Berg Adventures 2013 Everest Expedition Dispatch
March 28, 2013 – Lukla to Namche: Some Photos of Our First Two Days of Trekking
Before we left our lodge in Lukla on Wednesday morning, the owner Dawa Phuti, presented Steve and the other climbers with a sumje blessing. This will be the first of many such blessing that our climbers are likely to receive along the trail to Everest.
Bright and early Wednesday morning, the team ready to leave Paradise lodge and begin our journey by foot.
It is not as simple as just walking out of Lukla however, there are a world of distractions on the way out of town.
Starbucks of Lukla
Todd, who is the only of our climbing or trekking members to have visited the Khumbu before, found great photo inside Starbucks and showed us some of the villages and landmarks that we would be visiting along the trail to Everest.
The wireless is free at Starbucks. Daniel, and Katie called their mom and Cassidy said hi. Cassidy was also able to call her mom on skype.
Meanwhile Nim Phuti and Sona were starting down the trail with our loads on their "Zopkipos" crossbred yak and cattle.
The gateway from Lukla to the Dudh Kosi River and the Khumbu beyond. We aer on our way.
One of our first bridges
Daniel ready to cross a bridge
We take frequent "tea breaks" at lodges along the way. We usually enjoy drinking "hot lemon". Katie Branham and Katie Ross are ready to hit the trail again after a hot lemon break.
You can buy virtually anything along the trail to Everest Base Camp. A lot of people do not know that a female yak is called a nak, therefore it is "nak cheese", not "yak cheese".
Howard waves before taking off across yet another bridge.
These boys were crossing the other way with a baby yak.
Our team moving along the trail
On Thursday, as we got closer to Namche Bazar we saw porter carrying loads to the Saturday market.
We were especially glad to see several Everest Beer porters carrying their goods ahead of us toward Namche.
Zopkios moving across the final bridge below the Namche Hill
Midway up the Namche Hill, we found this woman selling oranges as refreshment to trekkers. They were very juicy and they hit the spot.
Howard loves being in the mountains
Left: Cassidy taking a break in the sun just below Namche;
Right: Katie stopped for a break just below Namche
We arrived in Namche about 1:00 PM. It was a little bit cloudy, but still beautiful and it was a great feeling to have made it.
Katie and Steve Love being in Namche