This is Vern Tejas with the Alpine Ascents Everest team. A clear calm dawn broke on our new day. The night at the famed Ama Dablam Garden lodge was wonderfully restful. Well, that is if one was able to sleep through Matt's falling out of bed at two in the morning. As part of our acclimatization process our cook Ong Chu (the best cook in the Kumbu) is trying to fatten us up for the ordeal that lies ahead. Despite the fact that everyone has a healthy appetite, there have been several protests of too much food. Is it really possible to gain weight at 14,143 feet above sea level? This will be an interesting experiment.
A handful of team members dropped in on the Deboche Nunnery for morning chants and a hot cup of Tibetan salt tea. This is definitely an acquired taste. Then it was lighting of ceremonial candles and some Rupees in the collection box before we were all on our way up the beautiful Ija Khola river valley. An attack by an insane snarling Yak added a bit of excitement to our trek and hurried us along the trail. The trekkers marching and singing in unison for their food ushered lunch in. " We're the best trekking bunch, now we're ready for some lunch" You get the idea, we had to feed them to make the singing stop.
A leisurely five hours on the trail brought us to the fair mountain village of Dingboche. The Sonam Friendship Lodge shall be our home for the next two nights as we acclimatize to this new elevation. The team is adapting well to the thinner air yet it is prudent not to push too hard early in the game. It'll be challenging enough in days to come so the best thing for us is to work on building a sound foundation. To that end we will plan an altitude seminar and a light day hike for tomorrow.
Thinking of our loved ones back home we thank you for joining us.
Vernon
Team member Dr. Paul Obert wishes the best to Birmingham and all the Alabama supporters of "Kid One Transport". As the Kid One banner progresses toward the summit of Everest we thank you for helping these needy children.
— Vern Tejas, Alpine Ascents International Guides and MountainZone.com Correspondent
