hiker01

I'm a little confused with your GEN strap, it's suppose to have a continous flow on the end of the fluted side.......here's mine next to the rep (on the inside):

Gen on the left without the buckle:

Gen on top:

Gen on the bottom:

I hope you don't mind me posting these.

Hike

I miss this baby:

holy crap...i need to spend more time here lately...definitely will now... F - awesome sharing...an awesome adventure...sooooo - many questions...here's a couple: 1) did you pack and carry what you needed from the beginning to base camp...and more supplies/clothes/etc meets you at base camp?...2) how many miles is the hike from the beginning to base camp...3) batteries?...how many for the trek and/or how are you charging them for the camera...4) is your summit at the beginning, middle or end of the season? - doesn't appear to be that many climbers in your pix... thanks again, my friend...glad you're safe and sound...R

Hey R!

- all the heavy gears were brought up to EBC ahead of us - I carried my daily supplies of snacks, 3 liters of water and my rain gear just in case (about 20 lbs) and the rest of my gear are carried by my Sherpa.

- Lukla Village to EBC is 38.6 miles

- I have two headlamps, one as backup and 2 sets of spare triple As; I use a multi battery pack/grip for the Nikon D90 with 2 spares, and one spare battery for the Nikon AW100, which is an amazing camera by itself.

I used it 90% on the trail and only used two fully charge batteries and I think I took about 800+ shots. Never had to re-charge the D90 and the only time I used it was at Namche Bazaar and Tengboche.

- I started at the very early part of the climbing season.......Mid March. Usually, EBC gets crowded and busy my April.

and for the member who wanted to know what lens I used with the D90, I only use one on trips/hikes like this: 18-70MM AF-S Nikkor Lens!

Day seven: It was freakin cold last night......and the cold water this morning didn't help either. I had my down sleeping bag, down sleeping jacket and 4 layers of clothes and it was still damn cold. I had an argument with my bladder twice early in the morning koz my brain refused to get up but my bladder thinks otherwise......and he always wins. I ended up using one of my water bottles as my pee cup rather than step outside to the toilet to pee! Brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr......

Got up early @5:30AM to attend the Buddhist Service at the Monastery. It was very nice, solemn and very calming to the soul! Mostly a lot of readings and chanting by 4 monks.

After the Service and breakfast, we're off by 8AM on the way to Dengboche....a 2250ft climb.....ohhhhhh

Here's where we started:

Off we go:

Another bridge to cross:

It's past Ten.....

More Stupa.....

and more mountains:

and Everest is beckoning:

more trails......

and....finally, village of Dengboche....where acclimatizing here for two days:

some baby yaks to greet us:

so hey, how are the bathroom facilities up there ?

On some tea houses...not too bad:

Along the trail, sometimes you could find a shack like this:

with a hole on the floor and dry leaves to cover your.....

worse comes to worst, you could always sneak around some rocks:

You have become a real life hero to me ....... Go with God and return home safely.

Thanks, Long time no hear my friend!

Hike, what camera did you use on this trip? These are some fantastic photos.

DSLR = Nikon D90 and an Outdoor/Water Camera = Nikon AW100 = the best outdoor camera I've used and I've had them all......

And honestly, if the rule is that all a seller has to do is write "buyer responsible once it leaves my hands" and be scott free of any responsibilty, trust me - This is a nice wide open door to start scamming people.... All one would need to do is send out a pre-ripped envelope with the correct address, and when the post office holds it thinking the package got damaged under their care, "well too bad buddy! Money is mine!"

lol

Day six: after the rest at Namchee and some hot showers......I feel rejuvinated!

We started our trek today for Tyengboche, a village in Khumjung in the Khumbu region of northeastern Nepal, located at 3,867 metres (12,687 ft)......

a fairly easy climb......

lots of flat areas

and more CHortens along the trail...

around lunch time, we stopped at the village of Phunki and had lunch there.....

and started off around 1PM....

a nice view of Mt. Everest...it's to the left with the plume on it's right...

some of the trails and the Khumbu range in the background.......

.......and finally, Tengboche just around the corner...

Since we got in a little early and I feel....not so tired, I explored around.

