tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-68085221217520351932024-03-05T19:39:34.209-06:00NASA Everest TrekNASA Everest Trekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14674573271503751233noreply@blogger.comBlogger26125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6808522121752035193.post-85265153759314424212008-05-20T17:28:00.002-05:002008-05-20T17:34:08.782-05:00<p>I had a great time with the NASA Everest Team, but it's also great to be back!</p><p>I created a website to share some of my personal experiences and pictures. If you are interested, you can find the link at luciejohannes.com or <a href="http://luciebeth.googlepages.com/nepal">here</a>.</p><p>-Lucie</p>NASA Everest Trekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14674573271503751233noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6808522121752035193.post-79468212160815900342008-05-17T22:02:00.002-05:002008-05-17T22:06:04.547-05:00Pictures and Video added to BlogIt was difficult to bring you all pictures and video during our trek as the internet access was pretty limited, which was unfortunate. However, pictures add a 1000 words so I decided to go back and add them to the previous blogs. In some cases I edited or added to the blog as indicated in <span style="color:#000099;">blue text</span>.<br /><br />I hope you find this interesting enough to explore some of the older posts to get a better sense of what we were experiencing during our trek. Enjoy!<br /><br />ChrisNASA Everest Trekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14674573271503751233noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6808522121752035193.post-79067799150554153212008-05-17T15:09:00.005-05:002008-05-17T16:58:08.177-05:00Home Sweet USA<strong><em>Thursday - Friday, May 15-16</em></strong><br />After near 40 hours of traveling most of us are back at home. All of us left Kathmandu together for Delhi (except for DJ who left the day earlier to get back for a family wedding), but several were staying a little while longer (from one day to one week) in India for various reasons. Those heading straight back to the states had a 14 hour lay over in Delhi waiting for our departure back to Newark.<br /><br />Our trip back to Newark was on a new Boeing 777 complete with individual video screens and 100's of movies to choose from which passed the time nicely (between naps). Back on US soil it was not long before we searched the airport for Starbucks, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Dunkin</span> Donuts, and even A&W (some were <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">cravin</span>' burgers at 5:00 am!).<br /><br />And then there were 5. Jeff Ashby departed for Denver, Jason <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Coyle</span> departed for Minneapolis -leaving 5 out of our group of 17 on the flight to Houston. It was a little sad saying goodbye to folks we wouldn't see in a while, but promising we would stay in touch and making plans for visits.<br /><br />Arriving home was nice. We were all excited to see our <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">friends</span>, family and pets we had not seen in three weeks. Sleeping in our own beds after weeks of sleeping bags was a comfort. It is benefit to arrive home on the weekend and give our bodies a few days to recover from the long travel in order to be refreshed for the coming work week as well.<br /><br />ChrisNASA Everest Trekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14674573271503751233noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6808522121752035193.post-75291704110366935272008-05-17T14:42:00.008-05:002008-05-17T17:01:16.804-05:00Kathmandu<strong><em>Tuesday-Wednesday, May 13-14</em></strong><br />Well, back to the crazy city life! It didn't take more than the bus ride back to the hotel from the airport to remember the chaotic life style in the city. The traffic laws are more than confusing, so it was nice to know none of us would have to go behind the wheel and find our way around.<br /><br />We went back to the same hotel we stayed in at the beginning of our adventure - Hotel <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Manaslu</span>. It is nicely situated a few blocks from the main streets of Kathmandu so it was a nice secluded area void of car horns and traffic. Since we arrived back in the morning, we had the rest of the day as well as the next day (a contingent day not needed) to unwind from the trek. It was good to have these days to take it easy. Several spent time by the pool reading a book, venturing out for those last minute gifts, or scheduling a massage to unwind. Much of what was needed was within walking distance from the hotel which was convenient.<br /><br />On the last night we went to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Tamal</span>, a hip district in the city, for a bit of something we had all been craving - pizza! <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Tamal</span> is a tourist area in Kathmandu that caters to travelers - from every kind of gift imaginable to the bar and restaurant variety fit for anyone. The pizza was fantastic and we finished it off with a bit of ice cream also available. It was a nice way to end the trip.<br /><br />While we were all hesitant to end the trip, we knew we had a very early morning coming to catch the airplane back to Delhi. Some headed back to the hotel to pack and prepare; others stayed for one last San Miguel beer.<br /><br />ChrisNASA Everest Trekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14674573271503751233noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6808522121752035193.post-53741790596198550492008-05-16T23:26:00.008-05:002008-12-09T12:53:21.201-06:00Namche to Phakding to Lukla<strong><em>Sunday-Monday, May 11-12</em></strong><br />The final two days of trekking brought us back to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Phakding</span> from <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Namche</span> where we spent the night in another tea house, and then finally to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Lukla</span> where we would fly out of to end our trek.<br /><br />Descending from <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Namche</span> to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Phakding</span> we quickly passed <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrXfiWiu57LcgT2S3s7wn9wmg_a0naiJiqSa9DsDpGOgemTkvzSmpABjrdt_sxGfhWEq29QBMLgSByDKoOUl0Rs_vXDCQv67XPH5INnGPwonaZ_QEHlU1MEsOPZwa67qzrxnz0lRM4n451/s1600-h/08_Everest+582.jpg"></a>many locations <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW1JGMuuZcvSYiXrFheT6TTGc80Qsmh8weDjZOxYiyHNqt5yXljZSDTMuquwjIEF3zCcoLl-t5Qglw43HqWZv2A3IQ7PU3x0Rdq5jdst5GCRpEYlS1Z_kXYD_S8LP2Qnofry-53WXA__v1/s1600-h/08_Everest+190.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5201468440084274050" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW1JGMuuZcvSYiXrFheT6TTGc80Qsmh8weDjZOxYiyHNqt5yXljZSDTMuquwjIEF3zCcoLl-t5Qglw43HqWZv2A3IQ7PU3x0Rdq5jdst5GCRpEYlS1Z_kXYD_S8LP2Qnofry-53WXA__v1/s200/08_Everest+190.jpg" border="0" /></a>I remember the group stopping on the way up the second day of our trek to catch our breath. It was much faster heading down although a little harder on the knees. We crossed at least four suspension bridges again reminding me that there more suspension bridges on this day than the other days of the trek. We arrived in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Phakding</span> before lunch ending our trek for the day.<br /><br />During lunch, we noticed our Sherpa serving one of our guides, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Baldev</span>, a cloudy white drink. Soon after we asked what it was we found ourselves being served the drink to quell our <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">curiosity</span>. The drink is called "<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">chang</span>" and is a Sherpa beer made from rice. It certainly was interesting to taste but hard to describe. Needless to say, it did not meet the palate of the group majority - I guess it is an <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">acquired</span> taste that we did not have the time for:)<br /><br />After lunch we crossed the trail to a neighboring tea house for their touted apple pie. The owners were more than happy to take a few orders and begin making them from scratch - peeling the apples and kneading the dough. They welcomed us in the kitchen to watch and smiled as we were <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">quizitive</span> on how they prepared and fried the pies. The turnovers were very delicious and we enjoyed them to the fullest extent.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpmBqZmeWs5CFFjZfE26BKQ-k6nD4Rci5S17_3E7nbS5BynqfeGWqglKBpxAcrTR7hc_WQErvTUNkFwbTaIMVPz4bIWXJthkkVxj4Q5CbLym65RXxed8KFCDsQASFzRoCm-9h6G2lhBeYS/s1600-h/08_Everest+591.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5201465751434746722" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpmBqZmeWs5CFFjZfE26BKQ-k6nD4Rci5S17_3E7nbS5BynqfeGWqglKBpxAcrTR7hc_WQErvTUNkFwbTaIMVPz4bIWXJthkkVxj4Q5CbLym65RXxed8KFCDsQASFzRoCm-9h6G2lhBeYS/s200/08_Everest+591.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />The next morning we headed for <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">Lukla</span>. In the end we would spend more time ascending this day since the elevation of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">Lukla</span> is at least 1000 feet higher than <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">Phakding</span>. During this day we say many new groups on the trail heading out to trek where we where coming from. You could see the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">wondrous</span> smiles on <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15">their</span> faces and knew now from experience having spent the previous weeks on the trail that they were in for a trek of <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16">their</span> lives and would not be <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_17">disappointed</span> in <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_18">their</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_19">expectations</span>.