokunyuka izinyuko zamatye; emva kweyure enye yokunyuka, siza kufika kwiKhongma La Pass, ehonjiswe ngeeflegi zomthandazo.

Le ndlela inika umbono omangalisayo weChamlang, iPeak 6, kunye neMakalu Peak, kunye nombono obanzi weBarun Valley. Okanye, ungajonga ezinye iindawo zokujonga ezikufutshane okanye ujikeleze ilali, uhlola iinkalo zayo ezahlukeneyo ezinomdla.

Injongo yethu ephambili yosuku kukuvumela imizimba yethu iqhelane kakuhle notshintsho kumaqondo obushushu, imozulu, kunye neemeko zokusingqongileyo ngokubanzi. Eyona nto isichaphazelayo kukutshintsha kwepesenti yeoksijini emoyeni. Umlinganiselo ophantsi weoksijini yenye yezona zinto ziphambili ezibangela isifo sokuphakama, kwaye isenza sidinwe ngokukhawuleza. Ukuziqhelanisa nolu tshintsho kuya kusinceda kakhulu kulo lonke uhambo lweMakalu Base Camp.

Uhambo lwanamhlanje lufuna ukuba sihambe phantse iikhilomitha ezisi-8 kunye nokunyuka kokuphakama okumalunga neemitha ezingama-360, okuthabatha malunga neeyure ezi-6 ukuya kwezisi-7 ukugqiba. Kuyo yonke imini, siza kunyuka ngaphezu kweemitha ezingama-850 zokuphakama size silahlekelwe malunga neemitha ezingama-600. Ukusuka eKhongma Danda, siza kuqala ukunyuka intaba ende, sihamba uthotho lwezitebhisi zamatye. Silandela umkhondo wangozolo, siza kunyuka siye eKhongma La Pass size sehle siye eSano Pokhari Danda, sidlule uthotho lweentaba kunye neentaba.

Siqhubeka nohambo, siza kufika kungekudala kwisiseko seShipton La Pass, ebizwa ngegama lomkhweli weentaba waseBritane u-Eric Shipton. Incopho yale pass ifikelela kwiimitha ezingama-4170 kwaye inika umbono omhle wePeak 6, Peak 7, kunye neChamlang. Ukwehla kule pass kusikhokelela eKalo Pokhari, ichibi elingcwele elihonjiswe ngeeflegi zomthandazo. Yindawo entle yokuphumla, kwaye nathi siya kwenjenjalo.

Emva kwekhefu elifutshane, siza kubuyela endleleni size siqale ukunyuka okufutshane ukuya eKeke La Pass, sifikelele kwiimitha ezingama-4080 ngaphezu komphakamo wolwandle. Olu luhambo lwethu lokugqibela losuku; siqhubeka, siza kuhla siye eDobate, sifikelele kwiimitha ezingama-3860 njengokuphakama kwethu kokugqibela.

Usuku lwe-9 lohambo lweMakalu Base Camp Trek lusenza sihambe umgama ongaphezulu kwe-12 km kunye nobude bohambo obuqikelelwa kwiiyure ezi-5 ukuya kwezi-6. Ukulahleka kokuphakama kosuku kungaphezulu kancinci kwiimitha ezingama-300, kodwa indlela iyonke ineentaba ezininzi kunye nokwehla ngaphezulu kweemitha ezingama-300 ukuphakama. Ukusuka eDobate, siza kuhla kancinci sidlula ehlathini lepayini. Emva kweeyure ezi-2 zokuhamba, siza kufika kwiBarun River Valley.

Ukuqhubeka, kuya kufuneka siwele imilambo emininzi emincinci, silandela uMlambo iBarun phezulu. Le ndlela ineengxangxasi kunye neengxondorha, nto leyo eyenza indawo entle. Emva kwexesha elithile, siya kufikelela kumadlelo apho iiYak kunye neegusha zinokubonwa zisitya khona, phantsi kweliso labelusi basekuhlaleni. Eli candelo lendlela likwanamahlathi e-rhododendron, aqhakaza kakuhle ngexesha lentwasahlobo. Emva kweeyure ezimbalwa zokuhamba ngeenyawo, siya kufika kwindawo esiza kuyo usuku.

