Lukla to Namache (Hike days 1 and 2)

Note – connections still slow (like dial-up, but slower)

Happy Birthday Dad!

After landing in Lukla I met Phurba Sherpa, my guide for the next 3 weeks.  He’s 51 but will still kick my butt up Island peak and all the other mountains we go up.  He’s led many expeditions up Island Peak, Mera Peak and all several others.  Two of his sons are guides, his wife manages the farm and his daughter is in school.  One other son goes to the KTM university.  Sounds like we will have a lot to talk about. 

View of Lukla, still in the clouds from earlier weather issues.

After a quick bite to eat we were off, chasing daylight on day one already!  Made it one hour before dark, missing our targeted destination for the day.  Phurba guides me to a teahouse he’s visited often.  We will stay for the night and get an early start.  Tea houses are basically hostels.  You get a room w/o heat or a/c, bed, sometimes a place to shower, and meal service.  Had garlic soup for dinner (good for acclimatization) and Tibetan bread and honey for breakfast.  Whoever said I would lose weight on this trip was way off.  The food here is excellent! 

We meander along through villages on cobblestone paths and do the occasional suspension bridge crossing.  I can’t imagine crossing these with Yak or cows, as we were bouncing all over.

Hard hiking up to Namche.  We gained over 3000 ft of elevation by the end of the day, but were rewarded with good views.

Had our first peek at Everest and Lohtse, two of the tallest mtns in the world.

Wednesday we are off to Kumjung