<br /><br />Arriving in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_20">Lukla</span> was a little bittersweet. We were now at the end of our trek - somewhat exhausted but not quite willing to let the majestic peaks out of our view. At our tea house we all toasted over a beer the incredible trip we just finished and spent some time reflecting over our experiences.<br /><div><div><div><div><br /><div>After lunch we headed to the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_21">Monastery</span> in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_22">Lukla</span> - there was a festival being he<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGKtfpfcd3KAReqpHfq8s0lUBA_cNgcoCduG1J8VjzPPaDAKWO69rcLc-RngMKKxznAUBJxtFMXLpndlmd79STM12xe6md24N8s82utCVzkgsAf_4OgGd8PiY5fuPNw8zg0LJgC8GxDQdx/s1600-h/08_Everest+606.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5201464600383511378" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGKtfpfcd3KAReqpHfq8s0lUBA_cNgcoCduG1J8VjzPPaDAKWO69rcLc-RngMKKxznAUBJxtFMXLpndlmd79STM12xe6md24N8s82utCVzkgsAf_4OgGd8PiY5fuPNw8zg0LJgC8GxDQdx/s200/08_Everest+606.jpg" border="0" /></a>ld where the monks put on a show of chant, music and dance. While we were there the "band" came out of the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_23">monetary</span> and situated themselves in a balcony and began with chant and drums. This was followed by a fairly long program of cymbals and dance. It was a little hard to follow but there was <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_24">certainly</span> a pattern or format for which the monks were familiar with that kept them in sync.<br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwlsE1GqnBrTwX7ZtAoTl4A6h_pcA_4N__kqwpNbUy6PHECroibN7GzNj-9rE2TIC86bSzQHi3VC-5g20amBg' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br /></div><div>In the evening we closed the trek with a large bonfire behind the tea house and broke out some more <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_25">S'mores</span> to enjoy.<br /><br />Our flight out of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_26">Lukla</span> was early the next morning. Five prop planes all landed back to back within 5 minutes of each other, and after quickly loading them with passengers and cargo, we all took off within 5 minutes of each other. My <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_27">guess</span> is that this time of the day was the most dependable and the airlines used this to maximize <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_28">their</span> productivity. After one last view of the mountains we stepped on the plane. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAdT6Hn2ea93tCnhDDrT8EJ6-8hl2vpB6c-Sp3gxq7olKdDQqwFiKiEN-79EiYWtxqO4fAFepZubP6AAEJKfUiLRWNbyf7sntiQSdU8G6MoX2Iv3-eD_AIwnIPMK8dVZlojCuXzBxYhCNQ/s1600-h/08_Everest+663.jpg"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz2c2U-0Bja3zRgNZBI1hIlcy601LLPIJdx4uS9JVrfgoQh44FcVU_tR103wQOlOoIqPcptips629nR6O2BRhNX4Z2MuaQeSazDpZCkrEJhcrgtMvxAfMeb1lrDXvyv0v9JyhtMt0Hc1AK/s1600-h/08_Everest+645.jpg"></a>It was fun to get back on the Yeti Airlines Fokker 100 and scream down the short 8 degree slope runway into the valleys of the Himalayas.<br /><br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dztYhlPQsdsQWDKU9y3H9SqkTtE62kTQLoruzc9zljU1eqdUQH5sXmx5-J-n8Hm2NaZJiyitGVA5BC-wlIJhQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br />We <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_29">didn't</span> exceed 12,500 ft altitude during our flight back to Kathmandu and <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_30">initially</span> many of the "hill" peaks were above and right next to us. In about an hour we touched down in Kathmandu and we were all back to the city life with all hiking behind us.<br /><br />Chris</div></div></div></div></div>NASA Everest Trekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14674573271503751233noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6808522121752035193.post-55782407606377490332008-05-16T23:03:00.003-05:002008-12-09T12:53:21.446-06:00Khumjung to Namche<strong><em>Saturday, May 10</em></strong><br /><div>We had a pretty easy day going from <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Khumjung</span> back to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Namche</span>. The towns are fairly close together and mostly required going downhill. The days trek lasted less than two hours and we were in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Namche</span> by 9:00 in the morning. This was the earliest we had arrived at any of our destinations and we had the rest of the day to ourselves.<br /><br />Being a Saturday, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Namche</span> was hosting <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">their</span> weekly Bazaar. To try and descri<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRrHUWJw6szcPtquO7SlDSwizuTWhXYH8SQ2IVhe1SXWDU3i36ml8cyCuUSrfs9coTfLtfg9TJ1XXk9DNIK3RABsDzx2UeUMsgz_T5x91BEaozJQeMJ-aVpBIKo32L4CeNMhGBmxUDWEL6/s1600-h/08_Everest+579.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5201470879625698194" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRrHUWJw6szcPtquO7SlDSwizuTWhXYH8SQ2IVhe1SXWDU3i36ml8cyCuUSrfs9coTfLtfg9TJ1XXk9DNIK3RABsDzx2UeUMsgz_T5x91BEaozJQeMJ-aVpBIKo32L4CeNMhGBmxUDWEL6/s200/08_Everest+579.jpg" border="0" /></a>be the town a little better, it is nested between two adjoining "hills" and takes the shape of a horseshoe with many terraced levels. The Bazaar was located at one end of the horseshoe and took up about three tiers. It was a little smaller than I had originally imagined, but it was very interesting to walk through and see the local goods being sold and bartered. The items ranged from food to clothing - it was less of a Bazaar for tourist goods but more for the locals with the necessities for living in the region.<br /><br />Most of the afternoon the group spent recovering from the last two long days of trekking. We all had an opportunity to take a hot shower again which was comforting. The village also afforded another good opportunity to visit the little shops for unique gifts to bring home, as well as a bakery with good snacks, coffee, and western style music.<br /><br />Chris</div>NASA Everest Trekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14674573271503751233noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6808522121752035193.post-4859878786427123312008-05-10T07:16:00.002-05:002008-05-10T07:37:11.069-05:00"I'm sorry, it can not be done!"I have to recap a pretty funny scene on the trip when we were in Dingboche. As I mentioned on my previous entry, we were going to try to deep fry bite-sized Snickers bars as a surprise to Laurie and the rest of the team. I thought I had an agreement with the cooks that we would try to fry these suckers when I made my last entry, however I apparently wasn't talking to the head cook at the time.<br /><br />We were confronted by a man (the real head cook) who simply refused to believe that we could fry anything other than potatoes. "It can not be done!" he told us (over and over). "The batter will never hold and you'll just make a mess in my kitchen!"<br /><br />Pulling out every ounce of negotiation skills I have (which was tough since I had no idea if this would actually work), the head cook was finally convinced to try just one. We coated it with flour and water and dropped it in. The cook sat in the back shaking his head at first, but slowly started to inch his way to the pot for a closer look. The look on his face when we pulled out the sealed, golden brown chocolate nugget after 3-4 minutes was priceless. It was like he had witnessed a miracle. Needless to say, we later dropped the whole bag in and had enough to feed the team and the whole kitchen staff. I'm telling you, these guys in the kitchen were shocked. I can only imagine their reaction if they strolled through any carnival-town, USA.<br /><br />I'm convinced that, if I pass through Dingboche in 10 years, this place will be frying everything under the sun. Tourists and locals will flock from afar to experience the "one of a kind" deep fried Snickers bars. This humble little tea house will tranform into an ostentatious, gold-plated, Vegas-style hotel with search lights and valet parking (for your yak).<br /><br />-AdamNASA Everest Trekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14674573271503751233noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6808522121752035193.post-16492406004859415272008-05-10T01:23:00.003-05:002008-12-09T12:53:22.084-06:00Deboche to Khumjung<strong><em>Friday, May 9</em></strong><br /><div><div><div>We hiked up to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Tengpoche</span> which was a pretty steep ascent. Once <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKINvlhWgueVAeeJn4LvOfen3qpApNk91Zax6BvPxy8hpb38Z9DFifPYDnrNsf5x-rSGXWuAWW5pKNyuoffFg3xaqPB25N_S6HnRZHd6frLv-t_YSoc4sulU54ocHcyjYg6reoZBgK4V3X/s1600-h/08_Everest+521.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5201478361458727874" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKINvlhWgueVAeeJn4LvOfen3qpApNk91Zax6BvPxy8hpb38Z9DFifPYDnrNsf5x-rSGXWuAWW5pKNyuoffFg3xaqPB25N_S6HnRZHd6frLv-t_YSoc4sulU54ocHcyjYg6reoZBgK4V3X/s200/08_Everest+521.jpg" border="0" /></a>in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Tengpoche</span> it is a steep descent back down into the valley of the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Imja</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Khola</span> river. Most of the trek brought us through Balsam Fir and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Rhododendrum</span> so the trail had a <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">pleasant</span> pine scent surrounded by blooming flowers.<br /><br />Once we crossed the river it started another good ascent up to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Khumjung</span>. Once in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">Khumjung</span> we settled into a tea house and sat down for lunch (omelets on bread and mushroom soup). The food on this trip has been very good and <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">accommodating</span>. In the evening we were able to have Yak steak, which was very good (and our first red meat of the trek)!