We're finished hiking!!! We trekked back to Lukla today (the modern airport into which we flew in). Altogether about 24 hours worth of hiking, perhaps 20 miles over 5 days, we lost about 7 pounds each (we think), and we're supposed to fly back to Kathmandu tomorrow. The flight out is not supposed to be as chilling as the flight in (yeah, right), but we'll see.
Today, while walking, Stephanie peed in a hole. We've seen hundreds of cows carrying thousands of pounds of equipment, luggage, propane, other cows, etc. Even more amazing are the 12 and 13-year old boys who weigh perhaps 70 pounds and are carrying 100 pounds uphill. Remember how we say when we were kids we walked barefoot 2 miles uphill both ways? That's about what happens here. They call it the "Nepali Flat Walk" which means going up in elevation about 600', then back down. We call it the Himalayan Shuffle, which basically means that we walk like we're using a walker with our shoes tied together. That's how we navigated most of the terrain here.
As much as we have been stunned by the beauty here, the poverty is just as overwhelming. No heat for the past week, toilets are hit and miss, and a shower is a luxury. It's really been rather life-changing seeing how little these people have (at least as far as tangible things) compared to us, but strangely enough they have internet all the way up to Everest, cell phones everywhere, and--not surprisingly--an amazing sense of community.
Back to civilization tomorrow.
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