A perfect, clear morning eases the bite of the cold as we make our way back down the valley to the point where we’ll cut across the Ngozumba Glacier over the ridge to the left.

The river sculpts some beautiful patterns in the ice.

At the crest of the ridge above the valley, we get a good look at the convoluted glacial terrain we’ll be crossing. With so much sun reflecting off the snow, it’s definitely time for the glacier goggles!

The group takes a breather on solid ground before descending onto the glacier. Cho Oyu looms at the head of this valley, with Gokyo Ri (which we climbed yesterday) the brown hill to the left.

Cholase becomes a prominent landmark as we make our way across.

The silty snow on the surface of the glacier forms graceful patterns where it has built up in layers, then been undercut and sheared by the moving ice.

We can hear the creaking and groaning of the ice beneath us as the glacier pushes its load of moraine and ice down the valley.

A short climb later, and we cross the ridge on the far side of the glacier, for an early arrival into camp.

Just a couple of stone buildings mark the town of Thagnag.

The creek nearby run mostly under a sheet of crystalline snow.

Soup’s on, yum! Time to stockpile some energy for the long day we’ll face tomorrow as we head over the pass.

Our tents face the valley we’ll be hiking up to reach the Cho La Pass tomorrow.

The last bit of sunlight colors the peaks behind the small tea house we take refuge in to escape the chill of the evening.