It's Day 9 and we have awoken to a very clear sky...I have never seen so many bright stars in my life. We have a lie in till 7am, with breakfast at 8am before we all get set to leave the camp at 8.30am.
Peter was really not feeling well last night, however with a good night's rest and some Diamox, he is feeling much better. Sue has had a stiff neck as well, however thankfully that is better too. :)
It is a slow and gradual walk through a valley, passing Pheriche where the medical centre is.
We cross several minor streams until we approach the Kharka (summer pasture) of Phulong Karpo and its stone hutments.
We stop at Dunghla for an outdoor lunch of soup, chapatti, rice and veg.
It's so nice that a horse wanted to eat Joe's lunch. Heehee.
Yak dung cakes drying out in the sun. Yummy!!
After lunch our route heads up a very steep moraine slope...
...until we reach a memorial site dedicated to the sherpa's and climbers who have tragically lost their lives on Everest. These have included Babu Chiri Sherpa who held world records for reaching the summit of Everest twice in two weeks, and for spending 21 hours on top!!
This was personal to Joe as he had climbed with Scott Fischer, who this memorial is dedicated too.
I felt very emotional at this site, which combined with the cold wind, has produced major headaches for Roy and I included. I urge you all to take a moment to read up on Babu Chiri Sherpa, such an inspiration and one that should never be forgotten.
We continue through the boulder field which 50 years ago was a glacier. Which is pretty spectacular in itself. Oh the wonders of geology and the natural world. :)
We reach Loboche at a height of 4800m at around 1.40pm.
Joe was not too happy to find a dead small creature under his pillow.
Yes there was some snow at Loboche but not much.
After a rest we walk up to 5000m and we get to see Base Camp!!
Can you spot the tents of expeditions of Mount Everest in distance
This ascent of 200m is to help us acclimatise, and after 15 minutes we head back to the lodge for a coffee to help our heads. We have a good tea with the best chips ever, and I have a spoon of homemade chili...it's HOT and it's amazing how much it helps to clear the sinuses and to help with the sore head. Fingers crossed this helps us out in general. :)
The dining room is heated using yak dung and electricity is provided by solar energy so the lighting is very dull. It's very clear outside and once again the stars look fabulous! We leave at 6.30am for a 6 hours walk tomorrow up to 5280m, then it's 3 hours after that to Gorak Shep. Needless to say it's an early night so 7.30pm and I'm in bed with paracetamol!
Hope I feel better tomorrow
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