I ma currently sitting in the second highest internet cafe in the world at Dingbuchee - just beneath Ama Dhabla and Lhotse.
This is 4300 metres (about 13500 feet) and today we trecked upto 4700 (14500) for aclimatisation and to see the views. We sae the first view of Island peak just below Lhotse - which is hopefully my final destination on the treck.
The walk up here from namche has been magnificent - although for two days after Namche we were clouded in. I did not realise that the Dudh Khosi valley - covered in Rhodendron, Magnolia, Pine and Moss forest - was such a beaustifull walk on its own right.
After Nmche - we trecked fro about 6 hours and 500 metres up to Tengbuche - which is the main monastery for the Khumbu valley. We arrived in cold wind and cloud (and I mean in the cloud) to find our lodge ws just completed last week (and I use completed in the most liberal sense). However - it was all good and there was some chanting at the monastery to attend to. I bought some prayer flags for the summit - so hopefully the budha will be egging me on :)
After Teng Buche - we trecked through the moss forest to Pengbuche - home of what is supposed to be the worlds highest school and then across the glacial morain to Duigbuchee. Here - we are finally out of the forest and into the high mountains and the views have been kind - in the mornings at least.
Tomorrow - we treck for two days days to get to Everest Base Camp and Kala Patta - where the truely great views of Everest are. Then we come back here and prepare for our week long assault on the Island Peak Summit.
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