Sunday - From Chumoa to Namche is a lighter trek day compared to if we stayed in Phakding. Ang Kami Sherpa, our head guide, said we'll be up at Namche in time for lunch.
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| Our porter preparing for the long walk up |
It was indeed a shorter trek than my previous one. We got to the checkpoint in half an hour, the Hillary bridge (last bridge before Namche) in two; and finally, Namche Bazaar at half past noon. Along the trail, we had our first glimpse (and not a bad one at that) of Mt. Everest and Lhotse. It was a clear day, and even the black summit pyramid of Everest was devoid of clouds.
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| The Hillary Bridge |
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| The long climb to Namche |
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| First view of Mt. Everest |
We're staying at the Kala Patthar lodge for the next two nights . Some members of our team are experiencing mild headaches that could be the start of altitude sickness. At 3445masl and more than 600 meters gain in elevation, you would probably feel the thinner atmosphere.
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| Namche Bazaar |
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| cute ball of fluff near Namche Bazaar |
Since we got to town early, there was a lot of time to roam around the town and check out the shops. I helped myself with a chocolate glazed donut from one of the bakeries (Rs250, or about P125) while waiting for lunch. Celine also asked me to check out some yak bells for our house. Mountain Sherpa Gear had tons of mountaineering equipment that made Henry and me drool. You can equip yourself for a major climb without bringing anything from home. But everywhere, the prices have scaled up and are now more expensive.
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| Yak bells |
Romi suggested that everyone take a walk and gain some elevation to help acclimatize. As the afternoon waned, the clouds rolled in. And soon, the whole of Namche was covered in mist. I was walking in my sandals, so you can just imagine how cold my feet were getting.
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| Cloudy Namche |
To cap off the night we ventured into the Irish Pub. The weather forecast calls for snow tonight. Let's see if I'll be lucky for a seond time.
Tomorrow we will hike up to Khumjung for our acclimatization day.
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