<br /><br />In the afternoon we walked around some of the nearby trails that brought some more <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAGHtCVIYp4CiXLomm2-o2znjgFExvaB4JRNg4OHUcw_uf0UpKsgkQrVWc0brL69MwGG52_YXVF79KW-Oxo7KU0V_HoAe9R71wYFLcjV1GdV3XMDreK1q07zh89BVDB9eDU37Ji0DclSTa/s1600-h/08_Everest+570.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5201477584069647282" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAGHtCVIYp4CiXLomm2-o2znjgFExvaB4JRNg4OHUcw_uf0UpKsgkQrVWc0brL69MwGG52_YXVF79KW-Oxo7KU0V_HoAe9R71wYFLcjV1GdV3XMDreK1q07zh89BVDB9eDU37Ji0DclSTa/s200/08_Everest+570.jpg" border="0" /></a>spectacular views of this somewhat large village. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">Khumjung</span> is where <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">Tenzing</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">Norgay</span> lived for a while, and is also where Edmond Hillary established a school for the children. We walked through the school grounds and I was impressed to see a computer classroom. It was only a small stone walled classroom, but given the remote location of the village it was encouraging to see technology being brought to the children.<br /><br />We also visited the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">Monastery</span> which contains what is claimed to be a Yeti skull. The Yet<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcBgxYlGVfeQNFm6qXTLNcTBwR0FNhnopcOkqER1XCo6WigV5_SZOzlCfdWbX1lhTaFhw8KUIYStzOtRVg4YGLmEJh6eHM_yEjYPlOwxfxiYmDDErgrcW3D7WWSrsFBcGSt1_AJRbbk9-F/s1600-h/08_Everest+554.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5201476463083183010" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcBgxYlGVfeQNFm6qXTLNcTBwR0FNhnopcOkqER1XCo6WigV5_SZOzlCfdWbX1lhTaFhw8KUIYStzOtRVg4YGLmEJh6eHM_yEjYPlOwxfxiYmDDErgrcW3D7WWSrsFBcGSt1_AJRbbk9-F/s200/08_Everest+554.jpg" border="0" /></a>i, or abominable snowman, is considered to exist in the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">mountains</span> although <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">rarely</span> seen. The <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15">Monastery</span> was similar in style to the one in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16">Tengpoche</span> but a little smaller. It was very colorful with statues representing certain parts of the religion. The <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_17">Monastery</span> also contained the largest prayer wheel I have seen to date. It stood about 10 feet tall by about 5 feet in diameter. In the center of town there were more prayer wheels - 144 to be exact! They surrounded two <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_18">Stupas</span>. We spun the prayer wheels to release good prayers for the remainder of our trip.<br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dw_Axf_XHTowfWdGksrx0o1o0uoG4x3O8Bv6UNkL3msN-1B4nbOmmxGZgCikyGroaayV9Bo0W0dwRx9HyQwig' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br />Chris</div></div></div>NASA Everest Trekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14674573271503751233noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6808522121752035193.post-79090707344326181022008-05-10T01:16:00.004-05:002008-12-09T12:53:22.583-06:00Lobuche to Deboche<strong><em>Thursday, May 8</em></strong><br /><div><div><div>Today we dropped 4000 feet from <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Lobuche</span> to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Deboche</span>, which sits just beneath the hill of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Tengpoche</span>. It was one of our cooler temperature days as the sun sat behind th<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib57l2zwYpozb44iwM2XyI0Nry2nZyyqzv0HuWSjpfVkNC2d28_567vHSdKpNbJ6QFfyckIUkQcTkjOlqKByuxfqd1g58uXT26ljjwTX8FJuX-2VRF3O0bifNlPRucvoJPQ9ppLqXr-HQE/s1600-h/08_Everest+476.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5201480281309109218" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib57l2zwYpozb44iwM2XyI0Nry2nZyyqzv0HuWSjpfVkNC2d28_567vHSdKpNbJ6QFfyckIUkQcTkjOlqKByuxfqd1g58uXT26ljjwTX8FJuX-2VRF3O0bifNlPRucvoJPQ9ppLqXr-HQE/s200/08_Everest+476.jpg" border="0" /></a>e clouds for most of the day. We traveled about 9 miles and much of the trek was downhill, although we did have a few steep climbs intermittently. We followed the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Lobuche</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Khola</span> river which was flowing much stronger than it was on our way up. The cool wind for the first half of the trek was head strong, but as we climbed out of the valley through <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Pangboche</span> we became more sheltered.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU-ME8pnp1xmuEGs8fc2VD-9GqgdfVitRs_Xa79VYI8xbV9bAyrV_erCTUGWgcEhfYIUl22EEW142nohqF_2YxkVi1QD2yiZOntcIGI5aZ4c_EV7OmpVwp3dbCiH9z22IeOnDJOED-mgpe/s1600-h/08_Everest+490.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5201480758050479090" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU-ME8pnp1xmuEGs8fc2VD-9GqgdfVitRs_Xa79VYI8xbV9bAyrV_erCTUGWgcEhfYIUl22EEW142nohqF_2YxkVi1QD2yiZOntcIGI5aZ4c_EV7OmpVwp3dbCiH9z22IeOnDJOED-mgpe/s200/08_Everest+490.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />We stayed at the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Ama</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">Dablam</span> Tea House which is one of the nicer places we have been in to date. It reminds me more of a lodge with two stories. It even had western style toilets and sinks, as well as an outdoor hot shower. These are features we have been without for much of the trek.<br /><br />Chris</div></div></div>NASA Everest Trekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14674573271503751233noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6808522121752035193.post-77460556342040332912008-05-10T00:48:00.006-05:002008-12-09T12:53:26.125-06:00Mt. Everest Base Camp<em><strong>Wednesday, May 7</strong></em><br /><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div>It took two hours to reach Base Camp from <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Gorak</span> Shep. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyBsobK1UiXP2ycb07UIPPUvFCFHbH04inQnYIVvFh2d64R-Oo7TkElsjjWxkSmXEK3kAzyoIik7wRFdaJL8ww0yx_70lrMYwUitJ-84KCq7u5Kcm-peuUe3L2NDFv0f9d7PVhcT_hxQOr/s1600-h/08_Everest+400.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5201486899853712498" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyBsobK1UiXP2ycb07UIPPUvFCFHbH04inQnYIVvFh2d64R-Oo7TkElsjjWxkSmXEK3kAzyoIik7wRFdaJL8ww0yx_70lrMYwUitJ-84KCq7u5Kcm-peuUe3L2NDFv0f9d7PVhcT_hxQOr/s200/08_Everest+400.jpg" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzVcUPsyLhJZ3CRvyQwKqmavu_tXz8pZCFaIuz9C5ZcUEHGvkIEmAYkmEk8U3s0c453R7kRbhhsUMIbO53gcplaCWHhXEYeMExLyInf6arhYkLoTMRW_pgy7zjFEd6CFLtAjUpVzaUOxZj/s1600-h/08_Everest+338.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5201482055130602498" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzVcUPsyLhJZ3CRvyQwKqmavu_tXz8pZCFaIuz9C5ZcUEHGvkIEmAYkmEk8U3s0c453R7kRbhhsUMIbO53gcplaCWHhXEYeMExLyInf6arhYkLoTMRW_pgy7zjFEd6CFLtAjUpVzaUOxZj/s200/08_Everest+338.jpg" border="0" /></a>To get there we continued along the lateral moraine of the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Khumbu</span> Glacier with spectacular views of the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Khumbu</span> Ice Fall, Mt. Everest, and Base Camp as we proceeded. Base Camp looked like a small village comprised of an expanse of various colored tents. As we approached we got a much better vantage point of the Ice Fall which falls between Mt. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Nuptse</span> on the right and Diamond Peak on the left.<br /><br />We trekked through Base Camp to first go touch the bottom of the Ice Fall. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7_hlrXUfKOUQQvedh4moPsoa9EVaJvaQPRRVcAWWyL-YbmbFvaDNwvKtfdsU1h_CtMDJ79W2On83mtzXLF9BW7rUE_LtDY9rWfqk6GuMXDBpnovvTDM9uiaUrW4-o7Wd82VyIWwpAmmrW/s1600-h/08_Everest+387.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5201482583411579922" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7_hlrXUfKOUQQvedh4moPsoa9EVaJvaQPRRVcAWWyL-YbmbFvaDNwvKtfdsU1h_CtMDJ79W2On83mtzXLF9BW7rUE_LtDY9rWfqk6GuMXDBpnovvTDM9uiaUrW4-o7Wd82VyIWwpAmmrW/s200/08_Everest+387.jpg" border="0" /></a>It is much larger than one could imagine with bottomless crevasses and towering ice columns. Clearly a very technical challenge to <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">maneuver</span> through. As we looked up the Ice Fall we could see climbers (very small figures) throughout heading up and down.<br /><br />Scott <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Parazynski</span> found us there and <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr3kGNiDJvMnp8lH2AtA44TnDlfQ4vBwnWMKzCLFvGEE8wwyMP8025T1Fpjz_31jMefRcyg7MLHErDYCKjodbPki_3oHKymv8vt6VZZUoJp4RLp1wIi_bTfA7QmN4JslhyecSyCmnxK5G4/s1600-h/08_Everest+411.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5201483347915758626" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr3kGNiDJvMnp8lH2AtA44TnDlfQ4vBwnWMKzCLFvGEE8wwyMP8025T1Fpjz_31jMefRcyg7MLHErDYCKjodbPki_3oHKymv8vt6VZZUoJp4RLp1wIi_bTfA7QmN4JslhyecSyCmnxK5G4/s200/08_Everest+411.jpg" border="0" /></a>it was very good to see him. He was very excited to see us too and explained his ascents up through the Ice Fall as well as climbs to Camp I and Camp II.<br /><br />As we were about to head back to Base Camp (merely 3 minutes away) a large portion of a glacier caved on a <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">mountain</span> ledge adjacent and to the left of the Ice Fall creating an avalanche that <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDTGDR4LkqygIsyy2s1uujLgFkTyw69t_yM5rk5FQzGcUOW8yqlVHptHIbTMohIK1UU9-Af2h1FGybOn8GbJrLJYIg6VYJwLACvxf4WD9_glpRFWYQT4K8SBrSUWCGahj3Ye_gqZjOMoEk/s1600-h/08_Everest+409.