Acclimatisation day in the Khumbu

Khumjung Gompa

Team Ascent Ama Dabalm Expedition Autum 2009 : climbing team Left to Right are; Derek Morley, Richard Lydiatt, Matt Evenden, David Morris, Calum McIntyre, David Flux and Sandy Allan
Ama Dabalm on the right, then Lhotse and Everest behind in the mist!

We had good nights rest at the Lodge and today after doing some basic laundry chores took an acclimatisation walk around some of the local sherpa villages of Namche, Kumjung and Kunde. We visited the monastery in Kumjung and the Hillary Hospital at Kunde! All members are doing well and we sent porters ahead with some equipment for our Base camp on Laboche East and also a small team with some loads for Ama Dablam base camp. The weather has cleared up lot and all members are doing OK. Matt and Calum have some travellers tummy but that is only to be expected and by late afternoon all the group were able to comfortably scoff a lot at the Namche bakery, where they serve what is probably best described as the best chocolate cake and apple pie in the world! Sandy and Dawa our sirdar paid a visit to Sagamartha Pollution Control who police and assists greatly with the disposal and control of expedition garbage. Sandy had to put down a US Dollar 2000 deposit and declare all our consumables and equipment and then when we pass through Namche again after our expedition we have to account for all the equipment and consumables and have it all packed up in appropriate packages. Even the toilet waste is controlled and monitored and carried out in large plastic drums so that we leave the mountains in a good as if not better condition as we found them. If not, Sandy looses his deposit! Environmental Justice, its high time!!!