Everest Base Camp Trek Diary – Day 4 (Namche Bazar)

This was the most physically challenging day of my life. The 7 hour hike (normally 6 hours) led us to 3440 meter town of Namche Bazar. My knees were absolutely killing me. But thankfully we would be staying in Namche for 2 nights hoping to heal and acclimatize.

On the other hand, the view that was offered to us was priceless. For the first half of the journey we followed the river Dudh Koshi upstream. This is the most beautiful river I have seen so far. We trekked upto where two rivers meet to make Dudh Koshi and found the double bridge of Edmund Hillary. It was an awe-inspiring sight which screamed that we were indeed following the footsteps of Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay. From this point the climb was only uphill. For the remainder of the trek, We walked through thick pine forests, being watched by snow caped mountains from 3 sides. At one point we also got to see the peak of Mount Everest. You don’t get to see the king if you don’t pay for it.

double bridge of hillary near namche bazaar

Now that I think of it, today’s trek was absolutely beautiful. The white rivers, pine forests, stoney trails, cow bells, hanging bridges and snowy peaks – what did the small town kid do to deserve all these? The last couple hours of the hike was excruciating. I wasn’t being able to bend my knees. What others do in 30 minutes, I took 2 hours doing that. I was asking my guide, “How far?” He replied calmly, “Don’t think about how far you have to go. Think about how far you have come.”

How far have I come!

19 February 2016
Namche Bazar

Hotel: International Footrest Lodge

Read the other parts of the Everest Base Camp Trek Dairy

About Irtiza

A small town kid, stuck in a big city!