After Namche we head onto Thyangboche, a tiny village at 3860m. Which is the site of the famous monastery and Sherpa Cultural Center with the classic and gigantic Mt. Ama Dablam standing sentinel to the valley below. On the trail up to Thyangboche keep your eyes open, as you may be lucky enough to catch sight of a musk deer or the Himalayan pheasant, Nepal's national bird.

Even though much of the walking in this area has a comparatively gentle gradient, we were into higher altitudes and walking days were relatively short to allow safe acclimatization.

On the trail between Namche Bazaar and Thyangboche, we pased the Ama Dablam tea house not far from Trashinga. We've come down from the high, scenic traverse that runs along the upper edge of the cliffs above the Dudh Kosi and are working our way down to the river yet again. It's still a

long way to the famous monastery — we have yet to descend to the Dudh Khosi, cross it, then work up the big hill to the village of Thyangboche.

It's a delicious day in the Himalayan foothills, a moment completely out of real time.
Freddy and I are just cruising along, our comrades not far behind, when we come up behind a Nepalese guy shepherding four or five laden yaks down the trail. He's just one of many yak wranglers who ply the trail. As is often the case, his lead animal wears a red wig and some tassels and baubles, which must signify status like that of a lead sled dog or something, but I never got a straight answer on that.

We just file along behind him as two young Sherpani (Sherpa women) come up behind us. The two girls are laughing and talking with each other as they walk along just behind Freddy and me. The guy with the yaks is making a lot of noise, too: most of the time he just whistles in a continuous and steady but always shifting, minor-key tone, oddly beautiful, soothing his beasts. At times he emits sharp grunts and low yells: commands, apparently, to his big, hairy, docile animals.

Click here to see an enlargement. Between the lilting laughter of the girls behind us and the mesmerizing whistles and calls of the yak guy, Freddy and I sink into a kind of hypnotized state as we walk under the pine forests and rhododendron groves at about 12,000'. It's a delicious day in the Himalayan foothills, a moment completely out of real time. I really dug that trail music, and I'll never forget it.

Sagamartha NP Hq. is strongly recommended, as it offers well displayed information on the history and culture of the Everest region as well as spectacular views of the Everest massif. If you wish, you may imply relax and enjoy the 'luxuries' of Namche - cold beer, chocolates hot cinnamon rolls etc. You will probably want to stock up here for the next stage of the trek, as above Namche there is little to buy. Click Next