The night before, I was convinced that my trek would be over and that I would be returning to Lukla to get a plane back to Kathmandu because of how I was feeling. However, this morning, when my guide asked what I wanted to do, I said that I would like to try to continue. It's the determined bit in me, I think. I was feeling better than the previous 2 days but didn't know how far I would get. So, we had brekkie and set off for Tengboche, the next destination. As we left, I started getting pins and needles [View Full Entry]

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After getting a flavour of life in Nepal and checking out some of the major sites in Kathmandu, we began our extremely brief planning session (a few hours over the course of a day) to prepare for our trek to Sagarmatha (popularly referred to as Mt. Everest). We researched routes, bought and rented supplies (iodine, maps, sleeping sacks, down jackets, snacks, etc), talked with knowledgeable folks, booked flights to Lukla, and stored our extra luggage…finally, just a few hours before takeoff, we were done with our rather limited preparation. At 5am, and for a price of 400 rupees, we caught a [View Full Entry]

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Left Namche a bit late today, so that meant no time for schmoozing in town. Rather, I continued my meditative walk, eventually winding up over 3,000 feet higher than where we started. The trail was pristine, as a nice old man had turned a small portion of the trail into a turnpike, with a 'voluntary' fee for keeping the road well-preserved. There were also some beautiful monuments set up along the way, with views of everest, lhotse, and ama dablam (i'll call the view the ELA view) most of the way through lunchtime. The smells and smoky juniper burned as we [View Full Entry]

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Hi again everyone, This will definitely be my last blog for next 7 days as we begin trek into Base Camp -- well things have defineitely taken a change of direction compared to the relative luxury of the lower villages and guest houses... there are only about 6 guest houses here and the amount of trkers has been drstically reduced -- sorry about spelling, cold fingers :) understandable less people going on further given todays brutal hike up here to Tengboche ... Hey, if you want to really see where I am at, just do the google earth thing, and look [View Full Entry]

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Today we set off from lovely Namche to walk to Tengpoche monastery (approx 3700m) where we intended to stay the night. To be honest I wasn't feeling that great. Think I'd caught too much sun while swanning round Namche eating apple pie in cafes and had a nauseous feeling in the stomach that wasn't going away. The walk started well though. We had a really clear view of Everest and the path wound round the ridge of the valley, a sheer drop to the icy roaring waters on one side and high pine clad mountain on the other. However, no [View Full Entry]

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We started out this morning travelling along frosty bitten paths, in the shadow of Everest. Everest shows itself intermittently as we travel towards our goal of Base Camp. The trail is quieter now and sherpas and yaks are fewer. Last night Rolfe (group leader and accomplished mountaineer) told us the heart rendering story of a sherpa which encapsulates their spirt. One Sherpa who got to the end of his day and asked if he could travel to Kathmandu to get medicine for his daughter who had Scepticima (she was a two day run away). Later Rolfe sawthe same sherpa again and [View Full Entry]

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Turns out there is now a internet station in Tengboche. We've just arrived. It was a steep climb, but again I was using my tried and tested small steps. (I'm in no rush) I feel good and am in good health keeping up my water regime when others are slipping. I'm a bit of a stickler for keeping to my own set of rules :) We arrived in cloud cover. A few flakes of snow. Just when we were wondering whether that mountain was going to end, we turned the corner there stood the monastry. Everything is calm and the bleakness [View Full Entry]

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The next morning, a helicopter landed right in front of the teahouse where we stayed. I was amazed that the chopper could land on such a tiny landing strip. It was just a flat stony area next to a picnic table. There was little margin for error; the slightest gust of wind could blow the chopper into the huge ravine just below. An American tour group was in the helicopter. They flew in from Kathmandu for the day just to see the Tengboche monastery and the mountain scenery. I wish I could do that, but at $1,800, that’s a little steep [View Full Entry]

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On the way out of Tengboche, we made a steep climb up another series of stone steps. Soon after, we passed through one of the most beautiful, idyllic forests I’ve ever seen. We called this the “Enchanted Forest” because it looked like something out of a fairy tale. With the flowers blooming on the rhododendron trees and the little stone houses by the river, it looks like Hobbiton. Pink, yellow and white rhododendrons were blooming in full force. Willowy trees and rocks with soft green moss lined the path. The only sounds were the rushing river and the breeze through the [View Full Entry]

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From Namche, we continued climbing up to Tengboche (3867 meters or 12,690 feet). Tengboche has a few teahouses and is a popular stop for trekkers, especially since there is a famous Tibetan Buddhist monastery there. On the way to Tengboche, we started getting our first major views of the mountains. The views are best in the morning, since the clouds move in and there is often rain in the afternoon at this time of the year. There are some beautiful waterfalls and forests here. As we move higher above the tree lines, we can expect to see fewer forests and more [View Full Entry]

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