Uhambo lwanamhlanje luza kuba nzima njengoko siza kunyuka ngaphezu kweemitha ezingama-850 ukuphakama kwixesha leeyure ezi-5 ukuya kwezi-6 zokuhamba ngeenyawo. Umgama wohambo losuku yi-12 km, oluyeyona mihla ide yokuhamba ngeenyawo kwisicwangciso seMakalu Base Camp Trek. Ukusuka eYangir Kharka, siza kulandela uMlambo iBarun size sinyuke kancinci iiyure ezi-2 ukuya kwezi-3. Oku kuza kusikhokelela kwilali yaseJak Kharka.

Emva kwekhefu elifutshane kwilali yaseJak Kharka, siza kuqhubeka nohambo lwethu ngokunyuka siye kwilali yaseYak Kharka. Indlela ngoku iyajika ibe nzulu, ingakumbi njengoko sisondela kwiYak Kharka, indawo yamadlelo yexesha elithile. Uninzi lwabalusi basekuhlaleni bayatyelela eli dlelo kwiinyanga zasehlotyeni, ngelixa abambalwa banokuba lapho entwasahlobo.

Sishiya iYak Kharka, siza kuya kwilali yaseMerek, sifikelele kwiimitha ezingama-4500 ngaphezu komphakamo wolwandle. Ukudlula kweli hlathi livulekileyo leentaba kuya kusikhokelela kwindawo esiza kuya kuyo ngemini, iLangmale Kharka.

Usuku lwe-11 lweMakalu Base Camp Trek mhlawumbi lolona suku lunzima lokuhamba ngeenyawo, olunomgama omalunga ne-9 km, iimitha ezingama-460 zokunyuka kwe-net elevation, kunye nobude bohambo obuqikelelwayo beeyure ezi-6 ukuya kwezi-7. La manani awabonakali eyoyikisayo, kodwa ngokuqinisekileyo le ndlela iya kukwenza uzive udiniwe. Ukusuka eLangmale Kharka, siza kudlula ukunyuka okuthambileyo okujika kancinci kube yindlela enzima njengoko sinyuka.

Emva kohambo lweeyure ezimbini ukuya kwezintathu, siza kufika kwilali yaseShershong, sifikelele kwiimitha ezingama-4650 ngaphezu komphakamo wolwandle. Yindawo entle yokuphumla imizimba yethu ediniweyo ngaphambi kokuba siqale ukutyhalela phambili ukuya kwinkampu esisiseko. Ukusuka eShershong, indlela ihamba phezu kweendlela ezinamatye kunye neenduli zomkhenkce ezigcwele amatye akhululekileyo. Eli candelo likwanomkhenkce kwezinye iindawo, ingakumbi ngexesha leeyure zokuqala zosuku.

Siqhubeka nohambo lwethu kwiindawo ezirhabaxa nezinomkhenkce, ekugqibeleni siza kufika kwiMakalu Base Camp, ekwiimitha ezingama-4870 ngaphezulu komphakamo wolwandle. Indawo evela kwinkampu intle kakhulu ukuba singayithanda. Siza kuchitha ubusuku kwindawo yokutyela iti.

Olu suku lokuhlola lukwasebenza njengosuku lokuqhelana nendalo, lusigcina sikhuselekile kwizifo ezibangelwa kukuphakama. Zininzi iindlela zokunyuka intaba, kuquka ukunyuka intaba ukuya eBarun Pokhari, ukunyuka intaba ukuya endulini, kunye nokuhamba intaba ukuya kwiindawo ezikufutshane malunga nenkampu. Eyona ndlela ikhethwayo kukunyuka intaba ukuya eBarun Pokhari kuba intle kwaye imfutshane. Ukunyuka kwayo kungaphezulu kweemitha ezingama-230, okusithatha ukuya kwiimitha ezingama-5100 ngaphezu kolwandle, kunye nohambo oluqikelelwayo lweeyure ezi-2 ukuya kwezi-3.

