I don’t think I have ever been as warm as I was last night. Slept decently well. Even with a blanket of snow on the ground outside - it’s all white. Big day. All packed and set to go. Just need to chlorinate my water. PS – I am missing 10k Nepalese, bigger things to worry about though.
1024 hours, Gorakshep, 5035 meters
I miss Dad. This place is a dream come true, right out of the movies and TV. Blue glaciers, the Khumbu glacier, Nuptse calling out to you as if you could reach out and touch it, Pumori and Lingtran in the near distance. You need to be here to see it. The camera will never capture the moment when it hits you that this is it – you can see Base Camp in the distance if you squint very hard. (very clear atmosphere here, could be over 3 km as the crow flies maybe).
The trail is tough, esp so on a bad knee. The head a little numb with the altitude, shoes a little wet but it does not seem to matter at all – the place blows you away. There was a huge rainbow over Nuptse for a while and then Lingtran is like a giant snow slide from the Nepal side. Pumori had a surreal mist over it the entire while we saw it. And you cannot take your ice off the blue ice in the glacier. Quick bite and then I am off to BC. Swap notes soon.
1820 hours, Gorakshep, dinner time
Adrenalin keeps you going. Dog tired. Maybe too tired to write and process information. Long day. We made EBC but it snowed all the way back and a little on the way in. I was always warm but I am completely drained from walking almost 11 hours today. The snow made the 210 minute walk back from base camp quite dreary. The sights in the ice were fantastic but I think I was just shuffling along in the snow to get home. I wish it were sunnier like in the morning. I wanted more moments to savour and think of Dad back and my Nana. At the same time we were lucky we made EBC. We were one of the last groups to do so and I know a group who failed to make it.
The morning start was fantastic when we realized it was indeed Easter Sunday some 45 minutes into the walk. Big hugs all around. Missed Helen as she dropped out – its never good when the prettiest woman in the group cannot make it for a photo finish.
I know I am skipping topics yet I hear Indian accents around the room. I met the Indian gang from Kathmandu airport on the way back from EBC today. There is an Indian flag up in the lodge too. There is also one of the University of Chicago. Reminded of Dan, Sam and Kaberi. I know I will be more coherent tomorrow. Dinner right now. Dead on my feet is a good phrase to purloin. 2 ibuprofens in the system means that the headache is gone. Feels good.
2008 hours, in the sleeping bag and in bed
Seem to have gotten back some of my wit. Its a longer day tomorrow with a 0345 am start for Kalapathar. Dinner might have helped put EBC in perspective. All of us struggled in our own way up the hill but made it we did. As we kick off earlier to attempt Kalapathar I realize how much of a team effort it is going to be. Today was a great learning experience walking on a windy snowy trail with treacherous balance at times. It was like doing the moraine from the basic course but in a snow blizzard. I have swapped out my sunglasses for the new ones since I think the others were giving me a headache. Changed into a fresh beanie and have stowed away the camelbak tube into the insulated cover so that the water in the tube end does not freeze. Layered up aptly in bed and added a chocolate bar to the bag for the Kalapathar top.
Hoping the knees hold up for the long day tomorrow. We have an intense 3 hour climb pre 7 am and then a 5.5 hour hike down to lunch and then a little after that. Have applied balm to the knees and stretched. Time to hit the sack.
PS – only warm water in the bed to prevent over heating like last night
PPS – need to call Tarini soon
PPPS – never been so mentally and physically tired. Needed a pep talk from Nimah – the knee has been bothering me a fair bit. Best was putting a head on Andrea’s shoulder as she went at her puzzle book. Hoping tomorrow is a clear day to make it worth our while trudging up to KP. Its snowed since 1300 and it should be clear for a while at least
PPPPS – first time I am sleeping with my camera batteries. Cant they make them more sleep-with-the-body friendly?!
No comments:
Post a Comment