The window between leaving Bandipur and leaving Nepal allowed time for one thing: A trek in the Everest region. We were more than a little disorganized with how we planned the trek, but everything seemed to fall into place for us. We went to the airport on March 1st, looked around for a volunteer who was friends with volunteers we had met through Peter. We hadn't met him, but we had heard he had a pretty sweet trek planned. So we arrived at the airport, and I went up to the first guy with a beard I saw and said: "Cody?" And I was right! We had talked on the phone the night before and basically the plan was that we would tag along with him if we could get last minute seats on a flight to Lukla (Everest region airport). After meeting Cody, we went to the "Yeti airlines" desk and said: "Do you happen to have two extra seats on this mornings flights to Lukla?" The reply: "Yes." Everything was seriously going our way.
So we started our trek with Cody that afternoon in the misty mountains. The plan was to trek from Lukla (2800 metres above sea level) to Gokyo Peak (A beautiful mountain that overlooks Everest from 5300 metres). This is how the trek went for me:
First day: Lukla down to Phakding - no problem. (2800 - 2600 m)
Second day: Phakding up to Namche Bazar. This would be a killer, and our greatest rise in elevation on the entire trek. (2600 - 3450 metres).
Second day (halfway through): oh boy...I think I have altitude sickness.
Second day (at Namche Bazar): Boy it's hard to breathe...and the world is spinning...and I have no appetite.
Third day: Sick. Let's stay here to acclimatize and allow Tim to stay alive and take some medicine.
Fourth day: Worse. Ok Tim, you go down, we'll go up. (3450 - 2800...down to a town called Jorsalle)
Fifth day: ...the same? I'm gonna go down some more. (2800 - 2600...back to Phakding)
Sixth day: ...possibly worse still: let's get to Lukla and get out of here!! (2600 - 2800)
So I caught the first flight back to Kathmandu after 2 antibiotics and 1 altitude medication drug failed to do anything about my condition...and saw a doctor the next day. Apparently I had gotten a pretty stubborn bacterial virus and I would need a few days to recover while on some new antibiotics.
Lowlight: being sick.
Highlights:
#1: I did get a few clear days while trekking and the Everest region is really breathtaking.
#2: I'm feeling better now!
#3: I was allowed to stay at Peter's house while I recovered - I got some good reading/writing done.
#4: Remy got back today and said they made it to Gokyo Peak and it was unreal. So it was a successful expedition, despite my failure to perform.
We leave Nepal this Sunday and I can't believe how fast it's flown by! Other cool things I haven't mentioned on the blog:
We went Paragliding in Pokhara! (Very cool)
I shaved today! (I look like a baby!)
Remy got his eyebrow pierced! (JUST KIDDING! HA!)
Peace.
2 comments:
hey tim.
so i was reading this with my mom and when it said remy got his eyebrow pierced my reaction was "AWW! SWEET!" my moms was like a squeel/shriek that broke the sound barrier. and then i read just kidding.
tell him he should do it if he gets the chance.
or ill tell him myself, since ill be seeing you guys soon.
well yeah, that sounds really sick.
i saw the photos on facebook, looks like a rad time.
see you soon.
claire bargout.
Yikes...As I write I know that you are already in Dubai...so we all eagerly await more stories! However my request,on behalf of those other 'out in the cold' souls who do NOT have access to 'facebook',is to ask you to post more photos on your blog...please! After all, there are many of us enjoing your world trip for free...we just need a few more sights to add to the descriptive 'sounds' about which you write so well.
We are very thankful you are better!
Thanks tons, Mum
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