Friday 30th April 1982: Namche Bazar to Kharte (14 miles)
I was sorry to be leaving the high peaks in the Everest area but it was over 50 miles to the roadhead at Kirantichhap and I was keen to get back to Kathmandu in the hope that Colin, Dave and Nick would be there. The route out was very much across the grain country, or was once I left the Dudh Kosi valley and headed west, but hopefully went through some decent habitat. It had taken 36 minutes to fly from Kathamndu to Lukla but I anticipated it would take the best part of a week to get back. After an excellent porridge breakfast I left Namche at 07:20 intending to walk to Surkya (7700 ft), a small village level with the Lukla turn-off. I made good time and got there by 12:30. After lunch I decided to continue on to Kharte (8600 ft), arriving at Makalu Hotel spot on 18:00 to awaiting shakpa (Sherpa stew)! It had looked like an easy downhill day but I had to climb over a couple of steep ridges during the second part of the walk. An apparent new trail was incomplete, although I did not know this when I took it. I ended up scrambling 40 ft up a hillside when the trail ended abruptly and later across a quite dangerous looking rock face with a long drop below – not something I would want to do again! Despite concentrating on walking a good variety of birds were seen today including an excellent Red-tailed Minla.
Birds recorded: Rufous Turtle Dove 6, Common Hawk Cuckoo h, Indian Cuckoo h, Common Cuckoo 1, Oriental Cuckoo h, Himalayan Swiftlet 3, Olive-backed Pipit 3, Grey Wagtail 1, Long-tailed Minivet 2, Brown Dipper 4, Rufous-breasted Accentor 2, White-browed Shortwing 2, Plumbeous Redstart 8, Grey Bushchat 6, River Chat 11, Chestnut-bellied Rock Thrush 4, Blue Whistling Thrush 30, White-collared Blackbird 2, Golden Spectacled Warbler 6, Blyth’s Crowned Leaf Warbler 10, Ashy-throated Leaf Warbler 3, Lemon-rumped Warbler 10, Tickell’s Warbler 1, Beautiful Niltava 1, Brown Flycatcher 4, Slaty-blue Flycatcher 1, Rufous-gorgetted Flycatcher 12, Yellow-bellied Fantail 4, Pigmy Wren Babbler 1, White-throated Laughingthrush 2, Spotted Laughingthrush 1, Streaked Laughingthrush 6, Red-headed Laughingthrush 2, Chestnut-tailed Minla 2, Red-tailed Minla 1, White-browed Fulvetta 6, Black-capped Sibia 7, Stripe-throated Yuhina 5, Rufous-fronted Tit 3, Green-backed Tit 4, White-tailed Nuthatch 4, Stoliczka’s Treecreeper 2, Green-tailed Sunbird 10, Grey-backed Shrike 2, Gold-billed Blue Magpie 1, Nutcracker 1, Large-billed Crow 20, Tree Sparrow 5.
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| Namche Bazar |
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| trail south of Jorsale |
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| Benkar |
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| trail south of Lukla |
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| forest trail to Kharte |
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