Monjo - Namche Bazaar - How many people are in your climbing party, and where are they from?

Yesterday was a very good day. We got up at 4:30 and after packing headed to the airport. Our flight was delayed by 30 minutes because the pilots slept in!!!! Once we got going, the flight was great, and we had breakfast in Lukla before hitting the trail. Lunch was in Phakding, about 2 1/2 hours walking from Lukla, then we made it to Monjo 2 hours later. The weather is good, and I am feeling great.

Today we left Monjo at 8am after a breakfast of oatmeal and Fench toast, and walked for about 15 minutes to the gates of Sagamartha national park. We presented our climbing permit to be allowed through. Sagamartha is the Nepalese name for Everest and Chomolungma is the Tibetan name. In 1865, Everest was given its official English name by the Royal Geographical Society upon recommendation of Andrew Waugh. Sir George Everest was Andrew Waugh's predecessor in his job of the the British Surveyor General of India. Imagine if he had named the mountain after himself instead, then the highest mountain in the world would be named Mt. Waugh.



I made good time to Namche today, just under 3 hours including the stop where we had our first view of Everest. Today was all uphill, but I usually do well on the uphill. My legs and cardio are doing well. I have a good appetite and I am sleeping well so all is good.



The next question is from Mrs. Gervais' class from the Bastion School in Salmon Arm. How many people are in your climbing party, and where are they from?

We are a large group. 16 climbers, 3 guides, 10 trekkers who are only going to base camp, and about 30 sherpas. Most of the sherpas are already ahead of us or at base camp. There are only 7 on the trek in. Of the climbers, twelve are from Canada or the USA, but we also have climbers from the UK, Turkey, Oman and one woman from Finland who is attempting to be the first Finnish woman to summit Everest. We seem to have a lot in common, and we are all getting along well.

You can read more at the Peak Freaks web site about who all is along. Click Here to see a list of Expedition Members, and Click Here to read some additional biographical information.