( - for route to Panch Pokhari see Helambu trek )
( - for return route from Langshisa Kharka see Langtang Valley )
1. Panch Pokhari to before "Cathedral Pass":
From Panch Pokhari climb northwards to col ( no path ).
View across to Dorje Lakpa.
Descend into corrie with ruins of stone buildings.
Ascend on path to next col. Descend into corrie, contour round and re-ascend to another col.
Continue on faint path and up to stream near kharka with ruins.
View down into Balephi Khola Valley and across to Phurbi Chyachu rising above a side-valley.
Climb to hilltop then make descending traverse to other ruins at path junction.
The route to the left goes towards Ganja La.
Continue ahead to col, descend steeply through juniper and contour round into side-valley with stream
and kharka with ruins.
Camping place.
View to South of approach route from Panch Pokhari.
2. Across Pass below Cathedral to Camp before Balephi Glacier:
Climb steeply to col above side-valley.
Good view of the rocky spires of the Cathedral and across to Dorje Lakpa and Phurba Chyachu.
Descend into corrie with stream and old buildings/ kharka.
Ascend on path beyond ruins to top of spur.
Descend into a wide amphitheatre beneath the Cathedral.
Contour round past more ruins and up to col.
Continue round across several spurs.
Final col gives good view across to Dorje Lakpa.
Descend into small corrie and re-ascend to col with cairns.
Excellent viewpoint:- Ganchempo, Balephi Glacier, Urkinmang, Kanshurum, Dorje Lakpa.
Descend to lochans and continue down into upper Balephi Khola Valley.
Camp in grassy ablation valley below snout of Balephi Glacier.
A cairn marks the start of the route across to Dorje Lakpa base camp.
3. Lower Balephi Glacier to High Camp beneath Ice-fall:
Climb to top of ablation valley. Cross stream.
Climb on steep, rough scree onto moraines of Balephi Glacier.
Ascend on crests of moraine and over boulder fields.
Camp before final rise to ice-fall.
4. Across Tilman's Pass - High Camp on upper glacier:
Climb on broken rock, scree, ice/ snow on right/ eastern side of ice-fall.
Traverse onto white-ice/ snow of upper glacier above the ice-fall.
Zig-zag on snow-bridges through a badly crevassed zone.
Ascend broad neve to final steep slope up to top of pass.
View across to peaks of the Langtang Himal.
Descend crevassed snow slopes on northern side of pass keeping to left/ western side of valley.
NB: Do not attempt to descend directly to the glacier lake.
Camp on upper glacier.
5. Descent to Langshisa Karka:
Descend on snow and scree slopes to Langshisa Glacier.
Continue over boulder fields/ moraine and down to stream.
Continue down to meet the Langtang Khola.
Ford river and proceed downstream to stone huts at Langshisa Kharka.
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