My trip to Mount Everest, Nepal in 2010 – part 9
Today was the day we trek to the Everest Base Camp (5,364m/17,598ft).
I was very excited to be on the last leg to the EBC after over a week on the road now.
My luggage Yak was carrying my peanuts and Pringles supplies.
The path to the EBC was well trodden with the many tourists whom came here.
It was very cold and the air was thin, I had to walk very slowly because of the thin air.
Contouring along the valley side, the trail leads on to the moraine of the Khumbu Glacier and becomes quite vague, weaving between mounds of rubble.
All around us was frozen ice.
The trek was slow.
Eventually Everest came into view.
I asked my Sherpa guide to take a photo of me against Everest.
We began to see the Khumbu Icefall.
As we got closer we saw the tents that made up EBC.
After about 3 hours we will eventually reach base camp near the foot of the Khumbu Icefall.
I was almost at EBC after ten days on the go. Find out tomorrow in the last installment of my travel blog on how I became the FIRST cuddly toy to conquer Everest and set a record for cuddly toys achievement.
To be continued….
My trip to Mount Everest, Nepal in 2010 – part 8
From Lobuche we trek to the lodge at Gorak Shep (5,180m/17,126ft), the site of the 1953 expedition’s base camp.
Overall altitude gain today is 240m.
My luggage Yak was keeping up with my fast pace.
Here we have astonishing views over the Himalayas.
I was glad it was sunny but it was freezing!
Eventually we saw the Khumbu Icefall where Everest Base Camp is just situated off.
We kept going heading for the lodge for the night in the small trekkers village of Gorak Shep.
Even though the trekking lodges at Gorak Shep are basic, in recent times more modern amenities have become available, such as satellite high-speed Internet access and a shop selling ‘Mars Bars’ etc….
This was to be our final acclimatization stop before trekking to Everest Base Camp and we were heading out tomorrow morning for our final leg of our trek!
I was excited.
To be continued….
My trip to Mount Everest, Nepal in 2010 – part 7
Today we were to trek to Lobuche (4,940m/16,207ft) and is about five hours bringing us close to our ultimate goal!
Overall altitude gain today is 490m.
The scenery was changing each day and by now there was no vegetation at all.
I kept going with the help of my porters whom carried me up when I got tired.
Tea houses were dotted regular along the route. Obviously Mt. Everest cater to the tourists now.
We began to see the icefall at the base of Mt. Everest.
I was so tired after a week of trekking now.
The clouds dropped down by late afternoon and the temperature was dropping.
After a few hours the track eventually leads to a small cluster of tea houses pleasantly situated at Lobuje.
My backpack was heavy and the thin air made it harder for me to carry. I was glad that I had my guides, porters and Yak.
Tomorrow we were to trek to the last building before Everest Base Camp.
To be continued….
My trip to Mount Everest, Nepal in 2010 – part 6
Today we were to climb above the tree-line and trek approximately six hours covering the distance of eight kms to Dingboche (4,410m/14,465ft). Our overall altitude gain today is 600m.
Dingboche is a good location for acclimatisation, prior to our ascent up the upper section of the Khumbu Valley.
Contouring up the valley side, we will re-cross the river and turn up the Imja Valley to reach the picturesque farming village of Dingboche.
This village was at an altitude of 4,400 metres above sea level and yet the villagers were using the barren landscape for farming.
It was late afternoon when we got here and the clouds were getting very low.
Lucky for us, we had telephoned ahead and arranged rooms for us to keep us warm and dry for the night.
We had planned for two nights in the village.
I went to bed early to get my energy up for the next day.
The next day was very sunny!
Today is another acclimatisation day. We take a day hikes to Amadablam Base Camp and back to Dingboche.
The hike will also serve as good acclimatisation training.
Eventually we got to Amadablam Base Camp, the views were stunning.
I headed back to the village for a good night rest.
To be continued….
My trip to Mount Everest, Nepal in 2010 – part 5
After my blessing by the monks, I now knew Buddha was watching over me.
