Rolwaling Himalaya

The Rolwaling Himalaya is located in east-central Nepal, although several of its major summits actually stand either on the border ridge or entirely within Tibet. Because of its complex topography, precise definition of its borders is somewhat difficult, but in general the area is regarded as that between the Bhote Khosi and Tamba Khosi river systems to the west, and by the Bhote Khosi and Dudh Khosi to the east.

The principal mountains of the group, namely Gauri Shankar, 7,134 metres (23,406ft) and Menlungtse (aka Jobo Garu), 7,181 metres (23,560ft) are bounded on the south by the Rolwaling Valley that hosts several small Sherpa settlements including Simgaon, Beding and Na Gaon. Access to the valley and the mountains of the range is usually made on foot using an established route starting at Jagat, although it can also be reached from Jiri in the south by a complex system of trails that cross the Honobu La, 4,570 metres and Yalung La, 5,310 metres.

The largest grouping and most complex assemblage of peaks of the Rolwaling form a great arc on the eastern wall of the valley and overlooking over the Tsho Rolpa, a large glacial lake that threatens to burst through its unstable dam into the valley and its 6,000 residents below. A route beside the lake leads over the Trakarding Glacier towards the highest of these peaks, Tengi Ragi Tau, 6,943 metres (22,780ft), and the adjacent Tesi Lapcha, 5,705 metres, a difficult and committing pass crossing that offers access to Namche Bazaar and the Khumbu.