Everest Base Camp

Just got back from a field trip to Everest Base Camp – Tibet side.

Got my ass paddy-whacked for six days in a jalopy of Toyota Land Cruiser (circa 1990). This is not a trip for the brave hearted adventurer – turns out that you can drive right into EBC at 5150 m elevation. Even though we crossed several 5000+ m elevation passes to get there not enough acclimation had occurred in the three days journey leading to the skirt of that lofty peak. We got there and the action of sliding out of the passenger seat was sufficient to spike my heart rate. Can you imagine at 5100 m el. standing around your body feels like you have run a marathon in record time? What is it like at the 29000 foot peak?? You have to breath through your mouth with some effort and concentration. The air is so dry that your lips swell and crack immediately and there is a booming in your head. I looked around once to find the red-clad monk with a drum only to find that it was my blood pounding in my ears.

Spent a sleepless night at Rong Pu monastery at 4900m (just 8 km below the EBC) fighting to breathe and the demons of weird dreams.