Firstly. That's my Everest selfie.
I don't think it's possible to put into words what I've experienced over the past 2 weeks.. So I'm gonna put a heck of a lot of pictures in this post.
To set the scene, I'm sat in a cafe eating what tastes like the most incredible breakfast I've ever eaten. In reality it's just eggs on toast and coffee. But the eggs are a normal colour, the toast is toast and not Tibetan 'bread', and the coffee isn't made with yak milk and powder. All of which seem like luxuries right now.
I'm still unshowered, as I have been for 14 days, as I can't check into the hotel room until 12. It's going to be the best shower of my life. I almost have dreadlocks.. Look:
Anyway!!! About Everest!!
This is the very excited 12 man team in the tiny airplane on the way to Lukla, Himalayas - ranked the No.1 most dangerous airport on the planet. I forgot to mention that bit in my trip plan mum..
The trek from Lukla to EBC (base camp) is about 70k long and took us 8 days to get there. 70k in 8 days? Easy right? That's what I thought..
But when you're at 5000m altitude it's actually difficult to breathe, let alone trek up a mountain. We had to have a few acclimatisation days here and there, but I'm proud to say I was the only one to make it all of the way without taking altitude sickness prevention pills!
Anyway, here are a few highlights of the journey there..
This is where we stayed the first night. We're still fairly low, so there's lots of trees etc and the river is big.
These are two very cute Sherpa kids we met at a lunch stop. I considered marrying a Sherpa man to have kids that look like these, and so that he could take me trekking and carry my bag everywhere (they are SO strong, they carry all the food up to the lodges, 80+ kilos at a time.. I'll write about it later).
But I thought dad might have been adverse to the idea so I decided not to risk it.
This is a Sherpa carrying some kind of building materials. Altitudes got nothing on him.
They do have yaks to help out sometimes though!
Yaks on a bridge!
Yak selfie. Basically everyone loved yaks.
The second day got a bit foggy.. And the view looked like this:
We slept in a nice ridge top lodge, but hadn't seen any of the view. However, when we woke up at 6am, we were met with this: !!!!!
Everest (centre) and Ama Dablem (right).. Right outside our lodge!
Me hand standing under Everest.
Over the next couple of days we trekked higher and higher and the mountains got closer and closer. Here are some incredible photos..
From left to right: Malcolm, our three Sherpa guides; PT, Padam and Gelu, and me! With Mt. Nupsty in the background.
Me being extremely cool under Mt. Nupsty with Everest just tucked behind.
No words for this pic.
-5 mountain selfie.
A glacial lake! Amazing?
An Ama Dablem selfie. (Look back centre).
The last day trekking to base camp was pretty tough (even I thought so and I'm friggin hardcore).
But getting there was incredible. Here's a few pics..
On the way!
Above the clouds!
Base camp itself!
The day after base camp we woke up at 4am and climbed Kala Pathar, a 5550m peak. Here are some views from the top:
Sunrise over Everest:
A glowing mountain:
Reaching Kala Pathar and EBC was the most incredible thing I think I've done so far in my 21 years and I advise everyone who wants to do something outrageous/adventurous/off of the beaten path, do do it. (You can buy the offer on groupon haha!)
I'm flying home in less than two days and I am SO so excited to see the Lockwood clan. If you're reading, I cried after you all FaceTimed me today I was that excited/emotional. Mum, here's a brocolli plant I found on the mountain at 4000m just for you. I know you love broccoli.
Peace out guys, see everyone so soon!!!!
Xxxxx
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