We are leaving Namche for Tengbuche today. Unfortunately, we must first descend down about 1000 feet and then gain back 2000 feet to end up at 12500. Namche has been fun. It is very interesting to see how a completely remote village operates as the center of all Himalayan business and life. It is even more amazing how they function with the hydroelectric plan offline for 3 months. No running water. No lights. There is a constant stream of porters hauling water up the hill to use for everything from cooking to flushing the toilet. Porters fill large buckets in our community toilet on the third floor of our hotel. We flush by dipping a cup into the barrel and pouring it in to a western toilet. Our porters were hired instantly on our arrival to haul water for us.
The village doesn’t stop construction. There are hundreds of construction workers building new hotels. At anytime, you can see large groups of Sherpa sitting with a granite rock and chiseling it into a brick to be placed to build a wall. Most shops are closed because we are here during the off season. During the climbing season, it is clear that this place is packed with thousands of expedition and Trekkers.
This has been the best book I have read . Thanks, more chapters, more chapters!
Sounded like you needed an “E” ticket to get there and then the shops were closed. Bet those Sherpas phoned ahead.