Jacek Piwowarczyk Photography - Nepal - Kangchenjunga Trekking 2000 - Day 10 (Camp below Lapsang La

Trekking - Day 10
Camp below Lapsang La - Yaumatari Glacier (Lungma Sampa)

Towards Lapsang La

Towards Lapsang La, Nepal Jacek Piwowarczyk, 2000

There are two possibilities of crossing from Yalung valley to Gunsa Valley. The more frequently used, much easier and much lower route crosses three passes and another one - which requires experience and equipment in the presence of snow crosses Lapsang La at 5156 m. The problem with crossing Lapsang La is luck of trail - one should follow rocky cairns but it is not easy to find them. Sometimes it requires to climb big builders and the trail is constantly under threat of stone falls or even avalanches from the nearby hanging glacier.

Lapsang La - 5156 m (*4985 m)


Lapsang La is a beautiful view point. The Valley of Gunsa was obscured by a sea of clouds and among many mountains visible one should recognize Makalu (8481 m) and Chamlang (7319m). Some trekking maps show altitude of the pass as high as 5800 m - in fact Lapsang La is much lower - my altimeter showed only 4985 m so the official altitude is about correct.

Lapsang La, Nepal Jacek Piwowarczyk, 2000

Beyond Lapsang La


The descend from Lapsang la is very steep and stony. Due to a luck of water it is strongly advised to take a lot of liquid to avoid dehydration. The first available water is well down the valley. Altogether it took us more than 8 hours to reach a comfortable camp place on the small yak pasture close to the Yaumatari Glacier.

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