Deep Down We Go

We were delighted to be starting the final leg of our journey and to be heading home. Oxygen levels are down to 9% up here, compared to well over 20% at sea level. Just being at this height for a prolonged period really takes it out of you, then add in the mountain cough and various other ailments, and we were all a little low.

So down we headed, and boy did we go down! Gone were the shortiah days punctuated by tea stops, as you could only go up so much each day, and we put in a long, long unbroken shift. We eventually stopped for a well needed lunch, but were soon back on the trail again. Most of it was walking down a long, gentle but windy valley - so it was pretty tedious, especially when you could see your destination only inching closer over several hours.

When we eventually called it a day we had dropped over 1100m, and the air was definitely warmer and thicker, but you still wouldn't call it warm or thick!Read more