18
Ummph.
You bang into a wall. A very
hairy, smelly wall.
It’s a yak loaded down with
cargo, being led up the hill by a
local farmer.
“Making new friends?” Julia
asks you with a laugh.
You’re embarrassed but chuckle along with her. You
notice Hans isn’t laughing, though. Instead, the Swiss climber
is shaking his head as if you’ve just made a huge mistake.
A few hours later, you arrive in the small village of Phakding.
With the sun setting and the temperature falling, you’re glad
when Doc points out the three-story lodge up ahead. After
dropping your things in your room, you return downstairs for
a team dinner of “Yak Sizzler.”
“Don’t worry.” Russ chuckles, seeing your weirded-out
face. “The locals just call it that. They wouldn’t kill yaks to
eat—it’s really water buffalo.”
As if that’s supposed to make you feel better!
Fortunately, the water buffalo steak is served with fries,
which you love, and the meat is actually pretty good. After
everyone eats, Russ says, “Tomorrow we’ll climb our first big
