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- Apr 26, 2017
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Ups and Downs on the Everest Base Camp Trek
Big greetings from team Mountain Madness here above 14,000 feet. It feels like we’ve lived four lifetimes in the span of the last week we’ve had here in Nepal.
We started out ingloriously our first night in the Khumbu with several trekkers experiencing some gastrointestinal challenges. Shy and myself zipped around doling out electrolyte powder and Imodium tabs This made our climb into Namche the following day, a 2500 foot ascent, possibly the crux of our whole trip. Our arrival into the cozy lodge just above the town center was full of cheers and tears.
![](https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2F17AI0416EBC-Group2_FB.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=300&s=e8a511ac2483d93c455269b5251a0aca 300w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2F17AI0416EBC-Group2_FB.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=500&s=04ab56ce349d0a4879d33c702fdb6fc1 500w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2F17AI0416EBC-Group2_FB.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=700&s=99032765852a5a19859d996d35faf2b2 700w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2F17AI0416EBC-Group2_FB.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=800&s=5a39a37468e4a6c565e68fd1345ee64d 800w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2F17AI0416EBC-Group2_FB.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1000&s=575897ae29e7cda5b8a287668027d0a5 1000w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2F17AI0416EBC-Group2_FB.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1200&s=a6b620d6ba174460bc0dac0f47cc41b0 1200w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2F17AI0416EBC-Group2_FB.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1400&s=952c44872fd2391088251b19148874c5 1400w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2F17AI0416EBC-Group2_FB.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1600&s=504b9157727d28e3ade8f56c3b3ab04e 1600w)
Soggy but happy to be “home” for the day.
But these first two wet and challenging days were rewarded on our rest day, when the sun peeked out for our acclimatizing hike up above 12,000 feet. We had a stunning afternoon chilling out on the old airstrip and laughing with the head lama at the Namche monastery. The afternoon was spent shopping, mostly for local down jackets, since our forecast now showed some colder days up high. Maryna, Michael, Jessica, and myself are excited for the photoshoot at base camp in our matching layers!
![](https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2F17AI0416EBC-Sign_1024.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=300&s=698bf0facd2141a37a487a39036ccc5b 300w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2F17AI0416EBC-Sign_1024.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=500&s=4491437b506ffb1aec885327052a455e 500w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2F17AI0416EBC-Sign_1024.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=700&s=2353be907c925bc3979f5890df3f056c 700w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2F17AI0416EBC-Sign_1024.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=800&s=d68dd1970727cc5afc583efa3ce6e471 800w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2F17AI0416EBC-Sign_1024.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1000&s=47bb8857c21677ab2e850495d63eee43 1000w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2F17AI0416EBC-Sign_1024.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1200&s=8966b25987284436ea13febb2b27ee9c 1024w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2F17AI0416EBC-Sign_1024.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1400&s=f85bc06458a23317c83a0c1120e17700 1024w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2F17AI0416EBC-Sign_1024.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1600&s=1adc015ad77f96bfd4dc43b00af211ea 1024w)
Pointing the way to Tengboche.
Next was the climb into the heart of upper Khumbu at Tengboche. A magical day for the whole team. Jolene and Jay wanted to solidify their union with the blessings of a Buddhist monk. We all gathered in the monastery at the top of the hill. We received blessings as a group for good luck and safe travels through the Khumbu. Then it was time to honor the union of these two special people. They both knelt before the monk and he began chanting many prayers while we tossed rice. He adorned them with khatas, and they walked out gleefully holding hands. We then bound their hands with scarves for the short walk back to the tea house, where we celebrated with an improvised wedding cake prepared by our wonderful cook team.
![](https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2F17AI0416EBC-Group_1024.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=300&s=40ba3eb8cd39e0b994d9f04b8fd6f47d 300w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2F17AI0416EBC-Group_1024.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=500&s=c84331eae1b7e89ebcbc5dd1dbcc41ba 500w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2F17AI0416EBC-Group_1024.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=700&s=5ffa635aa2af539f1e8f19cbab26b41b 700w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2F17AI0416EBC-Group_1024.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=800&s=f36780ca3c5f03c37850d059e3134d2b 800w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2F17AI0416EBC-Group_1024.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1000&s=0ec7733d53dbf2df5d983296a2dca02b 1000w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2F17AI0416EBC-Group_1024.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1200&s=fcf9a4bf52436ce11ee18325d45f917c 1024w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2F17AI0416EBC-Group_1024.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1400&s=624e17cff34faed6b9c878b60240ac36 1024w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2F17AI0416EBC-Group_1024.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1600&s=e9467d8cfb945dd5096a80afd35fefed 1024w)
Our group after the blessing ceremony.
And just to complete the day, the clouds finally broke and we had our very first views of the Himalayan giants all around us that evening: Ama Dablam, Thamserku, Nuptse, and the tiniest sliver of the Everest summit.
![](https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2F17AI0416EBC-DrinkFixins_1024.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=300&s=aa4e436799f12484960a43780126c572 300w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2F17AI0416EBC-DrinkFixins_1024.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=500&s=f781262d0b37fde5f67086179228f20f 500w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2F17AI0416EBC-DrinkFixins_1024.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=700&s=70a87ede668c55a8c2828375049aa0d3 700w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2F17AI0416EBC-DrinkFixins_1024.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=800&s=2f3bbc546f3fac32716c542a54aebd22 768w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2F17AI0416EBC-DrinkFixins_1024.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1000&s=fc730b6e0de6662e6623c4f935540b55 768w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2F17AI0416EBC-DrinkFixins_1024.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1200&s=34879094ee345dd5c54a4ba15669cc4c 768w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2F17AI0416EBC-DrinkFixins_1024.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1400&s=207598924771ebc9574171903c003a46 768w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2F17AI0416EBC-DrinkFixins_1024.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1600&s=b7e6825132d1f28d9c0b9716e10c1ddb 768w)
Cook staff with warm drinks.
From here we are headed up the valley for our next mission: Dingboche. More updates soon!
~Mountain Madness Guide Mara Larson — words and photos