Pangboche to Portse

Saturday, June 2nd.

Departed Pangboche at 0830 at 13,100 feet.

I mentioned that it's the highest village in Nepal that's inhabited year round.  the people are industrious and doing what needs to be done to scratch out a living at this elevation.  They have garden plots enclosed by stone walls.

It's spring here at this latitude and elevation so wild plants and bushes are beginning to leaf out and domestic fields and gardens are just getting started.

I saw potatoes just coming up in most of the fields. A couple small plots held greens, some kind of choy, mustard, onions and garlic.

We said goodbye to Pangboche and headed up what turned out to be the most exciting trail so far. There were marvelous views, gut-wrenching drops from narrow paths and stairs constructed up and down to pass granite outcrops. And did I mention the views?

 On the hillside in the distance you can see the trail well be in later today. 

The river, always present on our left, sometimes was only 3-400 feet but sometimes 7-800 feet down, crashing through its canyon as it quickly fell out of the mountains, generated so much noise it was a relief to pass behind the occasional rock outcrop and into silence.

 The river is the white streak at the bottom of the canyon. 

We got into Phortse at 1245 and 12,585 feet after an exhausting but exhilarating walk. Had lunch and retired to our room for a short nap.

After the recovery nap it was time to catch up on my blog. They have good connectivity here so was able to post yesterday's update and work on today's.

Our rooms have no heat but the heat from two bodies brings the temperature up to the low 50's, which is better than the common room before they light the fire. In order to stay warm we have to write memos, emails and blog updates while inside the feathers.