Everest Base Camp Adventure – Part 3
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Ah the acclimatization day.
Most high altitude treks have at least one and the Everest Base Camp trek is no exception. The acclimatization day gives your body a chance to adjust to the altitude that you are at. You don’t move on or sleep at a higher elevation. You stay put. If you are not feeling well, it is a good day to relax.
Deb Chillin' at Namche bazaar
But if all is well, you can go and do some treks like Dave and I did.
I don’t know of many acclimatization days that offer such a spectacular view as this day on the Everest Trek. Our hike starts at 8:30 am and we are going up to the Everest View point from Namche Bazaar. We are about to see Mount Everest for the first time.
It is not as easy of a day though. Just walking through town takes your breath away and as we make our way up the steps I wonder if I should have just stayed in bed and skipped the view point. Children run and play and porters carry heavy loads with ease, but we (especially me) are breathing heavy just walking up the steps.
Walking through the Shops of Namche Bazar
We haven’t even left Namche Bazaar and I am pooped!
Once we hook onto the trail though things become easier. The steep steps give way to a sloping trail and I start to feel better.
The Climb is steep to the lookout
After one and a half hours of climbing we reach what has to be the world’s highest air strip at 3700 meters (12,139 feet). We arrive just in time to see a small plane take off. We wait at the end of the grass runway in complete awe of these pilots. They have a very short runway filled with rocks and ending with a drop into the abyss. The plane doesn’t need much room though, it is airborne before it even reaches the middle of the airstrip. It flies right over our heads into the valley surrounded by jagged rocky peaks.
Supply Plane takes off over our heads.
What a thrill, but we are about to be even more thrilled when we glimpse our first view of Everest. We hike up a bit farther and there it is. Mount Everest is standing quietly behind the other mammoth peaks of the earth.
She doesn’t need to show off.
Mother Everest knows she is the star attraction. Today she lets Lhotse, Changri and Nuptse shine. At 8414, 6027 and 7861 they are the little sisters to the mighty Mount Everest at 8848 meters.
Our first glimpse of Mount Everest
The deep valley is magnificent.
The river weaves far below carving through the panorama of white peaks as we walk a narrow trail snaking along the side of a steep mountain. The trek has become real. We are high in the Himalayas and one false move can mean catastrophe. It is truly awesome.
You feel as if you can touch heaven here.
The sky is a deep blue and the white peaks reach towards the billowing clouds. The earth is in her glory here and we suddenly feel insignificant. These mountains have lasted an eternity. They are the lords of the land and we are merely visitors.
Dave and Deb in front of Mount Everest
The clouds roll in quickly and we have witnessed the scene that we face ahead. We head back down to Namche Bazar with visions of Everest in our heads. We have seen it and now it seems real.
The rest of the day is spent relaxing, reading and eating chocolate. We explore Namche Bazaar and enjoy shopping in its many shops. The Everest Bakery is a highlight with delicious apple pie and fresh coffee. It is warm and packed and hey, it even has wifi (but we didn’t bring our computer)
We see a lady already suffering from Altitude sickness. She is having her blood pressure taken and heart rate monitored. When we walk back to our guest house we see her staggering being aided by her guide. Her Everest Trekking Adventure has already come to an end. Lets hope ours makes it to the finish line.
It is good to relax because the days ahead are going to be brutal.
More posts on Everest Base Camp Trekking
- Everest Base Camp Aventure – Part 7
- Everest Base Camp Adventure – Part 6
- Everest Base Camp Adventure – Part 5
- Everest Base Camp Adventure – Part 4
- Everest Base Camp Adventure- Part 2
- Everest Base Camp Adventure – Day 1
- Everest Base Camp Adventure – The Arrival
- Packing List for Everest Base Camp Trek
16 Responses to Everest Base Camp Adventure – Part 3
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Ah! The Everest Bakery! I remember eating there. Thanks to you and Dave, I’ve been able to relive this experience. Cheers to you both. And I believe I’ve found a new desktop background
Everest beckons!
.-= Alan´s last blog ..No Regrets: Renaissance Living and a Bucket List =-.
Glad you are enjoying the memories. Did you write about your time at Everest on your blog?
Those photos of Everest are just stunning! I can’t believe that you guys voluntarily hiked more on your day of rest – makes sense though for Canada’s Adventure Couple
.-= Shannon OD´s last blog ..A Little Life & Death…The Carpets of Semana Santa (Holy Week) =-.
Aw thanks Shannon, but like I said to Trisha’s reply…we really didn’t do anything special. A lot of people do acclimatization hikes. We did one for mount Kilimanjaro also. Apparently there isn’t any evidence that this helps, but we were feeling O.K. so we thought it would be a good idea.
As usual, gorgeous photos! Like Shannon I’m completely unsurprised that you guys would hike on a day of rest…..no doubt the fact that you’re in better shape that most people is what’s helping you avoid the altitude sickness. I can’t wait to read more!
.-= Trisha Miller´s last blog ..Ten Tips for Hunting Down Stories on the Road =-.
Hi Trisha and Shannon. We really didn’t do anything extraordinary hiking today. It is believed that it is good to do an acclimatization walk on rest days. A lot of people do it, but there isn’t any evidence that the acclimatization hike does anything to help with adjusting to the altitude. That is why I made a point of saying that you can relax if you want to.
Wow, that scenery is remarkable. I’m sure I would feel insignificant when looking at the Himilayas. That first glimpse of Everest looks spectacular!
.-= Migration Mark´s last blog ..Exciting and Attractive People Playing: The Real Songkran Festival in Thailand =-.
It must have been a very special moment to get the first glimpse of Everest. I am quite jealous of you guys.
Great picts, as always.
Good luck for the days to come!
.-= Maria Staal´s last blog ..Putting Radbod on the Map =-.
Hi Maria. It was special, we were so worried that the clouds were going to roll in, but they didn’t! Yeah:)
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Today I told Randy I wanted to hike Everest. He looked at me like I was crazy. It’s all because of your posts though – it looks so beautiful – I want to go there! Be safe.
.-= Bethany´s last blog ..Somewhere in Time – Grand Canyon, Arizona =-.
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