Acclimatisation & walking the Khunde Loop
Today was an acclimatisation day at Namche.
We woke to beautiful clear skies. After breakfast we embarked on a walk around the Khunde loop. This involves a 400+ elevation gain up onto a plateau above Namche. The aim being to get some additional height to aid the body in adjusting to the altitude.
The first stop was the Everest View Hotel at 3880 metres. It is aptly named as it affords good views north of the peaks that lead up to Everest and of Everest itself. Prominent in this view is one of the most beautiful peaks in the Himalayas, Ama Dablam. It is the perfect pyramid Peak standing at 6821 metres. Despite some high cirrus cloud Everest also reared it’s head with a healthy jet stream blasting off the peak.
We enjoyed morning tea at the hotel and then went down to the village of Khumjung. This village had benefited greatly from the Himalayan Trust set up by Sir Edmund Hillary. Hillary was instrumental in establishing a school and a hospital here. We walked through the school on our way back to Namche.
The afternoon has been spent at leisure trawling the many shops here for gear and trinkets.
Tomorrow we head further up the valley to Deboche.
Until then keep well.
Brad
