Everest Base Camp Trek Cybercasts

Friends, family & loved ones,

The Team left Lobuche this morning in the clouds with a thin layer of last night’s snow remaining on the ground. We moved well down the trail through Thukla and as we crossed the low alpine “bench” above Pheriche, the clouds began to lift. A mere 3 hours after we started, we were at the top of the trail leading down to Dingboche.

This afternoon, we are going to rest, relax and enjoy the amenities in town— bakeries, shops, lots of yak traffic— before descending to Namche tomorrow.

Thanks for following!

Friends, family & loved ones,

We could Not have had better weather today for our climb of Kala Pattar. Blue sky, warm temps, almost no wind and perfect visibility. From the plume coming off the summit of Everest to a great view of the Khumbu icefall and Everest Basecamp, we enjoyed it all. It didn’t hurt that we had the summit all to ourselves.

After we descended, we made our way back down valley to Lobuche. The air has already started to feel a bit thicker here, to everyone’s relief. We timed it well, because as balmy as the morning’s weather was, the wind had picked up and snow had begun to fall just before we arrived at our tea house for the night. It was nothing that our lunch of tomato soup and grilled cheese couldn’t cure.

Tomorrow we will continue our trek down valley to the village of Dingboche, where the air is thicker yet.

Thanks for following,

Carole & Vern Tejas

Deers here have fangs instead of horns

Team with misty mountains

Everest is over there

Friends, family & loved ones,

Another bluebird day! The Team left Thukla this morning at our usual time- 8 am – and hiked up the big hill to a special place, dotted with memorials to fallen climbers. After a break there, we continued to Lobuche, where we arrived in time for lunch.

A number of our Team have reached personal altitude records (- exciting!) and are looking forward to climbing even higher tomorrow.

This afternoon, we plan to continue our acclimatization by drinking tea at our lodge, relaxing and for those who are interested taking a hike up on the ridge overlooking the Khumbu glacier.

A special shout out today to Arjun and Anjali, who both did great on their Science Fair projects!

Tomorrow, depending on the weather, we plan either to visit Everest Basecamp or climb Kala Pattar. Check back with us to see what we did!

Thanks for following,

Carole & Vern Tejas

Friends, family & loved ones,

Another bluebird day in the Khumbu, but on the windy side. On our way out of Pheriche, we came upon some baby yaks with their mothers. We also saw several newborns — At least t one of them was only 1 day old. So special!!

Down valley view

Before and after of Lobuche peak

45 years of global warming later

We climbed slowly and steadily up to Thukla, at 15,150 feet our home for the night. This is by far the most rustic accommodation so far, but we were welcomed warmly by our host and the Team is benefiting from the relatively short travel day. Some of us have colds and so we had a sancho party, which is similar to liquid Vicks Vapor Rub dissolved in a basin of steaming water. Nothing better to clear one’s sinus passages!

In the afternoon, some of us took a hike to see a cool glacial lake at the foot of Cholatse. Vern took the opportunity to give us a primer on glaciology.

We’re now having tea and chocolate chip cookies in the dining room, waiting for the pot bellied stove (fueled by dried yak dung) to heat up.

Winter’s supply of yak dung

Tomorrow we’re headed up the hill to Lobuche.

Thanks for following!

Carole & Vern Tejas