Back in Kathmandu

After an 8 hour walk from Namche Bazzare the girls made it back to Lukla at around 5.30, the last half hour left us drenched as the heavens opened. One of our group members has decided to go at a more leisurely pace and decided to stay at Phatding last night with one of our sherphas Kusam. We are expecting him to arrive in Lukla tonight and then to fly into Kathmandu tomorrow am. Our flight in the tiny craft was as thrilling as ever leaving the 10 degree sloping short runway which ends abruptly with valleys and paddy fields hundreds of feet below.. This afternoon we are making the most of our 5 star hotel facilities as what nicer place to hang out and do a bit of washing have a bath and what TV! Our shopping trip to Thamel is cancelled until tomorrow. As we have been informed that there is a mauist march there this afternoon, so a place to avoid today.
More news tomorrow
Later days Kathy

Email from Namche

Well, if you are reading this blog you will have seen that Kathy posted news here yesterday from the buzzing Sherpa capital of Namche. They arrived there late last night and were delighted to get good views of Everest etc from Kallipitar and they enjoyed their walk back down to Namche. This morning their plan was to get up early and walk all the way to Lukla, which is quite common for Expedition climbers but quite a long way for trekkers. Nelson was going to get up early with his private Sherpa and porter and leave in good time in the hope that his wee legs will get him to Lukla in one day... I am sure he is quite the gentleman walking along with his private sherpa and porters!
Kathy and the other incredibly fit women on the trip will no doubt get up late, have lots of coffees and cakes in the wonderful Namche bakery's and have a quick tour around the shops before briskly making their way to the airport at Lukla. Apparently there have been a few flight delays with the bad weather, but its often like that at this time of year, and now- a- days there are so many flights flying in and out of Lukla that any back log built up due to weather and flight delays soon clears... so if we are lucky we will hear from them all again soon. Once they reach the easy to access cyber cafes and telephone links in Kathmnadu they will be communicating with their own loved ones and this blog may go quiet for a day or two.The elections are comming up soon so I have heard that there are some marches and things going on in Kathmandu but no trouble is expected.

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Well the trekkers are back in Namche Bazarre after two long days. After lots of snow fall and no views our two night stay in Gorak Shep payed off as the clouds lifted on Thursday morning just for a few hours and the views were amazing of Everest, Pumore, Nupsie and the rest of the Kumbu. We took a two hour trek up to the summit of Kalapattare during the morning and the views of Everest were amazing, with the Kumbu icefall in full view and the South col as seen on the left! We could just about see the tiny tents of a Thiland Everest expedition on the glacier. Just as we left the summit the clouds rolled in once again and the mountains dissappeared. We felt like the cats that got the cream! After this we walked all the way back down to Pheriche and stayed the night there so quite a long day and today we had another 8 hour day walking from there back to Namche. The plan now is to head down to Lukla tomorrow and fly back to Kathmandu the following day weather permitting, as there is a lot of rain and low cloud again and there have been no flights for two days. Now its time for a Yak steak and a few beers! Happy days, Kathy:)

Wonderful views from Kallipitar

Another delightful Sat phone report from Kathy saying that they were all up early and got to the summit of Kallipitar where they enjoyed amazing views of Everest, Nuptse, Pumori and all! They then headed back down to Gorak Shep and on to Pheriche where they will spend the night. They will head down towards Namche in the next day ( or perhaps two) -depending on how the bridge repair work is progressing on the trail below Thangboche.

So, its fantastic that the weather has improved and great views were had by all!

Interesting newspaper article today in our local Highland newspaper informing readers that the Yeti Footprint photo taken in 1951 in the Melung Basin, Himalaya was sold at Christies auction in London for £3.5K...... So please remember, take only photos and leave only footprints!

Message from Gorak Shep

A Sat phone messge from Kathy today reported:

The visibilty is not so good in the Khumbu today. The group woke up this morning at Gorak Shep to 6"of snow. Most of it burnt off or melted away during the day however they had very poor visibility with limited views. They opted to walk up to Everest base camp keeping the normally outstanding views from Kallipatar for tomorrow. They did the round trip in around four and a half hours which is fast and reflects their fitness but also the lack of wonderful views to stop and look at. Every one are in good spirits but a little bit dissapointed with the lack of views and poor weather. Ever optomistic, they are staying over night at Gorak Shep again, in the hope that tomorrow will dawn clear and cold. Their plan is to wake early and go to the summit of Kallipitar and enjoy the morning views before trekking back down the Khumbu to over-night at Pheriche.

The photo above shows the view from Kallipitar on a good day!

I really wish the group good luck with the weather tomorrow, hope for a clear clear day!

Gorak Shep

There has been no Sat phone call from Kathy today and I was not really expecting one as we agreed that she would try and phone every couple of days or so. However I thought I would show you aphoto of Gorak Shep as our intrepid trekkers should be holed up at one of the lodges in this tiny settlement.This photo is taken from Kalipitar last year and shows the tiny hamlet and is looking back down the Khumbu galcier kind of towards Namche!

Phone report from Labouche, Khumbu, Nepal

An additional Sat phone message came from our Everest Base Camp leader this afternoon. They are now at Labouche which is at 4906 meters. The weather is coldish, views obscured with snow falling. Everyone is doing fine and spirts are high. They are enjoying the comforts of the Eco lodge.Tomorrows plans are for them to trek on up the Khumbu to Gorak Shep which is the last settlement before Kalipitar and Everest Base camp.