Ed Wardle: Marching up the Khumbu Valley Toward Base Camp

Kathmandu is the staging post for all Everest expeditions. Here, street upon narrow street of cloned shops sell North Face rip-offs, giant Gurkha fighting knives, pashminas and antique Buddhas to hippies and Himalaya explorers. It’s also home to hashish pushers, a million squawking, swarming mopeds and 3-foot-high pickpockets — their eyes at wallet height play for sympathy before gently rifling your bags. [More at Discovery Channel]
Kathmandu is the staging post for all Everest expeditions. Here, street upon narrow street of cloned shops sell North Face rip-offs, giant Gurkha fighting knives, pashminas and antique Buddhas to hippies and Himalaya explorers. It’s also home to hashish pushers, a million squawking, swarming mopeds and 3-foot-high pickpockets — their eyes at wallet height play for sympathy before gently rifling your bags. [More at Discovery Channel]