October 14, 2012

 Day 4.  Namche (11,320'/3450m).  Rest Day.

Today is a rest/acclimatization day.  No one wanted to do any longish day hikes so it was a very lazy day.  I was keen at breakfast, but I'm glad I didn't do anything too ambitious.  I'm not feeling all that great today.  My cough/chest cold is continuing to develop so I bought some cough syrup at the "pharmacy".  I can't read a thing on the box or on the bottle so I hope it doesn't kill me.....  I took 1/2 a Diamox this morning, and don't feel any tingling or peeing effects yet.

In the morning I walked up to Choi Gang.  Man, that uphill is tough!  I'm getting quite worried about AMS and other illness.  Liba continues to tell of past horror stories and Helen & I are beginning to wonder what else she hasn't yet told us about!  I saw the National Park Headquarters & Visitor Centre and the Sherpa Culture Museum & photo gallery.  I think I enjoyed the photo gallery the most.  It had both Sherpa culture and climbing history info.  

After an overcast arrival yesterday, we woke up this morning to a magnificent face-full of mountain (perhaps Kongde/Kwangde?) outside my tent - wow!

I had a really nice view overlooking Namche as I walked up to Choi Gang, and some new mountain views - although some clouds were starting to move in.  But first - a few pictures of the main route through town.  Of course with no vehicles the "roads" can be a lot narrower!

The main trail through Namche

Share the road!

And some pics from my little outing...........

Sagarmatha (Everest) National Park HQ

The Sherpa museum included an example of a pile of yak dung.  At higher elevations where there are no trees, yak dung is a valuable resource used for home heating. 

 Then it was back to town (to the pharmacy) and some shopping.  I ran into Steve & Helen & Sangye in an equipment store.  Helen is having a hard time finding boots to rent.  Glad I brought mine with me!  Then I ran into Liba, Lenka & Daniel.  They had bought lots of nice stuff - jewelry, pashmina, bowls, etc.  I loved Lenka's pashmina so got a purple one just like her blue one - $1000 rps.  I also bought a necklace made from yak bone.  It will be quite the fashion statement back in Calgary.  Then back "home" for lunch.  At the end of the lunch I really didn't feel well so laid down on the bench before passing out (not quite literally).  Then back to the tent to read for an hour or so.  Next up - a hot shower and wash my hair for the last time for who knows how long!  I washed my underwear, socks, and a shirt this morning and a few things are still drying in the tent.  I charged my camera battery during breakfast this morning so I should be good for a while.  Not much access to electricity where we'll be camping!  I had planned to go for apple pie later this afternoon, but didn't much feel like it.  It will be interesting to see if I feel any better tomorrow and days subsequent......