November 3 Dingboche

Some of the people in the group, including Wes, are not doing so well: showing signs of mountain sickness.  This is also hitting the strongest of the group: some are having headaches, others are throwing up.  So the group is splitting and five people are going back down to Pangboche where we will meet up with them in a few days. 

I am not suffering from any symptoms of altitude sickness, just the chest cold, so I am going to continue on, hoping that it will pass.  Today is allocated to hike up toward Island Peak and back, so I will just hang around camp and rest. 

After resting most of the day I test myself by hiking up to the ridge above camp.  Peter is interested in tagging along, undoubtedly to see how I am doing.  I make it up just fine, and I guess I pass because he agrees that we will all proceed up to the next camp tomorrow.


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Suddenly this trip looks dangerous: we hear of a trekker who died today of altitude sickness at Lobuche: tomorrow's destination.  And another who was knocked off the trail by a yak and was killed.  And we heard about the helicopter trying to rescue a party from Ama Dablam that crashed and killed the two pilots.  I will certainly not try to hide any symptoms from the others in the group, but still the pressure to continue on is there.

 

Trekker Being Evacuated


It is really cold here with the sun down, hot when it is out.  This village (Dingboche) is the highest one that is inhabited year round.  Up above people only live there in the summer and during trekking season.  Higher than Mt. Whitney, things here are definitely more primitive than below.  No hydro-power, so electricity is from solar cells and gas generators.  Charging a battery is 300 rupees an hour, up from 100 in Namche and 200 in Deboche.

We have consumed enough of our food that we can shed some of the porters.  We said goodbye to them, and they are heading back to Lukla (in one long day).

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