The CTSS team has woken up in Debouche (10minutes further along than Tengboche) where they’ll have breakfast about now (pancakes or an omelette anyone?) before they head back up the trail to Tengboche Monastery for a blessing by the High Lama.

The blessing will take about 30minutes to an hour with the monks chanting prayers for our team’s safety and seeking permission to climb the mountain. Following this, each member of the team will be presented with a Kata scarf and a Sungdi – a piece of red cord that has been prayed over by the monks for a period of time and is then tied around the climber’s neck as protection with a special knot. It is not advised to remove the cord until it falls off on its own, at which point you are meant to keep it in a high place.

No photos are allowed inside the Monastery so while we won’t be able to share the special moment with you at home, I always feel like that means no one is distracted from the moment and can be fully present at the time without trying to document it.

After the blessing, the team might take an acclimatization hike up the ridge above Tengboche and inspire the production of some new red blood cells!

Meanwhile, our Cholatse climber – Luca is heading off to Periche today, acclimatizing very well and in high spirits.

Cheers
Caroline