Wow, what a view!

Hello everyone!

so i'm back from Everest Base Camp and Kala Pathar (5,643 meters!) It was pretty amazing! only me and one other volunteer summited Kala Pathar but it was definitely one of the hardest climbs i've done. I think for me it was the altitude. I didn't take any of the prescription drugs everyone else was taking to cope with the lack of oxygen and altitude sickness (I talked to 4 - 5 other groups and they were all on something). It was also a little scary as a person died at 5000 meters two days before on a nearby pass! I wasn't feeling any symptoms so I decided to try and do it without anything. Leaving at 5 am (in the dark) was very cold! To give you an idea, my water bottle was frozen solid when we got to the top! We did the first quarter with headlamps then it slowly got bright enough to see. Everest slowly grew larger and larger. I think the 13 kg (28 pound) bag slowed me down and really became a struggle because it just felt so heavy. We reached the top before the sun came over Everest and I must say it was pretty emotional. My hands were so cold that I didn't want to pull my camera out but don't worry, I did! (I even changed lenses!) The summit was a dead cliff on one side so getting right to the top was a bit tough but I managed and I took a video. I tried to say some words but I kept pausing to hold back the tears. The pictures of Kala Pathar you find on the net make it look small, the issue is that it's only the first half, there's an entire section that rises up in the back that you can't really see from many angles. It's the same rock type as Everest which has it all rocky and black, not to awe inspiring but when your on top it's amazing! There were at least a dozen helicopters coming through the area each day with people suffering from altitude sickness, most of them from below 5000 meters! It was amazing and Everest base camp was awesome as well. I got to see the Khumbu Glacier and the Khumbu ice fall which is the first challenge for those heading for the top. Base camp was empty as attempts are only made in spring due to the cold of fall/winter. It was awesome! however I stunk by the end, no shower for just under two weeks made for an interesting time. When I arrived in Kathmandu today I went straight for the shower. I also had to add another notch to my belt! I lost some weight! This evening we went to the Rum Doodle (a local restaurant) and had dinner. The place is known for having every person who has made it to the top Everest having signed a piece of it's wall. I got a picture of Sir Edmund Hillary's signature (unfortunately Tenzing's (the Sherpa who summited with him)) had faded beyond recognition. You can also get a wooden yeti foot and sign it to comemorate your accomplishment. Our group did just that! I've got a picture.
Tomorrow I'm going to figure out exactly what I'm going to do over the next week and where I'm going to go. I'll be sure to keep you informed on what I decide to do! I'm missing you all and I am getting excited to see you all in only a short while! Oh, and Lukla airport was pretty interesting, I saw a protest and the wreckage of the plane that crashed a month ago. Yak's are interesting animals, extremely strong and they just plow by you if your not watching. I got thrown by one pretty good! Yak poop is also the main source of fuel fuel for the stoves at all the tea houses. It burns really well but stinks! Anyways I miss you all and I'll let you know as soon as possible what my plan for the next week is.
Love Raymond