Mostly climbing to-day. Didn't feel very good the first hour of the climb. It's very difficult as the altitude is starting to take its toll. Ram carried my water bottle and waist pouch. Surroundings very much like Ontario Pine forests. Some deciduous trees turning colour. Crossed over mud slides, some of them looked like they could break away at any time. Part of the trail carved out of the solid rock again. Quite a feat for this country. Mani walls and prayer wheels, lots of prayer flags flying. Stopped for lunch at Phukuri Pokhari A donkey walks by loaded with the steel tables used by the camping group.

A short walk about one hour to Pisang. Stay for the night. Arrived about 1.30. Walked with the huge rock face to our right across the river (Paungda Danda Rock Face).The landscape is more arid here, fields of buckwheat. Pisang village up the side of the mountain. Pisang on the trail. It was nice walking into the town. I stayed back alone to take pictures. Felt good. I really felt like I was in the Himalayas to-day.

At the lodge some guides were cooking up a buckwheat dish which they really liked. It would have to be an acquired taste.

I went for a climb up to the Buddha shrine. Stood all alone up there and enjoyed the solitude. Pauline didn't come all the way up. It was very steep and the altitude makes climbing very difficult. Could see the whole valley and Pisang peak through the clouds. There is a plaque on the Stupa to commemorate a German climbing expedition who died in an avalanche on Pisang peak in Nov. 1994.

Had a bath in a bucket of hot water. The wind is very cold and getting wet is not very pleasant.

Everyone is sitting in the dining room waiting for supper. We are all crowded together. German couple, the Spaniards. Had boiled macaroni and cheese. Not bad, filling. I am not very hungry. Probably from the altitude. It is very cold and the dining room is smoky.

Went to bed early. Put on socks, long johns. Slept good first part of the night.

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