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Last Day in the Khumbu

April 27, 2012 by 4 Comments

Today we started our final trekking day in the Khumbu, leaving Namche and headed for Lukla. Today’s hike was supposed to be a mellow one, but most of our group was pretty tired after the two previous long days. We took our time today, with many of us stopping to take pictures and soak in the last day in the mountains. Once we got to Lukla we pooled our money for tips for the Sherpas and porters who made this trip a wonderful experience. During dinner, all the people that helped us during this trek were called up individually and thanked. Everyone was very pleased with our success, with all of our trekking members making it to base camp (one that was sent down made it up to base camp and caught us on the last day). Both Wongchu and Tony Islas (WMS president) said a few words. We are all thrilled that we got to know these wonderful, patient, kind, and happy people. Our lives have been changed forever, thanks to these mountains, and more importantly, thanks to the incredible human beings who live and work in these here. They served as our guides, friends, and caretakers every step of the way.  Because of them, we were worry free in a potentially harsh environment. Thank you Sherpa team. You know who you are.

In the morning, we catch the first flight out of Lukla for Kathmandu. We have a farewell dinner tomorrow night and then many of our team leave Nepal the following day. Lucky for me, I get to head to the jungle for a few days! Who knows what experiences that will bring!

Another Unbelievable Day in the Khumbu

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Trail Down to Namche

April 24, 2012 by 6 Comments

Today we were on a mission toward Namche (12,300 ft) which is another 12 miles and a drop of another 2,900 ft in elevation. Today was a long day, with a lot of big drops interspersed with climbs. We still had some great views of Thamserku, Ama Dablam, and Everest. Big Ed and I stopped on the trail to kick some hacky sac that a young Sherpa girl had made and was kicking trailside. We spent a few minutes and had to catch the group, but the smile on the girl’s face was more than worth it.

During a break on the trail today, I caught up with the porter who has been carrying my bags. His name is Lakpa, and he carries about 40 kilos on his severely deformed back. As you can see, he is always happy and he greets me every morning to grab my bags to carry down the trail. Once I was over the guilt of this man carrying my bags for me (and beating me to our destination every day), I realized that this work is his only way to make a living. So today it was lucky that I caught up with him! I got a hug and he got a 3 dollar snickers bar. Good trade for me.

Once we got to Namche, those of us who had our bags got immediate showers (thanks Lakpa!). People who had yaks as porters had to wait. I had a wonderfully hot shower and then went and found the Tibetan lady who had saved a few items for me since our trip up the trail. Her name is Lhakpa Dormu, and she came to Nepal in 1982.

She does amazing craft work. I couldn’t barter with her because she was the sweetest and cutest little lady I’ve ever met. She even put a parting gift in my pocket when I left her store today, which was a bracelet made from yak bone. Her husband and son work in her store too and are also very sweet. We both got a laugh out of a picture together!

Tomorrow, we are off to Lukla, where we have a goodbye celebration with the Sherpas and porters before we leave the Khumbu and head back to Kathmandu.

Another Blue Sky Happy Day!

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Trek Down The Mountain

April 23, 2012 by 4 Comments

Today we started our trek back down the mountain. We leave 2 of our colleagues at base camp who are climbing up to camp 2. A third member became ill, so he is headed back down the mountain with the group. The trek down is much faster than up because we are acclimatized. Today our hike is to Pheriche, which is about 12 miles in distance with a loss of 3,400 ft in elevation. Along the way, we took a short break in Gorakshep, where there was a group of climbers from India who were waiting for Wongchu to start a ceremony that was meant to be a blessing on a project to improve the trail to Everest.  Both Wongchu and Tony spoke during this amazingly detailed ceremony. In fact, Wongchu was delayed so Pasang Sherpa lead us the rest of the way. This was a nice change of pace for some of us, since Pasang takes fewer breaks!


It is amazing how great I feel at 14,200 ft! At Everest base camp, just trying to get out of my sleeping bag made me out of breath. Now, I feel like I could go for a run! My Spo2 is back up to 92%. It was down to 84% at base camp .

Today was a pretty long day on the trail. Many of us have developed the Khumbu cough, which is from the extreme cold and dry air. The cooking smoke hasn’t helped either! Despite all of that, everyone remains in good spirits and we look forward to the hike down to Namche, where there are showers in the room and risers instead of long drops (toilet instead of hole in ground)!

Can’t wait until Namche!

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Countdown to Nepal

April 3, 2012 by 8 Comments

Dear Family, Friends, and Colleagues,

I am on the final countdown until I leave for Nepal and Mt. Everest Base Camp! For those of you who don’t know, I am traveling with the Wilderness Medical Society (WMS) for the trip of lifetime. I am one of a lucky few medical professionals, along with some lay friends, who will be taking part in a continuing medical education (CME) adventure trek. Through this blog, I intend to share my first attempt at combining adventure, travel, and medicine. The WMS is partnering with the exceptionally experienced and professional Himalayan trekking and mountaineering agency, Peak Promotion, lead by none other than Wongchu Sherpa.

In fact, Peak Promotion is also blogging about the experience of all of the trekkers and climbers associated with the WMS trip and can be viewed here.

Our trek will start with a tour of the big city of Kathmandu, which will include the famed Monkey Temple, followed by a flight into the infamous Tenzing-Hillary Airport at Lukla. Often cited as “the most dangerous airport in the world”, the runway at Lukla is carved into a steep incline (12%) on a hillside. The terrain is such that there is apparently no opportunity for a successful go-around or short final. In fact, the southern end of the runway ends in a 2000 foot drop-off!

From Lukla, our trek begins, with our sights set on Mt. Everest Base Camp and the Himalayan Rescue Association (HRA) sponsored Everest ER.

Our general schedule is as follows, with a start date of April 10th.

Day 01:  Kathmandu arrival and welcome dinner
Day 02:  Kathmandu sightseeing
Day 03:  Fly to Lukla, trek to Phakding
Day 04:  Trek to Namche Bazaar
Day 05:  Namche and Hike to Khumjung Syangboche
Day 06:  Trek to Tengboche
Day 07:  Trek to Pheriche
Day 08:  Rest day in Pheriche
Day 09:  Trek to Lobuche
Day 10:  Trek to Gorakshep, hike to Kalapatthar, back down to Gorakshep
Day 11:  Trek to Everest Base Camp
Day 12:  Everest Base Camp
Day 13:  Pheriche
Day 14:  Namche
Day 15:  Lukla
Day 16:  Flight to Kathmandu
Day 17:  Rest day in Kathmandu and Farewell Dinner
Day 18:  Departure*

*Departure date, on day 18, ends the WMS/Peak Promotion sponsored trek. A handful of other lucky trekkers and I will be heading to Chitwan National Park for 4 additional days of a jungle tour, elephant riding, and a search for tigers, sloth bears, and honey badgers!

Thanks for following. Pictures and updates to come!

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