Uhambo oluyi-3 km oluya eBarun Pokhari (idama) luqala ngokunyuka okuphakamileyo, lusiya kwiBarun Glacier. Kwisithuba seyure enye ukuya kweyi-1.5, siza kufika edamini, sinike umbono omhle wendawo yonke ejikelezileyo, kuquka intlambo kunye neencopho. Ukwehla sibuyela kwinkampu esisiseko kuthatha ixesha elifanayo.

Olunye ukhetho lwethu lokuhamba ngeenyawo luquka ukunyuka ukuya kuthi ga kwinduli engaphezulu kwenkampu esisiseko. Olu hambo luza kusenza sifumane ukuphakama okuziimitha ezingama-430, okusithatha ukuya kuthi ga kwiimitha ezingama-5300 ngaphezu kolwandle. Umgama wohambo uwonke yi-6 km kwaye ixesha eliqikelelweyo liziiyure ezi-3 ukuya kwezi-4. Ukusuka kwinkampu esisiseko, siza kudlula intaba enyukayo, eyindawo enzima, ngokuyintloko ngenxa yokuphakama okuphezulu esikuyo.

Sihamba kancinci kancinci, siza kufika kancinci kancinci encotsheni yentaba size sonwabele umbono obanzi weencopho ezisingqongileyo, kuquka iNtaba iMakalu, i-Everest, i-Lhotse, i-Chamlang, i-Baruntse, nezinye.

Usuku lwe-13 lusuku lwethu lokuqala lokuhla kohambo lweMakalu Base Camp Trek. Olu hambo lunomgama omde we-16 km, ukulahleka kokuphakama kweemitha ezingama-3600, kunye nobude obuqikelelwa kwiiyure ezi-6 ukuya kwezi-7. Ukushiya inkampu yesiseko, siza kuhla ngomendo omde odlula kwiBarun Valley, sidlula kwindlela enamatye. Okokuqala, siza kudlula kwilali yaseShershong, silandelwe kukwehla ukuya eLangmale Kharka.

Xa sisiya ezantsi ngakumbi, siza kufika kwilali yaseMerek kungekudala. Siphuma kule lali, izityalo ziqala ukutshintsha kancinci; amahlathi axineneyo asendleleni. Ngaphambi kokuba sifike eYangri Kharka, siza kudlula emahlathini ambalwa.

Ukwehla kokuphakama kwanamhlanje kungaphezulu kancinci kwiimitha ezingama-480, kwaye ixesha lokuhamba eliqikelelwayo liziiyure ezi-6 ukuya kwezi-7. Umgama wohambo yi-9.3 km kuphela, uqala ngokuhla ukuya kuMlambo iBarun. Emva kohambo lweyure eli-1.5, siza kudlula eThemathang size sifikelele kwibhulorho edlula phezu koMlambo iBarun. Ukuwela ibhulorho kusikhokelela kwindawo enokudilika komhlaba, nto leyo esithatha iiyure ezili-1.5 ezongezelelweyo ukuyigubungela.

Xa sidlula kuloo nxalenye, siza kufika kwihlathi elihle le-rhododendron, elikwaphawula ukuqala kokunyuka. Olu kunyuka luza kuthatha malunga neeyure ezimbini, nto leyo eya kukudinisa ngokuqinisekileyo. Ukugqiba olu kunyuka kuza kusiyisa eDobate, indawo esisiya kuyo ngaloo mini.

