18 MARCH, 2013 - LOBUCHE

At Lobuche Mother Earth House - a best lodge of Lobuche

At Lobuche Mother Earth House – a best lodge of Lobuche

We awake to a rime of snow covering what will be potato fields in several months. It is a Dr. Zhivago morning in Dingboche.  We initially retrace our steps upward, careful to avoid yesterday’s patches of emesis .It is a barren land and the walk takes us around a ridge and up to Dughla where we bask in the sun with a cup of tea before tackling the brutal switchbacks that will ultimately lead us to Lobuche.

View of Pheriche with lots of snow

Enroute we pass several hikers who are succumbing to the effects of 4000+ metres of altitude. One fellow, supported on either side stumbles only a few steps forward to stop and mumble something incoherently.  Another character is being hobbled off on a horse. June, do you recall the unicycle rescue off of Mt. Kili? No such transport here. Short of qualifying for the helicopter evac you might end up as a pack on a yak!

On the way to Lobuche – Lobuche Peak in front while trekking

Atop this trail are the memorial stones to fallen climbers. Scott Fischer’s is quite prominent from his 1996 expedition disaster. We pay our respects to what must be the highest cemetery in the world although not all deceased climbers as we know have been taken off the mountain. It is not even a year since our own Canadian, Shriya Klorfine of Toronto died on Everest,  May 19, 2012 but the family has erected a memorial already.

Near Lobuche walking on ice, Mt. Pumori on background

 
Our day ends at Lobuche ( 5000metres) at Mother Earth House Lodge. We have done tremendously well to reach this altitude without distress.

Its good to take rest sometime and take break for a photograph

Our objective tomorrow: EBC …… can hardly wait!
a.c xx