In the village is an important Buddhist monastery, Tengboche Monastery, which is the largest gompa in the Khumbu region. The structure was built in 1923. In 1934, it was destroyed by an earthquake but subsequently rebuilt. It was destroyed again by a fire in 1989, and again rebuilt with the help of Edmund Hilary and volunteers and the provision of foreign aid.

Inside the Monastery:

and a very helpful Monk, he worked with the Dalai Lama in India for 3 years before he transferred here at Tengboche.

Tengboche has a panoramic view of the Himalayan mountains, including the well-known peaks of Tawache, Everest, Nuptse, Lhotse, Ama Dablam, and Thamserku. Tenzing Norgay, the first man to reach the summit of Mount Everest with Sir Edmund Hilary was born in the area in the village of Thani and was once sent to Tengboche Monastery to be a monk.

Vintage day:

I just came back with 8 watches....2 I took with me and six I bought from MBK.....I didn't have any problem, but then again, I'm enrolled in the Global Entry System (GOES).

Maybe that helped???

F, I'm proud to know you! They would have planted me on about day two...

Thanks J.....you're always there for me!

So, what does your avatar and screen name mean?

My Avatar are my Hiking gear....boots, rain coat, backpack and Leki sticks! Screen name is self explanatory........

Your posts are so inspiring, that the wife and I, and two others did a snow laden 12er last weekend in prep for 14er adventures out here in the Rockies.

Hey P! Glad to hear your doing a 14er......which one? Not Pikes Peak....on wheels Just kidding.....I climb PP and took the train down. The collegiates should be easy and Bierstadt is close (like you don't know......)

Can't wait to hear when.....

Day five:

Had a bad night last night, I had a mild case of altitude sickness ( woke up at around 1AM with a splitting headache). Kinda strange and a bad omen for

things to come. I mean, I had climbed Mt. Rainier and 6 fourteeners in Colorado with no problems, but here I felt something at 12,000.

At breakfast, still suffering from a really bad headache, I had the same fried eggs, potatoes and rice and some momos (is a type of dumpling native to

Tibet, Nepal, and the bordering regions of Bhutan, Nepal and the Himalayan states of India (especially Sikkim). It is similar to the Mongolian buuz or

the Chinese jiaozi.) and dark strong tea. That and two tylenols later alleviated some of the headache which turned into a head buzz.

At the tea house dining room, we meet trekkers and climbers from all over the planet.....like this family of four:

Daughter is 8 and son is ten. The husband is Irish (Doug) and his Malaysian wife (unfortunately, they didn't go very far,

she (the wife) got severe altitude sickness by late afternoon and they have to turn back.....the kids, though, were amazing!).

After some socializing, we proceeded to do some aclimatization hikes around Namchee.....

and also check the village:

and then hike up to the Sagarmatha National Park:

Check the Mt. Everest Climbers Museum:

and visited the only Buddhist Monastery in the village:

with the resident Tibetan Monk:

by 5PM, I was exhausted and took a short nap.....Eklal woke me at 7PM for dinner; Yak Steak (I wish I had taken a picture).....and a really bad

choice....as tough as the sole of my hiking boots, very dry and I'm pretty sure it died a month ago (I am going to regret this..........)! I finished 3/4

of it to have have protein...going with some momos, potatoes and rice (you notice the daily food menu here????????)...........

So was the Namchee Bazaar built there just for people wanting to climb Everest?

Himalayan High: A visit to Namche Bazaar

by Kraig Becker

"One of the most famous and popular stops on the way to Everest is a village called Namche Bazaar, which is located at 11,286 feet (3440 meters). Most trekkers reach Namche on their second day of hiking, but to get there they must first conquer a very long, and challenging hill that is a test of stamina for just about anyone. In fact, that day on the trail is one of the most challenging of the entire trek, as you gain more than 2600 feet (800 meters) in altitude. Fortunately, nearly everyone who makes the trek ends up spending an extra day in Namche, giving them a chance to rest, acclimatize, and explore the place further.

Nestled along the crescent shaped slopes of the Khumbu Valley, Namche Bazaar is both charming and exhausting all at the same time. The narrow alleyways are lined with gear shops and teahouses, but you'll have to climb more steps than you'd care to count just to visit any of them. It is especially disheartening when you arrive in the village after 3 or 4 hours of climbing, only to to discover that the lodge that you're staying in happens to be on one of the upper tiers, and you'll have to climb yet more stairs just to get to it. Luckily, Namche has some of the most comfortable and inviting teahouses in the entire region. You might even get a warm shower (for an extra charge!) and a TV in the common room.

