Shortly after entering Sagarmatha National Park, we pass through a small village. Chris and I figure we'll have lunch at the next village indicated on our map, but that next one never materializes.

Trudging onward, we come to a narrow suspension bridge hung high above a raging river. On the other side of the bridge, the trail begins an endless series of switchbacks up a steep hill. I become completely winded, unable to walk more than ten paces before needing to stop to catch my breath. This condition is aggravated by having missed lunch. The climb to the next major town, Namche Bazaar, which should only take an hour or so, instead drags on to four hours.

We finally reach Namche Bazaar, and stop at the Khumbu Lodge for a late lunch. Chris wants to push onto the village of Syangboche, but I can barely manage to climb a short flight of stairs without collapsing. We finally realize that I'm beginning to feel the affects of altitude sickness, and Chris soon feels the symptoms as well. We admit defeat and stop for a sleepless night at the Khumbu Lodge (another symptom of altitude sickness is insomnia).