Lukla to Tengboche (Three Passes Trek , Nepal) Part I

March 22^nd, 2010 - The Kongma Pass. Should I or shouldn't I? This is the Himalayas and trudging through a snowy pass sans companion is not the best of ideas. As I stood in the village of Chhukung looking up at the trail leading over the ridge and into the unknown I was feeling a bit uneasy. I'd come this far so F it. If things became complicated I'd just turn back. I'd met two groups of two that had just come over the Kongma La the past two consecutive days. Sure they had trouble identifying the trail but they assured me that even if you deviate from the path eventually you will find your way. The fact that one find's oneself surrounded by nearly impenetrable faces of menacing rock tend to steer one in a certain direction. In essence you can't get lost. Ummm…clearly these folks were not familiar with my uncanny ability to become disoriented. I could just go back the way I'd come and circle around the pass. I could also wear a wig, throw a little rouge on my cheeks, put on a pair of granny panties, and curl up in the fetal position like a whiny little scaredy cat.......

Tengboche to Dingboche (Three Passes Trek, Nepal) Part II

March 23^rd, 2010 - The night I spent in Tengboche was an entertaining one. I met some folks from Ireland, Belgium, England, and the Netherlands. It was the conversation with the young Dutch woman that sticks in my mind. She was traveling alone albeit with a guide and porter. Apparently the guide was…how shall I say…a bit clingy. He was upset with her because they were not spending enough quality time together. Sure.

She was staying at the adjacent guesthouse and because we were at the start of the season she happened to be the only occupant. Our guesthouse was a hotbed of socialization so it is no surprise that she wanted to meet folks. Her guide was not amused. He did not seem to understand that spending all of her time in a dark lodge while having a conversation in broken English was not the Himalayan adventure she was seeking. Imagine that. They had a 'come to Jesus' heart to heart where he asked her if she wanted another guide. Tears were shed….by him. She managed to mollify him and all was well but she was walking an amorous tightrope.

You may think this scenario sounds exceptionally bizarre. It is not. As far as many Nepali men are concerned female westies (as I like to call them) are considered to be the romantic Holy Grail, especially when they are fetching, as the young Dutch lass in fact was. She told me that they had spent the day together in Kathmandu on a sightseeing tour. I explained to her that it probably meant he was in love with her….literally.