Another unforgettable day in the Khumbu. After a relaxed breakfast, we hit the trail at 9:15 AM under a flawless blue sky with crisp air and light winds. Today’s acclimatization goal: Mt. Nangkartshang. We climbed 1,500 feet to a high point at 15,700 feet—just enough to prepare our lungs for the bigger ascent to Lobuche tomorrow. The trail was dry and dusty from the unusually harsh winter, but it was also beautiful—lined with prayer flags, rock cairns, and stone memorials to those who came before us.
We stopped at the monument where the trail splits toward Lobuche, took some photos with the Dutch family we met the day before, then made our way down slowly, taking it all in.
After ramen at the lodge, we visited Cafe 4410, a cozy café that felt like home—pillowed couches, great coffee, fresh pizza, and chocolate cake. At 2PM, the daily Everest film played—a sobering Discovery Channel documentary about the 2014 Khumbu Icefall collapse that killed 14 Sherpas and shut down the mountain for the season.
Before dinner, I took a Zoom call with a reporter from Northern Virginia Magazine—they’ll be featuring our Hopecam mission in their May issue, and I couldn’t be more proud.
Dinner was classic chicken dal bhat. We talked with Kristina, a solo mom of two from Dallas trekking to base camp, and a Sherpa guide who earned his master’s in electrical engineering from Boise State before returning home to help run the family lodge.
Just before bed, I stepped onto the balcony and snapped a photo of Ama Dablam glowing under a sky full of stars. Tomorrow we’re only village away from our final goal for the trek.
Today we trekked for Hopecam child Ian. Ian uses his Hopecam during doctor appointments, on airplane rides, and while he's resting. Ian's best friend is his dad and he loves playing Fortnite and Party Animals (video games).