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5201483755937651762" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDTGDR4LkqygIsyy2s1uujLgFkTyw69t_yM5rk5FQzGcUOW8yqlVHptHIbTMohIK1UU9-Af2h1FGybOn8GbJrLJYIg6VYJwLACvxf4WD9_glpRFWYQT4K8SBrSUWCGahj3Ye_gqZjOMoEk/s200/08_Everest+409.jpg" border="0" /></a>lasted about 2 minutes. Within seconds the snow plume created by the ground impact drifted over us giving the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">appearance</span> of a light snowfall. This was a very unique experience to see, being so close to a large avalanche, but Scott mentioned it is a common <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">occurrence</span> here at Base Camp.<br /><br />Back in the Base Camp we first went to the Indian Army tent as one of <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjafeeg3skOjv3uax4YfN5Yf2u7IWXjq8LYZ7_OPLuclAkApC1dccDpw8eznHA8bE1NAFV3cosMQIlxjs9kxjb28VYgzNWfkAd5uZuZ7DvE9dfjZIuP-joh1VyTdORMS5UjEpGFiudeD4_i/s1600-h/08_Everest+414.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5201485735917575250" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjafeeg3skOjv3uax4YfN5Yf2u7IWXjq8LYZ7_OPLuclAkApC1dccDpw8eznHA8bE1NAFV3cosMQIlxjs9kxjb28VYgzNWfkAd5uZuZ7DvE9dfjZIuP-joh1VyTdORMS5UjEpGFiudeD4_i/s200/08_Everest+414.jpg" border="0" /></a>our trekking guides, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">Baldev</span>, is good friends of the Indian Army Colonel who is leading an expedition of the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">Savehs</span>, a wing of the Army. They were very <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">accommodating</span> and happy to talk to us. We sat in their tent for coffee and popcorn. Shortly afterwards we went to Scott <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">Parazynski's</span> location, the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">IMG</span> (International Mountain Guides) camp. They have 20 climbers and around 40 Sherpas in <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">their</span> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV2U6I-x2w5b4ZPVPo20AX8uA8NDisLHG9F7ru3XGk8bX2asWJzKCP-Gq5WNJT3PsaGAd4CqzopMyXTbTUW-iyX0SjzO_YjFWSM6mP-sslLWjVqvdg7elVBkzKjv8g88kLWuEyvgDW04_p/s1600-h/08_Everest+417.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5201485443859799106" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV2U6I-x2w5b4ZPVPo20AX8uA8NDisLHG9F7ru3XGk8bX2asWJzKCP-Gq5WNJT3PsaGAd4CqzopMyXTbTUW-iyX0SjzO_YjFWSM6mP-sslLWjVqvdg7elVBkzKjv8g88kLWuEyvgDW04_p/s200/08_Everest+417.jpg" border="0" /></a>expedition, and <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15">their</span> camp was very large with many tents. Scott showed us his personal tent as well as the gear he is using during this expedition. Scott mentioned that he has already been up and down through the Ice Fall four times and has reached as high as just above Camp 2 for his <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16">acclimatization</span> climbs. He is looking forward to continuing his <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_17">routines</span> and eventual bid for the summit. We wish him luck.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGsX96xy_KkXx2Bk4dzTXs5s0X8pRb8-zYX_rZBdJjgc8rlL2d6i1tztZoaIPsKhaGbqu_h0Hau5hTb63yZPVAXxCDGerXGvO4frhzTQlV16GnKiTv7DghZxw6VrNQOMPB2_W07xuI3p-W/s1600-h/08_Everest+440.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5201487745962269826" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGsX96xy_KkXx2Bk4dzTXs5s0X8pRb8-zYX_rZBdJjgc8rlL2d6i1tztZoaIPsKhaGbqu_h0Hau5hTb63yZPVAXxCDGerXGvO4frhzTQlV16GnKiTv7DghZxw6VrNQOMPB2_W07xuI3p-W/s200/08_Everest+440.jpg" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPhw03XgAFbEcje6fUaCc7vyV1nxQAeo6WXhxE5zHa3CVDjDNbHoltgcx49tQdLNLCdDB_bTO7lHLvo9a9NNNWpppTZN30xcX1-ec-xWQJBeeFaSJoMxmT12KmDD5OBWj5EKnN5mPsAHa8/s1600-h/08_Everest+441.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5201488033725078674" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPhw03XgAFbEcje6fUaCc7vyV1nxQAeo6WXhxE5zHa3CVDjDNbHoltgcx49tQdLNLCdDB_bTO7lHLvo9a9NNNWpppTZN30xcX1-ec-xWQJBeeFaSJoMxmT12KmDD5OBWj5EKnN5mPsAHa8/s200/08_Everest+441.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />After vising the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_18">IMG</span> Camp, we went to a bakery tent. It was hard to believe, but this tent creates comfort foods such as apple pies, cookies, and <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_19">cinnamon</span> buns right in the heart of Base Camp. We sat in the tent talking with with Scott some more and enjoyed a few baked goods before we headed back out.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWCnx_KdEPMpDO_brE-NJawBl90YkjqPg9Ui88eiI_VnPRerP5fnlnaiiO1DF9lyk5ebi2RPPRrMxlw6H4pogL4aWgY_BtSMbDaeU0hmiv_-bzzGD6LJG0fDLCJKvD27ku4tOeWW1_6UX9/s1600-h/08_Everest+447.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5201488879833636002" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWCnx_KdEPMpDO_brE-NJawBl90YkjqPg9Ui88eiI_VnPRerP5fnlnaiiO1DF9lyk5ebi2RPPRrMxlw6H4pogL4aWgY_BtSMbDaeU0hmiv_-bzzGD6LJG0fDLCJKvD27ku4tOeWW1_6UX9/s200/08_Everest+447.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />The day was getting late and we had a long hike back to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_20">Lobuche</span> ahead of us, so unfortunately we had to say goodbye to Scott. I think all of us could have stayed much longer enjoying the impressive views of the Ice Fall and Mt. Everest right in front of us.<br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dyqn7gTx4f9TmG27Q4JRsXxMIcZf2i9tK0r4bKKHXJFxpIqzJFtBe-4eJ6YCkXoenSXVe_KVXQES08-sRxl' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br />Chris</div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>NASA Everest Trekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14674573271503751233noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6808522121752035193.post-59569675414075419432008-05-10T00:39:00.004-05:002008-12-09T12:53:26.821-06:00Lobuche to Gorak Shep<em><strong>Tuesday, May 6</strong></em> <div><div><div><div><div><div><div>The trek from <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Lobuche</span> to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Gorak</span> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgueNQZGcDtxYFENlUXI4he9N2e4L-YS6TV90oeTvXSDLWT682D4yWxR185Cvd6tXSDAWzlhN_8KDwTy9IfpejCQNa8-GjvLe4uYIoyZ97AcowxpAdAnjmUyBorldAWryzqjAsLeZuFFwfg/s1600-h/08_Everest+257.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5201495146190920978" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgueNQZGcDtxYFENlUXI4he9N2e4L-YS6TV90oeTvXSDLWT682D4yWxR185Cvd6tXSDAWzlhN_8KDwTy9IfpejCQNa8-GjvLe4uYIoyZ97AcowxpAdAnjmUyBorldAWryzqjAsLeZuFFwfg/s200/08_Everest+257.jpg" border="0" /></a>S<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9jj_9e9COUutNnWOwFgnD5TPTC2Lw7PuPFVDxKGDQzJhR2DA1sx0bEM8egfbRXvdPSc98IUnUoa6EKL8G8NYOsqukofJsHukyi7sqik6w187zgFk0OXBwsAv1a8r-ilvoey4ExQFvTc3s/s1600-h/08_Everest+263.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5201492015159762146" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9jj_9e9COUutNnWOwFgnD5TPTC2Lw7PuPFVDxKGDQzJhR2DA1sx0bEM8egfbRXvdPSc98IUnUoa6EKL8G8NYOsqukofJsHukyi7sqik6w187zgFk0OXBwsAv1a8r-ilvoey4ExQFvTc3s/s200/08_Everest+263.jpg" border="0" /></a>hep followed along the lateral moraine of the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Khumbu</span> Glacier. Just before arriving in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Gorak</span> we climbed adjacent terminal moraines of the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Changri</span> Glacier which joins the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Khumbu</span> and crossed a stream of glacier melt. </div><div> </div><div>After lunch and settling in at a tea house in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Gorak</span> Shep we climbed nearby Kala <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">Patthar</span> which brought us up to 18,400 ft, our highest elevation for the trip. It took two hours to ascend the mountain but was a fun <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSixqC9lEUWuTFnRSOLYMUNbkM0ja5l8INwrwiB2Q0qHsF-NDoDuL6Jq9-xncnLrpj9GhwNC_B09hswUyCWol3TL7tt7gDXYXPIz0LFaAsamIohSOWDFPCMqxuBSzFpz8OkYgOnqu-3fxw/s1600-h/08_Everest+291.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5201491306490158274" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSixqC9lEUWuTFnRSOLYMUNbkM0ja5l8INwrwiB2Q0qHsF-NDoDuL6Jq9-xncnLrpj9GhwNC_B09hswUyCWol3TL7tt7gDXYXPIz0LFaAsamIohSOWDFPCMqxuBSzFpz8OkYgOnqu-3fxw/s200/08_Everest+291.jpg" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj69dXD4MkZFH_3JgAkwv9EAlE1G3s-L3hmCwv0T9rn540H_Bd07kdSfdg6AaRRUgj6KBnuLE2Tmk-Qgq7mmjcWZvtcABUyPuXhyphenhyphenUrjUIYSnSRFVCZ7Ev-t0ILj6BmukLwOHuB0y5rmABQ3/s1600-h/08_Everest+277.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5201491658677476562" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj69dXD4MkZFH_3JgAkwv9EAlE1G3s-L3hmCwv0T9rn540H_Bd07kdSfdg6AaRRUgj6KBnuLE2Tmk-Qgq7mmjcWZvtcABUyPuXhyphenhyphenUrjUIYSnSRFVCZ7Ev-t0ILj6BmukLwOHuB0y5rmABQ3/s200/08_Everest+277.jpg" border="0" /></a>accomplishment with a reward of outstanding views. Although it was a cloudy day we did get some good glimpses of Mt. Everest and Base Camp. Mt. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">Pumo</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">Ri</span> also screams into the sky right behind Kala <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">Patthar</span>. <br /><br />Chris</div></div></div></div></div></div></div>NASA Everest Trekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14674573271503751233noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6808522121752035193.post-73145262159774104712008-05-10T00:20:00.006-05:002008-12-09T12:53:27.966-06:00Dingboche to Lobuche<em><strong>Monday, May 5</strong></em><br />After a day of rest in <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOWSkTLM1r74ZfijrZwKmfsfcP6_lvBHYgHizc30fCO8JIz5lAg-Vyc7s5ZlDBKvOUZh5sjVQbkuZwoZM1ub_TIFrJawmj7dE2vrdc72ZXsLm96FFpN-udOmhpoY8f3tTUmCk6nGkfZ1n_/s1600-h/08_Everest+241.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5201499973734161746" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOWSkTLM1r74ZfijrZwKmfsfcP6_lvBHYgHizc30fCO8JIz5lAg-Vyc7s5ZlDBKvOUZh5sjVQbkuZwoZM1ub_TIFrJawmj7dE2vrdc72ZXsLm96FFpN-udOmhpoY8f3tTUmCk6nGkfZ1n_/s200/08_Everest+241.jpg" border="0" /></a><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Dingboche</span></span> we ascended to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Lobuche</span></span>. