EBC day 3- acclimate hiking day

Day 3  

Namche Bazaar to Everest View Hotel and back 

June 15, 2013

Everest Base Camp Trek

First off, some if my friends are donating a dollar or two a day to successful make it to base camp. All of the proceeds will go to my school when I get back to Pokhara in two weeks. If you would like t cheer me in as well as help a group of wonderful children you can donate here:

http://www.gofundme.com/3cyug0

Back at that love hate relationship again! Now that I am sitting down and relaxed I love this trek and the views I get to see. Ask me halfway up while I'm dragging my body up the stone pathway zig zagging back and forth out of breath and I will probably say some nasty remarks! 

No Doubt this is not the hardest trek in the world, people trek and climb all of the time, but for me and my experience this is pretty far out there! Every step up the path makes me wish I went to more work outs with Beccs or listened to Dawn's health tips!!! Oh well all there is to do now is grin and bear it and get stronger along the way. There was a nice view if Namche Bazaar looking down!

 

 

I kept looking up thinking I'd see an end to our journey but no end was in sight. Far off I saw some kids hiking to go to school with a rock and prayer flags in the distance. There is where I believed the end was. Huffing and puffing I made it to the rock and looked up. The first thing I noticed was the next line of steps I was going to have to climb. The second sight came much more welcomed, two my left were two giant mountain peaks!!! Breathtaking, the one looked as if I could reach out and touch it.

 

The clouds swirled in and out if the mountains giving it a very majestic feel. After catching my breath we hied more, and more, and more.  We came to an open field path and traversed that only to come to another path than was dug into the side of the hill. It was very cool and kept the views of the mountains on your right. Luckily this barely went uphill except for one patch that had stairs that ended with another great view.

 

Finally we reached the end at 3880 m at he Japanese Everest View Hotel. The place was unoccupied. The only two residents being the workers. We took a seat at the back of the hotel that served as a looking point for all of the mountains. It kind of stinks that since it is monsoon season there are many clouds in the sky and the mountains are only visible off and on. I can not imagine the view this place has in the clear days. Oh well I am here now and I made it. I just hiked that hill and I am now looking at pieces of beautiful mountains including a tiny side view of Everest!

No matter how king I study the English language or practice taking photos nothing, I repeat nothing, will ever give these things justice. I snapped some photos but the sheer mass of the mountains towering ahead and next to me just do not show in a picture. My favorite one only because of its proximity was clear more than the others. The jagged peak came out of the clouds now and then and looked anything but friendly. Part way down a glacier was making its way and rivers poured down from the ice ,letting in the sun. I felt like I could touch it!!! How can something like this even exist in the world.

(The clouds had moved in by the time I took a picture :(

After writing in my journal and drinking tea we made out way down stopping at a stupa in the distance. Here I learned a few more Nepali words. I slowly getting some of the words. 

There were also some beautiful flowers growing in the mountain side. This place is paradise!

 

After hiking all the way down we stopped at a Sherpa museum and I got to earn all about the past lifestyle of the Sherpa people. Due to tourism and modern appliances they have ditched the ways of fire stoves, wooden water jugs, and clay pots.  Also their clothing has slowly changed. Although they wear modern clothes at time for comfort many still do wear partly traditional garb. The women wear king dresses with a striped apron and Sherpa hat. The men however, sorry dad, have ditched the traditional Sherpa hat many years ago in exchange for a cowboy looking hat. These hats can run about 150 dollars at time and are very important. The women have moved away from their original Tibetan jewelry and now wear similar styles. The bigger the Jewlery the richer you are.

 

Oh and buffalo and yak dung to heat the house!!

Next was a traditional family prayer room. Walking in is a little overwhelming because it is so bright compared to the dull brown and black of the house. They had instruments, including one made of a human thigh bone, and shines for Buddha.

Last was the Everest expedition room. Here they had pictures of all the Sherpa who have scaled Everest or Sagarmatha as they call her. One picture even showed the yeti scalp going for evaluation! Throughout the room were dedications to those who have accomplished goals and those who have sadly lost their life. One guy has a record for standing in top of Everest shirtless for 4 minutes and 40 seconds!!! You  really have to be crazy to attempt climbing Everest let alone something like that. Behind most expeditions there seems to be five times as many Sherpas doing all of the labor. They carry the gear, food, fix the ropes, and guide the people. They are the heroes!!!

Back down in Namche now I'm excited and nervous for the coming days. Past this point the living conditions go down and the altitude gets higher and higher. 

Just to make sure everyone is clear, I am enjoying this trek. Yes everyday is somewhat painful the views and feeling when I reach my destination outweigh the rest!