Everest Region Hike Day 2

I starting writing this post on a sunny afternoon patio in Monju (our second night stop), looking down the steep mountain gorge we hiked up this morning. Next to the patio are two solar water heaters and a solar cooker. The patio buzzes with many languages as trekkers lounge between hikes. A glass of local beer sits on the table.

We left Phakding about 9 AM and had a pleasant three-hour hike to here. The trail followed Dudh Kosi (Milk River) as yesterday and climbed to 2835 meters. At night in bed, I can hear the river's roar.

Dohd Kosi (Milk River)

The trail crosses the river in many places on suspension bridges.

One of 8 suspension bridges on the trail

Thamsherku Peak showed its head and watched us most of the day. Below I stand in front of it.

The forests here are mainly pine; the most common being a twin of our eastern Canada white pine (fine needle clusters with a white stripe). There are also close cousins of fir, spruce, willow, beech and walnut. There are also rhododendrons the size of trees. Birds too have familiar forms: variations on crows, chickadees, and thrushes.