Trek to Namche Bazaar

Trek from Phakding to Namche Bazaar
see all photos »

October 22, 2007: Day 4 Namche Bazaar (11,300')

Each morning we lock our duffle bags, and leave them in the room. The porters strap them to the dzo to be taken to our next lodge. Everyday the cook fills our water bottles with water that has been boiled for 15 mintues.  It tastes just fine and is safe to drink. We had an early breakfast and were on the trail at 7:23am.

We continued up the Dudh Kosi gorge, following a trail that brought us through a number of riverside villages and then we officially entered Sagarmatha (Mt. Everest) National Park which was established in 1976 as the first national park in the Himalayas. The park protects an area of great environmental, religious, and cultural importance. We had lunch from 10:45-11:45. At 12:45 we reached the highest suspension bridge of the trek. I was glad it was not very long. We crossed 3 long ones earlier. I don’t like them; I just do it-no choice.

Trek from Phakding to Namche Bazaar
see all photos »

Shortly after, we had our first challenge: the ascent of “Namche Hill,” whose steep, switchback trails lead up a forested hillside to Namche Bazaar. There are lots of trekkers in this section and the trail was very busy in both directions. We continue to see lots of dzo carry people’s duffle bags, and lots of porters carry heavy loads as well. There might be a harder job, but I don’t know what it would be. The porter’s carry 70 pounds and more in a basket on their back up and down the trails. The only way to transport goods to the mountain villages is by helicopter or foot power. Helicopters are way too expensive.

Trek from Phakding to Namche Bazaar
see all photos »

Namche Bazaar is magnificently sited in a tiered, horseshoe-shaped bowl. This remarkable town is the administrative and commercial center of the region. There are hotels, restaurants, stores, and other services—now including 24-hour electricity! At the top of Namche Hill we found ourselves at the bottom of the Namche terraced bowl. Dawa pointed up when I asked where our lodge was. By the time we got to our hotel at 3:45pm I was beyond exhausted. We had climbed 3000 feet in the last 3 hours of the hike, ending up at 11,300 feet. The thin air affected both of us, and it was very difficult. Somehow I was able to take a hot shower, wash and dry my hair my hair and climb into my sleeping bag. We were lucky to have hot water as the hot water is solar and it was late in the day. I had no appetite. Chris showered went to dinner and sat with the other group. He now has a cold. Our Sherpa brought tea, soup and pie to the room for me. I ate the soup but that was all. Chris arranged to have a space heater for our room, as it was COLD. We could not leave it on all night, but at least we could get the chill out of our room. We stayed in the Zamling Guest House. The owner is very enterprising. He keeps a very nice lodge, rents space heaters, and has satellite internet access for which you pay by the minute. He has two children & both go to school in the US.

Trek from Phakding to Namche Bazaar
see all photos »

October 23, 2007: Day 5 Namche Bazaar / Acclimatization Day

Here's an article from the Miami Herald about Namche Bazaar and a little video. http://www.miamiherald.com/814/story/530802.html, http://videos.mcclatchydc.com/vmix_hosted_apps/p/grid?query=namche+bazaar&class_id=1

Trek from Phakding to Namche Bazaar
see all photos »

We got up at 7am. Nuri brought us warm washing water and hot tea to the room. We were served breakfast of eggs, oatmeal and toast. I had no appetite. It’s the altitude. Phuri is really tying to please us with what he cooks, but I simply have no appetite. I did force myself to eat a little. From Namche, there are great views of Thamserku and Kwangde directly across the Bhote Kosi Valley. We took a 45 min hike above Namche to the Sagarmatha National Park Visitors Center and Museum, where there are tremendous vistas of the Everest region. Everest, Lhotse, Nuptse, and many of the other giant peaks of the Khumbu are in full view—a spectacular 360E panorama. In the Visitors Center, there are numerous educational displays on the culture, geography, geology, and wildlife of the park and the Khumbu. We walked back, had lunch and took a nap.

Trek from Phakding to Namche Bazaar
see all photos »

Tea was at 4pm. Dinner was Yak dumplings in cream sauce and bow tie pasta. I enjoyed some pasta, but was not interested in the Yak. Chris enjoyed them. Overnight in private room at Zamling Guest House with Attached bathroom.