Bob's Blog

Billowing Smoke

Stupa and Amu Dablam (6,856 m)

First decent weather for a while, and I was surrounded by blue sky and massive mountains. Everest came into view and then out, with Amu Dablam in view most of the day. It was truly mesmerising.

The night however, wasn't so ideal. The rooms are above the restaurant which has a wood burner. Being above the wood burner does have the advantage of keeping the rooms above warmer. However, the pipe/chimney, stopped pulling and smoke billowed into the dining room.

The were two other guests, a French couple who were sick as dogs with coughs, spluttering all over the place. I tried to keep my distance from them in the dining room. Then the French woman started closing all the windows.

So the smoke billows and the owners start to re-open all the windows, which I am glad for on two counts. And then the guy goes to figure out why the pipe stopped pulling.

The smoke eventually stops, and clears from the room. The rooms upstairs stink of smoke. The windows on the rooms are nailed shut, I guess to keep complaining cold tourists warm. Rather a death trap if you ask me, and I am rather concerned about carbon monoxide.

On the side where they live, you can open the windows and they are left slightly ajar - sensible! There was an open entrance to the rooms, so I left my door open all night, so fresh air could filter down.

Had a headache in the morning, not sure if it was the smoke or the altitude. Same symptoms apparently. Heading to Dingboche today.