Everest BC12 (D4): How Hillary lost his wife and daughter

Namche acclimatization.  11, 620 steps, 3.9km.  Khumjung area. 11,300 ft.

We went to Everest Hotel and Khumjung village.  I liked the hike.  We sat in the Everest Bakery (funded by several folks) - had caps and cookies - interesting to get it all the way up here.  I loved the whole moss thing outside Everest hotel.  It was growing on trees.  There was a magical feel to the place.  We couldn't see anything because of weather but it was just beautiful.

The group came together this day -- lots of talking and laughing.  I think it's something to do with isolation - talking, gossipping releases the stress of the hike.  It was interesting to observe.

I loved the hike back that I did mostly on my own.  I mistakenly went into a yak farm - that the yaks didn't appreciate very much.  One snorted at me and nearly ran out.  We were pretty much above the clouds acclimatizing.  There was a spot where I was overlooking the Namche village including the helipad that was identified with a big H.  The clouds spread from the right and in just a few seconds engulfed the whole area.  I knew technically, rationally-thinking that there was a big mountain on the other side but I wouldn't know it, know of it.  Pretty much like everything else.  You never know what's around you until your clouds move out.

Milan talked about the airstrip at Sangboche.  It was here that Edmud Hillary lost his first wife and daughter in an air crash.  He survives climbing Everest and couldn't have in the least expected that his family would die in an air crash.  He had built a hospital and they were joining him for its inaugural.  I kept thinking about this a lot and what might have gone through his head at that time.