Local time: 18:30 8 Nov 2007
Location: Lobuje
Altitude: 4910m
Weather: -10C

Hi All,
Today you have the pleasure of reading the trip update by me, Darren... (Angela, I will try to follow you advice and not into EVERY detail, including Dave's no. 2 along the trail..)

Climbing Cho La
Well, today was probably one of the best days we've had so far. It started with leaving Tangnang at 06:45 and trekking up the Cho la pass. This involved a climb of about 600m to the top of the pass at 5350m. The climb was steep with lots of loose rocks and ice but reaching the top was well worth it and the spectacular views at the top. Quite cold this morning with the ambient temperature around -10 degrees plus windchill. At the top of the pass we recorded an audio message (posted on website) and Pauly B quoted heading up the pass as 'the hardest thing he has ever done'. Well, I get the feeling he will be saying that a few more times before this journey is finished.....

Getting off the pass
Coming down the other side of the pass was great fun with lots of icey snow to stop sliding on. We arrived at Zongla (4800m) for a late lunch.The original plan was to stay the night here, but, after seeing the accommodation and Dave summing it up as 'not worthy for homeless people to stay at' we decided to push on a few more hours to Lobuje to end quite a tough day. (a nine hour trek in total). At Zongla we ran into the singing porters we had seen a few days earlier. They were trying to amaze us with their tricks and antics so I left them dazzled with my missing finger trick (yeah, no kidding they really feel for it that I pulled my finger off in front of them!)

Lobuje
Considering Lobuje is a major village on the main route to Everest base camp our impressions of the place is that it's filthy and needs a good cleanup. I suppose it's a lot more glamorous for cleanup teams to get sponsorship to cleanup Everest basecamp and leave these other villages in dissarray. Never the less we were delighted that we mananged to get into the ECO LODGE at such short notice. We didn't really have a plan B

Some have a shower
We've been gone now 7 days without a shower (another new record for Pauly B) and as such our aroma's not so pleasing. Mine isn't too bad but the other guys really do stink! The hot showers here were very much appreciated, apart from Pauly A and Cas who continue to stink unshowered. One shower probably isn’t enough for Pauly B but we can’t politely tell him. So, if anyone can message to him politely to have another shower that would be very much appreciated....

Our Sherpas
Our Sherpa's are awesome guys and never cease to amaze (as such they're now enjoying beers on our behalf for their efforts). Our yak driver has summited Everest and tonight we found out that our guide, Passang (Ang Nima's brother) is also fluent in Japanese! We were promoting him as the best guide in all of Nepal to a Japanese lady and she said 'no, he can’t speak japanese', Passang then started talking to her in fluent Japanese.

The nak horn
Nak horn today was carried by Pauly A. It was a tie yesterday between the Pauls as to who would carry it today and Pauly A took sympathy on Pauly B and offered to carry over the pass. Tomorrow it'll be Cas with the horns, thanks to the external vote made for him a couple of days ago. (External votes count for more!)

That's all for now, off to Gorek Shep tomorrow and hopefully climb Kala Patthar (5555m) in the afternoon if the weather is good.

Darren and the Team.

Your Messages

Wayne Rogers
Thanks for your encouraging comments! We did infact have our hardest day so far crossing over the Cho La pass however I think Island Peak may be more challenging. Hope the prograns are coming along well and we will catch up on my return.
I think you should have cleared your schedule for this trip.
Best Regards
Dave Armstrong

Marty Armstrong
Great to here from you Marty, its been a while. Thanks for the email and pass on my best regards to the rest of the family.
Take Care.
Chat soon Dave.

Steve McF,
Great to see you back 'home'at Curragh. Yes, i always try to look out for you and you can buy me beers later for the intro to the safety chick.
Darren

Salam Hadjie
Mercie babateh message. Hava rousa garme+15-20, shaba sardeh -10.Gahzah bad niest, wallie jek nawachteh..Lotfan halleh mamaneh Siamac rah beman befrestien.
Ghorbanat
Cassra

Hi Tony
No anwer at the moment, its a very close one so far. We posted a picture of a baby Yak a few days ago, but will try and get you another
Later mate
Cas

Hi Liane, A couple of us have minor coughs, but it's nothing much. We are wearing masks at night and day to prevent Khumbu cough, and so far it's working pretty well. We have had no problems with altitude at all, although we have been very careful. I ask people some questions everyday to assess how they are coping with the altitude and if there are any problems, then we would adjust our schedule accordingly. I think from here on in we should have no problems with altitude. Cheers, Paul A.