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwm6-PG1L_2GI_enm59WCI6DvdqDqvbeSYvtb8O8oIfF-YEZtbS3PCwu0NrhNBdRxc0LytN6e5NBzqeln9MCIJ-bg9Qt04tCAEeimYd69WjB6MmUffStTkw3FEdm2r1OVKiZzrRVPAM18M/s1600-h/08_Everest+240.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5201500214252330338" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwm6-PG1L_2GI_enm59WCI6DvdqDqvbeSYvtb8O8oIfF-YEZtbS3PCwu0NrhNBdRxc0LytN6e5NBzqeln9MCIJ-bg9Qt04tCAEeimYd69WjB6MmUffStTkw3FEdm2r1OVKiZzrRVPAM18M/s200/08_Everest+240.jpg" border="0" /></a>It was a gradual climb until we reached the terminal moraine of the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Khumbu</span></span> Glacier where the climb was more intense. It is impressive to see how the Glacier can push the earth around to create the moraines - the forces are hardly imaginable. <span style="color:#000099;"><div><div><div><div><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYUDZEg0N9Rsw5638jjV00t4NhuDbMk9QUe2d1Rhs4_g-SfGBvSz4i2kSXBTSJd9ITrRUhkHRtvahyur8_aQjfVfEIMPSu4jVEJOjKivFqf9vyG8Nk-Lua7pjn-gaXsgp_T6njL_cJj5mj/s1600-h/08_Everest+460.jpg"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiub524snNsgF3IQoJfpL8AJQsOBwG-qY6vN2sBTyBUdksvwRMrazhPxwEqXje3jLIx4WftVb9lwvwoS9KSp6o_H1HUweSyNxfPaI0gH8vVbX-KdmuQLz96khOKKQF2hUGVk-6ic-jCKX1d/s1600-h/08_Everest+461.jpg"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYUDZEg0N9Rsw5638jjV00t4NhuDbMk9QUe2d1Rhs4_g-SfGBvSz4i2kSXBTSJd9ITrRUhkHRtvahyur8_aQjfVfEIMPSu4jVEJOjKivFqf9vyG8Nk-Lua7pjn-gaXsgp_T6njL_cJj5mj/s1600-h/08_Everest+460.jpg"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiub524snNsgF3IQoJfpL8AJQsOBwG-qY6vN2sBTyBUdksvwRMrazhPxwEqXje3jLIx4WftVb9lwvwoS9KSp6o_H1HUweSyNxfPaI0gH8vVbX-KdmuQLz96khOKKQF2hUGVk-6ic-jCKX1d/s1600-h/08_Everest+461.jpg"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiub524snNsgF3IQoJfpL8AJQsOBwG-qY6vN2sBTyBUdksvwRMrazhPxwEqXje3jLIx4WftVb9lwvwoS9KSp6o_H1HUweSyNxfPaI0gH8vVbX-KdmuQLz96khOKKQF2hUGVk-6ic-jCKX1d/s1600-h/08_Everest+461.jpg"></a><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYUDZEg0N9Rsw5638jjV00t4NhuDbMk9QUe2d1Rhs4_g-SfGBvSz4i2kSXBTSJd9ITrRUhkHRtvahyur8_aQjfVfEIMPSu4jVEJOjKivFqf9vyG8Nk-Lua7pjn-gaXsgp_T6njL_cJj5mj/s1600-h/08_Everest+460.jpg"></a></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiub524snNsgF3IQoJfpL8AJQsOBwG-qY6vN2sBTyBUdksvwRMrazhPxwEqXje3jLIx4WftVb9lwvwoS9KSp6o_H1HUweSyNxfPaI0gH8vVbX-KdmuQLz96khOKKQF2hUGVk-6ic-jCKX1d/s1600-h/08_Everest+461.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5201498470495608130" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiub524snNsgF3IQoJfpL8AJQsOBwG-qY6vN2sBTyBUdksvwRMrazhPxwEqXje3jLIx4WftVb9lwvwoS9KSp6o_H1HUweSyNxfPaI0gH8vVbX-KdmuQLz96khOKKQF2hUGVk-6ic-jCKX1d/s200/08_Everest+461.jpg" border="0" /></a></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYUDZEg0N9Rsw5638jjV00t4NhuDbMk9QUe2d1Rhs4_g-SfGBvSz4i2kSXBTSJd9ITrRUhkHRtvahyur8_aQjfVfEIMPSu4jVEJOjKivFqf9vyG8Nk-Lua7pjn-gaXsgp_T6njL_cJj5mj/s1600-h/08_Everest+460.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5201498281517047090" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYUDZEg0N9Rsw5638jjV00t4NhuDbMk9QUe2d1Rhs4_g-SfGBvSz4i2kSXBTSJd9ITrRUhkHRtvahyur8_aQjfVfEIMPSu4jVEJOjKivFqf9vyG8Nk-Lua7pjn-gaXsgp_T6njL_cJj5mj/s200/08_Everest+460.jpg" border="0" /></a></div>Up on the terminal moraine we passed a memorial for climbers that have perished at one time or another climbing Mt. Everest. It was sobering and a clear reminder that there are dangers involved in the endeavor of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">summiting</span> Mt. Everest. A familiar memorial was that of Scott Fischer, who among 8 lost <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">their</span> lives in a 1996 tragedy - written about in "Into Thin Air" and "The Climb" which I read prior to this trip.</span></div></div></div></div></div></div><br /><div>Once we climbed the terminal moraine we trekked a little farther along the lateral moraine to reach <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Lobuche</span></span>.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4Cb3svw4tku3yam8-AJ1z_OYNv74pHLIxknbFa7roTXZUQXA1dp3nf6CMneTvbhpOXRvTqinl1boJRuSuyMOlkCRccR7Iubb8D1fbAEPCVeHFP1lbI8ISGMPgAfcyehHzgde8khs7em_f/s1600-h/08_Everest+250.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5201497658746789154" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4Cb3svw4tku3yam8-AJ1z_OYNv74pHLIxknbFa7roTXZUQXA1dp3nf6CMneTvbhpOXRvTqinl1boJRuSuyMOlkCRccR7Iubb8D1fbAEPCVeHFP1lbI8ISGMPgAfcyehHzgde8khs7em_f/s200/08_Everest+250.jpg" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieRf4DwvXTvP_YAHHYR90ERkUdcaNJS9sUxXPB_hIlmUrzyFvUvA5VKNo0ARfJb-OJvVDEIJmnGzw8csUSXaHSgZ1tpj7gcTGNrii5OFoc29xs1T_jM-UNpGEgU4htjfF91jg-dBkyYzm6/s1600-h/08_Everest+246.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5201501451202911602" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieRf4DwvXTvP_YAHHYR90ERkUdcaNJS9sUxXPB_hIlmUrzyFvUvA5VKNo0ARfJb-OJvVDEIJmnGzw8csUSXaHSgZ1tpj7gcTGNrii5OFoc29xs1T_jM-UNpGEgU4htjfF91jg-dBkyYzm6/s200/08_Everest+246.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />Once there, a few of us headed up the lateral moraine to get a glimpse of the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Khumbu</span></span> Glacier. The Glacier was pretty well covered by dirt and rocks so it didn't look like the typical glacier. You could hear the cracking and grinding of the ice as the sun and gravity played its part on top of the Glacier.<br /><br />That evening we had a birthday celebration for "Wheels" with chocolate cake (compliments to the Sherpa cooks!) and a champagne toast.<br /><br />Chris</div>NASA Everest Trekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14674573271503751233noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6808522121752035193.post-64428469298691382762008-05-09T03:15:00.002-05:002008-05-09T03:28:39.047-05:00On the way downWe made it to Everest Base Camp and are on our way back down! It was one heck of a hard push at the end. But before we went there we first did our own summit of a nearby mountain peak, Kala Pattar, topping out around 18,500 feet. The air was getting pretty thin up there, but it was definitely worth it. As Adam mentioned the views all around are amazing. The final hike in was difficult, uphill, and rocky, but we all made it to base camp, spent a couple hours there and then hiked back a few hours to our hotel for the night.<br /><br />When we finally made it to base camp we were greeted by a very happy and active Scott Parazynski. He was bounding across the rocks as we were barely catching our breath. To see him so positive gave us all a lot of energy. We took a lot of pictures around base camp, and the Khumbu ice fall. That ice fall is the first leg of the summit of Everest, and Scott took us to the bottom of it to show us around. It's a very dangerous climb, so we didn't go very far. But while there we did see an avalanche, and got some good photos of the falling snow. We were safely far away (though some of us were still a bit nervous as we saw it coming in our direction!), but still got a nice little snow fall on us. Base camp is built on the Khumbu Glacier, so there was ice, rock and glacier melt all around. Amazing to be walking around on that glacier!<br /><br />We're finally on our way back down, we all have a lot of energy. As the air gets thicker, and we're going mostly downhill so it's all much easier now. Tonight is being spent around 12,000 feet so compared to the summit of 18,000 feet the air feels thick! We feel great, and are loving the time, though are also looking forward to seeing home once again.<br /><br />DJDJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04380061791031678266noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6808522121752035193.post-1815699334095656642008-05-04T03:48:00.002-05:002008-05-04T04:05:30.566-05:00"View is here, wish you were beautiful"Have to give Jeff A. credit for that one, but I'm still laughing from it. :)<br /><br />How do I even begin to describe this amazing place on my first (and possibly last) blog entry?! The sheer scale of the Himalayas is unlike anything on earth. Routinely I find myself gazing at a ridgeline 5-10k ft above me, only to see the clouds pass and expose a 25k+ peak towering above it. Most people (me included) have named our favorite thus far: Ama Dablam. It's apparently one of the toughest to climb and has an unmistable profile - steep ridgelines leading to a completely horizontal summit spanning 50 ft (or so it appears).<br /><br />I've lost count at the number of bridges we've crossed as we zigzag across several raging rivers. One in particular was a suspension bridge that must have been over 100 ft above the river. The bridges however, are very well built and could easily handle many times its peak load on any given day.<br /><br />The credit however, goes to the porters that carry the loads for us to have luxuries such as heated food and internet connections. One of the more noteworthy loads I've seen was a man carrying (by Wheels' and my estimate) 8 5-gallon jugs of diesel fuel. As if the load at that altitude wasn't enough, try walking in an inescapable cloud of diesel fumes. We also saw several people carrying 6 5/8" sheets of plywood appx 3' x 8' on their backs. No, there were no typos in there. I can only imagine what it was like carrying that "sail" when crossing the suspension bridge at 100ft in the air!!<br /><br />Today is our rest and acclimatization day in Dingboche. We all did a 1-2 hr hike to get the lungs working, then came back to tea house at a little over 14k ft. We are going to try and surprise Laurie tonight with a deep fried snickers bar. After seeing the cooks' facial expression to my explanation however, who knows what we'll end up with. :)<br /><br />Hope to be able to post again, but not sure about internet availability higher than this!<br /><br />--AdamNASA Everest Trekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14674573271503751233noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6808522121752035193.post-77293938327068169052008-05-04T00:37:00.004-05:002008-12-09T12:53:28.833-06:00Dingboche<em><strong>Sunday, May 4</strong></em><br />After two tough days of hiking we are on an off day today. We just completed a short day hike up the river. The views this morning were absolutely amazing. We are surrounded by snow covered peaks.