Click Everest Base Camp – Part 1 if you want to read from the beginning.

Day 4 we trek again! After a full day of recovery enjoying the storm from the comfort of lovely Namche Bazaar we get to do an acclimation hike to Everest View Hotel. It’s an elevation gain of 440m (1440ft) and back to Namche following the ‘climb high, sleep low’ approach to getting your body used to increased elevation.

I am very happy today! Both in good spirits and happy to be hiking high in the mountains again. We climb the 100’s of stairs out of the village, up into the mountains with such beautiful views. It’s a rocky and steep ascent with an amazing 360 degree view of mountains. Yesterday we couldn’t see much since the clouds hung low with the storm, today the sun experiments with coming out to wink at us and the clouds diminish until we descend.

 

Climbing from Namche to the Everest View Hotel initially provides views of Thamserku and Kusum Kangaru. Ama Dablam is the most beautiful peak in my opinion and is referred to as the ‘Matterhorn of the Himilayas’, she is on full display with a panaromic view today. The most prominent peaks of this trek once we get to the hotel are Everest, Nuptse and Lhotse peak. They all make an appearance through the clouds today.

There is much joy in the mountains! Coming up over a ridge, I just couldn’t contain my excitement as I waited for my crew to catch up. I’m long over what people think of me, I let the endorphins kick in and play! Yes, there were trekkers smiling and lots of giggles from my crew who wanted me to do it again for a video. This is a language young Mangla understands, I can tell he wants to join me, that’s my next goal.

The hotel is quite a trek from the town so we were curious who would stay? Some trekkers add this to their route so they can stay in the hotel for a night, a quick search discovers it’s $400US a night. Helicopters also land nearby providing the opportunity for those who don’t want to trek 3 days to fly in and out to experience the view and mountain decadence of Everest View Hotel. Be forewarned, the areas we were in were not heated.

Once we got to the hotel we were taken to a room with a grand piano, large windows with views of Everest, a fireplace not stoked and the opportunity to order some warm tea and treats. They don’t light the fireplace until night. Someone has to carry wood and dung to this altitude, it’s interesting to learn even the ritsy places limit heat and fires.

The grand piano is covered and not in use but I ask Jeff if he would play it if I get permission. My shy musician doubts they would let him so he says, “sure”. Before you know it he’s sitting at the piano with a room full of trekkers trying to get warm off the ginger tea in their hands.

It was a romantic moment, Jeff Bauer sitting at the grande piano at Everest View Hotel in front of a whole room of trekkers and playing a song he recently wrote for me. I couldn’t help but cry happy tears, it was very special and I know it took a lot for him to do that as he doesn’t play for others.

The room erupts with applause and requests to continue, instead the cover is put back on the piano and Jeff comes out of performer mode. An out of body experience we won’t soon forget, once in a lifetime experience for sure.

Well, what goes up must come down! Or in my mountain hero, Ed Viestur’s words, “Getting to the top is optional, getting back down is mandatory”.

Sparatic rain is now full on. We bundle up and buckle up for a slippery trek back down to town. I’m actually still high on mountain air and feeling strong. Bibek notices me quickly maneuvering the stony descent and comments that I’m a strong climber. Who doesn’t like praise? I appreciate the vote of confidence.

That’s a long way down! We cannot even see the town.

Back at Namche Bazaar for our final night.

Why do people do these things? We get asked this a lot.

I can just answer from my own perspective, I have a desire to push my limits and potentially prove any doubts I have about myself wrong. I want to know my limits, I want to keep pushing forward and get better each year, I want to live without regrets.

I also want to live in the moment and you have no choice when you are pushing your limits but to focus on the effort and your surroundings. It is so worth it, accomplishing something we never thought possible.

This began with Kilimanjaro just before turning 50 and that one trip many years ago, tears atop a mountain, burned a fire in my soul that will never leave. My life changed forever. I changed forever.

There have been times I have not succeeded in the actual goal but I am never down on myself because I trained hard and tried my best without excuses. Maybe that was my limit in that moment?

I have had so many moments of absolute pride of accomplishment I never would have imagined all because I had the courage to just try. It all starts with 1 step. Now, 13 years after I became a mountain climber, I’ve climbed the highest ranges and mountains in 12 countries. Sometimes we just have to go try something new, we might just find a passion.

I would love everyone to have that feeling! That feeling can snowball to the next level, a bigger goal, a new talent, a passion found. It takes a yes instead of a no, a can instead of a can’t and no excuses focus. Just know there is only good in trying and only regret in wasting that dream.

There is no greater confidence boost than putting in the effort and being proud of yourself.

Now, we enjoy our 3rd and final night in Namche Bazaar. Tomorrow we trek higher to Tengboche, Nepal where a Monastery is high in the Himilayas.

Part 3 coming soon! I encourage you to subscribe so the new posts go to your inbox.