Greetings From Namche Bazaar

We’ve enjoyed a couple of restful days exploring the town and enjoying the hub of Sherpa civilization in the Khumbu region.  On Saturday after breakfast we went out to see the local market.  All sorts of things are available there, and sherpas will walk for several hours from their villages to buy supplies: tennis shoes, pots and pans, vegetables, meat, soda, etc.  Not much for souvenir shoppers, but an interesting site.  We spent the rest of the morning exploring the town and resting. In the afternoon we had a short uphill hike to check out Lakpa Sonam’s museum of sherpa culture.

Today we did a little bit longer of an acclimatization hike– up to the Everest View Hotel, where most of us had a coke and took in the good view before the afternoon clouds obscured the peaks.  Our first view of Ama Dablam as well, looking as awesome as ever.  We hiked into Kumjung to check out the monastery there, and saw the Hillary school across the valley.  Then up to Kunde for lunch.  Those two towns are tucked away in a glacial valley above Namche.  Beautiful sights.

Everybody in the group is doing great and staying healthy, which is fantastic.  We’ll try to keep it that way as we head up the valley!

Justin Merle