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!
a marathon on everest??? that is complete crazyness
ReplyDelete