After a good nights sleep and an excellent pancake for breakfast, we set off into the sun at a respectable 8:00 in the morning. The trail meandered along, rolling up a down (referred to here as "flat") before reaching the gates to Sagarmatha (Everest) National Park. We took a seat on the stone wall and refilled our water bottles while our guide went and registered our park passes.
After we had stopped for lunch, the trail flattened out and followed along the banks of the Dudh Kosi (Milk River). However, looming not too far in the distance was our challenge for the day. Instantly regretting the 200m if altitude we'd lost the previous day, we stared up at the beginning of our 800m climb to the village of Namche Bazaar.
First we ascended a series of large stone steps and steep dirt paths for half hour or so. We watched as the river dropped away below us, growing smaller and smaller, until we arrived at... wait. A bridge? Situated high above the churning river below, the steel cable suspension bridge was somewhat reminiscent of the Capilano Suspension bridge back home; just higher, longer, narrower, shakier, free and actually leading somewhere. There was a substantial wind tearing through the valley, making the prayer flags draped along its length flap noisily as we stepped cautiously over the bridge.
The next three hours of trekking were far less eventful, being mainly comprised of walking very slowly in the upward direction. You really don't realize how much you depend on that first 33% of the oxygen until it's gone! In the end, however, we eventually did make it to the village of Namche Bazaar before collapsing into cozy cabin.
At 3:00 tea, we sat in some comfy chairs watching Nepali Idol and discussed how, between the two of us, we had consumed almost 7L of fluid during the day yet we hadn't so much as seen our guide drink a cup of tea. Later, we were escorted to the climbing office to register our climbing passes. Jennie was listed as lead climber, so I turned my attention back to Nepali Idol (I guess there was nothing else good on the TV at this altitude?) while she finished up the paperwork.
Free from imposed beverage breaks and bureaucracy, we took our chance to explore the everything that Namche Bazaar had to offer. Being literally cut into the side of a mountain, walking around Namche is much like navigating a maze of stone steps. We wisely brought our room key with us so even if hopelessly lost we could simply plaster our faces with our best lost tourist face and hold up the name of our lodge. The store selection was much the same as in Thamel, but we ended up spending around $30 on a few chocolate bars, some chips, Kleenex and a couple of small souvenirs. I guess when everything has to be carried up a mountain on someones back you can expect to pay a little more!
We managed to navigate our way back up the stone steps and around the wandering yak, returning to our temporary home. We ate a deliciously fired dinner and then set off to bed cursing our altitude sickness medication for making our hands and feet tingle.
After we had stopped for lunch, the trail flattened out and followed along the banks of the Dudh Kosi (Milk River). However, looming not too far in the distance was our challenge for the day. Instantly regretting the 200m if altitude we'd lost the previous day, we stared up at the beginning of our 800m climb to the village of Namche Bazaar.
First we ascended a series of large stone steps and steep dirt paths for half hour or so. We watched as the river dropped away below us, growing smaller and smaller, until we arrived at... wait. A bridge? Situated high above the churning river below, the steel cable suspension bridge was somewhat reminiscent of the Capilano Suspension bridge back home; just higher, longer, narrower, shakier, free and actually leading somewhere. There was a substantial wind tearing through the valley, making the prayer flags draped along its length flap noisily as we stepped cautiously over the bridge.
The next three hours of trekking were far less eventful, being mainly comprised of walking very slowly in the upward direction. You really don't realize how much you depend on that first 33% of the oxygen until it's gone! In the end, however, we eventually did make it to the village of Namche Bazaar before collapsing into cozy cabin.
At 3:00 tea, we sat in some comfy chairs watching Nepali Idol and discussed how, between the two of us, we had consumed almost 7L of fluid during the day yet we hadn't so much as seen our guide drink a cup of tea. Later, we were escorted to the climbing office to register our climbing passes. Jennie was listed as lead climber, so I turned my attention back to Nepali Idol (I guess there was nothing else good on the TV at this altitude?) while she finished up the paperwork.
Free from imposed beverage breaks and bureaucracy, we took our chance to explore the everything that Namche Bazaar had to offer. Being literally cut into the side of a mountain, walking around Namche is much like navigating a maze of stone steps. We wisely brought our room key with us so even if hopelessly lost we could simply plaster our faces with our best lost tourist face and hold up the name of our lodge. The store selection was much the same as in Thamel, but we ended up spending around $30 on a few chocolate bars, some chips, Kleenex and a couple of small souvenirs. I guess when everything has to be carried up a mountain on someones back you can expect to pay a little more!
We managed to navigate our way back up the stone steps and around the wandering yak, returning to our temporary home. We ate a deliciously fired dinner and then set off to bed cursing our altitude sickness medication for making our hands and feet tingle.
I wonder if those slide practices came in handy...
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