The Lukla Flight

From the Itinerary: 22 September 2019 - Short but spectacular flight to Lukla (2800m); trek to Phakding We fly to the mountain airstrip of Lukla (2,800m), and set off on the first short leg of our trek, heading northwards up the valley of the Dudh Kosi (or 'milk river'). We descend from the small plateau, down into the forested valley. The trail offers some tantalising views before reaching the small settlement of Phakding (2,652m), where we spend our first night. Tea-house (sleeping altitude 2,652m). 5 miles hiking

Today was my best and worst day. Ever.

We were allowed only about 23 kilos of luggage in our duffle bag and

entered the airport with all the other trekkers early in the morning - it was still dark.

We had a wait in the airport where I bought a book about the Nepalese warriors and their famous Kukri weapons. It was a great book that I still have. After a delay due to weather we boarded. At one point we weren't sure we were going at all.

This flight to Lukla was an "E Ticket Ride". In a small plane we flew up to the very short airstip at Lukla - about 7000 feet. The air was thin and if the pilot hadn't stopped the plane on time, we would have slammed into the side of a mountain. Oh, by the way, if we had altitude issues we would have dropped and crashed into the side of a mountain. Here are a bunch of pictures and videos of runway 24, none of which really reflect the excitement and fear.

Even on this amazing, and short, flight, there was a flight attendant and we got refreshments. Eat your heart out British Airways.

We spent some time in the airport area having lunch and watching other flights make the landing and offloading. the flights in these pictures are the same type of airplane as ours.

There were a number of helicopters landing at the airport too - I wonder how dangerous this was given the thin air.

The bathrooms had amazing views over the side of the mountain into the valley

We watched the yaks getting loaded and prepared to leave the village.

We say some of our first stupas and prayer wheels. We didn't even make it out of the village when the rain deluge started and we put on our rain gear.

The initial walking was very easy and paved. We walked by rocks and boulders painted with prayers.

... and then disaster struck. I felt as though I wanted to throw up. I found the side of the road just in time to begin losing my insides from both sides and this was truly awful - both because it happened and because, bless his heart, the tour guide stayed with me. He thought it might have been the altitude, but I believe it was last night's dinner since I should have been acclimatized given I was at altitude only a few weeks prior.

Somehow I made it to the tea house and go right to the showers. Our luggage hadn't made it yet. There was no light in the shower room. The shower room was just a big grey cement room. I had feces and vomit everywhere on me and on all my clothes. Somehow I managed to clean up myself and clothes enough to make it back to the main hotel and get some clean clothing. Anyway - this was awful - but I felt better as whatever affected me was now out of my system and within 30 hours I was back all better.

I felt really bad for my room mate - Ann Marie. I don't think I smelled bad after all the cleaning, but it still must have been awful for her. She was very gracious.