A Snapshot of the Bridges to EBC

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Bridges the Traffic Lights of the Everest Base Camp Trek

via Daily Prompt: Bridge

Small Metal bridge on EBC trek
Bridge over stream before Gorak Shep

The last bridge before Gorak Shep, the last place with lodges before Everest Base Camp. That’s me and our porter guide just ahead.

Bridges are a common feature of the track as it crosses backwards and forwards over the magnificent roaring rivers snaking through the valleys.

Dudh Kosi Main Trail Lukla to Everest Base Camp

The bridge at the meeting of the Khumbu Khola and the Inja Khola.

  • Bridge across the Khumbu Khola and the Imja Khola

Most bridges are high cable suspension bridges.First bridge on the trail to EBCMy first bridge at Chhepplung on our first trek (2013) and I can tell you I was very nervous crossing it. But the bridges carry lots of weight, porters carrying their loads, trekkers, yaks, donkey trains, sometimes the bridge can be full of donkeys. In fact the bridges act as a kind of traffic light on the EBC trek because the bridges are definitely one way. Trying to cross the opposite way to animals or other trekkers is not advisable.

Lower bridge to Namche BazaarLooking down at the lower bridge to Namche Bazaar on the climb to the higher bridge.

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The Lower Bridge to Namche Bazaar
The two bridges to Namche Bazaar
High bridge on the climb to Namche Bazaar
The suspension bridges across to Namche Bazaar

Yep the upper bridge is iconic bridge you see in the films which takes you to climb further to Namche Bazaar. And that’s my husband aka The Trainer  – he was the reason I crossed all the bridges. And those scary bridges took us to all the wonderful places below.

IMG_1182IMG_1154IMG_1012IMG_0905IMG_0850IMG_0750With the help of Basanta our wonderful porter guide, of course. The Team below – me, the Trainer and the Porter on top of Kala Pattar in front of Everest with Base Camp
IMG_1050

The Bridge List

  1. Chheplung (suspension)
  2. Thado Kosi Gaon (box bridge)
  3. At Phakding (suspension)
  4. At Tok Tok (small new stainless steel bridge)
  5. Near Bengkar (suspension)
  6. At Jorsale (suspension)
  7. Bridge to Namche Bazaar (suspension)
  8. Bridge before Tengboche (suspension)
  9. Bridge to  Phortse ( instead of going via Tengboche) (suspension)
  10. One before Periche OR one before Dingboche (depending on your route).
  11. One small bridge at Dughla not suspension
  12. The last bridge before Gorak Shep – first photo

Another post about the bridges. and then there are the mountains ……

After the 2015 earthquakes a Japanese company assessed the structure of the bridges.

All the photos with the exception of the one with me wearing the pumpkin coloured pack are taken on our September – October 2015 Trek.

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38 thoughts on “A Snapshot of the Bridges to EBC”

  7. I love looking a these photos Louise. I’m not sure I could do it again but I’m glad I managed to do it once. You are very brave and I love this post!!

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  8. OMG. This type of Adventure can only happen in my Dreams. I’m shit scared of heights. How did you travel across that wickety wackety bridge !!!!!!!!!!!! What Huge Guts you people have.

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  13. Just looking at your photos makes my stomach drop completely. Especially the ones where you see the rivers below. While I appreciate their natural beauty over a concrete ugly big structure, I am not sure I could do it. Fear of steep sheer drops! I need to go and lie down now.
    Peta

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  22. Hi Peggy, I have been taking a very quick glimpse of all posts and want to go back and read. My four day a week job has been crazy for the last 2 months. Being a school we finish next week so I am looking forward to chilling out – reading, commenting and writing again. I will be in Canberra in early January and i will let you know in case we can catch up for a coffee, cauual meal, whatever. Waiting for the Trainer to arrive back now after a long year FIFO we are looking forward to some down time time -Melbourne, Adelaide, Canberra (Thredbo to climb Kosciusko of course) and the NSW coast ( as yet unbooked, – what’s the chances) over the next four weeks- so if you you are around …. Louise

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  23. Every bridge worth it I bet! Wonderful photos of the amazing landscape. The photo under this sentence: “And those scary bridges took us to all these wonderful places” is my favourite.
    Alison

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  26. Those heights look crazy! I’m not sure I’d be able to walk on any of those bridges. 😦 You’ve captured the perils and beauty of those rugged landscapes. I’ve always wondered why the mountains have to be so tricky. Thanks for taking me there!

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  28. Are you over Canberra way now? We’ve been to-ing and fro-ing with the daughter and son-in-law who have been home from France. Staying put for a while now.

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  29. Hi Peggy, We returned home from two nights in Canberra this afternoon. it was very rushed and we were tired from two nights in Thredbo and our 13 km walk to Kosciuszko ( we are out of condition ). My husband will be there for another six months so I will be up there again.I am sure we have anopportunity to catch up. I’m exhausted i need another holiday at home! Louise

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