Ukulahleka kokuphakama kosuku kuyinto encinci, ngaphezulu nje kweemitha ezili-150, enobude bohambo oluziiyure ezi-6 ukuya kwezi-7 kunye nomgama opheleleyo wohambo oluziikhilomitha ezili-10.5. Nangona kunjalo, uhambo luza kuba nzima njengoko siza kuwela iindlela ezintathu ezahlukeneyo zeentaba kwakhona. Ukusuka eDobate, siza kunyuka ihlathi eliluhlaza, sisiya kwiKeke La Pass, sifikelele kwiimitha ezingama-4170 ngaphezu komphakamo wolwandle. Eli candelo lohambo luza kusithatha malunga neyure enesiqingatha ukugqiba.

Emva koko, siza kuhla kwipasi size sinyuke siye eShipton La Pass, eyaziwa ngokuba yiTutu La Pass. Ukunyuka kule pasi kuza kuthatha iyure enesiqingatha eyongezelelweyo. Siza kuhla kwipasi, siye eSano Pokhari Danda, ethatha malunga neyure enye ukufika kuyo. Siza kuchitha ikhefu elifutshane apho ngaphambi kokuba sinyuke ipasi yokugqibela yosuku, iKhongma La Pass (iimitha ezingama-3890). Siza kunyukela kule pasi kwiyure enye kuphela size ekugqibeleni sifikelele kwinxalenye yokugqibela yohambo lwanamhlanje.

Usuku lwe-16 lweMakalu Base Camp Trek lulahlekelwa yimitha ezingaphezu kwe-1400 yokuphakama. Umgama uwonke umalunga ne-13 km kunye nobude bohambo obuqikelelwayo beeyure ezi-5 ukuya kwezi-6, nto leyo esithatha siye kwi-1500 yeemitha ngaphezu komphakamo wolwandle. Ukusuka eDanda Kharka, siza kuqala ukwehla sidlula kwihlathi elixineneyo le-fir. Ukuwela eli hlathi kuza kusifikisa kwicandelo eligangathiweyo ngamatye, sinyuke kancinci ngaphambi kokuba sehle sisuka eKhongma Danda. Emva kweeyure ezimalunga ne-3 zokuhamba, siza kufika kwilali yaseTashigaon, silandelwe kukwehla siye eSeduwa.

Olu lusuku lokugqibela lokuhamba ngeenyawo kwiMakalu Base Camp Trek schedule. Uhambo lwanamhlanje lunomgama weekhilomitha ezisi-7, kwaye ixesha lokuhamba ngeenyawo liqikelelwa kwiiyure ezi-4 ukuya kwezi-5. Ukusuka eSeduwa, siza kufika kuMlambo i-Arun emva kweeyure ezi-2 zokuhamba ngeenyawo. Ukuwela umlambo phezu kwebhulorho exhonyiweyo kusikhokelela ekunyukeni ukuya kwilali yaseNum. Olu kunyuka lungaphezulu kweemitha ezingama-900 ubude, nto leyo eyenza kube nzima ukunyuka.

Emva kokufika eNum, siza kubuyela eTumlingtar. Olu hambo luza kuthatha malunga neeyure ezi-4 ukuya kwezi-5.

Ngosuku olulandelayo, siza kutya isidlo sakusasa esivela kwindawo yokuhlala izolo ebusuku size siye kwisikhululo seenqwelo-moya ukuze sibambe inqwelo-moya yethu sibuyele eKathmandu. Emva kokufika eKathmandu, umqhubi uza kukusa kwindawo yakho yokuhlala yeenkwenkwezi ezi-3 ngobo busuku. Ukuba ukulungele, kuya kufuneka uzame ukujonga ezinye iindawo ezikhangayo ezijikeleze isixeko kwaye utye izibiliboco zasekuhlaleni ngelixa ulapho. Kamva ngokuhlwa, siza kukuthatha ehotele ukuze sidle isidlo sangokuhlwa esikhethekileyo kwenye yezona ndawo zokutyela zintle esixekweni.

Olu lusuku lokugqibela lohambo lweMakalu Base Camp Trek. Emva kokuba sigqibezele zonke iinkqubo zokugqibela, siza kuba nomsitho omfutshane wokuvalelisa size sikushiye kwisikhululo seenqwelo-moya iTribhuvan International Airport.