Trek to Namche Bazaar
It was such a long day yesterday, I had been awake for over 24 hours, partly due to the time change and partly due to the night drive to Ramechamp. We were along the mountain the whole way, so it was curve after curve that turned into switchbacks! No opportunity for sleep. I did offer to drive is Mr Sonam got tired but he didn't take me up on it!!!! Thankfully. I provided some fruit for us to munch on and he kept us safe. It's quite an art getting us there safely, on roads barely wide enough for one truck, but meeting one in a corner....well Mr Sonam used the brakes almost constantly. And passing someone....well that was pure magic! Similar to trekking, we are along the mountain side, we descend to the river, cross it on some type of a bridge then head back up. Although yesterday's trek was ninety percent downhill we crossed many rivers yesterday.....up and down. All flights were delayed yesterday, so I ended up standing in the sun for almost 5 hours before we took off. I made a few friends, but mostly people were anxious....would we be able to fly or not. Once it looked like we would fly.....mayhem ensued!! Hopefully everyone got out.
I did not take many pictures yesterday...I just wanted to get to Monjo so that Yangzeen wouldn't be worried, little did I know she showed up one day early as she had mixed up the day....and called Dawa at base camp who told her she had the wrong day! I also had a bit of a disagreement with my porter/guide....imagine that!!! He wanted to carry more of my stuff, I gave him about 3 kg which lightened my pack to about 7 kg. It was an early night for me...after visiting and some fries I got into bed at 1730.
After a breakfast the three of us headed for Namche together. Breakfast was Tsampa, a porridge made of roasted barley and wheat flour that has salty Tibetan butter tea stirred in to make the right consistency. It is not sweetened, and not really cooked like oatmeal, but it is a good and filling breakfast. Just outside of Monjo I passed through the gates to the Sagamartha park and will have to show my trekking permit and pay a small fee to enter the park. After passing a few small buildings over the next few kilometers and some farm land where barley is growing we started up the long hill that leads to Namche Bazaar. Part way up the hill when the weather is clear, this is where trekkers get their first view of Everest.
It was such a long day yesterday, I had been awake for over 24 hours, partly due to the time change and partly due to the night drive to Ramechamp. We were along the mountain the whole way, so it was curve after curve that turned into switchbacks! No opportunity for sleep. I did offer to drive is Mr Sonam got tired but he didn't take me up on it!!!! Thankfully. I provided some fruit for us to munch on and he kept us safe. It's quite an art getting us there safely, on roads barely wide enough for one truck, but meeting one in a corner....well Mr Sonam used the brakes almost constantly. And passing someone....well that was pure magic! Similar to trekking, we are along the mountain side, we descend to the river, cross it on some type of a bridge then head back up. Although yesterday's trek was ninety percent downhill we crossed many rivers yesterday.....up and down. All flights were delayed yesterday, so I ended up standing in the sun for almost 5 hours before we took off. I made a few friends, but mostly people were anxious....would we be able to fly or not. Once it looked like we would fly.....mayhem ensued!! Hopefully everyone got out.
I did not take many pictures yesterday...I just wanted to get to Monjo so that Yangzeen wouldn't be worried, little did I know she showed up one day early as she had mixed up the day....and called Dawa at base camp who told her she had the wrong day! I also had a bit of a disagreement with my porter/guide....imagine that!!! He wanted to carry more of my stuff, I gave him about 3 kg which lightened my pack to about 7 kg. It was an early night for me...after visiting and some fries I got into bed at 1730.
After a breakfast the three of us headed for Namche together. Breakfast was Tsampa, a porridge made of roasted barley and wheat flour that has salty Tibetan butter tea stirred in to make the right consistency. It is not sweetened, and not really cooked like oatmeal, but it is a good and filling breakfast. Just outside of Monjo I passed through the gates to the Sagamartha park and will have to show my trekking permit and pay a small fee to enter the park. After passing a few small buildings over the next few kilometers and some farm land where barley is growing we started up the long hill that leads to Namche Bazaar. Part way up the hill when the weather is clear, this is where trekkers get their first view of Everest.
The first time I had this view was in 2008 when I was trekking, and I thought it was impressive, but when I saw it in 2010 when I was climbing, I thought to myself - what have done? Today was the first time that there wasn't a view.....too cloudy.
Today was such an awesome day, I felt so good and we travelled fast. Partly due to the fact that Yangzeen carried my bag and I carried hers. I lost the argument....she's much stronger than I am! So much for the solo hike that I was so looking forward to, but it's nice having her company. She speaks as much English as I do Nepalese but we are managing to communicate. She ran into many friends on the trek today, and she spent some of the time singing. Good entertainment. We made it to Namche in 3 1/2 hours, and we stopped in at friends to have some tea which took about 30 min. They were friends are of guide/porter. After a lunch we headed up to Everest view hotel, a luxury hotel $200 USD a night, and clients arrive there by helicopter from Kathmandu directly to the hotel! Luxury for sure, and each of the 12 rooms has a view of Everest. It was clear this morning so they had a great view.
It only took us 2 1/2 hours to get to the hotel and back. Never have I done as much all in the same day. And I'm still feeling good. I am a bit tired now, but soon is dinner time then sleep. The plan for tomorrow is Phortse.
Elevation Namch 3445m
Distance 8 km
Elevation Everest View hotel 3880m.
Distance unknown but it's a very steep uphill.
1 comment:
I am short of breath just knowing how thin the air is up there for you! Great work!!!
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