Pangboche to Phakding – the Fellowship Descends in Hillary/Tenzing Footsteps

Alright, who sniggers at the mention of Phakding.

Me sir.

Phakding hell boy. How can you snigger at something like that? Hold out your hand.

Ouch! Sorry sir, but could I have a can of cock?

You vile little animal. Hold out your hand!

Ouch! Please don’t hurt me anymore sir.

The morning was fine and Kantega, blowing snow off the top, looked magnificent in the early sun.

We set off at a pace down the valley, like the physical superstars that Amar and Nir are, and the shortly to be physical superstars that me and Senor Kilby will be.

This is the luckiest trek ever for breaks in the clouds and magnificent views. In no time we reached the valley floor, crossed the Swinger and were beginning to climb up to the Buddhist monastery at Tengboche. And incredibly on the way, the monastery came to us! It was longer than this but I edited it to be able to upload it. Very impressive and humbling snaking down the valley.

Over the hill behind Tenboche, an hour trapping back down to the river and then three hours trapping back up and over to Namche Bazar again. We had lunch and set off quickly.

Down, down deeper and down. Thanks Francis. Until we reached the high Swinger that we crossed on the way up. And it was still scary.

But me and Killer nailed it!

On the way down we came across the Cambridge United football team crossing a Swinger (Southend have a thing about Cambridge)!

I was getting exhausted and struggling to make the downs as well as the ups. The weather turned to monsoon-like part way down the valley but we kept going. And there were bright points, like this garden.

And this waterfall.

And this ‘orse.

And then we made it to our tea house, showered, ate and had a coupla cans.

Night night.