Journal Entry Day 1:
Fly from Kathmandu to Lukla, elevation 2860m
Hike to Phakding 2650m, about 4 hours
A.M Bad weather. My scheduled 8:30am flight from Kathmandu to Lukla and the start of my hike to Everest Base Camp is delayed. ALL flights are delayed actually. I am sitting in Kathmandu's tiny local airport in the most uncomfortable plastic chair possible. Not sure when I will fly out--the board keeps changing to say later and later. I really wish I had eaten breakfast. And brought a book.
An airline lady approaches me, finds out I am a single traveller and changes my ticket to the earlier 6:30am flight out. The 6:30am flight has not left yet?
I fly out at 9am on the smallest plane ever with a group of dentists and dental assistants doing charity work in Nepal. They tell me they flew out at 6:30am as planned, but due to bad weather in Lukla the plane could not land, so they had to come back. I later find out that the 8:30am flight I was supposed to be on didnt make it into Lukla until the afternoon! I also learn that 2 weeks earlier a plane crashed flying into this airport....apparently it is somewhat dangerous, especially in bad weather.
I arrive in Lukla and it is FREEZING cold, foggy and drizzling. I meet my guide who immediately is not happy with my footwear choice for the hike: a pair of Nike running shoes. No, I dont have anything else to wear. When he suggests I put on my rain jacket and I pull out my old Sierra Designs windbreaker he is also not very impressed. I think he is concerned actually. Although the rain is letting up, he makes me buy a giant plastic rain poncho at one of the trekking stores before we start out.
Here's hoping for good weather!
Fly from Kathmandu to Lukla, elevation 2860m
Hike to Phakding 2650m, about 4 hours
A.M Bad weather. My scheduled 8:30am flight from Kathmandu to Lukla and the start of my hike to Everest Base Camp is delayed. ALL flights are delayed actually. I am sitting in Kathmandu's tiny local airport in the most uncomfortable plastic chair possible. Not sure when I will fly out--the board keeps changing to say later and later. I really wish I had eaten breakfast. And brought a book.
An airline lady approaches me, finds out I am a single traveller and changes my ticket to the earlier 6:30am flight out. The 6:30am flight has not left yet?
I fly out at 9am on the smallest plane ever with a group of dentists and dental assistants doing charity work in Nepal. They tell me they flew out at 6:30am as planned, but due to bad weather in Lukla the plane could not land, so they had to come back. I later find out that the 8:30am flight I was supposed to be on didnt make it into Lukla until the afternoon! I also learn that 2 weeks earlier a plane crashed flying into this airport....apparently it is somewhat dangerous, especially in bad weather. |
| Tenzing Hillary Airport, Lukla |
Here's hoping for good weather!
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| Welcome to Lukla! |
