Rest day in Lobuche. I ran into our Base Camp Sirdar – that is kind of like the Director of Operations at Base Camp. He coordinates all the infrastructure, loads and a thousand other details that are necessary for a big climb. He told me some stuff still has not gotten to BC yet so no hurry. So we decided to take another acclimatization day at Lobuche.

A lot less people this morning. The helicopters have been evacuating them left and right. A couple of my companions have been eating the Tuna. I have shared my theory that the tea houses get a kick back from the helicopter company for every sick trekker they generate. I have affectionately named one chopper that made a couple of trips the “Tuna Express”. I told the guys yesterday that when I take people for rides in my aerobatic plane I always tell them to eat bananas first. “Does that help with air sickness?” they ask. No but it taste the same coming up as going down.

My headache has abated somewhat and now is only in the front half of my head. I am trying to avoid meds today. I paid good money for all this suffering and I don’t want to waste a penny of it.

I decided to try and call home. It took me a little while to find a signal. I basically had to stand on top of a wall and lift my left leg, kind of like the “Karate Kid” while facing west. To save a $1.20 a minute the sat phone would have cost it was worth it. Of course the minute you start talking on the phone the signal seekers start swarming like vultures. I wouldn’t care except some can’t seem to wait until you are finished and really lack a respect for personal space. It is something of a cultural thing I think. My answer to that is to occasionally turn the cell phone completely off then climb some really tough rock and talk to myself for a while. You do know I am kidding right? Surely you don’t think I would do something like that? Laughing does seem to help my head. Tomorrow we leave for Base Camp. It is a pretty grueling day but fortunately with another 1,500 elevation gain my head ache will be back.

In a post script I have had the pleasure to get to know and spend time with a great group of Canadians at Pheriche and here. They have been great people and have a genuine camaraderie. This is their leader’s 17th team to Nepal. I was sharing with them how minor league ice hockey has swept the south and that the majority of players are from Canada. As tough as they are they seem to have a real sense of fair play. A fight breaks out in a hockey game and the first thing everyone does is throw down their sticks. I fear there will probably never be many Southern players though because the first thing most Southern boys would do is look for a stick! I hope they have a great trek and a safe trip home, eh.