Namche Bazaar to Phakding
April 15, 2009
9:30am Dubai / 10:45am Nepal: Report from Glyn Kilsby by satellite phone:
The team reached Namche Bazaar yesterday at 5pm after a 9 hour walk, covering 19 kilometers. The group met up with Dave Annand and are now travelling as a full team; all are in good health.
The weather today is warm and sunny with a light breeze. The sore throats and breathing difficulties that many of the group suffered over the last few days are gone and they are breathing what Glyn describes as, “sweet mountain air”.
They are travelling the same route down but are experiencing completely different views: a mixture of open plain, rhododendron, pine forest and snow covered peaks. Through gaps in the trees they can see down into Nepal as far as 50 miles. Glyn described the scenery as, “stunning”.
Maktoum provided some amusement yesterday: he became slower and slower through the afternoon, falling far behind. The group left him with a Sherpa and continued to Namche Bazaar, expecting him to arrive several hours late. They were all surprised, however, when he arrived within 15 minutes on the back of a horse! Apparently, Maktoum paid such a good price for the horse that the owner is following him down the trail today, watching closely for signs of weariness! We wonder how long Maktoum will be able to resist?
Generally, progress is good: throughout the descent, the team members expected to suffer from ‘shakey-legs’, as the steep descent requires different leg muscles to walking up-hill, but, apart from a few creaky knees among the staff, they have had no real problems. They are about to start a 600 meter descent so perhaps that will change today?
The plan for the last few days is as follows:
- Wednesday 15th April – stay night in Phakding
- Thursday 16th April – walk to Lukla
- Friday – Fly to Kathmandu (early morning) – check into hotel
- Saturday 18th April – Fly to Dubai
Check their position on the map
(Posted by Adrian Keech)
