Today may very well be the final day of my Three Passes Trek. Before setting out on this adventure, the sometimes not-so-trusty internet indicated that I should budget approximately 19 days to complete this trip; the internet was wrong (shocking, I know). Honestly, if I was really motivated or seriously short on time, I could […]
Three Passes Trek Day 4: Namche Bazaar to Pangboche
Today I broke one of the rules I prescribed for Himalaya hiking; I didn’t check the toilet basin for (liquid) water before passing solid waste (my sincerest apologies, person who finds this festering later today). In other news, it’s Tibetan bread with cheese for breakfast followed by a liter of water to wash it down […]
Three Passes Trek Day 3: Namche Acclimatization Loop
My alarm isn’t set to go off for another forty-five minutes, but my body appears to met its sleep quota for the night (something I didn’t know was possible). Today, day three of the Three Passes Trek, is scheduled to be my first acclimatization day. What’s an acclimatization day? It’s a day spent hiking (to […]
Three Passes Trek Day 2: Monjo to Namche Bazaar
I had forgotten how crazy my dreams are when I sleep at elevation; last night did well to remind me (all I will say is dinosaur apocalypse). After returning to bed following an early-morning excursion to the bathroom (it’s quite rare that my bladder wakes me), I awake again and decide it’s time to head […]
Everest Base Camp Day 13: Namche Bazaar to Lukla
Starting elevation: 11,290 ft / 3,440 m Ending elevation: 9,100 ft / 2,800 m Elevation change: -2,190 ft / -640 m m Starting oxygen: 67% of sea level Ending oxygen: 73% of sea level Distance covered: 11.12 mi / 17.9 km Time hiked: 6h 15m Today begins what will be the last day of my […]
Everest Base Camp Day 12: Day Off In Namche Bazaar
Starting elevation: 11,290 ft / 3,440 m Ending elevation: 11,290 ft / 3,440 m Elevation change: 0 ft / 0 m Starting oxygen: 67% of sea level Ending oxygen: 67% of sea level Distance covered: 0 mi / 0 km Time hiked: 0h 0m Twelve days into my trek, and only one day away from […]
Everest Base Camp Day 11: Tengboche to Namche Bazaar
Starting elevation: 12,687 ft / 3,867 m Ending elevation: 11,290 ft / 3,440 m Elevation change: -1,397 ft / -427 m Starting oxygen: 64% of sea level Ending oxygen: 67% of sea level Distance covered: 5.72 mi / 9.2 km Time hiked: 3h 30m Opening my eyes to a starless sky I am greeted by […]
Everest Base Camp Day 4: Namche Bazaar to Tengboche
Starting elevation: 11,290 ft / 3,440 m Ending elevation: 12,687 ft / 3,867 m Elevation change: +1,397 ft / +427 m Starting oxygen: 67% of sea level Ending oxygen: 64% of sea level Distance covered: 5.72 mi / 9.2 km Time hiked: 4h 00m After spending what feels like an eternity (something like 36 hours) […]
Everest Base Camp Day 3: Acclimatization, Khumjung, and Khunde
Starting elevation: 11,290 ft / 3,440 m Ending elevation: 11,290 ft / 3,440 m Elevation change: +0 ft / +0 m Starting oxygen: 67% of sea level Ending oxygen: 67% of sea level Distance covered: 4.72 mi / 7.6 km Time hiked: 4h 00m Forty-eight hours ago I was in Kathmandu at an elevation of […]
Everest Base Camp Night 2: The Dogs Of Namche Bazaar
Susan of the Everest Bakery (and Pizza Hut) has graciously allowed me the use of his porch for the night (saving me yet another dollar’s worth of accommodation costs). Why the Everest Bakery porch? Well, for one, because they said yes to my (apparently) ridiculous request to sleep outdoors (free of charge); and for two, […]
