H.A.P.E - high altitude pulmonary edema

We waited to see if Eddie's condition improves, but it did not. All the time we suspected AMS (acute mountain sickness), but as the symptoms started to add up (incresed heart rate, shortness of breath, rattling breathing) we realised it is in fact H.A.P.E. which is dangerous. We came to this conclusion at about 2 pm and we knew that it is imperative to sleep at a lower altitude. Eddie was in no shape to walk so we organised a horse from Pangboche, a neighbouring village an hour and a half walk from where we were, to come and take him down to the bottom of the climb we did yesterday. The last symptom, with blue finger nails, only confirmed 100% the diagnosis. Only about 300m drop is required,h but this is about 550m. At time this seems like a giant game of snakes and ladders, we obviously landed on the wrong square and were sent back to the previous position. All this turning of prayer wheels and circumambulating the mani walls the right way around didn't help. We must have upset some god quite a bit.

We finished packing and getting ready by 16:30 and Wanda and me started our descent, we didn't want to risk to get there in the dark. The guide stayed with Eddie until the horse arrived and they left at 17:00. We all took about an hour to descent, no doubt the horse had to go fairly slowly on the steep switchbacks.