Tengboche Monastery

October 12 – Pangboche, Khumbu, Nepal

Today was a short day, thank heavens. This is the 7th day on the trail and Sherpa's don't believe in resting on the seventh day or at all. Mark and Mingma, our guide, went out for a couple more hours this afternoon while I took a nap and washed socks. It is in the 50's, so I am cold except when walking. Our lodge tonight is luxury compared to the last two. There is a western toilet, a waste basket in the hall, and a working light bulb. It doesn't take much to please me now. However, we are at tree line which means that wood stoves are changing to yak dung stoves. This is the highest, year round settlement in the Khumbu.

Prices are also rising. Last night was $4 for the lodge instead of $2. Also charging batteries for the computer is up to $2 an hour.

Yesterday we hiked up to the Tengboche Monastery which was only founded in 1917 but is very influential. It has one o f the finest views of Everest and the surrounding mountains close to Namche, so it is a final destination for some trekkers who have less time or interest in going higher. The monks there are very environmentally conscious and have put in a water turbine for electricity for the area and done a great deal of reforestation. They also care for children who are orphaned

This is a very international trek. So far we have met people from New Zealand, Wales, Scotland, England, Austria, France, Canada, Hungary, Australia, Germany, Russia, Italy, New Mexico, Colorado, Utah, and Indiana. I am going to sign off so the battery can charge better. Vicki

The views today were primarily Ama Dablam but also several of the high peaks back towards Namche. I got one great shot of a mani wall, a chorten (close distance), Tengboche Monastery (middle distance), and a clump of 6km peaks (far distance). We have now entered potato country, yak country, and yak dung burning country, as Vicki said. Today's acclimatory trek with Mingma was interesting as I got to see the Panboche temple, 600 years oldest in the Khumbu, and also the Hillary school far above it. Pangboche is a very old place. The mani walls go off in all directions; some of the granite and slate tablets are so old that the carved letters have nearly all eroded away. Centuries....

Tomorrow we are off to Dingboche...300-400 meters higher, several km further, colder, less developed. We are hoping they have internet or at least electricity. Mark