Gokyo Ri is a 5,357-meter peak sometimes ascended as a side trip en route to Everest Base Camp, but this mountain is a worthy climb in itself.
Set off from the hamlet of Gokyo and climb steep terrain. Note your progress by the gradually expanding view at each rest. While Gokyo Ri is not a technical ascent, the altitude alone makes it a challenge.
Recline at the peak, a knob of broken granite, and drink in a panoramic view that approaches the unbelievable. Jagged peaks, fragmented glaciers, and startlingly blue lakes. Dominating the skyline are four of the tallest mountains on earth: Makalu, Cho Oyu, Lhotse, and Mount Everest.
