Everest Base Camp – What a Great Day!

We had a meeting with Nir last night after we had warmed up, drunk ginger, lemon and honey tea and had a meal. The tea house was ok and we had a toilet and a hand basin in the room, but no water to wash in or work the flush. Another ‘pour a bucket of water down from this tank to flush the bog’.

We were reassured that yesterday was a one-off and that irrespective of the weather the rest of the trek is ok. This morning we set off up the valley from Lobuche towards Gorak Shep, the last village before Everest.

This is a photo of David, a donkey and a yak. Can you identify each one accurately. Ps. The yak isn’t wearing gaiters.

The weather started off ok and the team were in a good mood this morning. The darkness, defeat and defecation of yesterday dissipated in the diaspora.

Diaspora?

Well I couldn’t think of further alliteration that would keep the meaning and the rhythm going so I sacrificed meaning.

How about dissipated in the dawning of a new day?

Okay mate I’ll try it out on my homies. Are you ok with defecation?

Yes. You did it and it was significant to the way the day panned out. Pardon the pun.

Great, thanks, here goes.

The weather started off ok and the team were in a good mood this morning. The darkness, defeat and defecation of yesterday dissipated in the dawning of a new day.

Feels good mate. Thank you.

The route to Gorak Shep is along another side moraine and across a subsidiary glacier. Lots of rocks and boulders to balance on with the regular crashing of landslides and falling ice tumbling into the pools of water created by global warming. But nicer views and sentiments along the way.

Amar on the near horizon.

Killer and Nir Himalayan grooving.

And me I’m just on the street, heading for a different joint. Thanks Bob.

We reached Gorak Shep in time for an early lunch and to dump our stuff before our ramble up to Everest Base Camp.

And continuing upwards the snow set in for the long fall, which in the end we had to brave. Jesus it was cold. And the glacier is a difficult place to be. Don’t slip down these crevasses or you’re not coming out.

Eventually the snow eased and we finally made it to Base Camp. It was hard, due to the weather shifting from cold to frickin freezin, and due to the lack of oxygen. But it did not contain the risk of Kongma La. I’m taking the liberty of failing to provide explanation and only posting photos of one of the most iconic locations in the entire world. And we are in it.

It was a great day and we retired to our tea house in Gorak Shep, which had the most basic hygiene facilities – one unflushable bog per 20 people and no running water. Happy days.

What I said about that Indiana Jones risky bollocks; I was a bit hasty.

Night night.