Rest Day at Urdukas Camp
Today was a much-needed rest day, and we all took full advantage with a long lie-in—11 hours of sleep! It felt like our bodies were telling us to take it easy after an intense eight days.
Our night’s sleep wasn’t completely undisturbed, though. We experienced our first rain on the trek, with thunder and lightning echoing through the valley. While it was safe, it’s always humbling, giving us goosebumps and that feeling of being so tiny—like ants in their nest, wary of the vast world outside.
Today was about relaxation. We enjoyed some short walks around camp (about 30 minutes each) to stretch our legs and take in the views, played more UNO, drank lots of tea, had a bucket shower (likely our last for a while), and did some laundry.
It would have been an ideal hiking day, with cooler temperatures and plenty of clouds, but it was great to rest and stay cool. Lunch was a treat as the chef somehow managed to make a pizza on the gas stove! We’re still not sure how he pulled it off, but it was delicious.
Though we had a late start, we decided to turn in early, as the altitude (Urdukas is around 4,000m) was beginning to affect our appetite and energy. We prepped for the next day, repacking and filling water bottles to make the morning easier, hoping to squeeze in a few extra minutes of sleep.
Family Russell-Smith Travel 