Everest Expedition Day Five

I was a bit low yesterday. Must be the altitude. Sorry about that- don’t usually complain so much! But I’ve felt much better today. Helped by an easy start. All were in fine fettle. Everyone seems to have got into the swing of things now, and there was much jolly banter as we strode along fairly easy paths to Khumjung and Sangnasar where we met the main trail from Namche. We lunched early at a bridge over a river where the landscape suddenly became very lush with masses of wild flowers and moss-covered rocks. And then started the slow grind uphill to Tengboche along a rocky, zig – zagging path. It was a good test of our fast-developing fitness. The trick is to start slow but to keep going, though that is sometimes easier said than done! Despite getting quite hot from the effort it was clear that the temperature was dropping rapidly as we climbed. 

Near the top the vista opens out to majestic views of the snow-capped Himalayas which made all the effort seem very worthwhile. We reached Tengboche just as a medivac helicopter was taking off with a victim of altitude sickness on board. So far we’ve had no such problems – just shows we may be older than most on the trail but we’re ready for anything! After pitching camp we were even in time for the daily prayer ceremony at the spectacular monastery just above the town. All in all a good day! We needed the camp fire in the evening, though. At this altitude the nights are pretty cold. But that, too, is good practice for what lies ahead.   

Luke N Brightside

(Communications Officer)

The Monastery Gate

Well they made it, just. Never have I heard so much wheezing and fighting for breath! They need oxygen on the climbs already! But the most disturbing thing is the number of pills they seem to take. Every time we stop more than half of them get our their packets of pills and start filling themselves with drugs to keep them going. I honestly can’t see any of this rattling lot of old timers getting far up the mountain. Just my luck!

Sherpa Dowting

(Head Porter)