This mountain was first climbed in 1953 by a route from the Kongma La along its North-ridge. Despite its relatively low altitude the mountain's first successful climbers were giants of the mountaineering world, a fact that is true of many of the Trekking peaks. Phokalde is an insignificant-looking mountain when seen from Periche, from where it appears as a rocky ridge dominated by the vast bulk of Nuptse. Seen from the Lobuche or Gorak Shep the peak looks more interesting rising to the south of the Kongma La (5,535m/18,159ft), an infrequently traversed pass that leads into the Chhukhung Valley. The northern side of the mountain has a small hanging glacier that is best reached along the ridge rising from the Kongma La. By and large the rock on the mountains poor, although it does offers some interesting scrambling on the well-defined ridges. The summit provides a good viewpoint and from that perspective is a fine little peak.