With a population of roughly 1500 people, Namche is the largest town in the Khumbu Valley, and as such, has a number of amenities that you won't find as you go higher. For instance, there is an actual bank in Namche, not to mention a police checkpoint, and a karaoke bar. Internet cafes are common as well, although I'm pretty sure they measure their connection speeds in terms of "baud" and not "megabits".

That population in Namche swells dramatically during the spring and fall trekking seasons of course, with backpackers and climbers flocking to the area in droves. It is not uncommon to hear a half dozen languages being spoken while you stroll the cobblestone streets past the numerous gear shops, and if there is anything that Namche has an abundance of, it is gear shops. If you're a few days into the trek, and you find you're in need of some piece of gear, then chances are you can find it in Namche Bazaar. Whether it's boots, sleeping bags, or warmer clothes, you'll find everything you could possibly need, often at excellent prices. Some of the gear is authentic, some are cheap knockoffs, but the village is an outdoor gear lovers dream come true, and while it is possible to resupply on some items later in the trek, everything gets more expensive the higher you go.

As I mentioned, you'll actually spend a "rest day" in Namche to help you get use to the altitude and give you time for a bit of recovery. But that doesn't mean that you'll be taking it easy while you're there. In fact, on my second day in Namche, my trekking group was up bright and early, as usual, and after breakfast we were on our way up a nearby mountain to continue working on our acclimatization. On that morning climb we actually went up an additional 1300 feet (400 meters), and got our first views of Everest, Lhotse, and one of the most beautiful mountains on the planet, Ama Dablam.

With our acclimatization climb out of the way, we were back in Namche by lunch time, and had the rest of the afternoon to spend at our leisure. Most of us took it easy, taking a nap, curling up with a good book, or playing cards in the lodge's common room. Namche is the first part of the trek where altitude sickness begins to become a real concern, and it is important that you not only work on acclimatizing, but also get plenty of rest. You're also burning a lot of calories on the trek and expending a lot of energy, therefore you'll spend your rest days eating plenty of food and drinking lots of water as well.

Before long, your stay in Namche is over, and you're back on the trail to ever higher, and ever smaller, villages. Each has their own unique character and each brings you one step closer to your ultimate goal - Everest. But when you depart Namche, you truly feel like you're stepping into the High Himalaya and moving into more remote territory. The first few days are just a warm up for the adventure that is just ahead."

He echoes exactly what the village is and our experience!

.........finally, I can see Namchee Bazaar.......too excited, two days of break/acclimatization, short hikes.......and.........hot shower!

Our teahouse is the one with the red roof:

Wow, gorgeous and different!

Case design related to the Porsche?

I was gonna say.....P'6780?

Day four.....continued. four hours into the trek. This is the toughest part of the trek so far.....the roughly 3000ft of elevation gain is a lot in one day.

I was huffin and puffin the last 3 hours. The early morning till after lunch break, Iwas fst and doing great, by late afternoon, I was counting steps

and checking my altimeter on how much we had climb so far........and I thought I trained and was well prepared...........haha!

A Chorten along the trail...you always walk around these to your right, Buddhist tradition....

And another, you'll see a lot of these:

First Yak/Nak returning train traffic (if you notice, they have empty load now):

and more, we always listen for cowbells, then jump out of there way, always on the mountain side. You don't wanna be run over down the valley by

one of these beasts:

and others going up:

This one is a mule train

First cable/hanging bridge we had to cross:

and more....I think I counted six:

That's great, Hike. Keep it coming! How did you find your electronic barometer/altimeter to work up high?

It just works, my Friend!......just above Namche Bazaar, 12,480ft.

You forgot to bring the essential Hillary-Tenzing-Explorer package.. http://www.highsnobi...rer-watch-pack/

I saw that.....but I took out the Rolex for to take, too well known.....I wanted a low key watch koz I didn't know what to expect in Kathmandu and Tibet!

Great blog Hike! Where are you getting your internet connection?

Andy.....Jkay is right, back home now, but there is actually Internet connections almost on all villages except the really small ones, all the way to Base

Camp! Would cost you a lot of Yak dung, though.

