Our last day in Kathmandu

We found a KFC, where we had a very Western lunch experience with a few people from the trekking group. We leave the hotel tomorrow morning at 6:30am for our 9:00am flight to New Delhi, where we will check into a Radisson near the airport to relax until our 11pm flight back to EWR. Since the power is on now, we are just watching some TV and recovering. I am working on the trekking map that is linked to the this blog. I also will be blogging my diary details when I get to it.

Photos Posted

http://picasaweb.google.com/martysupple/MartyAndJoeTrekEverest

I will be adding captions and blogging more details as I get time…

Mission Accomplished!!

On 4/1 we summited Kala Patthar (5550m), which was the most difficult part of the trek. At 50% oxygen and 10 days of hiking we ascended a very steep dirt trail then rocks to the peak of this mountain in the Everest region. On 4/2 9:45am we made it to EBC (Everest Base Camp), which was difficult only due to being completely exhausted, low oxygen, and also it was quite rocky/treacherous.But we made it!! Overall the most grueling and challenging thing I have done in my life. Only suffered some scrapes and a bad cold / sinus infection, so I am coughing a lot, as many people on the team are. One person suffered some AMS (Acute Mountain Sickness – Altitude Sickness) as she had very low O2 in her blood when we were all tested at 4200m. Above 4300/4500m things change. I had some pretty bad headaches, and when this cold came on, I had the worse sore throat I have ever had. Coming down was a lot of fun though, we trucked. At one point we were practically running. I am sure I dropped some pounds over the 12 days. The tea houses were bearable, and got more basic as the elevation went up. Above the tree lines they used Kerosene for heating/cooking which sucked. One place our water tasted like Kerosene, gross. I finally took a shower today after 12 days..nice. I also was able to shave away most of the beard I had grown, so feeling a little cleaner :) There were definitely moments where many of us, would have taken the oppt. to press a button to go home. With no heat or hot water as things got colder it was really tough. Luckily we had the right gear, the Sherpas were awesome, and our team helped each other along. We had a group of 11 people from all over the world. I have kept a diary and taken many photos. As I get time I will be posting these! See you all soon!

Pheriche 4200m (Alpine Zone)

We are above the tree lines, in a village called Pheriche. It is cold up here, it snowed as we approached the village today at about 12:30pm. The views are amazing. I am feeling pretty good (ok), I took some pain killers for the knee and am wearing a knee brace (no luxury of ice up here, but maybe I will go grab some snow ;). I am fighting a sore throat, but that is pretty common up here especially with all of the dust. I am drinking a lot of water, and peeing a lot, taking Diamox every morning and night. Previously I said we would be at base camp on 4/2, but it is actually 4/1. Tomorrow is the toughest day, we ascend to 4900m. It will be the true test, if we acclimatize well with that, then base camp shouldn't be a problem. The group has high spirits and we are enjoying each others company sitting around the stove in the tea house, sipping tea. i am eating very well (we all are), not sure if I am losing weight, doubt it. Had veggie burger and chips for lunch. Having noodle soup and chipati for dinner. Keeping this short as the internet rates at this alt are expensive. Miss you all, and I am snapping pictures. I will try to check in the next chance I get. Oh, and I have learned to use the squat toilets (ewwww). And having increased gas is a symptom of high altitude, so the group knows not to trail to close behind me.

Pangboche Village 3:15pm 4000m

We are getting there, the hike to Namche was a very hard full day. This morning was a half day to Pangboche, it is getting very difficult as we get higher with less Oxygen. I started Diamox at about 3700m, my left knee is killing me but we are trekking on. The tea houses are not bad, eating lots of rice, pasta, and potato dishes (and garlic soup). So I am never hungry. Overall we are good, really feeling it. May people suffering from colds and some alt sickness, a lot of people taking Diamox. I will keep this short, paying 20 rupees a minute. Love and miss you. We hit base camp on 4/2, tomorrow is another half day to 4300m, should be interesting. Feels like you just want to lay down and fall asleep while you are trekking. Views are amazing, taking pics. Nepalese people are great. No snow on the ground yet, weather has been good. Chance of rain in our future (nuts). Bye for a while.

Namche 10794 feet

We made it out of Kathmandu on the 3rd try (day). The flight to Lukla was not too bad (45 mins). We trekked about 3 hours the first day, spent the night at a nice tea house in Phakding. Yesterday we hiked 6 hours 700 meters (the 700 was over the 3 hours in the afternoon). Was a pretty tough hike, but I am feeling good. It is 6.30am and my fingers are frozen. Today we have a short hike of 3 hours to Khum Mung, 400 meters up. Originally this would be a rest day, but we are making up for lost time. Yesterday a couple of people had problems with altitude, they are taking Diamox. We will have the afternoon off. I am feeling great, today is a clear day, should be awesome. Love you and miss you all. May not get to post much over the next week.

F Bombs In F’in Kathmandu

Another day stuck in Kathmandu, and nobody is happy about it. Cloud cover over Lukla delayed and then cancelled flights from Kathmandu, including ours. We are learning, that this is not very uncommon. We are back at the Hotel. We are all going to meet at 6pm for dinner and a briefing. We can still make base camp, if we can get up to Lukla tomorrow. We will have to be a little more aggressive on the ascent, as long as everyone is acclimating well. We are trying to stay optimistic. There are a few contingency plans, we will discuss tonight; charter a chopper (about an additional $500+ /person, but not sure if there are guarantees about landing in Lukla, need to find out), trek Annapurna , extend the trip and change our return flights home. We will see what happens, continue to wish us luck. We are all thinking of tossing out Buddhist prayer strings.