We step onto the bridge, followed closely by a herd of dzopkyos. The bridge brings us to the final haul to Namche Bazaar, a series of endless switchbacks heading up, up and up. We have been warned about this stretch and embark on it with some degree of trepidation. It’s not that bad.
I regain my rhythm after the fourth switchback or so, Kajori stays half a switchback ahead, and Lakpa further on. He has a tendency to hurry on without looking back, and many a time, I ascend a trail to find him waiting impatiently, looking at his watch. We discover later that he has a drinking problem, and all this hurry is in order to reach a teahouse early enough for his morning tipple.
After about an hour’s climb, Lakpa beckons us to the edge and there, through the trees, we catch our first glimpse of Everest.