Local time: 06 April 19:20
Location: Namche Bazaar
Altitude: 3400m
Weather: Fine, then fog 10C
Hi Everyone,
Its Paul at Namche Bazaar. We have spent the day walking around the local area, visiting the Everest View hotel and the village of Khumjung.
Everest View hotel
This morning after breakfast of porridge and toast we walked up the hill past Shyanboche to the Everest View hotel. We weren’t hopeful of seeing Everest as the clouds were rolling in fast, but we were lucky enough to see it for about 15 minutes. This was a real treat. Everest doesn’t look the highest mountain when compared to Nuptse, but its very distinctive. I remember last time how daunting this view looked when we were here last year, and it still looks terrifying. Everest could be seen with its dark black rock jutting into the screaming jetstream winds, creating a huge banner cloud in its wake. We posed for a group photo before heading down to Khumjung.
Visiting Khumjung
Two of our Sherpas Tshiring Thundu, Mingma Nuru are from Khumjung as is our base camp manager P Temba and it was a great opportunity to visit their houses as their guests. They seemed to take delight in showing us around and introducing us to their families. We enjoyed a good lunch and bumped into Gerlinde Kaltanbrunner who is trekking up here before heading off the climb Dhalagiri. Gerlinde has climbed the most 8000m mountains of any woman.
After lunch we visited the Hillary High school and saw the local kids playing cricket. It was a very animated game, although I don’t know how they could see the ball in the fog. They looked pretty good.
Porters on strike
Our porters have gone on strike (they have heard from porters heading down from base camp that its cold up there now), so our expedition gear is stuck in Namche, but we are arranging some yaks to take the gear in from here. We are not too worried at this stage, because it only takes the yaks 3-4 days to get to base camp, but we will take another 7-8 days. This should allow plenty of time to get the gear there.
Your Messages:
Hi Liane, That’s great that you guys are up to the same point as us in your book. Meagan is from Sudbury, but currently lives in Ottawa.
Hi Inna et al, Your are half right. The masks are for two purposes. The first is to stop the dust, which is both irritating, but also can carry many diseases. The second reason is to try to moisten and warm the air that you breath. Breathing cold dry air is thought to be a contributor to the Khumbu cough. Last year I got a respiratory infection, so I am trying hard to avoid this again. I have a special mask from psolar which is specifically designed to warm the air that you breathe, but it doesn’t filter dust, so I will begin to wear this above BC. Hopefully this will work well. See my supporters page for more info on this mask. We labeled the three of us left to right.
Hi MC – A standard load for porter is 28-30 kilos, but sometimes they carry more in exchange for a higher payment.
Hi JF, great to hear from you.
Hi Mira, Loved your quote – we really have a great team here and everyone seems to be getting along well. We passed your messages onto Atilla. He has had a few problems with getting his updates working, but I think he has it sorted now.
MC – you might have given us an idea for a photo later on!
Hi Chris, There is significantly less Naaamche this year. We have been really getting into the lemon tea, but could get sick of it. Enjoy your hiking.
Hi Liz, You are going to love the Rhod trees here – they are amazing.
Off to Tengboche tomorrow, Paul.
It is Corinna and Katrin from Austria. Katrin is the doughter from Rudy an Corinna is his wife.
We do not know whether it´s possible to leave a messaqe to Rudy. But we would be pleased, if someone could say him that we think of him, we love him and that we already miss him so much.
By the way, we wish naturally much success to the entire team and all the best and good luck.
Thank´s a lot for your assistance, and especially for this great homepage!!!
Best wishes
Katrin und Corinna
Paul and Fiona,
This is Lhakpa’s “Mommy” from Texas. Thank you for being diligent in keeping your website updated every day. We enjoy reading it and appreciate your taking time to do it. Thank you. Billie
This website just keeps getting better and better….the daily updates by all the trekkers and climbers make for fastinating reading and to now be able to pinpoint exactly where Paul and company are is truly amazing. A big thank you from all of the armchair travellers. Stay safe.
Hi Paul, Tim, Dame and team
Glad you were able to see Mt. Everest from the Everest Hotel before the clouds rolled in. I remember the photo you took last year from that spot. Beautiful.
Interesting that some of the porters are on strike. I am surprised that they went on strike because it is cold up at BC. Well, you can always count on the yaks!
The best,
MC
p.s. Always happy to help out with a photo opportunity!
Are you and your husband from Austria?…well, you are pretty close to Hungary:) Attila is from Budapest, and I am crossing my fingers for him. Paul was so kind to pass my msg to him earlier I guess he will find a way to give your regards for your husband. Is he climbing up till the summit? or just till the EBC? I must say this is an international team really:) climbers from Australia, USA and Canada, as well as from Europe and Asia:) well done;)
best regards
Mira
Thanks for the google earth path to Mt. Everest. We have been able to track Pat’s steps as he nears Base Camp (and yours) and have enjoyed your pictures. Pat says you have helped him tremendously. Will you two meet at Base Camp and climb it on the same day? Good luck, you are in our thoughts and prayers too. Stay safe and say Hi to Pat when you see him. Michele and Bill
Hi Gang,
Tim – sounds like your training has done the trick. You’re going to really earn that $10 pair of sandals after you have hiked all the way to base camp and back down with them. Was that your first view of the Mt. Everest? I’ve heard it is hard to tell it from the clouds it is so massive – I’ll be interested to see what your take on that is as you get closer to it.
