Wednesday, March 26, 2008

Everest 2008- Namche Bazaar (3450m)

We had a super smooth start to the base camp trek with a seamless check-in for our flight up to Lukla. The flight, often labelled the worlds' most dangerous, was exhillarating but not dangerous. I sat up front, just behind the pilots in the wee Twin Otter and got fantastic views of all the surrounding vistas and of course the landing as we dropped onto the 20 degree angled runway. Watching the pilots bring the craft to an impressive handbrake turn into the disembarkment paddock was testimony to their undoubted flying prowess.

We set off that morning up the valley following the Dudh Koshi river to our first stop of Phakding (2600m) where we stayed in a tea house and spent the night playing some cards with the Irish lads showing the early form.

The next morning an early start saw us enter the Sagarmartha National park and press on up to Namche Bazaar which is the capital of the Khumbu Region. Many large suspension bridges were the highlight as well as our first sighting of Everest. We are set for a rest day here tomorrow as we allow our bodies to acclimatise to this increased altitude.

I am having difficulty attaching pictures right now but will post some from the past few days as soon as I can.

1 comment:

dave casey said...

Woo hoo - progress indeed. I take it from this that there are no issues regarding access to the hill? Mum and Dad are very impressed with your blog and wish you all the best.