We put Mt. Everest behind us, and begin the descent along the classic direct route from Namche Bazaar to Everest Base Camp.

The Khumbu Glacier has carved out a wide, shallow path, giving us spectacular vistas up and down the valley. Here, Pumori still looms behind us as we look back up the glacier towards Everest Base Camp.

Further down, at a point with particularly nice views, we come across the hundreds of memorials to the Sherpas who’ve lost their lives during climbs in these mountains.

The Scott Fischer memorial is a permanent reminder of the famous 1996 Mt. Everest tragedy.

The view down the valley, as seen by humans and memorials alike. Ama Dablam, on the left, becomes the most prominent feature for a while.

Cholase comes back into view behind us as we descend further. The Cho La pass that we crossed lies just to the right of the triangular peak in the center...

A closer view of the center portion of the last image shows our route over the Cho La pass descending down to the gray rock ramp near the bottom, before it turns back to the right behind the nearer hills.

The familiar twin peaks of Kantega and the notched peak of Thamserku further down the valley give us a reference for how far we’ve come since our departure from Namche Bazaar, near their base.

The glacier has melted down to a river by now, but the broad valley’s carved sides stand as evidence of a larger glacier’s previous passing

Ama Dablam is less recognizable from this northern vantage point, but no less imposing or formidable as we approach its base.

The dark outline of this prayer monument stands in contrast to the white forms of the mountains behind it.

From just above Dingboche, we can look up the Imja Glacier valley towards Chukung (5845m, 19,176’), on the left, and Imjatse (6106m, 20,033’) in the center. Dingboche itself sits in a “Y” between this valley, and the one we descended from Lobuche.

Ama Dablam stands directly over the sparse town of Dingboche.

The twin peaks of Kantega still beckon us from further down the valley...

... and Cholase still displays its tilted summit from this southern vantage point.

A lone porter pays his respects at a prayer monument above our camp..

... then turns to enjoy a quiet moment in the fading light.

Chukung dominates the view up the Imja Glacier valley...

...while Ama Dablam dominates the foreground over Dingboche.

Our tents still stand out as the shadows creep up the valley toward Chukung.

The last bit of sun lights up the summit of Ama Dablam above us...

...and Chukung catches the last of the sun’s rays as another day’s adventures end.