Nepal Trip Day 7 - Hike to Hotel Everest View (Saturday December 29, 2018)
Nepal Trip Day 7 - Hike to Hotel Everest View (Saturday December 29, 2018)
We woke up and got dressed for the day. The moisture inside our room had condensed on the window and formed a layer of ice just as the day before. We took breakfast a bit before seven am and headed out shortly after eight am. It was a clear blue sky but the temperature was low. When we headed out our fingers and toes were feeling quite cold.
Fresh toast and yak butter
Hard boiled eggs
Sitting next to the heater to keep warm
Going up more
...and more
We woke up and got dressed for the day. The moisture inside our room had condensed on the window and formed a layer of ice just as the day before. We took breakfast a bit before seven am and headed out shortly after eight am. It was a clear blue sky but the temperature was low. When we headed out our fingers and toes were feeling quite cold.
Taking our breakfast
Coffee, hot milk and muesli
Fresh toast and yak butter
Hard boiled eggs
Sitting next to the heater to keep warm
Taking a few photos before breakfast
Sunrise on Kongde Ri
Sunrise time-lapse on Kongde Ri
Hotel Everest View
We went up the trail behind YMH Namche to get to the trail head to Hotel Everest View - our destination for today. Hotel Everest View is located at 3,962 m or 13,000 feet. We will hike roughly 600 meters or 2,000 feet up to this view point. 2,000 feet may seem like a daunting number but based on our preview of the trail at the Tenzing Norgay Memorial, it did not look that difficult.
We started the up hike from where we were observing the yak train yesterday and quickly gained elevation. Mingma took MM's backpack and I took the other backpack. No one else carried a backpack to save energy. The sun was just beginning to shine. Despite the cold temperature, the sun felt very strong to us. It was a strange sensation of feeling bitterly cold and yet being exposed to very strong sun at the same time. I guess this is the feeling of high altitude trekking.
Great view of Kongde Ri and Namche from the trail to Hotel Everest View
Hiking up the trail with clear blue sky, but cold
Switchback
Moon hanging over Kongde Ri
Going up
Sun shining through tree branches on another switchback
Namche began to look small to us as we gain elevation
At a rest stop with prayer flags
Over looking Kongde Ri at the rest stop
View at the rest stop
View at the rest stop
Trying to stay warm under the harsh sun
In good spirit
Going up more
...and more
We hiked through the switchback until we got to an open area with several yaks grazing around. This is the Syangbouche airfield. At this point, we ran into the Canadian family that we met back in Phadking several days ago. We greeted each other and exchanged small talks. The Canadians have stayed at Hotel Everest View and they said it was real cold. We said good bye we were on our way again.
Yak grazing in the open
At Syangbouche airfield
A sign that read "You are at 3775 meters"
Continue the hike up the plateau
Exposed to the sun
After hiking through the plateau, we encountered a lodge called "Everest Sherpa Resorts". It has a stone ledge that surrounded the compound. We followed the stone ledge and made a left turn. As soon as we made the left turn, we saw the most awesome view of the big peaks in the clear blue sky. It was Ama Dablam, Lhotse, Everest, and Tobuche. We followed the big peaks and a steep drop off on the right all the way to another open area with a helicopter landing pad. We watched the helicopter land and take off taking tourists on and off to the Hotel Everest View from Kathmandu. We were proud of ourselves that we walked our way here and did not catch the helo ride. We continued walking through stone steps until we got to the hotel.
"Everest Sherpa Resorts"
Following the stone ledge
Making a left turn, and there it is - the big peaks in clear blue sky
Telling the big peaks
Family shot with Mingma on the right
Everest and Lhotse
Tobuche, Everest, Lhotse, and Ama Dablam
Steep drop off on the right
Following the big peaks
Hiking through the narrow pass with steep drop off on the right
The view is unreal
Continue the hike with Ama Dablam in view
Reaching the stone steps
Going up the steps
Zoomed in shot of Everest (left) and Lhotse (right)
Another plateau with yaks grazing
Yak grazing in the mountain
At the helicopter landing pad
Looking back at Kongde Ri
Tourists arriving via helicopter
Helicopter getting ready to take off
Rhododendron
Hotel Everest View 3,880m
Once we got to the hotel, we sat at the open air balcony and ordered tea. We drank our tea and tried to take in the view while it lasted. We do not know when we will return or if we will ever return to this location. It was a precious moment and we tried to take it in as much as we could.
Sitting down for tea with the big peaks in the back ground
Tea and Everest
Everest, Lhotse, and Ama Dablam
Tobuche, Everest, Lhotse, and Ama Dablam
Seeing the big peaks
Taking in the view
A view that will not be forgotten
I need to be get paid by Suunto
That's Everest
Holding up Everest
After taking our tea, we were hiking back down to the lodge. We have reached our farthest and highest point of our trip. From this point on, we were making the return leg of our trip. Even though our trek was not over but we have reached our final destination. We have reached the view point of Everest, Lhotse, and Ama Dablam with our own strength. We were proud of what we have achieved. We do not know if we will ever return to the EBC trek but this will always be a memory that we will cherish as a family.
Hiking back with the lower valley in view
Hiking back on the high trail
Back down through the Syangbouche airfield
Back at the lodge for lunch just before 1:00 pm
Vegetarian sandwich and fries
Another great lunch
Garlic soup
We sat at the dining room drinking Masala Chia until the fire wood had ran out. After that we moved to the sun room to just sit and relax. Mingma texted me if we wanted to see the sunset. I was quite wiped out and we did not move much at all in the afternoon. Later that afternoon, we met a boy from New York City. He was carried up to Namche by a horse because he got sick in Kathmandu. We would meet rest of his family later that evening. The Germans were also back from Thame. There was also another American trekking group that just got back from Ama Dablam basecamp. Later in the evening, everyone gathered around the pop belly stove at the sun room to enjoy the popcorn and drinks. We took dinner and went to sleep. We had not showered since we got in to Namche three days ago. It was simply too cold and the pipe was frozen. There was simply no hot water.
Enjoy the biscuits and a cup of Masala Chia at the dining room
The biscuits that we began to love - Coconut Crunchees
Gathering around in the sun room
Relaxing around the hot stove
Another feast - potatoes, pasta, vegetables, carrots, meat, and yak cheese
Dinner soup
Chowing it down
Dirty finger nails that won't be washed off until much later
Today was another modest walking day of only 3.9 miles and 113 floors. Even though we climbed nearly 600 meters or around 2,000 feet, the hike itself did not feel very difficult. What I found most difficult was managing my hydration. I sweated a lot during this hike because I was layered up and the sun was strong. If I layered off I would feel cold. As a result, I felt that I was dehydrated during this hike today. This subsequently caused me to feel more fatigued in the afternoon and not able to do much.
Our walking distance today
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