Kala Pattar Round 2 and EBC

Sun rising over the South Col of Everest

Long day!  We started trudging up Kala Pattar at 4 am in the cold and dark.  Brook was tired and he moved slowly.  Eventually John, Dilli and I picked up the pace to make sure we would make it to the top for sunrise.  Tanka hung with Brook.  The last part required stepping up large rocks.  Once again, the more challenging terrain and the proximity to the top invigorated Brook.  The whole team made it to the highest point on our trek, 18,204 feet, and we enjoyed sunrise over the South Col of Everest together!
- Eydie

Everest Base Camp (EBC)

Not enough sleep, cold, and the really high altitude made the climb extremely difficult for me, way harder than I expected.  Tanka was great on the way up, quietly helping me when I needed it but not really talking too much otherwise.  The view from the top was fantastic!  Everywhere were huge, white Himalayan peaks.  Although it definitely wasn’t our first great view, it was still amazing. 

This afternoon we hiked to Everest base camp.  Mom and Dad weren’t very excited about it but I wanted to go.  I didn’t want to get so close to Everest base camp and not see it.  The walk was pretty long, especially after getting up at 4 am.  It was fun walking along the glacier and hearing it move.  Although the camp itself was nothing special, I wasn’t disappointed because I had already been told not to expect much.  Even though the camp wasn’t particularly beautiful or exciting it was still cool to think that that was the place where people start to climb the highest mountain in the world.  From the camp you can see the Khumbu Ice Fall, the first part of the climb up Everest.  I have recently been reading about how this is the most treacherous part of the climb.  When we got back we were all really tired and went to bed relatively early.

- Brook

We were shocked to find a trekking guide
in our lodge wearing a Dan & Whit's hat!
(general store in Norwich, VT)

On the summit of Kala Pattar