Well, this was definitely the coldest night of the trip. I slept with my pack beside me in the bed so that I could sip on my camelbak water. The altitude makes your mouth so dry. It is just like cotton. So I went to take a sip around 0100 and my line was frozen . Completely . Chewed on ice crystals and worked the line all night just to get enough to get my mouth wet. Still coughing a lot, and I am not sure my body can produce any more mucous . Heidi has it now also, as does much of the group. Heidi and I decided yesterday that my body has rejected the two lungs I have and is working on building a new one. Our new favourite line to each other is " we are paying for this!! "
We started out at eight am after breakfast and did uphill for quite a while but then levelled out and started descending . It's always so nice to not have to struggle uphill but always at the back of my mind is the knowledge that if we are going down then we are definitely going up. Payback. And how. After lunch there was 1 1/2 hours of steep uphill. I put the music on and actually felt the best I have yet going uphill. I just decided that I was going to go slowly and steady and before I knew it I was at the top. I am sure that the change in elevation has made a huge difference also.
Several times during the trip I have distanced myself from the group a little just so I can be by myself and my own thoughts (yes, mom, I am still safe). I am usually a solo hiker, as most of you know, so the whole group thing is hard sometimes . Since we have started the trek the only thing you can hear are other peoples voices, nature sounds , and the ringing of the yak bells as they approach and leave you. No motors. Nothing motorized at all, except about 2 or 3 times a day the rescue helicopters fly over. You never know for sure if they are going for someone or not, but apparently one of them did make a rescue yesterday . Glad to be on my own two feet and on my way back.
Staying at a place tonight that actually has a tv and dvd player! Our options for movies are documentaries on Everest . That actually is it. But actually sounds pretty good.
We started out at eight am after breakfast and did uphill for quite a while but then levelled out and started descending . It's always so nice to not have to struggle uphill but always at the back of my mind is the knowledge that if we are going down then we are definitely going up. Payback. And how. After lunch there was 1 1/2 hours of steep uphill. I put the music on and actually felt the best I have yet going uphill. I just decided that I was going to go slowly and steady and before I knew it I was at the top. I am sure that the change in elevation has made a huge difference also.
Several times during the trip I have distanced myself from the group a little just so I can be by myself and my own thoughts (yes, mom, I am still safe). I am usually a solo hiker, as most of you know, so the whole group thing is hard sometimes . Since we have started the trek the only thing you can hear are other peoples voices, nature sounds , and the ringing of the yak bells as they approach and leave you. No motors. Nothing motorized at all, except about 2 or 3 times a day the rescue helicopters fly over. You never know for sure if they are going for someone or not, but apparently one of them did make a rescue yesterday . Glad to be on my own two feet and on my way back.
Staying at a place tonight that actually has a tv and dvd player! Our options for movies are documentaries on Everest . That actually is it. But actually sounds pretty good.
:) take care on your descend. Will be thinking of you until you blog that you are back on Canadian ground. But WOW what a great experience for you. xo
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