Day Seventeen (Email Home)
Submitted: Mon, 15 Mar 2010 | Views: 3 | 0 comments
November 18/2009 Email home
"Made it"
Hi Kitty
Sorry it's been a long time but we have not had a village with power let alone internet. Well we left Manang in the snow while many others turned back or waited. We went to Yak Kharka which means yak pasture. Yes we saw tons of Yaks! We hike high and slept low and accommodations got more dire. Then went to Throng Phedi and the trail was very slippery and many very scared. We woke up at 3am to attempt our ascent and started up at 4am with all feeling the altitude. Each step is a chore to breathe and push on with oxygen at only 50% of normal. It was clear and dark with a billion stars and a shooting star blazed the sky...awesome! We all made it up to the top as the sun broke over the peaks and I was actually choked up. It was windy and bitter cold. We ascended 1000 meters and then descended 1700 meters in one day...our knees are screwed....I have black bruises on them. We were wiped as we made it to the temples of Muktinath and spent the night celebrating our feat with a long game of pool..yes pool with our head lamps on. We hiked to Jomson which was an airport in the middle of peaks with small planes flying in and out in the morning...it was crazy to see. We then walked 24 kms down hill to Kalopani and by the time we got there I was a sick as I have ever been and spent the rest of the day and night throwing up...both ends! We made it the Tatopani today which means hot water and spent a few hours in the hot springs..what a relieve. I feel a bit better with the Cipro in me. We have picked up a friend from Holland who has joined us as a foursome...he is cool and is rooming with me..his name is jocko. We are planning to make it to Pokhara early and get our rafting/safaris booked and possibly do Falcon Parasailing...you actually feed falcons from your hand while circling the same thermals they are flying. This is a crazy wonderful place...I will attempt to make it all clear with photos etc. when I get home...better go. I love and miss you so much!
