Profile
Blog
Photos
Videos
Nigel's got a funny tummy and I've still got a terrible cold so not slept so well last night despite our luxury electric blanket!
Anyway we awoke to full blown cloud and cold weather on what was meant to be our day trekking up further to 3990metres for panoramic views of Everest and surrounding mountains. We'll it soon became clear the weather was set and very few views were to had and we had to make a choice of staying in Namche Bazaar and going to weekly market or continuing our day hike up further to the village of Khumjung.
We both decided having come so far and ever hopeful of the cloud clearing that we would continue with our dayhike.
It was very cold so we all put on warm clothes, Imodium and Decongestant to hand and set off up the hill ...... Huffing and puffing away as the altitude is beginning to affect us.
We were yet again the only Trekkers apart from a lone youngster making his way up to base camp and spending time acclimatising. There were however lots of locals on there way to the market at Namche which happens every Friday and Saturday.
We finally after a slow plod we made it up to the Hotel Everest View at 3990 where we met the youngster again ( clearly being 25 yrs younger makes life easier up here) and saw nothing at all of Everest ! We stayed and drank tea and hot chocolate ever hopeful but sadly after an hour or so decided to move on. Our guide said under normal circumstances this view point would be packed with Trekkers and climbers getting acclimatised on their way to Everest but we were the only guests .... A sign things are far from recovered since the earthquake.
We continued our walk onto the village of Khumjung which was badly affected by the earthquake in April and there are still many Red Cross tents up and lots of building work on to rebuild houses. They rely on potatoes and we're preparing for winter by digging holes and storing them.
We visited an old local monastery which was very interesting and stopped for lunch of soup and potatoes .....we were even out of breath eating though and the portions were as usual enormous. Luckily Nigel's tummy seemed to settle down and my cold seem better being out in the fresh air.
We continued past the Edmund Hilary secondary school and saw some more earthquake damage to a religious prayer mound and then wound our way back the hill to Namche passing all the local people we met this morning laden down with everything from eggs, meat, glass panes , rice etc and all ages !!! We were relieved to see they huffed and puffed a little although as Nigel says they were probably carrying 50-60kgs each. It just seems amazing that the only way to transport anything at all is on foot or by mule/yak!
Again we trekked all alone with Lapa and Ming ..... It's like a different world.
The view of Namche was amazing as we trekked back down to the Yeti Mountain Home. Spent rest of afternoon relaxing and shopping a bit. Still freezing cold and down jackets required.
Evening spent around fire chilling and eating dinner. Both still not feeling 100% but absolutely delighted we continued our plan as despite no view of Everest it was worth seeing the locals going about their daily life.
Longer day tomorrow so probably be in bed by 2030 ..... Seems to be what happens here!
Hoping weather will be better tomorrow x x x
- comments