Nepal Solukhumbu (Part 3 of 4): Amphulapcha and Island Peak

We continued north over Amphulapcha pass (19177 ft) which was quite a challenge for the whole group. Not because of the altitude (in the meantime we were well acclimatized) but because it is one of the more difficult regularly travelled passes in Nepal. One ascends a series of seracs on the south side and rappels down the north side for a few rope length. This is not a problem for reasonably fit and properly equipped people but it's quite an endeavor to do such a pass crossing with 25+ heavily loaded and ill equipped (tennis shoes, no harnesses, no crampons) porters and crew. Luckily, in the end everybody made it, nobody got hurt, and not a single bag disappeared in one of the many crevasses...

The Amphulapcha crossing had brought as directly south of the Everest-Lhotse massif. The next highlight was to climb Imjatse/Island Peak (20305 ft). Seen from far away, Island peak doesn't look like a real peak but more like a speck in the middle of Lhotse's huge south face. But it is indeed a peak on its own right. Standing on it the views are absolutely stunning with Makalu, Ama Dablam, and numerous other Himalayan peaks. To the north one looks directly into Lhotse's north face which rises to nearly 28000 ft.

Browse all panoramas as a tour

Camp at Kongme Dingma (4800 m).

Mountain panorama at around 4900 m near Kongme Dingma just before dropping into the Honggu Khola valley. One can see: Naulekh (6368 m), Mera Peak (6476 m), Peak 41 (6648 m), Baruntse (7168 m), and Chamlang (7321 m).

Mountain panorama from the Honggu Khola valley. One can see: Peak 41 (6648 m), Everest (8848 m), Lhotse (8516 m), Lhotse Shar (8382 m), and Chamlang (7321 m).

Mountain panorama from the Honggu Khola valley after light snowfall overnight. Visible are Everest (8848 m), Lhotse (8516 m), Lhotse Shar (8382 m), Baruntse (7168 m), and Chamlang (7321 m).

Mountain panorama shot in the Honggu Khola valley near lake Panch Pokhari at around 5400 m. One can see: Amphulapcha pass (5845 m), Nuptse (7864 m), Lhotse (8516 m), Lhotse Shar (8382 m), Baruntse (7168 m), and Chamlang (7321 m).

Mountain panorama from the top of Amphulapcha pass (5845 m). One can see the holy lakes of Panch Pokhari below. Also Chamlang (7321 m), Hunku (6119 m), Peak 41 (6648 m), Mera Peak (6476 m), Malangphulang (6573 m), the top of Ama Dablam (6814 m), Nuptse (7864 m), Everest (8848 m), Lhotse (8516 m), Lhotse Shar (8382 m), and Imja Tse/Island Peak (6189 m) in front of the Lhotse south face.

Rappelling the north side of Amphulapcha pass (5845 m). We came from the south side passing by the holy lakes of Panch Pokhari below. One can see: Chamlang (7321 m), Hunku (6119 m), Peak 41 (6648 m), Mera Peak (6476 m), and Malangphulang (6573 m).

Mountain panorama shot from a moraine near Amphulapcha Glacier at around 5200 m. One can see: Tabuche Peak (6495 m), Cholatse (6335 m), Arakam Tse (6423 m), Nuptse (7864 m), Lhotse (8516 m), Lhotse Shar (8382 m), and Imja Tse/Island Peak (6189 m) in front of the Lhotse south face.

Mountain panorama shot near our camp site by lake Amphulapcha Tsho at around 5000 m. One can see: Tabuche Peak (6495 m), Cholatse (6335 m), Arakam Tse (6423 m), Nuptse (7864 m), Lhotse (8516 m), Lhotse Shar (8382 m), and Imja Tse/Island Peak (6189 m) in front of the Lhotse south face.

Mountain panorama shot from the top of a moraine between Chhukhung and lake Imja Tsho. One can see: Tabuche Peak (6495 m), Cholatse (6335 m), Arakam Tse (6423 m), Chhukhung Ri (5550 m), Nuptse (7864 m), Lhotse (8516 m), Lhotse Shar (8382 m), Imja Tse/Island Peak (6189 m) in front of the Lhotse south face, and Ama Dablam (6814 m).

Mountain panorama from the summit of Imja Tse/Island Peak (6189 m) in front of the mighty 2000 m high Lhotse south face. One can see numerous mountains, among them: Makalu (8481 m), Peak 41 (6648 m), Amphulapcha pass (5845 m), Mera Peak (6476 m), Kangtega (6779 m), Numbur (6959 m), Ama Dablam (6814 m), Tabuche Peak (6495 m), Cholatse (6335 m), Arakam Tse (6423 m), Chhukhung Ri (5550 m), Cho Oyo (8201 m, hidden in the clouds), Nuptse (7864 m, hidden in the clouds), Lhotse (8516 m), and Lhotse Shar (8382 m). (source)