BAGS!!!!!

Monasery near Khumjung

Happy Day!  Two of Stephens three bags made it to him.  His own coat, own pants, own coat. And then there was the hot shower last night.  Shorter but very steep hike today.  They left Namche Bazar and climbed to Khumjung (12,400ft).  Tomorrow is a rest day with the opportunity to visit a nearby monastery. 

The Beginning

Stephen is hiking into Base Camp.  The group is taking their time.  Russell Brice (head of expedition and renown climber) likes to take the climbers on a longer route than normal.  This longer hike will make it easier to acclimatize.  This is the second day of the hike in.  They started in Kathmandu and helicoptered into Lukla (9, 317ft).  That day they hiked into Phakding (8,562ft).  They arrived today in Namche Bazar (11,282ft).  they are exactly 12 hours ahead of us and almost perfectly on the other side of the world.

                                                                                                              Namche Bazar

 Stephen has already encountered his first problem.  While leaving SLC his flight was delayed over two and a half hours.  This caused him to barely get on his connecting flight to Dubai. Well he made it but his bags did not.  Because of the delay of flights and change of carriers in Dubai his bags were lost.  He had to borrow an old sleeping bag, a sherpa's coat and some tennis shoes of Russell's to start his hike in, not knowing where his bags where or whether or not they would be found.  But never fear today the gear got to Kathmandu and will catch up with Stephen in 2-3 days.  Meanwhile the tennis shoes will have to do.