Paul – The integration of Google Earth into this forum is very cool!
Best of luck with the hiking!
Andy
Hi Paul Tim and Dame
We race each other to the computer every day to find out how it is all going- you write so well and we love following it all!
Google Earth is great- it makes it so much more realistic and actually shows how steep it is for you.
The fog gives that area such a different perspective of it all- it was so sunny last year.
I don’t really understand why the porters have gone on strike….do they feel they should be paid more if it is colder?
Hope the Easter Bunny visits tonight or are all the eggs with the porters??????
Rosemary and Dave were here last night and say hi to you and Mama sends her love and says “Tell them to be careful!”
Lots of love
Dad and Mary
Hi Guys,
This Google Earth is the best way ever to climb to the top of Everest!! Especially for a Preggie Belly! It really is amazing! I am a wee bit envious that we aren’t there for the trek in this year, but I am sure our pending arrival will be well worth the sacrifice! We had our 20 week scan the other day and all looks good. We still seem to think it’s a boy, but resisted the temptation to find out for sure. Definitely feeling little movements now, this is weird and exciting at the same time. Getting bigger and bigger every day…not sure how much is the baby and how much is the Easter eggs!! Hope Zac doesn’t mind, but we are still pretty keen on his name. Just hope if it is a boy he isn’t quite as naughty as your Zachy!
“Keep on keeping on†(that’s my quote for the week! *wink*)……
Jac
Hi Paul, Tim and Dame,
Hope you guys had a great trek today and are now starting to relax into the rhythym of it all. I can’t believe it was that foggy given the perfect weather we had last year.
Went for a ride to Mordy this morning and it was a perfect autumn day (Paul, did you miss your Saturday Portsea ride?). I’m just about to head down to Blairgowrie for a couple of nights with Jacqueline and Leah now. Mum got us tickets to a big, all-day concert down there tomorrow and I’m really looking forward to it.
Brad and I have also now started work on the http://www.womow.com.au website – its going well, but its a very steep learning curve (my new best friends are the css help forums!). We also found out that we’re through to the final round in the business plan competition. I think its down to only 3 now so we’re pretty excited about that. I’ll be away when we have to do the final pitch though so it’s all in Brad’s hands now. (Well not quite, we need to resubmit the plan based on their feedback so I’ll do that before I leave.)
Enjoy the last trees as I think they disappear pretty soon…
Lots of love,
Fiona
Great to see you all together (almost all of you). Thanks for posting this nice teamshot:) seeing the Hungarians by your side. You have quite an international team, Paul: climbers from Australia, USA, Canada, Europe and Asia as well… this is really makes this Earth such a small world:) I am hooked Myeverest and Google Earth as well as Fiona;)
mira..
Yes, we are from austria, nearly vienna.
My husband is climbing up to the summit! That´s why we are really concerned about him… I´m sure you understand 😉 You can see him on the team-photo they called him Rudy… I´ve seen Attila on the photo as well!
Is Attila also climbing the summit? At any rate I´m crossing my fingers also for Attila!
best regards
Corinna
P.S.: Sorry for my English – it´s a long time ago…. 😉
Wow, you are just 2 hours drive from me…:) Attila is also climbing up to the summit so understand on what you are going through… pretty well;) sitting here and watching them from home … I am managing Attila’s expedition website and also trying to share some more information about the other climbers with whom he is climbing together and with whom he meets along his way. Therefore I have already checked your husband:) also put his name on our website;) If you would like to share concerns, please feel free to email me. marianncsikesz@gmail88.com to (email me remove 88) (wont be worried with you English that is excellent)
again Mira….
It´s nice to hear again from you!!
Thanks for your understanding! Does Attila go with or without oxygen on the summit? Rudi goes without, that´s one more reason why I´m “soo” concerned …
You live only two hours far away from Austria, perhaps you would like to meet me? At the half way, maybe?!
The same applies naturally also to you! Whenever you want, or whenever you´re concerned, pleas contact me!! rudiscorinna@gmx.at
Rudi is calling me as often as possible, so by the next time I will tell him about
our contact and Attila!!!
Nice to hear from you!! Until soon…
Corinna
He is going to climb with oxygen – hope he won’t change his mind and the most important issue will be to reach the summit in safety. More in email:)
Mira
So I finally made it to the website and saw all of the updates. “Good on Ya” all of you. This adventure seems very exciting and its interesting to see where I will be in less than 20 days time. (wow that is soon) Anyways, best of luck to you. Everyday is just one day closer, and it seems that you’re going at pretty well, even with the minimial training (cough cough, Tim). also tim, bring inna some yak cheese back. keep going you ozzies and be safe . . cheers 🙂
love, Julia