Day 7 Trek (March 27th)

We are both up by 0545. Another blue sky sunny early morning, although windy. Some meditation under the blankets and inside my sleeping bag. Very cold! Hands are shaking. Breakfast at 0700. Porridge with honey and one of my favourite Sherpa dishes being Tibetan bread. Sun shining on our backs from the east to warm us up. We can see our breath in the dining room. We begin our trek at 0740.

Tibetan bread. You can eat it with honey, jam, syrup, peanut butter (my fave!) or whatever you like. Crusty outer layer and soft insides.  :-)

Start of Day 7 at Dingboche (4350 m) with our destination of Lobuche at 4900 metres elevation. We will get to Lobuche via Thukla. We are far above the tree line so it is very barren trekking. 

We climb the hill just north of Dingboche and enter a valley with gradual ascents and more up and down trekking. At one time we were surrounded on three sides by huge mountains. Mt. Lohtse is dominant in this particular valley. In some parts a real soft soil for walking so that is appreciated. It is so warm that eventually I take off my mitts, toque and fleece sweater! We descend to the river and then across the bridge to Thukla (4620 m) to rest on their sunny and hot patio. Connect with the Aussie couple for some laughs. Their outdoor toilets are real! The climb to the summit (4735 m) and the cemetery is about 40 minutes of steady hard work.

More spectacular views! 

I love these trails with less rocks and more soft dirt/sand so easier and safer for trekking. 

 This picture provides a great idea of this massive valley with a river running below. You can see our trail on the right.

Mt. Lhotse at 8511 metres. 

This is a view of Thukla. Pretty easy to see how an ancient deep glacier receded and then left all these debris which we will be walking on and over. Thukla is located at the bottom of a very steep hill climb.

At the top of the long and steep climb there is a cemetery for the recovered bodies of Everest climbers who have died on the mountain. This is quite a distance from Mount Everest so not sure why they picked this spot. Some very famous names can be seen on the plaques. 

 Big smiles for another job well done (so far).

This is where I prefer to be when the yaks are coming.

Once we get to the summit, the trekking is in slippery wet snow and ice. Very difficult footing for everyone, except yaks. For much of the trek to Lobuche, we follow a yak train. The ascent from here is more gradual, but always uphill. We arrive just before 12 pm so made this leg of the trek faster than Dorjee estimated.

Yaks are pretty sure footed on the snow, mud and ice. Again, trekkers get uphill of these yaks. 

We are staying at the Hotel Peak XV in Lobuche in Room 107 on the second floor. A really great perk at this place surrounded by snow and ice is the solar room near our room. We get to talking with other trekkers including an Israeli on his way to EBC. We order lunch and relax. Two real toilets near our room! Steamed mixed momos for me for lunch.

Jim's mileage:  3.96 miles and 10,350 steps.

We saw and spoke with a number of fellow trekkers who made it to Lobuche, but had to turn back so were not going to make it to EBC. So close! Many reasons such as injury, sickness, high altitude sickness and fatigue. 

800 Rupee for wifi access and 300 Rupee for water. For a battery charge 350 Rupee. We are both tired and around 1:30 pm lie down. Jim stirs around 3:30. Quite the odour of kerosene which isn't uncommon in these lodges. Dorjee brings us lemon tea to refresh.

Still a sunny and blue sky day. The sun is reflecting off the peaks that surround us. All stone houses and buildings of course given there is no lumber/trees around. The spaces between the buildings are snow and mud. The icicles are dripping water during the warmer afternoon. The corrugated tin roofs are multi-coloured. The sound of bells from the passing yaks remind you of how everything arrives at these villages in the Everest region. 

Get downstairs to the dining room and the dung-fired oven warming up the room. Dinner at 6:30 pm. Dal Baht for me as recommended by Dorjee. Masala tea was delicious. Good chats and a couple of Nepali jokes from Dorjee. We are back to our room around 7:15 pm. We want to get an early start tomorrow for our trek to EBC which will be a gain of 650 metres. It is important to be ready physically and mentally for the big day. I am drinking a lot of water and my right calf is still good. 

Jim and I are pretty excited as tomorrow if all goes well we will be at EBC!!! Wow, still feels surreal and I won't believe it until we get there.