The weather was changing as we hiked up Kala Pattar. Clouds rolling in from downhill. It looked to my like the view from the top would soon be gone. I stopped short of the top thinking that I would give it a go the following morning when I knew the weather would be clear. I figured that after a nights sleep, and motivated by clear skies, tomorrow would be the day for the final stretch. (This second opportunity never came because I was forced to descend in the morning. AMS [Acute Mountain Sickness] came on strong during the night.)
There high on the ridge, I sat next to a big ol' bolder on the side of the slope by myself, and just took it all in. Though I'm sure the view would be slightly better from the top, I was indeed in a prime spot to soak in the view of the highest peaks, Everest sticking up clear as a bell with a cloud generating wind blasting off the top.
It was very cold, so I put on everything I had with me and hunkered downwind of the boulder. I got to spend a good hour or so with the high peaks surrounding me. Just me and the mountains. Trying to absorb as much of the view as possible, hoping to remember the dramatic images wrapping around me. From this spot I could see Pumori, Lingdon, Khumbutsi, Changtse, Nuptse, and Everest, and every high ridge in between. Just drinking it all in. Absolutely amazing.
I finally descended when I started to get too chilled and my toes started to go numb, but not after taking some great panoramas of the peaks which were not shrouded by clouds yet.
By the grace of God... mission accomplished.
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