Three days into our trek to Basecamp and we are feeling great. Our
group has had good weather and views thus far, and we are all
using these days of hiking and evenings in rustic lodges to get to
know one another. There have been many card games to play, stories
to tell and hear, and yak steaks to enjoy.

One real highlight was spending last night with Phurba Tashi's
family at his lodge in Khumjung. Phurba is our sirdar, or head
sherpa, and has summited Everest 14 times. Hi is a legend here in
Nepal and the Khumbu Valley. He also has a fantastic wife and 4
children - his oldest boy, one daughter, and two younger twin
boys. Since all 43 of us stayed in his house last night we got to
enjoy playing everything from football to hopscotch to cards with
them. They also had fun with all the electronics members of our
group have brought in with them - the kids were taking photos,
downloading them on computers, editing the photos, seeing videos
of their Dad on previous Everest, Ama Dablam, and Manaslu
expeditions, etc.

So today we are wandering the hills (and bakeries) around
Khumjung, and tomorrow we move on to the famed monastary in
Thyangboche. We will be staying at the monastary in order to spend
time with the monks and attend at least one prayer session. Look
for our next post from there!

- Adrian Ballinger