We awoke to about four inches of fresh powder covering the guesthouse, the village below, and the trail. The temperature was cool, but not as cold as yesterday morning. The ancient granite steps covered with snow made a challenging climb down about 500 meters to the river. As the sun melted snow, mud slickened the steps. We had tea at the bottom of the valley next to the same river/tributary that passes through Syabru Besi, the Langtang Khola. The people at the tea house were drying meat and grain in flat, woven basket trays.
Terese, Jean, and Norsang in the rear...
The snow and mud did not get this low...
We crossed the river on a metal suspension bridge and reclaimed the 500 meters climbing the other side. This is brutal exercise. The scenery is breathtaking - 20,000 ft snow covered pyramids and passes all around, but all I can think of is survival, endurance, and wonder what I was thinking when making the plans...Bucket list? bragging rights? Existential experience?
Upon arrival here, we went to the local hot springs (about 20 steps from our guest house)...three concrete pools fed by streams of sulphury hot water coming out of the ground through some sculpted outlets. Tamang women with exposed breasts were bathing themselves and children in one pool. We took up another. The water was almost as hot as the hot tub at my gym.
Toilets up here are enamel troughs, flush with the floor, with a plastic bucket with a snowmelt feed for washing excrement away. I used this for the first time and missed, and had to use precious toilet paper to scoot my offal into the enamel trough.
I talked more with the French couple, opening the dialog with a comment about my concern for the mental health of the French First Lady. The man, Jean, gave the palm to the elbow gesture to show that he could care less about political escapades, or anyone else's marital situation. He said he had worked as a machine operator in a coal mine for 20 years and was now retired with pension. I guess he is about 44 yrs old. His wife said she is a cook, but he said she only cooks for him. They seem to do lots of traveling and hiking. I'm afraid I am working harder on French than on Nepali...need to correct that.
Porter Sam, Norsang's uncle...
Jean and Terese...
You did it so that we could see these pictures and hear of the adventures without having to hike it ourselves. Thanks!
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