<br /><br />We are getting much healthier as a group. It seems most of us are over the stomach problems, and we have a couple with colds. As we get higher we are all concentrating on taking good care of ourselves as to not get sick.<br /><br />We are only two days hiking from B<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">ase</span> Camp</span>. We are hearing that it is very busy there and the climbers are getting anxious because of the ban on the mountain until May 10<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">th</span></span>. We have had such amazing views already and the best is yet to come! Hard to imagine.<br /><br />-Jason <div><div><div><div><br /><div><span style="color:#000099;">This was one of our <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">acclimatization</span> days, so we would remain in <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimf3J98KzruQ8goA2TluXLj2GmsaxT15BLlzN2okS26ro2ET1ROE2Lcy6HAig82e_Usrl44deXXa9i_ID6Y0UFcfxlNUMX6OgKB02e2AXal47vCpt6AmHuEir0cj3TE7qtW2k05YRMTYwX/s1600-h/08_Everest+081.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5201506575098895762" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimf3J98KzruQ8goA2TluXLj2GmsaxT15BLlzN2okS26ro2ET1ROE2Lcy6HAig82e_Usrl44deXXa9i_ID6Y0UFcfxlNUMX6OgKB02e2AXal47vCpt6AmHuEir0cj3TE7qtW2k05YRMTYwX/s200/08_Everest+081.jpg" border="0" /></a><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Dingboche</span> for an extra night. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_Wh9TeBQgZM9jGO5Jmx7ZWERDLbOLii4P6Acwb76rdFLKIBbe3dxvKi-xvf7q1Cd05IU8g-W6I0L0yvdlGVbhFqOBIS4F-UHFhCWX-EYYSyHs54Udc8Fdg5XgU_Y0DnG_Rs7Q6utUrTkx/s1600-h/08_Everest+232.jpg"></a>Most of us went for an hour trek towards <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Bibre</span> to keep the muscles active and spend time breathing the outside air. This day also allowed an opportunity to wash a few items, although it is takes a long time for them to dry in the cool dry air. Thankfully the tea house burned the stove for a few hours longer at night to aid in drying our clothes hanging over it.</span><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_OHxQUWGwqqXlEehwDKF2tUdSUAjzPf6JphUfPaTSkLjvRJ_zFTyO_uv9vngDGZfAyTD84p7f6lVlFoZmlIkl6OKeXATB89JRJ-A1hrvs0_KPDA0dhCHjAc1OLBvGnDrxFFepW-wyAYrE/s1600-h/08_Everest+088.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5201507021775494578" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_OHxQUWGwqqXlEehwDKF2tUdSUAjzPf6JphUfPaTSkLjvRJ_zFTyO_uv9vngDGZfAyTD84p7f6lVlFoZmlIkl6OKeXATB89JRJ-A1hrvs0_KPDA0dhCHjAc1OLBvGnDrxFFepW-wyAYrE/s200/08_Everest+088.jpg" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFepLpyX-d4T-wXGARrwyfKKVAtzAISMKTYjDqZi5RxgvahtnTPvcvfKkLMC1neW9bERF4qCOXtDkOh8mDxcOjdg4AJYFAidxLHyIHPevEoTa9KAEWRBRDxoL3uG4QwZvIjDkF0wD7aP6C/s1600-h/08_Everest+087.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5201506854271770018" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFepLpyX-d4T-wXGARrwyfKKVAtzAISMKTYjDqZi5RxgvahtnTPvcvfKkLMC1neW9bERF4qCOXtDkOh8mDxcOjdg4AJYFAidxLHyIHPevEoTa9KAEWRBRDxoL3uG4QwZvIjDkF0wD7aP6C/s200/08_Everest+087.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><span style="color:#000099;">Other <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">ativities</span> that passed the time this day included playing cards, conversation, acting a little silly in sleeping bags, and purchasing <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Pringles</span> which is a very common product available (along with Snickers) at most tea houses.</span></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHF9TAvilyW8qTVd7D5GpxR5y9F9hD8j1krd4ym1WJa5xmDWRaSGb7qEIwXrxEJ6-at6nw2zDlgwWJ7KpQ7BhD0vTco3a3H1dJmhUrLMeFIU8sGGSJ1Ej7PiGmqnt7M-Mo5HLmmOnrisEB/s1600-h/08_Everest+089.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5201507180689284546" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHF9TAvilyW8qTVd7D5GpxR5y9F9hD8j1krd4ym1WJa5xmDWRaSGb7qEIwXrxEJ6-at6nw2zDlgwWJ7KpQ7BhD0vTco3a3H1dJmhUrLMeFIU8sGGSJ1Ej7PiGmqnt7M-Mo5HLmmOnrisEB/s200/08_Everest+089.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><span style="color:#000099;">It snowed in the evening hours leaving a nice white blanket on the ground, but by the morning most of it will be melted by the sunny skies. </span></div><div><span style="color:#000099;"></span> </div><div><span style="color:#000099;">Chris</span></div></div></div></div></div>NASA Everest Trekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14674573271503751233noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6808522121752035193.post-50624949556754599042008-05-03T05:38:00.007-05:002008-12-09T12:53:30.492-06:00Tengpoche to Dingboche<strong><em>Saturday, May 3</em></strong><br /><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div>We woke up in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Tengpoche</span> for another good look at Mt. Everest. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg48FQmtIxJCNyvuO3LtYeAYFDxdRLonv43ptF3NwvAFgnX2_5xxvY43F6-l2VWt3bEKJzT78rlAjfNuisbdpm1FAMIz8WfwKVAO0L6H17YlIgciOX9wPEHHUXL5j6bKdgTdKlNk_45xqy6/s1600-h/08_Everest+046.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5201510659612794386" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg48FQmtIxJCNyvuO3LtYeAYFDxdRLonv43ptF3NwvAFgnX2_5xxvY43F6-l2VWt3bEKJzT78rlAjfNuisbdpm1FAMIz8WfwKVAO0L6H17YlIgciOX9wPEHHUXL5j6bKdgTdKlNk_45xqy6/s200/08_Everest+046.jpg" border="0" /></a>The very top juts above the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">ridge line</span> of Lhotse which hides most of Everest from our vantage point right now. As the sun began to rise and clouds set in, which happened early, Everest again <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">disappeared</span> and would remain unseen for most of the day.<br /><br />A Sherpa crew left for <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Lukla</span> with all of our tenting gear. We will no longer be staying in tents and instead be staying in tea houses for the remainder of the trip. Our plan for Everest Base Camp is to do a day trip while staying in nearby <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Gorak</span> Shep. Speaking of Base Camp, talking with several climbers who have been there already they say there is a good bakery set up believe it or not, but I am sure it is very minimal. We shall see.<br /><br />The landscape during today's trek <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_ePs22xvpj1BhWxS_BVc4xVvxTQzhHVAlEZVfexC_-IDPAyQ3OT5V3Sa1rOOLAHtulmcNEdPfpGBUQBIpXOhlf_7dfhBR_IDjdhbXvve2gilJCkwTo6aCZPVbxzBvcVnnnWi0FZhEwpbt/s1600-h/08_Everest+071.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5201517016164392546" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_ePs22xvpj1BhWxS_BVc4xVvxTQzhHVAlEZVfexC_-IDPAyQ3OT5V3Sa1rOOLAHtulmcNEdPfpGBUQBIpXOhlf_7dfhBR_IDjdhbXvve2gilJCkwTo6aCZPVbxzBvcVnnnWi0FZhEwpbt/s200/08_Everest+071.jpg" border="0" /></a>was the most visibly different. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnNBr_kEh3vQnvLAlohRLzgHZzuFxiutj9AQMmDmk297OMSPSgyUiOXlbE0_zPiAZ1BmY5RwMiRYdo5LQd60RhXYzfD-uk0TNniDap64NyRM75KVrFVr0JDljw3-n4IrPL9rP5j7HsAk8t/s1600-h/08_Everest+068.jpg"></a>We s<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipe2mdb7tVZcFEjqEAmq4UAgGd7U9L6gnMmV_BC2HaTfDMja0fq2VejE_KyEBjyRkj8152GTKRLDZD0B7By9gLZB6IvPUJqCgeuduGoVqUIcdFAanmb2AeocDmFfK07SELy3qnfs1SBM4V/s1600-h/08_Everest+057.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5201510346080181746" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipe2mdb7tVZcFEjqEAmq4UAgGd7U9L6gnMmV_BC2HaTfDMja0fq2VejE_KyEBjyRkj8152GTKRLDZD0B7By9gLZB6IvPUJqCgeuduGoVqUIcdFAanmb2AeocDmFfK07SELy3qnfs1SBM4V/s200/08_Everest+057.jpg" border="0" /></a>tarted in a region with <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Rhododendrons</span> and soon entered the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Kumbu</span> region which is more stark. The hillsides turned more rocky, shallow, and void of trees, with only small shrubs showing the dark green contrast. </div><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5201516045501783634" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 108px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 142px" height="142" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjon9b6Jtc_FGmGf6qZNhdbDQZJJq8VUPcHJhM_lGtyN_3ubmLwWajQw6HteRrwS44o4KxV6GFZewUSkvOUJHCVvZzGnPmoeiw56lOJSVKjifH7ulSx-ZhdjB-sGxmXbkm97H9SMUFoeUjJ/s200/08_Everest+061.jpg" width="103" border="0" /><br /><span style="color:#000099;">A bridge crossing the narrow river gorge of the Imja Khola showed past and present - I was thankful we were crossing "present" as the old bridge looked a little sketchy! This was one of the many improvements in the trail that I have been noticing and been impressed with along the way. </span></div></div><br /><div><span style="color:#000099;">The trek brought us through the <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinJGmkU6ullq4tq4qjXrDigBWxB-7fXQ6fLTWz39oOPHRw5SwKmKb-zPog82nGBbqO5Pvo-mRLz6-VnLTargTAkpBTGFbp_zr5Lj2G8Ilown_hxhDYekAQucrbIvjpJIFirpt_k8Moq_ht/s1600-h/08_Everest+484.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5201520396303654530" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinJGmkU6ullq4tq4qjXrDigBWxB-7fXQ6fLTWz39oOPHRw5SwKmKb-zPog82nGBbqO5Pvo-mRLz6-VnLTargTAkpBTGFbp_zr5Lj2G8Ilown_hxhDYekAQucrbIvjpJIFirpt_k8Moq_ht/s200/08_Everest+484.jpg" border="0" /></a>village of Pangboche where a <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsn-7Zo5A0HDYC3Q0lmvJ0sSDCxMaq8gfJ4ujugIYW6lpdTFhlUxEBgRDpHqWGfOPpGEBniWdQv_pjsSQtdRJZCd8vzKhq1-IwBDh2uePH60vFE1NE-k63qkuplEMI8bqn3_88uo3JgrE9/s1600-h/08_Everest+065.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5201519747763592818" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsn-7Zo5A0HDYC3Q0lmvJ0sSDCxMaq8gfJ4ujugIYW6lpdTFhlUxEBgRDpHqWGfOPpGEBniWdQv_pjsSQtdRJZCd8vzKhq1-IwBDh2uePH60vFE1NE-k63qkuplEMI8bqn3_88uo3JgrE9/s200/08_Everest+065.jpg" border="0" /></a>school was founded by Edmond Hillary in 1963. Further up the trail we stopped in Shomore for lunch (garlic soup, vegatable romaine noodles, and french fries) and hot tea.