Day 6 - " The ship is sinking" Pheriche 4200 metres

After a day of rest we moved out of Debuche on a fine morning soon finding ourselves in the midst of a number of large groups winding their way down to the river.

I was still feeling weak by the time we reached Pangboche for morning tea but the stunning views of Amadablam made up for my condition.

With Monika still strong it wasn't long before we took lunch in Samero at 4000 metres signalling our first foray into the "altitude zone".

A long climb after lunch told me something was amiss as despite having taken an antibiotic that morning I was now unable to go more than100 metres without being crippled by stomach cramps.

Making my way gingerly to Pheriche I immediately sought a doctor at the town clinic and after a pretty through examination had my antibiotics regime changed to a more effective and powerful drug - with stories floating the rounds of 2 Trekkers dying in this area in the past week, this was not something I was prepared to muck around with. Particularly as the memorial to the lost lives outside the doctors tin shed had a lot of vacant plaques left! 

For the night it was back to our ice cavern and the thought of going without a shower for another week!

Whoops

Sorry folks a few technical difficulties with wifi and whether bog has been updated or not resulting in 2 days with same info. Will try hard not to let it happen again!

Day 4 & 5 -' Black Hawk Down' - Debuche 3800 meters

There are 3 sure fire ways to spoil a Nepal Trekking Adventure

1) Die

2) come down with attitude sickness and feel like your about to die

3) come down with diarrhoea and wish that you had AS or could just die!

I chose Number 3 as we left Namche transporting with me my new"bacterial" friends - The scenery was sublime as we initially took the high valley path before winding our way downwards to the river and lunch on a steep narrow path choked with dust and a number of large trekking groups, that we're impossible to overtake.

On the way this morning we bumped into Nepal's very own private "Road tax collector" This same guy has been sitting on the same path in the same area for 25+ years collecting donations off tourists for " Trail improvements" ( yes, we have seen his army of workers in action!)

Back at the ranch, I mean river, after finishing lunch we commenced an arduous 2 hour, 400 metre altitude ascent to Tengbouche on a snaking path.

My strength gave out quarter of the way up, unable to answer questions of concern from Birbal and Monika.

After a period of recovery and with Birbal now carrying both his and my backpack,I traipsed up the hill at the startling speed of 0-1 kms per hour. Seeing little of the amazing views and a lot of the detailed texture of my shoelaces.

After resting beside the famous monastery on top we continued downwards to our destination at Debuche 3800 metres with both Monika and Birbal strong and self on second hand fumes!

Arriving around 3pm I crashed into my bed moving little over the next 24 hours other than to drink liquids or go to the toilet.

For Monika it means an enforced/unplanned layover and after only our 2nd day, even she was keen to move on!