Gorakshep to Lobuche

Up at 0515, checked weather. Beautiful clear morning with peaks all round.

Tried washing hands at the outside sink but water was frozen so I used some of my bottled water. I've watched the dishwashers at work on the yardand it's amazing that they can get things sanitary with limited water and dust blowing through.

Watched kitchen helper get up from his foam pad on the floor in the common room, hitch up his pants and commence his morning duties.  Watered the entry mat, cleaned ashes from the common room stove, reloaded it with dried yak dung patties in preparation for tonight's fire and in between served tea and coffee to trekkers and porters.

Mike was feeling better this morning so we headed up Kala Prathar, the local viewpoint. It's 18,204 feet high, a difference of 1,329 feet from our teahouse. We struggled up the trail but the result was well worth it.

The views were spectacular. I think I've used up my store of superlatives on this trek, but today's views topped them all.

Everest is the one with the cloud cap. 

We had an  overhead view of the Khumbu ice falls, Everest base camp and the route up the glacier and Everest itself. Because we were so much higher, the mountains in front of Everest were lower in perspective and Everest really stood out.

Back down Kala Prathar, we had a late lunch and then started down to Lobuche. Light snow flurries bothered us for any hour or so but we made good time and arrived in Lobuche at 1645.