</span><br /><br /><div>We arrived in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">Dingboche</span> at the tea house we will be staying at for the next two nights to <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm4ibS1mefkFR5mA5pcym0z_2ELXVL9XHyXNlysbE-6qaVPyXwDLg9L6zU09Fq7PasJeSU5VLAUE8cuA1qYsoFlZk7RSUi-d9TI7VrVDx3zQOd9_x-aQ5WGUPdx-q8ffrVfS02IiUELi9v/s1600-h/08_Everest+076.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5201514645342445122" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm4ibS1mefkFR5mA5pcym0z_2ELXVL9XHyXNlysbE-6qaVPyXwDLg9L6zU09Fq7PasJeSU5VLAUE8cuA1qYsoFlZk7RSUi-d9TI7VrVDx3zQOd9_x-aQ5WGUPdx-q8ffrVfS02IiUELi9v/s200/08_Everest+076.jpg" border="0" /></a>acclimate some more. We are just above 14,000 feet now which is a higher elevation than most of us have ever been before, but everyone is doing very well. The tea house sits on the hill above much of the village so it is a very nice view <span style="color:#000099;">including Ama Dablam in front and center. </span>Tomorrow some of us will do a short day trek to help with the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">acclimatization</span> and to keep the heart pumping. </div><div> </div><div>Chris</div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>NASA Everest Trekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14674573271503751233noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6808522121752035193.post-53000636641950440382008-05-03T05:18:00.006-05:002008-12-09T12:53:31.456-06:00Namche to Tengpoche<strong><em>Friday, May 2</em></strong><br /><div><div><div><div><div><div>After a good breakfast (omelets today) we headed to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Tengpoche</span>. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI6XExhfLZuFNzY1WNeocxHm7P6uokGSLYNxf9300RDWDFG8XeqN86thG35Wjek2sd3Jlze-t_vC3vO33LDPqii47zeHWhmggBbJeAHKkVzsgJzl8QJDZu8HLUA0DR_D48oa-Z0O34CiyZ/s1600-h/08_Everest+009.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5201521749218352786" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI6XExhfLZuFNzY1WNeocxHm7P6uokGSLYNxf9300RDWDFG8XeqN86thG35Wjek2sd3Jlze-t_vC3vO33LDPqii47zeHWhmggBbJeAHKkVzsgJzl8QJDZu8HLUA0DR_D48oa-Z0O34CiyZ/s200/08_Everest+009.jpg" border="0" /></a>V<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4p8jI4kl7o-n-ppRgj_PWh1F8J7y5u1Kl8lzsXbnZPRrSJGj_Hj6TgjV-_kM8qvIYfK_qeFvmNjD1yEgaStQVznxhUfOltS6qfGfzsUqbEabfZhMN2hvdrnR2xlx1ZabbJMQcgJiDyQSr/s1600-h/08_Everest+003.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5201521929606979234" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4p8jI4kl7o-n-ppRgj_PWh1F8J7y5u1Kl8lzsXbnZPRrSJGj_Hj6TgjV-_kM8qvIYfK_qeFvmNjD1yEgaStQVznxhUfOltS6qfGfzsUqbEabfZhMN2hvdrnR2xlx1ZabbJMQcgJiDyQSr/s200/08_Everest+003.jpg" border="0" /></a>istas of Everest greeted us early but soon went out of view as the cloud cover soon set in. The trek to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Tengpoche</span> brought us through portions of <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Rhododendron</span> forests which host beautiful flowers of many colors. I'm told there are up to seven different colors that exist in <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Rhododendrons</span>. Several areas along the path were lined with them as we trekked through the region.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY4lfiBBRdSNfVFrNGt2LBX3IZL0IOev3pNhMGlGjORLnWCvmqG4Ir4bmteW5Xj2hUWuIrYVUdFnMa29OJCQoAPdst8OjoeS6dXs2Gb267kNIHMjV95W9hSeLgegSvqM4PEVePoi-K6kFm/s1600-h/08_Everest+016.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5201522591031942834" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY4lfiBBRdSNfVFrNGt2LBX3IZL0IOev3pNhMGlGjORLnWCvmqG4Ir4bmteW5Xj2hUWuIrYVUdFnMa29OJCQoAPdst8OjoeS6dXs2Gb267kNIHMjV95W9hSeLgegSvqM4PEVePoi-K6kFm/s200/08_Everest+016.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Ama</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Dablam's</span> peak to our right continues to create wonder. It juts into the sky like a trapezoidal chisel with glacial ice that somehow stays resting on what appears to be a 80 degree slope. While it is hard to say it is the most unique mountain peak out here (there are so many) it is one of my personal favorites. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjJTvShBJ-5y5hWVbMA2nXfQbRdBXc9ycr_ae6EdQf4DmnuLMrcBj0VB_BQnV_yJeVnDce_IRKutaXiM68SiP3-7LSHfv2l08ar8O35Z9gDiqlYEjEZEXGj-TINaIZ_2vePzON3FwIaj6O/s1600-h/08_Everest+035.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5201523355536121538" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjJTvShBJ-5y5hWVbMA2nXfQbRdBXc9ycr_ae6EdQf4DmnuLMrcBj0VB_BQnV_yJeVnDce_IRKutaXiM68SiP3-7LSHfv2l08ar8O35Z9gDiqlYEjEZEXGj-TINaIZ_2vePzON3FwIaj6O/s200/08_Everest+035.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnNl1n6O9HyJalnVepEbfrv9eMcd8dJqV1BSa1HZaHn45hE_XNqVF8osfbg_w6eaKL2a5bq_fYuJgSj0Te6TlBsqtJh_hCiGmSs2Xg4wbsfGVPlr_5IKBoA7ltkH9USz7lf_gU_yS0nOXp/s1600-h/08_Everest+047.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5201523501565009618" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnNl1n6O9HyJalnVepEbfrv9eMcd8dJqV1BSa1HZaHn45hE_XNqVF8osfbg_w6eaKL2a5bq_fYuJgSj0Te6TlBsqtJh_hCiGmSs2Xg4wbsfGVPlr_5IKBoA7ltkH9USz7lf_gU_yS0nOXp/s200/08_Everest+047.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />We arrived in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Tengpoche</span> after a good incline which again got our heart rates moving. Soon after we arrived it started snowing, but it did not last very long. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">Tengpoche</span> hosts <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjohejp7OA5VdApjYQsSFkmwdRxvMRfscrAkZAYxKN3fQ4TLfDptVRsrdu-bfz3Uny3SuApLAZm2IR-FU7FtreB9THHqm0WU_ZJR1w3qFXwF-jlJBFI-OmnfOHOJeleZkrP_TvxEahJuaqG/s1600-h/08_Everest+055.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5201523690543570658" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjohejp7OA5VdApjYQsSFkmwdRxvMRfscrAkZAYxKN3fQ4TLfDptVRsrdu-bfz3Uny3SuApLAZm2IR-FU7FtreB9THHqm0WU_ZJR1w3qFXwF-jlJBFI-OmnfOHOJeleZkrP_TvxEahJuaqG/s200/08_Everest+055.jpg" border="0" /></a>one of the most prominent <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">monasteries</span> in the region. We visited the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">monastery</span> and one of the monks was very happy to tell us about the culture and religion.<span style="color:#000099;"> We gathered the group together and took our first group picture on the trek - what a nice looking group!</span><br /><br />We ate well again for dinner and afterwards were surprised by Sabrina and Adam with the ingredients for <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">Smores</span>. After we stoked up a small fire on the plaza we continued to make and enjoy a great desert. It was very funny to watch the Sherpas try them for the first time. They enjoyed them!<br /></div><div>Chris</div></div></div></div></div></div>NASA Everest Trekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14674573271503751233noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6808522121752035193.post-39406765710637998522008-05-01T01:23:00.005-05:002008-12-09T12:53:32.478-06:00At Namche Part II<strong><em>Wednesday-Thursday, April 30-May 1</em></strong><br /><div><div><div><div><div><div>As DJ mentioned in the previous <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfR8-l5O8QoS0Ker8DFdlmwzjl-52lvt2i-tXW_bnK8S74kwIXnPE_PpaJY7lRGVL96i99Qy8-wekVHZ1y7ixKWuxmbWqAArpINUf5XVBlPgbYUiuBu36bBTNKNeM2hAKVbU7wa_HdMXuo/s1600-h/08_Everest+188.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5201532559651037074" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfR8-l5O8QoS0Ker8DFdlmwzjl-52lvt2i-tXW_bnK8S74kwIXnPE_PpaJY7lRGVL96i99Qy8-wekVHZ1y7ixKWuxmbWqAArpINUf5XVBlPgbYUiuBu36bBTNKNeM2hAKVbU7wa_HdMXuo/s200/08_Everest+188.jpg" border="0" /></a>blog, the hike fro<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXNRxVswc5Md5wiE9nmbPudGrA25ZosATuxV1Y_m0A1YncApBZZ2vUeW9w9Y4wZStbFcOEKEZC-SujrrR_cJw54tHFcYPMe7DKljOvec4ZPV2I1Jrx7cpoTzf9m-fPr5CWj-LvXjb5e5wB/s1600-h/08_Everest+183.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5201532387852345218" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXNRxVswc5Md5wiE9nmbPudGrA25ZosATuxV1Y_m0A1YncApBZZ2vUeW9w9Y4wZStbFcOEKEZC-SujrrR_cJw54tHFcYPMe7DKljOvec4ZPV2I1Jrx7cpoTzf9m-fPr5CWj-LvXjb5e5wB/s200/08_Everest+183.jpg" border="0" /></a>m Phakding was a pretty strenuous one as we ascended over 3000 ft. to Namche. <span style="color:#000099;">The hike took us past the Sagarmatha National Park Entrance and Tourist Information Center where we showed our trekking permits and got our bags inspected. At lunch time I had the opportunity to show the NASA tattoos I brought with me to two children playing nearby. I think they found the tattoos interesting and proudly displayed them!</span></div><br /><div>When we arrived to Namche we started to settle in to our tents <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4dAjfQuazU3qyhHHsaUVOV7dpftrAZ7uwma4lWz0MtT1SM9lkNXG9bLTq3zzcyRN68_umdhAG61tx5VhGGyU1XSRs-9TsRYuHm4e8S3WDNjoE_Gg6cOZJQKoAEHUpo2E-BHXBYAnNz5x3/s1600-h/08_Everest+220.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5201525932516499218" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4dAjfQuazU3qyhHHsaUVOV7dpftrAZ7uwma4lWz0MtT1SM9lkNXG9bLTq3zzcyRN68_umdhAG61tx5VhGGyU1XSRs-9TsRYuHm4e8S3WDNjoE_Gg6cOZJQKoAEHUpo2E-BHXBYAnNz5x3/s200/08_Everest+220.jpg" border="0" /></a>located in town next to one of the tea houses. Some of us took naps and others just sat in awe over the scenery as the mountains seem to screem over the sky. After dinner most folks headed for a good night sleep.<br /><br />Indira, who owns the trekking company we are associated with, is hiking part of our trek with us for the first time. She will be going no further than Namche. <span style="color:#000099;">In the morning (6:00) of day 2 in Namche</span> she taught several of us yoga breathing exercises with some stretching moves as she explained it is very helpful in the mountains and healthy for life. After yoga it was time for tea (7:00) followed by breakfast (8:00). For breakfast this morning we had a hot rice pudding, omelets, and flat bread with jam. The meals vary, but are very accomodating given where we are at. It is usually a mix of some american type food and local food.