... and Looking Down!

The irony of a trek in such a beautiful place is that, while the inclination is to constantly look up and around, the track is such that you have to spend an inordinate amount of time staring at your feet to avoid tripping.

In fact, every time I looked up to take in the beauty, I found myself stumbling.  Along a mountain cliff with no guard rail, such an occurance can be deadly.

Nowhere was the volume of scree and ice greater than in the Khumbu Valley on the way to Everest Base Camp.  Despite the looming enormity of Everest, the walk to Base Camp was about as myopic an experience as you can imagine.  If you didn't watch every step, a twisted ankle, or worse, was an inevitability.

The solution, of course, is to stop frequently to take in the sites.  This we did.  It's also a good idea because it allows both frequent rest and drinks.  Rapid ascent and dehydration are two of the biggest trek-wreckers on the mountain.