Today we trek for about seven hours to Phortse Gaon (3810 m). This village is home to a number of Sherpas who have reached Everest’s summit.
I had to drink more water now as it prevented us from going down with Altitude Mountain Sickness (AMS). Toilets were dotted about along the path but somewhat basic. I don’t think that the original mountaineers such as Edmond Hillary had such facilities provided for them when they did this journey over fifty years ago.

I was not happy at the standards of the public toilets here. I must write a letter of complaint to the Nepal Tourism Authority.
We were still following the Dudh Kosi river.
It was to be a long trek before we get to our village for the night.
We were leaving the tree lines and vegetation was getting less. The scenery became barren landscape but pretty.
After a steep climb we made it to Phortse Gaon.
I was glad Auntie L. knitted me a wooly scarf and hat just before I left for Nepal. It was freezing here.
I had a good look around this village before dinner.
I was ready for the next day trek but I knew from now on it was going to be very cold.
To be continued….
My trip to Mount Everest, Nepal in 2010 – part 4
Today we had a full day of trekking before us and our target today was to the monastery at Thyangboche (3840 m).
For at this monastery we were going to get our blessing for the journery ahead of us.
The skies were clear and sunny but I felt the temperature getting colder.
My backpack was heavy but I brought my luggage Yak with me to assist me.
The views of the Himalayans was great.
The winds were picking up now.
I was tired and cold but was loving the adventure. I bet the monkeys back in Borneo were jealous of me.
I needed to eat a lot more each day whilst on this expedition. I was also drinking more water on this trip to take in the high altitude.

I was glad that lunch was provided in the many cafes along the way. I am sure Edmond Hillary did not have cafes back in 1953.
Eventually we reached the monastery.
The monastery was a working monastery with practicing monks whom were living on the site.
The monks let me inside but they weren’t happy about me leaving my monkey fluffy fur on the prayer mats.
I was blessed with good fortunes ready for the journey ahead of me.
I was at the peak of my fitness and I was ready to take on Mt. Everest.
To be continued….
My trip to Mount Everest, Nepal in 2010 – part 3
Today we were to climb steeply up ‘Namche Hill’ to reach Namche Bazaar (3,400m/11,155ft) the capital of the Khumbu Region.
I caught my first view of the Himalayans snow top peaks.
The path took us along the Dudh Kosi river, and we had to cross it many times.
As we went higher, the wind picked up.
Eventually after climbing Namche Hill, we arrived in Namche Bazaar. I was knackered, but I was glad one of my porters picked me up when he saw me stuggling and put me inside his pocket.
I had a look around this stunning town and I saw many temples and relics.
After a hard day trek up, I was tired so I went to bed early. The next day was a rest day to take in acclimatization.
I woke up the next day, I was happy that today was to be a rest day to take in altitude acclimatization. I decided to go to the market and look at all the stalls.
For lunch I went to wee little Nepali cafe where I had the traditional Momos dish.
I was going to spend the afternoon of my rest day looking around the town. The Himalayan peaks shadows this wee town and the sights were stunning.
I was glad the skies were clear, so that I could get great photographs.
The locals were so pleasent and helpful. I guess they had never seen a cuddly toy visiting these parts before.
I was told by the locals that the first sighting of Mt. Everest is from the view point at the top of the town. It is a forty minute walk so I decided to get my first sighting of Mt. Everest today.
I had a stunning view of the town as I walked up to the view point.
I was at the view point and the town of Namche Bazaar look so small down the slope.
I looked around to see if I could identify Mt. Everest in far distance.
Excited, I grab out my binos to get a close look at the famous peak. It looked very windy and choppy on the summit and I knew that the rest of my trek was going to get difficult.
For the first time in this expedition I had fear! Fear, because I saw the high winds on Mt. Everest and I worried that being only 225 grammes in weight I was going to get blown off the slopes of the mountain. But you know me, I am a tough little cookie.
I headed back to the town as I knew it was going to be another five days before I get to Mt. Everest base camp and I had a long trek before me.
To be continued….