April 4th, 2010 PM
Today is the last day of uphill hiking. Gorak Shep marks our destination and highest lodging, and Kala Pattar is our highest hiking elevation (up from Gorak Shep).
Gorak Shep is 17,028 feet and Kala Pattar is 18,192 feet.
Hiked from Lobuche to Gorak Shep. It was relatively flat along the glacier, but with some seemingly unending ups and downs over glacial moraines as we neared the town. It really drug on at first. I had to fight a mental battle to keep my head up and take in the view and not get fixated on getting to my next bunk where I could rest. The astounding view that met us around every corner brought me back to the reality of where I stood in those moments. This place was alpine bliss. It's impossible to describe the scale of these mountains. Continents up-righted, covered in glowing white snow and jetting up into the sky so high that you have to crane your neck to see the tops.
I was breathing heavy and moving only slightly faster uphill than the glacier was down. My headache was my companion. Another mental battle to dismiss it.
We rounded one last turn and hike down the big rocks into Gorak Shep. We rested for an hour or so, ate some chipati with honey and a snickers, and then feeling somewhat recovered, decided to head up Kala Pattar the same day. Brian carried some overnight gear, hoping to sleep on top of Kala Pattar. It was clear to me at this point that my altitude symptoms were not going to allow me go join him up there overnight, but we hiked up for the day.
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