Today was a day of two firsts, hiking with an umbrella, and drinking yak yogurt – and living to write about it!The plan is to spend 3 or 4 days here in Sama to start getting used to the altitude. Proper acclimatization is a slow process, not drastic changes in altitude, so the plan is to do a number of 5-6 hour daily hikes.
We hiked up the Pungen valley to a Buddhist monastery at about 13,500 ft. The hike up the valley was spectacular, skirting a roaring glacier river feeding from the Pungen glacier. The power and the noise was crazy. Passing a yak herd along the way, was as close as I want to get to the running of the bulls in Pamplona. It rained along the way, so we used our umbrellas, my first time ever. It was very pleasant, compared to putting on waterproof layers and sweating.
As we reached the head of the valley, the steep path opened into a huge meadow, which is used to graze yaks in the summer. Very basic huts house a few yak herders (if herder is the correct term). They stay there the entire season, helping the calving, milking, and making yogurt. We were invited in to sample. Ang Purba declined the going in part, but we did sample the yogurt. Seeing it being poured nearly made me retreat, a white very lumpy “liquid”, but it tasted amazing. Super creamy and fresh. A first, and not a last if I get another opportunity.
At the far end of the meadow is the Pungen Gumba (monastery). A small monastery inhabited by about 3 monks, with living accommodation. Just above the monastery are a number of caves, now fronted with a “modern frontage”, where monks go meditate for very extended periods, as long as 3-7 years. Seriously! It was a super day, being exposed to the culture. Nepali living is tough living. Oh – the acclimatization hike was fine.
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