Everest Base Camp Trek Dispatch
April 30, 2011 – Rhododendrons and Rain on a Beautiful Walk to Thame, Part I
Saturday is Market Day in Namche. We woke to find clouds still hanging above town. After taking tea and coffee in our lodge rooms we finished packing. Line and Tom were the first ones to have their duffel bags sitting on the step in front of their room, ready to be loaded onto the zopkios. Nim Phuti and two of her friends from Khunde load these animals each morning that we move and start up the trail while we are having breakfast.
This morning we agreed to meet at the Namche Bakery after visiting the market. We found the BAI guides waiting for us and we started off at 9:30 am. We climbed out of Namche and headed west toward Thame. Thame is at 3800 meters/12,500 feet, so it will be an important next step for us as we acclimatize on our journey to Everest Base Camp.
Our view up the valley toward Thame as we started
The sky was wet above us as we began to walk. The trail was beautiful, flowers, Buddhist mani walls, evergreen trees and the rushing waters of the Bhote Kosi river below us.
We stopped for lunch in the village of Thamo. After lunch we continued until we reached the short but spectacular bridge that spans a narrow slot through which the waters of the Bhote Kosi rush. Just up the hill from the bridge we found ourselves in the village of Thame, with Sherpa houses spread out around potato fields and yaks grazing in the misty mountain weather. The warm fire in the dining room of our lodge was inviting.
Soon after we arrived, an old friend of Berg Adventures, Ang Passang Sherpa, arrived. Ang Passang lost his fingers to frostbite years ago on a climbing expedition, but this has not deterred him from his craft; he paints vivid colourful Thanka’s on canvas which depict Sherpa life and Buddhist symbolism. Several of us bought painting from Passang.
Tomorrow is going to be a big day for us. Doc Martin and Nuru went ahead of us to the Sherpa village of Khunde. They will be waiting for us, in Khumjung. We hope to visit the Khunde Hospital, the Hillary School as well as the Khumjung Monastery. Tonight just before we sat down for dinner the top of Thamserku appeared through the clouds. It reminded us that there are more great peaks up there somewhere, perhaps we will even get a view of Everest soon.
Osvaldo, Sonam, Mingma and Min waiting at the Bakery, ready to begin trekking
We said farewell to a cloudy Namche.
Mathes hitting the trail
Bob and Dennis at the first viewpoint above town
Left: We couldn’t help but notice how color coordinated Jackie was, even her ear buds match! Right: Paul was excited to begin a day on the trail.
The Rhododendrons along the trail were spectacular.
Hiking through the village of Thamo
“Om Mani Padme Om”, we pass the repetitive prayers carved in rocks all along the way.