Finally headed for Sagarmatha - the top of the world

Ok, so I know I haven't kept those of you concerned for my life here in Nepal updated too often.. in fact I think a lot of people who asked for this blog don't even know how to check for it so I will try and attach it as a note in my facebook. Until then, I'm updating the others with my life here as I transition from volunteering in the polluted, and loud capital city to walking on the tourist crowded , yet fresh air paths toward Everest Base Camp.. Nepali word: Sagarmatha. There have been a few complications in order to get here and we didn't do much volunteering in this past week because of the time it took to get our TIMS card (trekking permit), Everest National Park permit, and extend our visa's in case we don't get back to Kathmandu until after April 7th. This took two days of going to the other side of town, near Thamel, and walking one day in the pouring rain and the other in the sweltering heat. The temperature here seems to change as fast as it does at home.. I guess because we are also in a valley, only it's almost quicker because the mountains are significantly higher. But, either way, we are finally ready to go and after a brief throat cold that I had caught a few days ago, our health seems to be also matching our enthusiasm and with a little fresh air and some exercise we will be even more refreshed. I have a feeling that my muscles will not be thanking me for the first week, and perhaps even the second.. but as we descend and pass Lukla toward a more rural eastern part of Nepal we should be in good fitness and ready to get back to civilization.. though I think we are leaving at the same time as every other tourist planning to go trekking as we all are hoping to catch the beginning of the season to avoid the tourists.. a little ironic but it shall be an adventure.

The first thing I have to remember as I embark on this journey is to have no expectations. I know there are many possibilities: that I will get to see every mountain surrounding me, that it will be foggy or raining the entire time, that the paths will be so destroyed with garbage it will feel like Kathmandu or that it will feel so remote we will feel alone.. whatever happens I know we will be passing many villages, enjoying a lot of tea, and getting our muscles moving. I'm a little concerned because I didn't train very much at all for this, except our small trek from Manakamana to Gorkha a few weeks ago.. and that proved to be difficult enough.. but we are more outfitted now and I have trekking poles that should help take the weight off of my knee during those long downhill stretches.. plus our acclimatization days shall be spent doing other small day hikes to better prepare our lungs and circulatory system for the altitude and avoid AMS.

No need to fear though, we are taking every precaution and so we are safe in the hands of Nepali nature.. plus this trek is the most touristy and thus I am sure that nothing will go wrong as long as we remain smart about the symptoms and signs of our bodies and not to push it too far. I have a feeling though that this trek is only the beginning of many more to come, not only in Nepal but in Canada when we return too. I am not taking my computer along either as a few suggested this would be a bad idea in case the theft is high in the lodges or the weather damages it.. plus the extra weight is unnecessary so I may be able to keep in touch through the odd internet cafe that charges an outrageous 20-30 rupees per minute (about .40-.50 Canadian) so it may be a short post to let the world know where we are in our journey. Other than that, you can be sure my next post will be explaining the wonders of the base camp leading to the tallest mountain in the world and the journey to and from. In fact, the journey will be greater than the so called destination. I don't even consider base camp the destination because I am not focused on one place as my goal, and it really is less than half way of our total trip. It is always the journey we are seeking anyhow so that is what I am focused on.

Tomorrow morning our flight leaves at 8:30, which means leaving at 6:30am to ensure we arrive at the airport before our reporting time of 7:30, and 25 minutes later we are at 3000 meters..crazy to think of it but trekking from the last bus drop off point would mean adding an extra 6 days minimum that we simply don't have.

But don't worry friends and family, I will report back to you soon and miss you all very much. Till then, my attitude is high as I head for the hills!