Kader's Travel Blog: Dingbuche to Lobuche

Friday, May 19, 2017

Dingbuche to Lobuche

Today we resumed our trek and climb as well, the plan is to get close to 5000 meters (16,500 ft) and reach the town of Lobuche! Easier said than done!!! We also resumed our usual timing; breakfast at 7:00 am and leaving the hotel at 8:00 am! We started with a short vertical climb out of Dingbuche and then the trail somewhat flattened but with a gentle up slope and a desert like terrain! There was a stiff cold wind from the back the whole day! At these altitudes, i.e. 15,000 ft +, the vegetation is short to none! We ran into a rat or what looked like a rat, at first we thought it was a bunny but on a closer look we thought it was more like a rat than a bunny! There were birds as well living at these altitudes especially the Himalayan eagle which was flying majestically above us with a large wingspan! After meandering along a river for a while, we then crossed a metallic bridge into the town of Thukla where we had lunch! Right after lunch we faced a long uphill climb for about an hour that nearly flattened us all! We were exhausted when we got to the top!! At the top was a memorial to all those who perished climbing Everest. Famous names included Rob Hall and Scott Fisher! That was a humbling place to be no doubt! Most departed this world at a young age but doing what they loved to do which is climb mountains; big ones for that!! after this break we headed higher but at a gentler slope and on a rockier terrain! However, the views around us where just breathtaking!! Everywhere we looked, there was a huge peak rising to the heavens and capped by snow!! After three hours we reached our destination for the day, this remote village mostly built for tourists in the middle of nowhere called Lobuche at nearly 5000 meters or 16,500 ft!!! The air was thin and the breathing was heavy but no one complained of altitude sickness, thank god! There was nothing to do in this village so we just stayed in the tea house! The rooms were cute but cold!! After dinner we just went to bed as the next day was going to be our biggest day yet: Everest Base Camp is on our schedule!! We were all excited that we were very close to the set goal!