We turned right (west) from Kharta Village and entered the Kharta Tsangpo valley with the Kharta Chu on our left. This fast moving river, milky white from glacial meltwater, flows from the Kharta Changri (7056m) and Khartaphu (7227m) mountains to the northeast of Everest. We pulled in to a grassy spot next to the river, a spot already occupied by nine tents. Before long, tea was served and Chris and I undid our duffel bags and rested in our A-frame claustrophobic tent. The toilet was a small, but tall, blue tent with a simple hole dug about 1/4 metre into the ground.