Mira + Brian’s Blog

Hi all!

We’re now just one day away from the end of our (seemingly endless) Himalayan adventure. I’m proud to report that we have succeeded in reaching Everest Base Camp!  We reached the zenith of the trek, at ~17,500 feet, three days ago.  The trip has been amazing, though somewhat more challenging than we had bargained for in a number of ways.

The Good Parts

There is simply no way to describe in words the beauty and majesty of the Himalayas.  The size of these mountains will forever alter our internal scale.  You’re at 12,000 feet, looking up at mountains that tower another 10,000 feet over your head.  And we thought the Cascades were sizable! 

I should also mention that, true to form, the Nepalese people are amazingly hospitable and friendly.  This country has really got an amazing vibe.  Despite their relatiely rough existence in somewhat harsh conditions, you are most likely to find a Nepali singing and smiling, day in and day out.  Great country to visit should you be a traveler!

The Bad Parts

This has been a long, LONG trip.  17 days at high elevation, in very cold temperatures, with somewhat primitive accomodations, becomes fatiguing.  We weren’t prepared for the drain of the combination of elevation and cold.  To top it off, for me, the most difficult aspect was the overabundance of downtime.  Due to the need to properly accilimtize, you sometimes only hike 2 or 3 hours a day.  That leaves 21 or 22 hours to freeze your arse off and stare at the wall.  No matter how many books you’ve brought, you tend to get pretty bored.  Sleeping was a chore as well, as the body really struggles with the ~50% oxygen content.  Many times I would awaken struggling to catch my breath, as apparently mybody forgot to double its breath rate.

The food on this trip exceeded expectations, but the limited menu quickly became tired.  You can only eat so many plates of spaghetti or momos (local dumpling-like delicacies) before a piece of chicken becomes your sole desire. 

The toughest part of this trip, however, has been our constant sickness.  I drank some bad water and spent a day with yet another case of Delhi-belly.  Mira and elevation don’t mix well, and she dealt with symptoms of altitude sickness throughout, especially the last day on the way back from base camp (see future story).  Now we’ve both got colds, and are longing for the comforts and sanitation of home! 

Quick Summary

We’re again in expensive internet territory, so I’ll keep it brief for now.  We have a number of interesting stories to share, and we will do that in the next week or so.  All in all, our trek to Everest Base Camp has been an interesting journey, yet one that will no doubt be better in hindsight than in reality.  You know that kind of trip   We’ve gained an appreciation for this beautiful place, and the people that call it home.  We’ve challenged ourselves in many ways, and proven once again that we are a great team capable of handling our fair share of adversity. But this will probably be our last high-altitude adventure for some time.

I hope everyone is well.  We’ll be seeing you soon!