October 29, 2023

Mera Peak from above Khare. Mera La out of sight to the left (Eric Simonson)

From near Khare looking down the Hinku valley towards Thagnak (Eric Simonson)

On the trail to Khare (Stu Johnson)

On the way to Khare (Stu Johnson)

The IMG Mera guides report that the team had a nice hike today up to Khare, the highest village in the Hinku Valley at about 5000m (16,400 ft). Along the way, they skirted the north face of Mera Peak, a very imposing wall of rock and ice, and enjoyed their first views up towards the Mera La (pass) that links the Hinku Valley with the Hongu Valley.  The team will be taking an acclimatization hike tomorrow, as they prepare for the move up to the high camp.

Eric Simonson

October 28, 2023

Sabai Glacier

IMG team members at the lake

A breach in the moraine with Kusum Kanguru behind 

The team with Mera on the acclimatization hike (Justin Sackett)

IMG guide Justin Sacket reports that the team had a nice acclimatization hike today, with some of the team exploring the glacial lake Sabai Tsho (also referred to as Tama Pokhari) while the rest of the team pushed higher up the valley towards Khare village, for better views of Mera Peak.

The story of Sabai Tsho/Tama Pokhari is a classic example of a GLOF (glacial lake outburst flood) which is a problem in many parts of Nepal, as glaciers have retreated leaving unstable lakes.  On September 3, 1998 a large avalanche descended the Sabai Glacier into the glacial lake that was impounded by the terminal moraine, causing a big wave that breached the moraine, sending a massive GLOF down the valley, running all the way to the confluence with the Dudh Kosi river many miles downsteam.  A number of villages were hit and many people lost.  In recent years there has been a lot of effort made in Nepal to identify the vulnerable lakes and villages, and to lower the lake levels in the ones that are precarious.

Eric Simonson