Mt. Everest: One Day Later (day 9)

Mt. Everest:  “One Day Later”

Loboche to Peng Boche

Thursday, September 20, 2018

We are still reeling from yesterday’s marathon trek to Everest Base Camp, but we have a 7 to 8 hour trek ahead of us.  We are so lucky to have the trail to ourselves.  It is in between seasons and most of the folks that were traveling at the same time as us, remain fogged in or delayed due to weather.  We did not have to manage the “traffic jam” of trekkers that come to Everest these days.  It was quiet, no waiting in line for food or the bathroom.  We only competed with the Yak and horses for the trails each day.  I do miss the bells letting us know a herd of Yak are coming our way.  You need to stand aside and give them the right of way with all their baggage and supplies on their backs.

We concentrated on each step, each stone, in part because we were still exhausted.  The narrow paths were only a foot across and the cliffs dropped over a couple of thousand feet.  The cliffs and the narrow paths back, were absolutely frightening times.  

But my trusty, and rapidly repaired, walking stick was holding up with the medical adhesive tape I used to tape it back together on the Everest Base Camp quest day.  

Our travels brought us over smaller bridges with the raging rivers below, across small streams, and on top of and endless stream of rocks, but the biggest milestone was the tree line.

We reached the point where trees could grow again (around 12,654 feet).  They provided us with much needed oxygen.  I was able to breathe easier again.  It is a reminder of how small the usable space is that we occupy on earth. We co-exist within that sliver of space.  The air we breathe is literally an integral part of our very existence or co-existence.  We can’t exist or function without it and yet we take it for granted. If we pollute that space, we pollute our lungs and our very existence.  So today I thank the trees.