HAFE-meisters

Pheriche Lodge is an experience of contrasts. The dinning area is pretty flash with pictures of Sir Ed and Nepalese folks adorning the walls and then, you guesssed it, the dunnies which have the water turned off at midnight can be a sensory super nova experience by the morning.

We got a medical lecture on high altitude illnesses by thhe local volunteer doctor and along with High Altitude Cerebral Edema and High altitude Pulmonary Edema, Al and I were relieved to know that there is a medical term for what has been troubling us the most. HAFE High Altitude Flatulence Expulsion.
He also said our next leg would hurt the most and boy was he right. A 700m/2310ft climb in altitude to get to Lobeche taking 7.5hrs with breaks and reaching 16,400ft really took it's toll on the team.

In Phereche Herwin and I both had the chain stokes during the night. This a condition where every time you drift off to sleep you stop breathing momentarily. It is quite scary as you wake up again gasping for breath.
We set off from Phereche to Loboche at about 8 am and by the end of the day I was feeling shagged! I have found the altitude difficult and have had to dig very deep on several occasions.

Several members of the team have taken ill. Glen had nasty stomach bug back in Namche and Steven has been battling something similar but worse for three days now. They have both shown huge fortitude and guts in carrying on. Various other people have had chest infections, stomach issues and acclimatisation issues.

Today we made it to Gorak Shep which was another 4hour trek. Tomorrow Kalapatahar 18,300'!

Love Herwin and Al

Ps Mike's website has the official blog at www.mikeallsop.co.nz