Day 15 (November 26, 2013) - Tengboche (3870) to Namche Bazar (3420m)

Trekking in the Himalayas is not straightforward. When ascending towards the pass or base camp, we were struggling ever upwards, but each day we sadly lost deserved elevation on downhills, only to slowly regain all we lost and more to reach our destination for the day. The reverse is true when descending. Up and down, only precious few sections of flat, and we are constantly tilting this way and that in the challenge of trekking. How so very different than El Camino!

Everest and Ama Dablam views.

Today was a prime example of this classic Himalayan walking. Although by the end of the day we had descended 450m from Tengboche, we ascended over 350m during the course of a long, steep, switchbacking hill, so we actually descended much more. As such, Em and I were fairly exhausted when we rolled into familiar Namche Bazar for a late lunch. Despite the grueling effort, the walk was expectedly beautiful, with numerous crossings of the Dudh Kosi river, and our first suspension bridge crossing since the first few days of our trek. 

Em is such a pro.

Spending a few hours meandering through Namche, stopping to regard all kinds of Himalayan shopping, both kitschy and unique, we enjoyed the slow pace. Reveling in my first real shower in days, it pained me to have to put on my not-once-cleaned trekking clothes afterwards. 

Namche!

Seized again with a drive for baked goods, Em and I headed out after dinner to Namche Bakery for more deliciousness. 

I broke down and got pizza.

And this...

Tomorrow is our last day of trekking. We are heading all the way back to Lukla in order to fly back to Kathmandu the morning of the 28th. Our guidebook regards tomorrow's knee-crunching descent of almost 1000m to be the one of the most challenging days of the trek. I highly doubt it will compare to the mental anguish of the days proceeding Cho La, but I recognize tomorrow will present its own challenges, as every day has. It is surreal to think our days of shouldering our mochilas and setting out into this beautiful wild are over. 

But I know, it is clear, that someday I will be back...