Nepal : Part 12 - EBC Trek (Day 7) - From Lobuche (4930m) to Gorak Shep (5180m)

Summary of Meal Expenses

	Breakfast		Lunch		Dinner
	Lobuche		Gorak Shep		Gorak Shep
	Meal	Price	Meal	Price	Meal	Price
Mine	2 Boiled Eggs	390	Vegetable Omelette	440	Dhal Bhat	580
	Hot Water	70	Jasmine Tea Ginger Tea	110 110	Ginger Tea	110
Sister	2 Boiled Eggs Egg Drop Soup	390 390	Vegetable Egg Noodle	290	Sherpa Stew	400
	Hot Water	70	Jasmine Tea Hot Lemon	110 110	Mint Tea 1Liter Hot Water	110 300

Price of items that may matter:

	Gorak Shep
Battery Charge	Did not notice
WiFi	Did not notice
Mineral Water (do not remember size of bottle)	350

My Story

21092013 - At 5.30am, we were at the dining room ready to have our breakfast. It was -0.2 degrees outside. We have to leave by 6.30am because the guide was afraid of our speed. I really disliked that. This is not a race. Altitude sickness does not deserve even to be a consolation prize. Anyhow, we all agreed to leave by 6.30am.

I went out to have a taste of -0.2 degrees. It was chilling. Not bitter painful cold because there was no wind. I saw a bit of the sunrise behind the mountains. I was excited because I was going to see that from behind Mount Everest tomorrow when I go up Kala Patthar. For breakfast, I had 2 boiled eggs. It was 6am, and I was afraid I could not eat much since it was too early. Hindsight, this was how I aggravated an incoming gastric. My sister had a bowl of noodles because she felt cold and needed something 'soupy' to warm her up.

We gather to have a group photo before we head off to Gorak Shep. It was going to take us 3 hours. But we reached in 2.5 hours. From Gorak Shep, we will proceed to Everest Base Camp (EBC). Today is an exciting day. I was very determined that I will paint my finger nail in EBC. That is how much confidence I have in myself that I will step foot on EBC.

The walk was on a flat rocky path. I walked for only 5 minutes, and I pant like I just did a 100m sprint. We heard a helicopter, and the guide told us it was bringing cargo for Lobuche. I did not see any porters carrying any goods up further than Tengboche.

From this huge rock, it was an ascending walk. Small footsteps all the way. It was just one foot ahead of the other. Not even a gap between my feet. That was my walking rhythm. Occasionally, my foot slipped a bit on the loose stones. Prayer flags can be seen after every ascending trail. So, we can see from afar how long we have to go, and how soon we can jump from joy. 

On this trail, I see the first rock vandalised by brainless trekkers. It was really disappointing to see that there are trekkers who do not appreciate nature. In my mind, I had the perception that people who trek loves the outdoor, and the nature. But at that moment, I realised how naive I was. I realised that there are people who did this just for the sake of glory, and hence, to permanently pen their presence which unfortunately mar one of the most beautiful treks.

Then, the guide pointed out - Look at the water from Khumbu Glacier. It's global warming. The glacier is melting. When I was in school which was 10 years back, I learnt these terms - pollution, thinning of the ozone layer, green house, global warming, ocean level rises. Today, I see the effects with my own eyes. A war has been declared between us and Mother Nature. We all know a war has no winner. So, I guess we all know how the ending is going to be.

I turn around occasionally to make sure my sister is still within sight. Our conversation from 'Are you okay?' shortens to a 'thumbs-up' sign and replied with a head nod. Words are not required unless necessary.

After 2 hours, we see Gorak Shep (5180m). Our Sherpa stops and shows us. A silent cheer that we have made this far without any altitude sickness. Opposite Gorak Shep is Mount Kala Patthar. Kala Patthar means black rock. See, no snow on Kala Patthar. Gorak Shep was the original location of the Everest Base Camp but the camp is now another 2 hours walk away.

At 9.20am, we stepped into our lodge. I had a cup of ginger tea and my sister has her hot lemon and an egg omelette. I had a chocolate bar. I never realised how little my calories input were. 

We took a rest for 20 minutes and began the most anticipated route I was so fearful of. Will I reach?