After all of this talk about hiking formidably steep trails we’ve earned a respite for breathing some crisp, pine air and for gazing out upon a wide valley view and a peek at the distant wisps of jet stream clouds being scraped from the stratosphere by the tip of Mt. Everest. While we’re still in the vicinity of Khumjung this must be in reference to the Hotel Mt. Everest, hidden away at the edge of a ridge line overlooking the deep gash of a river valley leading up to Mt. Everest. Making your way to the immaculate stone structure wrapped in pine trees and tufts of fog is a stroke of luck if you can find the right path. There is hardly a marked trail, much less a pulsing strobe light with a garish marquis drawing in visitors. Wandering across this hilltop may lead you northwest to the village of Kunde, a nudge west to the defunct Shyangboche airstrip, downright south to a tumble down to Namche, or serendipitously to the secret back entrance to the hotel, although there doesn’t seem to be a proper front entrance to this exclusive luxury resort. There is no driveway loop to pull through and no valet to catch your keyring in a dash.