Local time: 03 April 18:45
Location: Phakding
Altitude: 2601m
Weather: Sunny until 15:00, then cloudy.
Hi Everyone, It’s Paul coming to you from Phakding in the Khumbu. There is lots that can go wrong with getting all our gear transported, but everything seemed to go well today.
Off to the airport
This morning we woke up at 5am and began a mad rush to get our gear in bags, down a quick breakfast of muesli and chapatis, load all the bags into the bus and get to the airport. The airport was very busy and there appeared to be a lot of people helping out with the luggage weighing and check-in process. To us it looked chaotic and we were nervously watching our bags to try and make sure that they all ended up the right flight. In the end it became too tricky to watch, so we just had to trust the system. Just like the traffic on the street; it is very confusing to us, but it works. All our gear turned up at Lukla a couple of hours later, much to my relief.
Trekking to Phakding
It was an easy day today, walking gently downhill from Lukla to Phakding. We passed a number of small villages and the Ghat monastery, with its numerous prayer wheels. I noticed that there are already some green crops in the fields this time – onion, wheat, cabbage, and what looks to me like bok choy. We are only two weeks later than last year, and the crops are quite advanced, so perhaps they are having a warmer year.
Sampling the delights of the Lukla bakery
Tim, Damien, Meagan, Rudy and I walked over to the Lukla Bakery and enjoyed some great apple pie and chocolate cake. I remember last year after a few weeks at base camp wishing that I could have some more of these great cakes, so I thought I would stock up now.
Getting to know the other team members better
Although we have been bumping into each other whilst on numerous gear shopping expeditions in Thamel, we hadn’t all been together as a group. The waiting at the airport and flight in, plus the few hours of trekking that we have done today provided a good opportunity to get to know each other better. It looks like a great group of people.
Sorry about updating late last night, but we were just so busy. We enjoyed a great meal as a guest of Tim’s friend, but consequently we didn’t get home until late which meant I was still sorting gear at 2am.
Tim and Damien are having their first experience in a lodge and they have remarked that its exceeding their expectations. The plan is to go to Namche tomorrow, which involves tackling the Namche hill, and should be a memorable experience.
Dinner tonight is garlic soup, momos and fried rice.
Cheers,
Paul
Hi Paul
It looks like “so far so good”. Thank goodness all the gear turned up at Lukla! Btw, are you sleeping in your tent along the river this year or are you also in a lodge with Tim and Damien?
Stay healthy!
MC
p.s. Great photos! When Lakpa Nuru speaks, people listen! Also, great shot looking out of the plane onto the Lukla airstrip.
Hello Paul
here i am, the island girl writing from the flatlands of Florida….and enjoying once again the stories.. wishing i could be there….but today i got a nice surprise… i have a coworker that just came back from a trip to india and kathmandu and took a tour flying over Everest. She know what a fan i am of everest and all it’s glory, and she knows i follow every minute of what goes on the mountain, so she brought me a sherpa hat and a coaster from RumDoodle Restaurant. That means now i can enjoy the stories and feel part of it wearing my hat while reading and i’ll be making a toast, raising my coaster to you when you come back down and get to sign your name on the signature wall of RumDoodle, cheers pal….
Am thinking of you guys as you walk up the Namche hill. If you can make that one you’ll get to BC without a worry!!
We had Amelia’s birthday dinner tonight and missed you all.
lol to you three boys.
Dad and Mare
Is my brother, Steve Giesecke, with your group? If so, please greet him for us, and I will create an account so I can follow your trip more closely.
thanks for the info and best wishes,
Alice Giesecke Johnson
Greetings all, everyone is getting tuned in to the start of your trip here (Windham).
PS. Tim, sent sms through a different Thuraya link – hope you got it.
GOOD LUCK!
As some of the other visitors have already asked this, could you tell us who is in your group? How many of you are trying to climb Everest?:)
Thanks for all the info and lovely pictures,
All my best
Mira
Hi Paul,
It’s been a year already since Chris and I got engaged in Gorak Shep, so went out last night for dinner at the Nepalese Kitchen here in Sydney to celebrate married life. The food was actually great, we’ll have to go there when you and Fiona come up to visit.
Anyway, needless to say we’re thinking of you and the boys. I guess you’ll be in Naaamche by the time you read this, just kicking back at the bakeries. Hope the walk up the hill was ok and you’re all feeling fine with the jump in altitude, and basically having lots of fun. We’re currently enjoying going through all our professional wedding photos, there’s lots of great ones of you that we’ll pass on when you get back. Amazingly, we’re not all bright red and sweaty in the shots. If you start feeling cold soon, just remember how hot it was at Apollo Bay that day!
It’s been great following your activities in Kathmandu and the start of the walk. Hope you’re all settling well into the rhythm of trekking life. Can’t wait to see what each new day brings you all. Bridge
How was the flight into Lukla? Should I take loads of anti-nausea pills?
I’m so excited now that you guys are really on the trail. I can picture every mani stone and suspension bridge, and I can hear the tinkle of yak bells and heavy gasping of trekkers climbing the Namche Hill. Oh, what a magical place the Khumbu is! I love hearing all the details of the trek, as it helps me visualize and re-live it all over again. Best of luck to you all, and happy acclimatization.
Shanda in the Sierra Nevadas
Good luck this year Paul. I’ll be reading every step of the way!
Wade Wallace