Daily Chronicles

Day 1 had been gentle. Mostly downhill, which could only mean one thing. Day 2 would be a climb !!! Of course, Day 2 arrived with intent—nearly 3,000 feet of elevation gain and an all-day walk ahead with plenty ups and downs.

Within an hour, the sun broke through. Layers came off, cold-weather gear disappeared into backpacks, and the trail came alive. Cameras clicked constantly as we walked through Sherpa villages, stone houses and prayer flags framing the path.

Before long, the creamy turquoise waters of the Dudh Kosi appeared. We stopped, posed, and soaked in the view. Soon after, we entered the Khumbu Valley, and with it, the busiest trail we had seen so far—trekkers heading in every direction, bound for different peaks and passes, not all EBC-bound. Today also marked the day we entered Sagarmatha National Park. Some of us spotted Danphe, the national bird of Nepal, along the trail

Somewhere along the trail, a few of us spotted a familiar face—Kami Rita Sherpa, the legendary mountaineer and world-record holder with 31 Everest summits to his name. A quick photo, a shared smile—one of those unexpected moments that quietly elevate a day.

The hours rolled on: suspension bridges swaying over roaring rivers, a lunch stop at the village called Jorsalle, followed by what felt like endless stone steps. Eventually, we reached the iconic Hillary Suspension Bridge.

Below us, the Dudh Kosi thundered through the gorge. Around us, lush green slopes rose sharply, while silver peaks stood tall above, their crowns wrapped in drifting clouds. Despite having walked over ten hours and gained significant elevation, today's stretch was undeniably one of the most colorful days of the trek.

As the sun began to retreat, the air turned chilly again. Our pace slowed—altitude was now making its presence felt. By 5:30 p.m., we finally reached Namche Bazaar, perched dramatically on the mountainside.

Often called a town—but feeling very much like a village—Namche is the historical and administrative heart of the Khumbu region. Guarded by Kongde Ri to the west and Thamserku to the east, it felt both protected and powerful.

Hot showers in attached bathrooms and an available laundry service felt luxurious after a long day. Dinner followed the now-familiar comfort menu: soups, ramen, momos, dal bhaat. As always, fruit came after—apples and pomegranates—along with a Snickers bar for the next day’s trek.

Treks are where you get to meet many people. We met Polar Preet aka Preet kaur Chandi famous for her solo expedition to the South Pole - the first woman of color to reach the South Pole solo and unsupported. She was on the trail to climb Island Peak.

Our teahouse sat at 11,300 feet, where we would spend two nights acclimatizing. Our guide checked everyone’s SpO₂ levels—all within expected ranges for the altitude.

True to form, our guides and sherpas made sure we ate well and had our water bottles filled before they even sat down for their own meal.Day 2 had tested our legs and lungs—but it also welcomed us into the heart of the Khumbu.