Relative Something

April 10,  Tengboche – Phortse (12,460 ft.)

We descend through the forest to the Dudh Kosi River, cross a bridge above the white water torrent and lunch among the red cedars in the village of Pangboche. From there, we hike along a spectacular, slope-hugging trail thousands of feet above Tengboche and the river, then descend several hundred feet to Phortse and the lodge of our sirdar, Lhakpa.

So, after all that hiking, you may notice that we will camp for the second of 3 days at an elevation in the mid-12,000s. Can you say, “acclimatization?” Let’s hope my body is accommodating the plan.

April 9,  Namche – Tengboche (12,670 ft.)

The trail descends to the Dudh Kosi River with spectacular views of the peaks of Ama Dablam and Kantega as well as the more distant Everest and Lhotse. We cross the river at the village of Phunki Thanga, with its giant prayer wheels and then groves of rhododendron, to the storied Tengboche Monastery with head-on views of the Everest massif. We camp near the monastery.

I’m thinkin’, “Spectacular!” I bet you are thinking I should take some pictures here…

April 8,  Namche Bazaar.

Our first day of acclimatization, easing our bodies into an altitude more than two miles above sea level. We have the day at leisure to enjoy the social and bustling market at the climbing center of the Everest Himalayas.

I’ll see how many folks I can meet that have plans to summit the big one. I hope that is all the closer I get to the motivation to climb Everest; just to stand next to it and maybe shake the hand of someone who is consumed by it.

April 7,  Namche Bazaar (11,300 feet)

The first full day deep into the Himalayas, into Sagarmatha Park through forests of rhododendrons and over an airy but safe bridge offering our first glimpse of Everest.

I’ll say hello to the goddess-mother for you all.

April 6, Kathmandu-Lukla-Tok Tok (8,800 ft.).

This is the day we fly by Twin Otter (or helicopter) to Lukla at 9,440 feet. We are to dress for trekking in the morning, because when we land, they will wisk away our duffel bags and the trek begins. We meet our Sherpa companions and head DOWN the trail some 1,800 feet to Phakding and move upwards again to camp at Tok Tok or Benkar at 8,800 feet near the entrance to Sagarmath National Park.

Now we’re getting somewhere. Visualize us all completely free of blisters on our feet!

April 5,  Kathmandu.

Full day of Kathmandu. Beyond a brief afternoon meeting for a trek briefing by our provider, Tiger Mountain, the day is ours to explore whatever interests us.

I wonder what kind of trouble I can get into…

April 4,  Kathmandu.

After breakfast, we get back to the airport for a morning departure from Bangkok for a flight to Kathmandu, Nepal. We get processed by immigration for a visa and pass through Customs to hopefully meet a representative from Tiger Mountain trekking company, our outfitter for the adventure. They will transport us to the premiere 5-star deluxe Yak and Yeti Hotel. We’ll have the afternoon and evening free.

Will I have enough energy to make any use of the freedom?

Did my baggage make it all the way with me?

Let’s hope I’m already getting the hang of handwriting in my journal so I’ll have some stories to tell about the wonderful experience I had flying to Nepal.

It should be warm where I am today. I’ll be wondering if it is snowing in April in back in Minnesota…

April 3,  Bangkok.

We are to arrive in Bangkok, Thailand at about 11:40 p.m. and check into an airport hotel.

Makes me dizzy just thinking about it. I did it! I’m gone from home and have flown across the ocean. But I’m not really at my destination yet, am I? I wonder where my baggage is right now…

At the time this post is being published, I am to be boarding an airplane bound for Los Angeles, California. No turning back. Be careful what you wish for, you just might get it. The trek I’ve been contemplating for a long time, is underway, “The Dominion of Everest” with Jim Klobuchar’s Adventures travel club.

For the next 3 weeks you will be able to track my progress here by automated posts I’ve scheduled in advance. I will provide a description from our itinerary, plotting where we expect to be, and an occasional thought or two, to help you track where I will be until I return to post ‘live’ again toward the end of April.

Day 1, April 2

Depart from Minneapolis headed for Los Angeles. Depart Los Angeles on Thai Airways.

This will be a challenge for me, to not be able to be very physically active for such a prolonged stretch. Luckily, I sleep just fine on airplanes. We cross the international dateline over the Pacific.

No foolin’! Happy April. Here is a view of the region where my trek will take place. We fly into Lukla and then off we tread like little ants meandering along the valley toward the north where we ultimately hope to reach Gokyo Ri and take in the glorious view of Everest to our east. I am hoping for clear weather that day! Teams planning to summit Everest will share our route up to Namche Bazaar. Eventually, they go their way, and we go ours. That’s ok with me.

It all commences tomorrow. I’m going to have a fabulous adventure! I’ll tell you all about it when I get back. Remember, you can follow along each step of the way because I’ve created posts that will automatically appear each day to reveal our itinerary and provide highlights. Take care of things while I’m gone. Be nice to one another. Smile when you think of me.