We are in Namche Bazaar, Nepal. Elevation 11,200 ft. Hiked two hard days and loved it! This is better than what I dreamed, so beautiful. It's a challenge with the altitude. Ed Smith and Ann Bortz on our team are staying here for a week Namche and only 5 of us will continue on.
Nepalese people are wonderful and the scenery is amazing. Nice weather too. But cold in mornings and evenings.
We arrived yesterday in Lukla and hiked almost 8 hours to Monju, where we spend the night. I've met people from Ireland, England, Scotland, Canada, Germany, and France on the trail. Lots of people on the trail because of the backup from the crashed plane Wednesday morning. Lots got out the same day we did on Friday, so the trail and the lodges are busy.
The Everest Region is a world attraction and now I see why. It's both challenging and gorgeous. We got our first glimpse of Everest today hiking up the Namche trail. It's majestic even from this far away. I can't wait to see it closer.
Ann Bortz on our team rented a horse today to take her up the Namche hill. We're all wearing heavy duty hiking boots and using trekking poles, but the locals (porters and guides) often pass you by in tennis shoes and no poles, plus they carry huge loads on their backs. They grew up that way and are used to the altitude and it shows. They're incredible trekkers.
Our plans are to skip a rest day here tomorrow and continue to the next village. I think it is called Devuche. Today was Saturday and market day in Namche Bazaar, so we went shopping. I bought some jewelry for Sheila made in Tibet, some prayer flags (very popular here) and a Yak bell as a souvenir. Yaks are used to carry loads on the trails and we must pass two dozen during a hike day. You wouldn't believe how they can climb the trail. The bells let you know they are coming and you better step aside because they have big horns. They use the Yak dung to burn as fuel. They are hard workers and have made a good life in the mountains over the centuries. The lodges we stay at are not unlike a resort setting. The climate is wonderful and a tea house has a patio where you sit and sip milk tea and view the 20,000 ft. mountains around you. The waterfalls are plentiful as we trek along the river onward.
The next village that has Internet cafe is Pheriche and I hope to blog again with more news. We stay in a nice place called the White Yak and take a rest day there, which is important because it is at an altitude of 16,000 ft.
Warm Regards,
Mike
Nepalese people are wonderful and the scenery is amazing. Nice weather too. But cold in mornings and evenings.
We arrived yesterday in Lukla and hiked almost 8 hours to Monju, where we spend the night. I've met people from Ireland, England, Scotland, Canada, Germany, and France on the trail. Lots of people on the trail because of the backup from the crashed plane Wednesday morning. Lots got out the same day we did on Friday, so the trail and the lodges are busy.
The Everest Region is a world attraction and now I see why. It's both challenging and gorgeous. We got our first glimpse of Everest today hiking up the Namche trail. It's majestic even from this far away. I can't wait to see it closer.
Ann Bortz on our team rented a horse today to take her up the Namche hill. We're all wearing heavy duty hiking boots and using trekking poles, but the locals (porters and guides) often pass you by in tennis shoes and no poles, plus they carry huge loads on their backs. They grew up that way and are used to the altitude and it shows. They're incredible trekkers.
Our plans are to skip a rest day here tomorrow and continue to the next village. I think it is called Devuche. Today was Saturday and market day in Namche Bazaar, so we went shopping. I bought some jewelry for Sheila made in Tibet, some prayer flags (very popular here) and a Yak bell as a souvenir. Yaks are used to carry loads on the trails and we must pass two dozen during a hike day. You wouldn't believe how they can climb the trail. The bells let you know they are coming and you better step aside because they have big horns. They use the Yak dung to burn as fuel. They are hard workers and have made a good life in the mountains over the centuries. The lodges we stay at are not unlike a resort setting. The climate is wonderful and a tea house has a patio where you sit and sip milk tea and view the 20,000 ft. mountains around you. The waterfalls are plentiful as we trek along the river onward.
The next village that has Internet cafe is Pheriche and I hope to blog again with more news. We stay in a nice place called the White Yak and take a rest day there, which is important because it is at an altitude of 16,000 ft.
Warm Regards,
Mike
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