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Breakfast this morning was amazing! I had a veggie omelet which serves as a way to consume some protein seeing as eating meat can be a bit sketchy in the mountains. Any meat served at the teahouses is brought in from Kathmandu meaning the higher up in elevation you climb, the longer the meat has not been refrigerated. Everything in the mountains is either carried by a Sherpa, a yak or flown in by helicopter. Therefore, it was decided we would stick to veggies during the trek to avoid any type of food poisoning.
Our trek to Namche would be about three hours. Having done a ton of research beforehand I knew that this would be a difficult part of the trek. The trail ascends straight up as we approach 11,000 ft. We did, however, get our first glimpse of Mount Everest. A very small speck in the distance surrounded by equally high peaks, the hike looks as if it could take weeks. The climbing definitely wasn’t a problem for me today as much as the elevation. As I’ve mentioned this is my first experience with any type of altitude so each step requires deeper breaths, but I do notice that I recover quickly when I stopped walking.
The clouds start to roll in so most of the taller mountain peaks are covered, but that doesn’t hinder the beauty as we turn the corner into Namche. A large town literally carved into the side of a mountain. This is the main hub for trekkers and climbers where they can refuel, rest and acclimate. Shops and coffee house line the narrow streets selling more trekking gear, pastries, and trinkets. Things are a bit more expensive here, but wifi is still available for a small fee at most establishments. As much as I would have loved a beer at this point, altitude and alcohol do not mix and I was not able to do anything that would prevent me from making it to base camp.
We took an acclimation hike to an overlook of Everest. Unfortunately, with the cloud cover, it was impossible to see the peak. As we climbed I began to feel a bit dizzy and was very glad that we had the rest of the day to rest and acclimate. Climbing higher than where you sleep is a great tactic and served me well throughout the trek. We spent the rest of the day exploring the town and grabbing multiple coffees and treats. *April 3rd, 2018.
What an amazing expedition you had! This would be an awesome trip to take.