Played a little futbol with the local kids in Khumjung (12,500′) yesterday.  A little winded to say the least, but not bad for a retired, 40+ Americano at altitude… the shared smiles were certainly more of a highlight than my scoring prowess.

I am pleased to report that we’re still engaged.  So far, so good!  Today, we did a nice acclimatization hike up to the Everest View Hotel at 13,000′ above the villages of Khumjung and Khunde.  It was an absolutely beautiful day after days of rain and snow in the Khumbu Valley and entire Everest region.  Above my head and a bit to the left is the summit of Everest getting pummeled, as usual, by the jet stream, with Lhotse completely enshrouded by the spindrift and cloud those 200mph winds create.  Ama Dablam is the beautiful and iconic peak above Carla and to the right.  The large hanging serac (ice block) near the summit looks like a necklace – hence the name Ama Dablam (or Mother’s Jewel).

Tomorrow, we will drop back down to the Dudh Kosi river and climb up to the famous Tengboche Monastery before dropping back into the rhododendron forest and the village of Deboche for the night.  The following day we will continue on to Pheriche at 14,000′, after a stop in Pangboche for a blessing for a safe journey from Lama Geshe (the most prominent Lama in the Khumbu Valley) just as we did in 2012.  More updates to follow as conditions, connectivity and my fiancee allow.  😉