(Pics are actually from yesterday as the camera batteries were all dead today) Pic #1 - The path down from Gokyo towards Pangla. Stayed at the Snowland in Machermo - NOT a great place to stay. For breakfast I had a bowl of water with some powder in it (it was supposed to be Tsampa porridge). I had to stir it and then ask for more water three times to get it to an edible consistency. Oh well, the joys of food on the trek.
(Pic #2 - our porter/guide enjoying his plate of potatoes - ah, what a meal.)
Today we were off to Namche, a long walk but doable. (The last time we had gone directly from Gokyo to Namche, which is an even longer walk, but also doable, though we did meet two trekkers who did it this year but did not arrive in Namche until after dark.) We were pretty pumped today and really did not stop for any breaks (except to help set right a porter who had been layed low by an over hanging branch knocking his load backwards, and him off of his feet - man those loads are heavy.). Our porter/guide kept asking if we wanted to stop for lunch and we kept saying - lunch in Namche. It was a bit late for lunch but we arrived in Namche at 1:10 after a 7:10 start - so six hours all told.
It felt great to have more oxygen in the lungs again. Even long ups, such as the climb up from Phortse Tenga were done with only a very quick break or two for water. Lot's of energy. It's only the blisters (from Gokyo Ri) slowing us down.(Pic#3: Moon over the mountains at Machermo)
Back in Namche it was time for a hot bucket shower at our favourite SunSite lodge. It was nice to be clean again after being caked in dust for so long. And...after that it was time for some better food again too. That and Sara also scored an orange to help assuage her craving for fruit over the last few days.(Pic #4: Still looking a bit the worse for wear in Namche - even after the showers and food and a camera battery recharge)
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