After breakfast Chet, Pemba, Anna and I started our walk down to Lobuche. We were concerned about getting rooms at the Eco Lodge in Lobuche. Pemba and I went on ahead to get the rooms. We stopped for some tea at Gorak Shep and than headed on to Lobuche. Pemba and I arrived in Lobuche at 1 PM after less than three hours from base camp.

Chet and Anna stopped at Pyramid, an Italian Research Centre on their way to Lobuche. They got to Lobuche at 3:30 PM. Fortunately Pemba and I had gotten three rooms when we arrived earlier.

We enjoyed steak dinners and some beer while we waited for Chet and Anna. We were also able to make some SAT phone calls to family. It was a good break from the military control of all communications at base camp.

There were many folks coming down from base camp during this time when no one is allowed above base camp. The common thought is for the Chinese to get finished with taking the torch to the summit. Until this happens the mountain is basically closed to climbing at least above camp two. The summit window also continues to get smaller as each day goes by.