Note: This post was not properly published and I didn't notice...for 2 years. It is slightly out of order.
Well, after 2 solid days of trekking, I finally got to see what I had come to see.
I had an early breakfast as usual and sorted out the route I would be taking for the day hike. Funny how much easier it is to wake up at 7:30 to go see Mt. Everest than it is to go sell bags.
The path I took brought me up above Namche from a different angle. It was cool to see how they have really carved this village out of the side of a mountain.
After a short but steep walk, I finally got to look up at the tip of Kangtega, the first of the big peaks. The Yak however was much more interested in looking up at me instead.
And then, after another half an hour of heading up, there it was. My first view (from the ground) of Mt. Everest.
It really is quite stunning. Pictures just can not do it justice. I think the most amazing part is that, first you fly up a few thousand feet, then you walk, then you walk more, then you walk up a steeper slope than you have ever walked up in your life, then you walk up a few thousand feet in elevation again, and then finally you arrive at 12,500 ft above sea level (Higher than the majority of the highest points in the lower US) , and you look up and YOU AREN'T EVEN HALF WAY UP! Mountains much smaller than Everest still TOWER above you. Talk about feeling small.
Then of course we went up a bit more a found the Everest View Hotel. This hotel was built by the Japanese and holds the world record for highest fully functional hotel in the world at 12,468 ft above sea level. It certainly lives up to its name.
The nice Italian women, who was doing the same hike as me, and I stopped to have a cup of tea at the hotel (since everything else cost at a minimum, mortaging the soul of your first born child).
Our trek then took us to a village called Khumjung. It was a quite village settled in a valley surrounded by massive peaks in every direction.
Sir Edmond Hillary and his charity have had quite an impact here. There is a school and hospital run by locals and volunteers from all over the world. We stopped in to say hello and make a little donation, but unfortunately didn't have enough time to participate much.
There is also an impressive monetary who's claim to fame is the possession of a "Genuine Yettie Skull". For a small donation you can take a peak, but no photos are allowed. Yettie or not, the monetary is colorful and beautifully decorated.
After a lovely lunch of Nyak Cheese sandwich and Tomato soup in a beautiful little garden, the clouds rolled in.
The rest of our hike down we were quite literally walking on/in clouds. I did spot a genuine Yak though (not a Yak/Cow Hybrid as is much more common here).
Well, after 2 solid days of trekking, I finally got to see what I had come to see.
I had an early breakfast as usual and sorted out the route I would be taking for the day hike. Funny how much easier it is to wake up at 7:30 to go see Mt. Everest than it is to go sell bags.
The path I took brought me up above Namche from a different angle. It was cool to see how they have really carved this village out of the side of a mountain.
After a short but steep walk, I finally got to look up at the tip of Kangtega, the first of the big peaks. The Yak however was much more interested in looking up at me instead.
And then, after another half an hour of heading up, there it was. My first view (from the ground) of Mt. Everest.
It really is quite stunning. Pictures just can not do it justice. I think the most amazing part is that, first you fly up a few thousand feet, then you walk, then you walk more, then you walk up a steeper slope than you have ever walked up in your life, then you walk up a few thousand feet in elevation again, and then finally you arrive at 12,500 ft above sea level (Higher than the majority of the highest points in the lower US) , and you look up and YOU AREN'T EVEN HALF WAY UP! Mountains much smaller than Everest still TOWER above you. Talk about feeling small.
Then of course we went up a bit more a found the Everest View Hotel. This hotel was built by the Japanese and holds the world record for highest fully functional hotel in the world at 12,468 ft above sea level. It certainly lives up to its name.
The nice Italian women, who was doing the same hike as me, and I stopped to have a cup of tea at the hotel (since everything else cost at a minimum, mortaging the soul of your first born child).
Our trek then took us to a village called Khumjung. It was a quite village settled in a valley surrounded by massive peaks in every direction.
Sir Edmond Hillary and his charity have had quite an impact here. There is a school and hospital run by locals and volunteers from all over the world. We stopped in to say hello and make a little donation, but unfortunately didn't have enough time to participate much.
There is also an impressive monetary who's claim to fame is the possession of a "Genuine Yettie Skull". For a small donation you can take a peak, but no photos are allowed. Yettie or not, the monetary is colorful and beautifully decorated.
After a lovely lunch of Nyak Cheese sandwich and Tomato soup in a beautiful little garden, the clouds rolled in.
The rest of our hike down we were quite literally walking on/in clouds. I did spot a genuine Yak though (not a Yak/Cow Hybrid as is much more common here).
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