May 12 – Mark's Surprise Birthday Party at 16,000 feet

Listen to Audio of Shelley's Call (.wav)

Hi everyone! This is Shelley from Berg Adventures calling you from snowy Lobuche at 4,910 meters.

This morning we left Dingboche with clear skies which allowed us some spectacular views of Makalu, Lhotse, Cholatse and many other peaks that I just can’t remember the names of, cause there are so many here.

This morning, as we were walking towards our lunch stop, we saw this huge avalanche triggered high up on one of the mountains. We watched this avalanche for about minute or so and it was quite an amazing, powerful sight, that we all enjoyed from a safe distance.  

After lunch the clouds actually started to come in and by the time we reached Lobouche it has started to snow and that’s why I am calling snowing Lobouche, because it snows here and it is quite chilly but we are staying nice and toasty warm by the stove on our lodge, everyone is very happy to be nice and warm in the lodge today.

Today is Mark's 45th birthday, and I am sure that his family back home is thinking about him. Wally had a secret meeting with our cook this afternoon and we are going to have a birthday cake for Mark after dinner. My hopes are it is going to be chocolate but at 16,000 feet I am sure that anything will taste great.

So, From Lobuche, our team says “ Hello”  to everyone back home and we are all doing great. Talk to you later!