In order to climb Mount Everest, we literally have to change our bodies. Over a period of weeks, through a complicated physiological process, our bodies gradually become more able to gather and distribute what little oxygen there is at these higher elevations. In order to take most advantage of this process we ‘climb high and sleep low’ to gradually expose our bodies to the thinner air but allow recuperative time sleeping at the lower elevation of basecamp.
Today, we took an acclimatization hike up Kala Pattar. This black hunk of rock outside Gorak rises to an elevation of 18,300 feet. The views of Everest and Pumori were stunning and we can rest well in our basecamp tonight knowing we’re one stage closer to our summit. It was very windy, but it’s good that we have some exposure to the elements we’ll certainly face higher on the mountain.
