Top of the World

We have a couple more days at the Pyramid as the timing of trekking and flights with the completion of work had an extra “in case” day built in, but we were so efficient and nothing went wrong that we finished early.

A group of us decided that it was time to visit the Top of the World. Hold on, we didn’t make an attempt on Everest, but went to a place called KalaPatthar (5545 m). It’s an outcrop/cliff/hill across the valley from Everest. You get a 360 degree view of all the peaks in the area. Absolutely incredible- a place everyone should visit. However, it’s a difficult climb. It took me an hour and a half to get from the bottom to the top. I was travelling just fine until ¾ of the way up. Then the altitude, lack of fitness and sickness took hold. One of our Sherpa guides (Kalden) was already at the top and he came down to help me. He told me I didn’t look so hot and took my pack for me. I managed the rest of the way and was rewarded for my efforts.

We spent about an hour up there and met some interesting folks who are running in the Everest marathon in a few days time! Crazy people running 43 km from base camp to Namche Bazar. They’ve been training for about a month and expect to complete somewhere in the 8 hr mark. The local Sherpas haven’t been training, will show up on the morning and do it in 3.5 hrs! Nuts.

We took some incredible photos (again, internet takes too long to upload them, so you’ll have to check back in a week when we’re back in Canada) and then headed down and back to the Pyramid. The day started at 5:00 a.m. and we were home for lunch. I then spend the afternoon in bed (so did everyone else). It turned into nap day!

Another nice dinner and cake to celebrate our leaving, some packing, a last chat with the girls for a few days and then off to bed. We’re off to Pangboche tomorrow, Namche the next and a final big push to Lukla. A night in Luckla and then a flight back to Kathmandu. A few days there to sort things out and then home!

What a trip!