28Sep Trekking Day 4: Acclimatization hike - 3 miles

Woke up to a rainy morning with high hopes of getting the first glance at Everest. It stopped raining just before we started hiking which was amazing. Got to Namche museum view point but too many clouds to see Everest :(  We did some yoga and chilled out a bit.

Tenzing Norgay statue

We the continued to Shyangboche panorama view point 3800 meters with more hopes. We had tea and watched as the clouds floated in and out but still no sighting. I saw a glimpse of some rock up in the sky and yelled “Everest” and then was told it was in the opposite direction, heehee.

We had some free time to walk around and shop a bit.

Here is our Irish Pub…

27Sep Trekking day 3: Phakding to Namche Bazar - 7 miles

We started the day with a great breakfast and lovely weather. We crossed a few more suspension bridges and gained about 830 meters in elevation. We have some free time tomorrow to walk around the town. We will be passing back through here on the way home and we have found an Irish pub to celebrate in, with just one beer. Many more to follow once back in Kathmandu!

26Sep Trekking Day 2: Ramechhap to Phakding - 7 miles

We were able to get a helicopter from Ramechhap to Surkey, a helipad about a 2 hour hike below Lukla. Wow, was that amazing… I got to sit in the front!!

Sam and I were the first ones on the helicopter arriving to Surkey about 10:45. Our pilot was amazing, there were some tough conditions trying to land. I was so worried about the flight to Lukla but now I’m sorta sad I didn’t get to experience it, oh well. We found a way to entertain ourselves, while waiting for the entire group to arrive and we started hiking about 14:45.

It rained most of the way to Phakding but we finally made it about 20:15. We a great meal and off to bed, so exhausted. But a great first day with 3 suspension bridge crossings, great conversations with the others in the group and amazing sights. Lots of yaks and donkeys along the way!

25Sep Trekking Day 1: Kathmandu to Ramechhap - 0 miles

Well we made the 4 hour very bumpy car ride to Ramechhap and the weather in Lukla would not allow us to land. So we hung out all day and played cards. It was a really hot day, which seems crazy since just a 15/20 minute plane ride it’s going to be 40degrees. Fingers crossed for a plane or helicopter today.

Kathmandu 23-24Sep

Landed in KTM 23Sep about 0615, got visa, luggage and headed to the hotel. Met up with Pravin and Deb, who are also trekking, they already had a day trip planned so I joined them to stay awake! We went to Patan Durban Square and Bhaktapur. We had a great time time seeing a palace and quite a few squares.

In the mean time Kathy and John had arrived, the 5 of us we went for a great Thai dinner a few drinks at an Irish pub, then it was finally bed time!

24Sep-We went for a walk about and then found a place for a few beers to wait for the trek briefing to meet our guide and other travelers.

We have a 4 hour drive in the morning to Ramechhap airport and have an ETD of 0400eek!! KTM has too much air traffic. We saw a group return this afternoon after their flight to Lukla was cancelled because of weather. We are all hoping to get on the flight tomorrow… We Ready!!

Istanbul-Meeting point of the world

Landed in Instanbul about 15:40 Thursday, 22Sep. Flight was very smooth and I probably slept 8.5 of the 10hours. The flight was pretty full; the IFE was great and even had the hidden object game I like to play :) Seats felt a bit more cramped than Delta coach, but food was pretty good and the flight attendants were nice.

Now just waiting out my layover with a beer. Next stop Kathmandu!!!

The night before takeoff

​Nails (very important for hiking) and dinner with @drcarrielee. Back home for final packing inventory.

27 hours and counting…

Anticipation...

 I'm ready to go... count down 7 days!