Monika set off at least able to maintain a slow & steady pace in a forward direction.
At 5000 metres any exertion can leave you breathless including just trying to take a drink from your own water bottle!
This was a tough gig but after 3 hours, 1 hill climb and much effort to negotiate glacial moraine rock scree we reached Gorakshep. Off loading our large packs and taking lunch ( or as little as the altitude would allow) we set off for Everest base camp knowing that the weather was closing in.
From Gorakshep you actually climb 300+ metres to walk a ridge line towards EBC - surrounding you in nearly perfect amphitheater are some of the highest mountains in the world although Everest itself is largely hidden.
En route and with the coloured tents of the seasons climbers in sight (apparently nearly 300 permits have been issued for an attempt on Everest) we met out 2014 guide Deepak now employed as base camp manager for one of the smaller expeditions. His companies 6 clients include 3 from Myanmar who are attempting to become their countries first to climb Everest.
With now only a short walk to cross the glacier Monika was willing herself forward with Birbals help despite still suffering strong altitude symptoms.
To our collective relief she finally sat beside the EBC cairn and prayer flags smiling for commemorative photo and those memories that can last a life time.
The job wasn't over though as we still had to hastily retreat to Gorakshep with a weather change now bringing ice cold winds and pretty solid snow that had us rugged up in multiple layers and our effective wind jackets.
Finally we arrived back at Gorakshep exhausted but elated having trekked for nearly 8 hours, 20kms at 5000+ metres and having erased the ghosts of 2014!
"Well done Monika"
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