Beautiful Namche Bazaar is a major waypoint for Himalayan trekkers going to Everest Base Camp or, as in my case, going to Gokyo. It’s a cultural and scenic gem, with great facilities given that it sits at 11,700 feet elevation and it’s a two-day uphill hike from the only commercial airstrip in the area (at Lukla).
After trekking in the region for two weeks, I found out there are very few caches in this area. It appears, from the rather humorous sign at N 27 48.177 and E 086 42.886, there used to be a traditional cache here, which has been removed. I had the pleasure of staying in Namche for two nights and a day acclimatizing on the way to Gokyo, and decided to place a virtual cache here so that other cachers can document their visit to Namche Bazaar.
The cache site is just east of town near the Sagarmatha National Park Museum (free admission). At the posted coordinates, you will find an impressive statue of one of Nepal’s most famous people – Tenzing Norgay, who with Edmund Hillary was the first to climb to the top of Mt. Everest. And if the clouds aren’t in the way, you can see Mt. Everest from this area. There is also a second museum near the cache site, called the Sherpa Culture Museum and Mt. Everest Documentation Center (which costs 250 Rupees, or about $2.50, to visit).
To claim this cache the following is required:
1: Go to the posted coordinates.
2: Take a photo of Tenzing Norgay in the background. In the foreground of the photo, include an item with your caching name showing (a piece of paper / a text line on your phone / you can even write your caching name on your hand or finger). Your caching name needs to be included in the photo, not added afterward.
3. Upload the photo and attach it to your internet cache log. Separate email / message photos are not acceptable.
4: The photo must be taken after the publication date of this listing. (No old photos or internet downloads.)
Note: Logs not showing a photo with your caching name will be deleted.
Feel free to include any other interesting photos with your log, as well. The scenery in Nepal is astounding!
Enjoy your visit, and safe trekking!
Virtual Reward - 2017/2018
This Virtual Cache is part of a limited release of Virtuals created between August 24, 2017 and August 24, 2018. Only 4,000 cache owners were given the opportunity to hide a Virtual Cache. Learn more about Virtual Rewards on the Geocaching Blog.