Profile
Blog
Photos
Videos
Monday : snowing
Awful sleep, I was holding my breath again, had a massive headache to boot. Hate to say it, but spent all night going to the toot too. Never though it would be the veggie meals that got me. Im a temporary veggie this trek, being in a national park no one is allowed to kill any animals. The meat has to be carries up by porters from I'm not sure where, but the national park entry was days ago, before Namche. So I think I'll stay safe and keep clear of the meats.
It all wasn't awful, when it started to get light and I was in the toilet, I could see that everything outside had turned white. I opened the window and it was snowing, full on snow!!
We soon got our wake up call, and I packed up eger to get outside. I popped a heap of pills to try and settle the stomach and headache. Then went down for some toast for breakfast.
We set off about 7:30, it was going to be a big day today. Not sure how walking through the 6 inch fresh snow will go either. Still I was very excited to be out in it, never seen this much snow before. The snow was so soft, but became very hard when compacted into snow balls.
It didn't stop snowing the whole day, we left lobouche, and headed for Gorak Shep 5180m high. It was a slippery and by the time we arrived three hours later very wet. It had turned from a very calm and peacful snowfall to an almost blizzard. I wasn't too cold though, I think Kim felt the cold more than I. My problem was my headache, it was back in full force. The nerofn plus only lasted about 30min, it felt like the next day after a big night on the beers.
We had lunch and checked into our rooms, and changed socks. Before leaving for Everest base camp, I was not keen at all for this walk, with how I was feeling. But it was my only chance, so I just delt with it.
The wind died down when we left, but an hour in it was stronger than ever. The face whipping from the snow was very annoying, it was like being at the beach in a wind storm. The snow was getting in behind my sunnies and stinging my eyes. Most of the walk was along windy ridges, when we dropped down off the ridges it was fantastic. Very calm and we could take in the surrounding mountains and frozen lakes, and of corse have sone fun with the snow.
I struggled with my headache the whole way, and the feeling of needing vomit was there too. We made it to base camp, and the wind was intense, I didn't even try to pull out our camera, we used Jordans for the happy snaps. A few people in the group brought up some beers to have and then we were out of there.
The base camp area we went too was an area 15-30 min walk away from the area that the people get prepared to summit. We couldn't see Everest today or the ice fields and glaciers, because of the snow and wind. We did see Everest very well the other day, today we had snow and heard avalanches.
My headache still troubled me on the decent, but it was a quick return. The round trip took four hours. The guides were again impressed with how we moved today. The two main guides Lukpa and Friem said that in the 15-20 years as guides, today had the worst conditions that they have encountered as guides.
We got back to the hotel covered in snow and ice. Everything I was wearing had frozen, my jacket, beanie, bag even the water inside my water bottle. We quickly got changed and went back down stairs to wait for dinner. We needed our sleeping bags, it was still freezing even inside with the fire going. Maybe because of the friggen Chinese huddling around the fire hogging the heat. It's minus ten outside, and it wouldn't be too far off that inside the lodge.
I was feeling dreadful once settled, I had a quick dinner with some hot chocolate, and just rested before bed. No cards tonight I drifted in and out of sleep. Listening to the group talk. Once in bed I left a bucket beside the bed incase the worst was to happen.
If the weather clears up we go to Kala Pattar a good viewing area of the everest region, and then Back all the way back to Dingboche. Yes lower altitudes tomorrow so hopefully I feel better.
- comments