He's home now, posting these post-adventure

Thanks, Bro.

This is uber cool F!

The Luluka airstrip was featured on a TV series (the world's most dangerous Airports) apparently there is only something like half a dozen pilots in the world who have a licence to land there.

One ill fated landing was during fog and the plane came in a couple of dozen yards to the left of the strip, straight into the side of the mountain.

When you get to the top can you take a look around for George Malloy's coin?

Ken

Sorry Ken, He took the North Face route on the Tibetan side.......not unless the wind carried it to the South face or Nepali side!

Excellent. Keep it coming.

I owe you one......

All.......thanks!

Day 4:

Got up @6AM.....no showers today....or hot water for that matter. Brush (that hurts) my teeth and wash my face with cold water. Thanks a lot to towel wipes.....and body and foot powder. Makes you feel like a human being!

Pack my gear and got it ready for Radyu.....my Sherpa......Guy is 23 years old, 5'6"........and carries my gear and he's (about 75lbs) and hike like it's a walk in the park, singing his Nepali songs!

and my Guide, Eklal.....he's a Gurkha.....with a B.S. in Business, but prefers guiding koz he makes more......

Had breakfast of fried eggs (only source of local protein during the climb, good thing I brought 4 packs of turkey jerkies), rice and potatoes; and black tea......

Typical teahouse dining room, this one in Phakding:

Phakding early in the morning:

First Yak train I've seen....there will be plenty more....

At exactly 8AM.....we left Phakding and started our hike to Namchee Bazaar......

From Wikipedia:

Namche Bazaar (also Nemche Bazaar or Namche Baza; Nepali: नाम्चे बजार listen (help·info)) is a village and Village Development Committee (Namche) in Solukhumbu District in the Sagarmatha Zone of north-eastern Nepal. It is located within the Khumbu area at 3,440 metres (11,286 ft) (the low point that is), populating the sides of a hill. Namche is the main trading center for the Khumbu region with many Nepalese officials, a police check, post and a bank.

Namche Bazaar is popular with trekkers in the Khumbu region, especially for altitude acclimatization, and is the gateway to the high Himalaya. The town has a number of lodgings and stores catering to the needs of visitors as well as a number of internet cafés, making it one of the few places in the region where trekkers can access the internet.

On Saturday mornings, a weekly market is held in the center of the village while there may also be a daily Tibetan market where clothing and cheap Chinese consumer goods tend to be the main articles for sale.

The trek, sights and some trails:

Day three - D-Day.....

Got up at 6AM......got picked up @7.....

On the way:

Finally.....Lukla:

The runway:

here's how the landing looks like: Lukla Landing

Ready to go:

Here's the map of the route going to Everest Base Camp....for you to follow where we are that day, I will name the village....

So, after we landed in Lukla, we had breakfast and then went on a 3 hour trek to Phakding...where we are going to camp for the night.

The dining room/social center of a teahouse:

Finally got some time to start this.......sorry for being a little late, but after being gone almost seven weeks, a lot of things pile up.......so here goes!

Day One:

Finally got into Kathmandu after two freakin days of flyin and airport lounges (quick transit in Hong Kong and 12 Hours lay-over in Bangkok).....

It's creepy, I swear I thought I landed in one of the Islands in the Philippines 35 years ago......no kidding:

The city was dusty (if you have dust allergies, not a good place for you, I ended up wearing a buff everytime I go out), the infrastructure have

not caught up with the 20th century, which I think attracts a lot of people....

How about some pork, fresh from......it's carcas???

Hotel where my guide company put me up while in Kathmandu, Shankar:

A visit to Thamel....the tourist gathering area....party town....restaurants, hotels, motels, bakeries, souvineer stores, you name it, you'll find

it here:

After a few Gurkha beer, I'm ready to call it a night......

Day two:

Meet with the Guide and went over the trek/climb.....

we discussed the route and what to expect and do during the climb. We went over the gears/equipments....

I guess we're ready. Me and a Female 62 year old Brit who now resides in Kenya, one guide and a Sherpa each.....an advance sherpa team already

left with most of our supplies.

One last dinner before we depart:

and some entertainment:

If I was in an advertising agency HR, I would hire this person in a heart beat! That's awesome.....