Another update te

Date: 4/10

Local time: 5:15pm

Location: Dingbouche

Elevation gain: 590m/1935ft

Route taken: Deboche to Dingboche

Weather: Sunny all day, 5 degrees C

Time: 6hr 15 min with a 1 hour lunch break

Highlight of the day: We had a closer view of Mt. Everest before leaving the lodge 

Challenge: we are now over 4,000m/13,100ft

We had breakfast as we have done each morning and finished packing up our kit. We had a beautiful sunny day this morning and it was a welcome sight. We set off up a gentle slope further into the Khumbu valley through low woods with mountain tops peaking over the trees. 

As the tree line slowly receded we reached Shomare for our lunch. Our view has now shifted from trees to low evergreen shrubbery and rocky outcrops. 

It was a slow and steady elevation gain up to Dingboche with an elevation of 4410m/14,400ft. We are lodging in a small village nestled in a valley surrounded by large peaks. Most notably Ama Dablam which is 6856m/22,500ft and more of a challenge to climb than Everest according to the experienced mountaineers. 

We enjoyed an early afternoon tea in the upstairs sunroom at the lodge and later had dinner all together. We then took an early bedtime as most were tired and looking to get some extra sleep in. 

Date: 4/11

Local time: 3:58pm

Location: Dingboche 

Elevation gain: N/A

Route taken: Followed the Imja Khola River up towards the Lhotse glacier. 

Weather: Sunny and 7 degrees C

Time: 6 hours with 45 minute lunch

Highlight: We had 180 degree views of Ama Dablam

We headed further up the valley for an acclimatization hike to Chhukhung which is an elevation gain of 320m/1049ft. Along the gentle uphill slope we approached wide views of Lhotse, Island Peak and Peak 38. 

We had lunch at a popular tea house in Chhukhung before heading back down the valley to return to our lodge for the night. 

Date: 4/12

Local time: 4:19pm

Elevation gain: 500m/1640ft

Route taken: Dingboche to Dughla to Lobuche 

Weather: Sunny and 4 degrees C

Time: 6:15 with a 1 hour lunch

Highlight: Visited the memorials to those that have died on Everest

Quote: Go slow, then go slower 

Our trek today took us along the side a gentle sloping mountain above the Lobuche Khola. The wide path allowed for the group to spread out some and enjoy the passing scenery. We enjoyed yet another sunny day in the mountain and the sun gave a lot of contrast the to snow on the peaks. 

We stopped for lunch in the remote village of Dughla which is a very popular lunch stop on the way to Lobuche, even for a local donkey. The donkey was begging for food at the outdoor tables and actually eating of people finished plates of food. 

After lunch we started up the steep accent towards Lobuche. This is were we took things very slow as the air is getting thin up here. Go slow, then go slower was a very true quote. You needed to breathe slower than your steps as to not get attitude sickness. At the top of the accent were the stone memorials for all those that have perished on Everest. 

After a brief stop at the stone memorials it was a slight up and down walk into the Khumbu glacial plain, which is a valley surrounded by tall peaks. We arrived to our lodge shortly after 2:00pm where we all have been relaxing and acclimating to the thin air. 

Tomorrow it will be a short 3 hour walk to Gorak Shep which is the last stop before Everest Base Camp. The excitement of reaching EBC is helping us get through the slight effects of the altitude