Everest Base Camp Trek Dispatch
May 8, 2009 – Team Summits Kala Pattar 18,300ft!
The team on the summit of Kala Pattar
It is about 3pm on May 08 and I am calling you from an amazing place! The entire trekking team has climbed all the way up to the summit of Kala Pattar, 18,300 ft. There were 10 of us who started out from Gorak Shep after lunch today. It was Rob, Lida, Calli-Ann, Steve and Dave, accompanied by BAI guides Wally, Ang Temba, Nuru, Min and last but certainly not lease BAI’s special porter Jetta who carried up thermoses of hot tea and cookies for us to enjoy on the top.
Wally with Calli-Ann and Lida, Everest in background
The pray flags are flapping wildly as it is quit windy today. We had spectacular views of Everest the entire way up and of course we were looking across the Khumbu glacier and down at the broad expanse of Everest base camp where we will be tomorrow.
This is a really high point of the trip and for many of us in our lives. Calli-Ann deserves a special mention today, when we landed at the Lukla air strip 9,200 ft to begin this trek she mentioned that was her highest altitude record of her entire life. Now look at what she has done, she is standing at 18,300 ft above sea level and looking great.
We are going to enjoy the view and then head back down, and you can guess what is going to happen when we get back to Gorak Shep, it will be afternoon tea time and popcorn. The crew will have deserved their popcorn this afternoon!