Finally Off to Lukla
Woke up before the alarm at 5:00 AM and was definitely ready to leave the city and get started on our trek to Gokyo Ri. We packed up quick and caught a cab to the airport. We checked in and they hit us with an overage charge again, but this one was only $10. Next, we went through “security.” They had a device that looked like a metal detector, but it looked like it was just a wooden fascade and didn’t work. The bag search equally appeared for show. We went out to the plane on a bus and then sat for a while as we had to wait until the fog lifted in Lukla so the plane would be able to land. The flight was smooth, not bumpy until the end where we landed on a really small runway that was ramped to slow our plane.

Padam quickly hired two porters for about $7.50/day a piece. We got started quickly under wonderfully sunny skies with a  warm 55 degrees out. Perfect trekking weather. Shortly after we started one of the porters made a switch. It wasn’t going to be him that came, but his brother. I was thinking that the original porter knew English too well to be a porter. I doubted that it was really his brother, but it turns out he is.

We started out again, make good time, except of course when we were trapped behind yak caravans. Progress over the past four years was evident, even with all their political problems. There were new guest houses, more farming, and a bridge that replaced a narrow path that had been washed away by a landslide.

I wasn’t surprised to see the incredible number of prayer wheels and stone, but was surprised how freshly painted they were. It was fun retracing the steps I had walked four years earlier at the start of my trekking experiences. As we walked, the clouds materialized and the temperature dropped quickly as we approached the first major village Phatding. Last time we were here, this is where we stopped for the night, but today we were going on to the next village of Monjo.

It wasn't that far to Monjo and it was relatively flat so we had a nice lunch. The girl serving us was fifteen and ran the establishment while the owners were off in Katmandu. It was funny to see Chuck order and go through the same routine I did four years earlier. He looked at the menu and saw all the wonderful options. Of course he wanted to order them. Padam then explained we should have soup, but Chuck didn’t like soup. Padam then explained that most dishes took two hours to prepare. I remember the same speech being made to me by my guide and had to laugh. It helps to order the same thing. Padam said to me privately that we must get Chuck used to the mountain life.

A side note, the prices really jumped from the last time I was here. It was not longer the great bargain it once was.

The rest of the day’s hike was relaxing, almost totally flat. Got the best laugh of the day when a young boy came up to me. I expected him to ask for candy or pens, but instead he was direct. “Got money? Give me ten ruppies!” I informed him, to his dismay, that I needed my money to eat on the trail.

At the end of the hike was a nice little climb, bit of a preview for the next day. We got to the top and found the village with guest houses. The first was surprisingly full, but I think that was because very few were open. We stayed in the next house where they had one building to sleep and another with a wood stove to stay warm while we ate.

I really struggled staying awake till dinner. The previous day's stress had wiped me out. Ate a light dinner and then crashed at 8:00 PM. It was a shame, because the owner had climbed Everest three times, spoke great English, and would have been very interesting to chat with. His picture was even in a book he showed us on climbing.