Day Eight Yak Kharkha to Thorung High Camp

Trying to stay warm in my bed at Thorung High Camp

Garlic and onion soup with trekker friends at 15,000 feet

The slippery trail to Thorung Phedi

Morning snow at Yak Kharka guest house

We woke to about 5 inches of snow and at first it appeared as though the snow would continue all morning. However, as we were eating breakfast patches of blue sky appeared and we hoped the lama's blessing had worked. The blessing did the trick and our morning trek to Phedi (the camp at the base of Thorung Pass) was beautiful in the snow and sunshine. The steep and icy spots were quickly passed. We had lunch with our trekker buddies at Phedi sitting outside at a table covered with a yak blanket. We decided to continue climbing up the 400 meters to High Camp. The one hour afternoon climb meant that we would not have to attempt the climb the next morning. Even though it was bitterly COLD at High Camp, it was worth getting the climb behind us. Our room was the most spartan yet...stone walls, two wooden beds with foam mattress. Toilet was next door and the water for flushing was frozen and so a steel rod stood next to the bucket to break through the ice. Brrr.....There was no fire in the lodge as there was no fuel around so folks sat with all gear on, slurped our soups and then cuddled in our sleeping bags. It was very difficult to sleep with racing hearts and we were ready for the 4:20 wake up so we could get started on the climb over the 17,000 foot Thorung pass.