Everest Base Camp Trek Dispatch

April 29, 2012 – Greeting to Family and Friends from Namche Bazaar

This weekend the Berg Adventures office in Canada received Dave and Joanne’s log of the first days of their trek as well as some photos of their trip so far. This material came to us directly from the Panorama Lodge in Namche. It seems that Dave, Joanne, Min and Jaythai are off to a great start. We look forward to continuing to post updates from them as they climb higher.

Thursday, April 26

We are up early in our hotel at Katmandu – ready to leave at 5am. There is a line up, as many people are going to Lukla today. Our flight was late in taking off -- as other groups were sent before us – we left about 7:50am and arrived in Lukla at 8:20am (2840m). The runway is approximately 500ft long and is up hill landing and a right hand turn to the end of the runway. We stop for breakfast in Paradise Lodge – tea and toast, jam. The mountain air is crisp and clean, the scenery absolutely beautiful. We begin our trek – stop to take a picture of Dave and Jetta in front of Star Bucks coffee shop. Lots of traffic – the animals carry packages, guides, porters and trekkers. We stop at 11:00am – at a lodge at Thado Koshigoor for lunch (spaghetti with fresh homemade tomato sauce and cheese - ginger tea and some rest and then on our way to Phakding. We cross about 3 suspended bridges and the one is very high and long. We arrive in Phakding (2610m) at about 2pm. Our lodge is very comfortable and warm with our own bathroom facilities. Showered and ready for supper at about 6pm and then to bed for a good night rest.

Friday, April 27

Morning, we are greeted with ginger tea and have porridge, french toast with coarse sugar for breakfast. It is a beautiful spot, and we spend sometime relaxing and then take pictures with our guides and also with gracious host. Get all or gear together, the porters have already taken our bags, they are ahead of us. We leave Phakding and begin to climb from this valley. Today, we will hike along the Dudh Kosi River and pass many people, some coming down from Namche Bazaar, and some going up. Lot of traffic, sometimes traffice jams with the animals packing the goods, besides all the people. This is the beginning of the really test on your strength and endurance. We meet a young man running – training for the marathon on May 29. We pass many families with gardens by their homes (growing garlic, potatoes, cabbage, swiss chard) which they will take to the market to sell or for the own use. Homes have a unique design and trim around windows and doors painted in blues, greens, reds and yellow. All is kept very clean and neat.

We have our picture taken at the Sagamatha National Park Entrance Gate and continue on. We stop at a small village called Jorale at 11am – beautiful picturesque scene. We leave at about 12 and are on our way to Namche Bazaar (3440m). We come to Larja Bridge – where the two rivers meet – once coming from the glacier and the other from Tibet. We now begin our clim and it is uphill all the way, every step is measured slowly. We pass beautiful scenery – trees with red blossoms very pretty and a welcome site. We can see Namche Bazaar in the distance and is a very welcome site. The landscape is all built on the side of the mountain. As we enter Namche Bazaar, it is amazing the these buildings can be built on a small level piece of land with retainer walls. We are very tired and arrive at our lodge – Panorama Lodge, which has a restaurant and laundry facilities. Our room consists of confortable beds with thick warm quits and our bathroom. We have a patio outside our room and the view is absolutely beautiful overlooking the whole town of Namche Bazaar. We have dinner at about 7pm (tomato soup, yak steak, fresh vegetables and potatoes and dessert is chocolate cake. Our hosts are very gracious and helpful. In the skyline you hear the whirring of the helicopters coming and going carrying supplies for base camp for expeditions or for tours. Time for bed.

Saturday, April 28

We awake at 6am with the sun shining – this will be our first glimpse of Mt Everest. We take a short walk to the National Park above our lodge. We have a beautiful view of Mt. Everest, Ama Dablam and Lhotse. Check out the Museum. Back to the lodge for breakfast (porridge, toast and scramble eggs and coffee made from fresh ground beans. We have some rest time and showers and just enjoy the view. Our guides and hosts have been a blessing to us with all their help and careful attention to our needs.

– Love from Dave and Joanne