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Title image - BAI takes you to: Everest Basecamp
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Everest Base Camp Trek Dispatch

May 4, 2011 – Rest Day in Pheriche

It was another lovely day in the Khumbu with clear, sunny skies this morning and clouds and fog rolling in later in the day. This is Sara writing today and as it is my first time in the Khumbu, my first time in Nepal actually, I’ve got a lot on my mind. Since it was a rest and acclimatization day today, I had some time to put together my thoughts.

Morning hike to the ridge above Pheriche

Morning hike to the ridge above Pheriche

We had a slightly later breakfast this morning and didn’t have to pack our duffel bags which gave us all a little extra time to stay cozy in our sleeping bags. Last night was the coldest night we’ve had so far, but from what I gathered, most people slept warm and well. After breakfast, a number of us climbed up the ridge behind Pheriche to some nice viewpoints. We were lucky enough to see a number of impressive peaks including Island Peak which Line and Tom will be attempting at the end of next week.

At 3:00 pm today, we were able to attend the Himalayan Rescue Association altitude awareness talk. The medical center is staffed by three volunteer doctors. This year two are from the UK and one is from the US and they treat local people, trekkers and climbers for everything from minor injuries to life threatening altitude ailments. Doug, a young ER doctor from the US, gave us our informative lecture today where we learned all about the symptoms and treatments of acute mountain sickness (AMS), high altitude pulmonary edema (HAPE) and high altitude cerebral edema (HACE). We will all continue to watch for symptoms in ourselves and our fellow trekkers, but based on our trekking plans and the acclimatization that we have done so far, we don’t expect to have any major issues.

So far, my time in Nepal has been indescribable, but I’m going to go ahead and try to describe it for you. From the moment I landed in Lukla, I have felt an amazing peace. The air is so clear and all we can hear is the sigh of the wind, the chime of the yak bells and the calm flow of the Dudh Kosi in the valley below. The children adorably chirp ‘Namaste’ as we pass them while Sherpa porters stride past us bearing impressively large loads. Trekkers and locals alike are quick to flash us sincere smiles as we pass one another on the trail. We always feel welcomed everywhere we go. Everything moves slower here: travel, meal time, the internet.

And the mountains, oh what mountains. Snowcapped, jagged and neck straining, the majesty of the great Himalayas stand before us in their full glory. As the clouds roll in and out, the peaks magically appear and disappear suddenly as if they were never really there at all. Then in the clear morning light, the mountains shine against the blue background of the sky reassuring us of their vast presence.

Each day reveals new sights and experiences as well as new challenges. The air is getting thinner and we move slower as we get higher, but the peaks are getting greater too, so our challenges bring us great rewards. We continue to enjoy our time here and especially the company of our fellow trekkers.

Visiting the Himalayan Rescue Association

Visiting the Himalayan Rescue Association

The altitude lecture was very informative and the illustrations were entertaining.

The altitude lecture was very informative and the illustrations were entertaining.