Everest Base Camp

Finally cleared past the checkpoint, racing for Everest Base Camp in convoy with military escort	So of course, we fly by the wildlife at 80 km/hr	Tibetan antelope (Pantholops hodgsonii)	Everest Base Camp, a collection of tents with souvenirs and refreshments
Chinese flag at Everest Base Camp	Chinese flag with the flag of the Qomolangma Nature Preserve	Hotel Yak and Yeti, Everest Base Camp	Himalaya Hotel and Hotel de California
China Post, Everest Base Camp	We're going to drive to the Rongphu Glacier viewpoint for a brief stay	The bus dropped us here and we were told to stay in the area	It's a small Chinese military outpost at 5200m
Mt. Qomolangma Base Camp 5200m (17,060 ft)	End of the Road	Everest Base Camp	Prayer flags
The summit of Mt Everest is in the clouds	One of the other American tourists that was held up at the checkpoint with me	Prayer flags, Everest Base Camp	"Core area of Qomolangma Tourists stop"
Do Not Pass or You Will Be Shot	There's another marker about 1 km farther up the valley	I was very annoyed that we were held back, but another group was allowed to closer to the glacier	I'm feeling very cheated after the 4 hour delay then the stupid military escort and 30 minute time limit
Rubble and sediment in front of the Rongphu Glacier	Rongphu Glacier viewpoint	Rongphu Glacier at the foot of Mt Everest	Peaks below Mt Everest
From this point, it's 18 km to the summit of Mt Everest	It looks like the clouds might clear soon....so time's up! Back to Rongphu	View back towards Everest Base Camp and Rongphu from the glacier viewpoint	And there is a mobile phone signal here
China Mobile, Everest Base Camp	Shrine near the end of the road	The summit of Mt Everest pokes through a hole in the clouds...but our 30 minutes is up, so no waiting for it to clear	The road back to Everest Base Camp and Rongphu
Tibetan wolf (Canis lupus chanco) Qomolangma National Nature Reserve	My first wolf....ever...and the bus driver did stop for a few moments	Tibetan wolf (Canis lupus chanco)	Tibetan wolf (Canis lupus chanco)
Tibetan wolf (Canis lupus chanco)	Tibetan wolf (Canis lupus chanco)	Tibetan wolf (Canis lupus chanco)	A tiny settlement beyond Everest Base Camp
Along the road back down to Everest Base Camp	Mount Everest trying to reemerge from behind the clouds	Mount Everest trying to reemerge from behind the clouds	Dozens of stone cairns piled up near a shrine
They never did tell us what the problem was with our permits	Mt Everest, clearing after an hour hidden in the clouds	Me with Mt Everest	The north face of Mt Everest from Everest Base Camp
The north face of Mt Everest from Everest Base Camp	The north face of Mt Everest from Everest Base Camp	The north face of Mt Everest	The road leading to the foot of Mt Everest from Everest Base Camp
Stone cairns with Mt Everest	Everest Base Camp	Dangerous people requiring military escort to look at a mountain!	The road leading to the foot of Mt Everest from Everest Base Camp
Mt Everest	Everest Base Camp	Everest Base Camp	North face of Mt Everest from Everest Base Camp
North face of Mt Everest from Everest Base Camp	Everest Base Camp	Everest Base Camp	Everest Base Camp
Everest Base Camp