<br /><br />After breakfast we headed to a very interesting museum in Namche that illustrates th<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZakFMRvsux9zikspIny9xxhNheZjJANWWyfewECeueKoPrworjaOJgzPbwQhrfcjZve9SLkx5HNn3Srabw-GiRvnpeTKBfg6HXoYhtLmxOAjMQCptnI3kQM9rS2eQquyTQW2MEjB40oaa/s1600-h/08_Everest+208.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5201525494429834994" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZakFMRvsux9zikspIny9xxhNheZjJANWWyfewECeueKoPrworjaOJgzPbwQhrfcjZve9SLkx5HNn3Srabw-GiRvnpeTKBfg6HXoYhtLmxOAjMQCptnI3kQM9rS2eQquyTQW2MEjB40oaa/s200/08_Everest+208.jpg" border="0" /></a>e history of the mountains and culture. The museum sits atop a little hill, and when we reached it we saw our first glimpse of Mt. Everest! Lhotse was more prevelant as it sits in front of it from our vantage point, but still what a sight. You could see that characteristic peak with the jet stream whipping the snow off to one side. It was quite chilling.<br /><br />Several of us followed up the trip to the museum with a short trek t<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigqIsTVPzIhUC7EaFHvW5hCHddlgwR2-9UwIptkuQ_HAOrmL0o7Fcfs3C3tV7pZxghLf4Lb6kvktTZRhjnuArQb47Eon24j7Ht3DTkhIYb9Gj_xt5TSyHhz4cVKJc5jQc3HX24v3h7ykyd/s1600-h/08_Everest+229.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5201526636891135778" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigqIsTVPzIhUC7EaFHvW5hCHddlgwR2-9UwIptkuQ_HAOrmL0o7Fcfs3C3tV7pZxghLf4Lb6kvktTZRhjnuArQb47Eon24j7Ht3DTkhIYb9Gj_xt5TSyHhz4cVKJc5jQc3HX24v3h7ykyd/s200/08_Everest+229.jpg" border="0" /></a>o the<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7zgNzyAkrmo8WdZC4e4TSIa2FAoeLZm_VNUw748Kd8SRGAOzhaNTkxXPsN25DXO70PSNrfLajc3zhwLGCchnjmz7IMlLDcTDOEqYkgRMGIaN3JSjXloVhkdK5kwTpocuTYDqBgpmeW7Jx/s1600-h/08_Everest+213.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5201525730653036290" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7zgNzyAkrmo8WdZC4e4TSIa2FAoeLZm_VNUw748Kd8SRGAOzhaNTkxXPsN25DXO70PSNrfLajc3zhwLGCchnjmz7IMlLDcTDOEqYkgRMGIaN3JSjXloVhkdK5kwTpocuTYDqBgpmeW7Jx/s200/08_Everest+213.jpg" border="0" /></a> top of a ridge that overlooks Namche which also has a little basin used as an airport for helicopters and paragliders. The rest of the day will be used for more rest and a chance to explore some of the shops in Namche.<br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxE-8cyZivUg8kjnPGcTWPeTKnVXeXnZhH0bXzOXcZDQu1BkwsJqCyuf-dL5AUS_cCIoBoA-tv90VfbLy_yVw' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br />Tomorrow we are off to Tengpoche.<br /><br />Chris</div></div></div></div></div></div>NASA Everest Trekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14674573271503751233noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6808522121752035193.post-50873040724068862792008-05-01T00:33:00.002-05:002008-05-01T00:40:29.168-05:00At Namche BazarWe made it to Namche Bazar, and the mountains around here are amazing. Yesterday was a difficult height, we ascended about 3000 feet, but with all the ups and downs, I think we probably went up a total of 4000 feet. I was dead tired by end of the day... but part of that reason was I couldn't eat much all day, something in my intestines was not very friendly. The scary part is that yesterday won't even be the toughest. <br /><br />But today we get the day off to acclimate to the altitude, so we're relaxing and we climbed up a little bit to see our first view of the peak of Mount Everest. It's amazing to see it with my own eyes! The winds at that altitude must be crazy, because there was so much snow blowing off of it, really quite a sight.DJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04380061791031678266noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6808522121752035193.post-45413345486711125392008-04-29T21:41:00.003-05:002008-12-09T12:53:33.634-06:001st Day's Trek<strong><em>Tuesday, April 29</em></strong> <div><div><div><div><div>The trek to Mt. Everest has begun! We took a small prop<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpDxyx1uTmJiYmmZXDEiGOne-BtB2EEL0NuvMtNbhHnID_jDQ4IVhEEs8MAwfNAaDiTFHz6rtHSYW6TY7r5noX5rAlyV32Z74jEHfeRKnGJuOMHoZ79DQ9CQmTVkFLP_m9bKGgn1IhxjfD/s1600-h/08_Everest+158.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5201528994828181346" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpDxyx1uTmJiYmmZXDEiGOne-BtB2EEL0NuvMtNbhHnID_jDQ4IVhEEs8MAwfNAaDiTFHz6rtHSYW6TY7r5noX5rAlyV32Z74jEHfeRKnGJuOMHoZ79DQ9CQmTVkFLP_m9bKGgn1IhxjfD/s200/08_Everest+158.jpg" border="0" /></a> plane from <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIz5QGgCqcu3ldpmfQCJh78SLKVdnR6-sATaHzx0_aiatLyvBukwu0uDWa-dCtBD-13EBJVEYQf1fhZ_B9N0tSy5rrUQ70hnoNGJKoGD-FFAQ7CixXeFmW1I8_7oBDkFT4vXi5JdDOAglz/s1600-h/08_Everest+150.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5201529338425565042" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIz5QGgCqcu3ldpmfQCJh78SLKVdnR6-sATaHzx0_aiatLyvBukwu0uDWa-dCtBD-13EBJVEYQf1fhZ_B9N0tSy5rrUQ70hnoNGJKoGD-FFAQ7CixXeFmW1I8_7oBDkFT4vXi5JdDOAglz/s200/08_Everest+150.jpg" border="0" /></a><span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Kathmandu</span> to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Lukla</span> on Yeti Airlines. It was a short forty minute flight with a very interesting landing at the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Lukla</span> Airport as the runway was built into a mountain - a cliff on one side and a rock wall on the other of the short landing strip. </div><div> </div><div>Our hike to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Phakding</span> was not difficult at all, as we ended at a<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEier5Ps7LWBfHIAxXxlCCmRiTLecFPfaNM_DonE8M3UBR_9K0yKwNI0iFVYuMEW-C5_MfLh9zVikaNpIrmKD_jQ8iI36Akyu8i5MqfmHBXchNldpeCSH3DvCXlMFzwK5Nmw4-0b2Cb9yknU/s1600-h/08_Everest+177.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5201528427892498226" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEier5Ps7LWBfHIAxXxlCCmRiTLecFPfaNM_DonE8M3UBR_9K0yKwNI0iFVYuMEW-C5_MfLh9zVikaNpIrmKD_jQ8iI36Akyu8i5MqfmHBXchNldpeCSH3DvCXlMFzwK5Nmw4-0b2Cb9yknU/s200/08_Everest+177.jpg" border="0" /></a> lower elevation than what w<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI7QQYfE8Rm6b7dva3bbSY6BVTEgDOKIwE0bPDw2UnPns2FjGe3qI4kghjQDGTP9TW-7WWPMVLFh0pBCGpSq1_yj7VbMC2DuW6mwUH_JQx4tO72kx51YCw7clNHSZFUa9I-D7u8f3bPiGz/s1600-h/08_Everest+170.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5201528844504325970" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI7QQYfE8Rm6b7dva3bbSY6BVTEgDOKIwE0bPDw2UnPns2FjGe3qI4kghjQDGTP9TW-7WWPMVLFh0pBCGpSq1_yj7VbMC2DuW6mwUH_JQx4tO72kx51YCw7clNHSZFUa9I-D7u8f3bPiGz/s200/08_Everest+170.jpg" border="0" /></a>e started. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Lukla</span> is at 9315 feet and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Phakding</span>, at 8600 feet. It took us four hours, including a lunch stop. The view is outstanding. The Himalayas are beautiful and much more majestic than the Swiss Alps. </div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSFpVenzI8oo45FPMGNfNpOrvhiF051mDUcpy2vspATPJar2W72HxUuPiTlztCdqYXPiyleCgVZXy3csmlPnoeGjPddBSKqHsqerALV77T2w96CinkflD8G0qGJKS1djnIoWS8f9sOnI5r/s1600-h/08_Everest+174.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5201528599691190082" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSFpVenzI8oo45FPMGNfNpOrvhiF051mDUcpy2vspATPJar2W72HxUuPiTlztCdqYXPiyleCgVZXy3csmlPnoeGjPddBSKqHsqerALV77T2w96CinkflD8G0qGJKS1djnIoWS8f9sOnI5r/s200/08_Everest+174.jpg" border="0" /></a></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSFpVenzI8oo45FPMGNfNpOrvhiF051mDUcpy2vspATPJar2W72HxUuPiTlztCdqYXPiyleCgVZXy3csmlPnoeGjPddBSKqHsqerALV77T2w96CinkflD8G0qGJKS1djnIoWS8f9sOnI5r/s1600-h/08_Everest+174.jpg"></a> </div><div>We will spend the night at <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Phakding</span> in the front of a tea house in tents preparing for our ascent to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">Namche</span> in the morning. </div><div> </div><div>Chris</div></div></div></div></div>NASA Everest Trekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14674573271503751233noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6808522121752035193.post-87683899172256214262008-04-29T21:37:00.003-05:002008-04-29T21:53:21.995-05:00Adam and Sabrina's weddingOn 4-28-08, Adam and Sabrina got married in a traditional Sikh wedding in Kathmandu. They wore traditional dress. That evening, there was a reception in a 5-star hotel by the pool. In all, it was a beautiful event and we wish them the best together!NASA Everest Trekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14674573271503751233noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6808522121752035193.post-29492084607053640192008-04-27T20:01:00.004-05:002008-12-09T12:53:34.053-06:00Kathmandu<strong><em>Sunday-Monday, April 27-28</em></strong> <div><div>I've had the Bob Seger song in my head ever since we left for India, and it just intensified once we arrived in Delhi.<br /><br />"That's why I'm going to Katmandu. Up to the mountain's where I'm going to. .... If I ever get out of here, I'm going to Katmandu."<br /><br />Well, we are here! We arrived around noon yesterday and were greeted by Sabrina's parents, our trekking guides, and the hotel representative at the airport with flower leis. A short<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlSYFEG6RbeokwaTlg74wKLcxMSlBIIdyJuI-E8uO_4glpcJQ7Ke_SspEUQod8y8g8JzpT9GOuF9etMMCnEBOB7GWARrhZD599O-SckqFJowzOUW8_xyAU-u3a896JAOu4unO-wRrsy3cS/s1600-h/08_Everest+138.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5201539255505051554" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlSYFEG6RbeokwaTlg74wKLcxMSlBIIdyJuI-E8uO_4glpcJQ7Ke_SspEUQod8y8g8JzpT9GOuF9etMMCnEBOB7GWARrhZD599O-SckqFJowzOUW8_xyAU-u3a896JAOu4unO-wRrsy3cS/s200/08_Everest+138.jpg" border="0" /></a> bus trip through part of the city brought us to the Hotel Manaslu, a very nice and unique hotel with many charming Nepal qualities. Adam and Sabrina have been here for a few days now making wedding preparations (they get married today) so we hung out in the back couryard drinking Chai and getting caught up with their recent activities.<br /><br />After lunch at the Hotel we wandered out into the streets of Kathmandu and walked a f<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicLvD-6mhV9odliFFR3pxxtj6-BjqHpvvKrKUaq0ydtNNpK-fRLeVOMUy5FyejRoijwYlc3U7h3AebKQejrZelaCGVGA3D7Z58ADLkczmhnwjNbT9UqGjw8JPt1Bi7T_1zYW4JKaOoRZ36/s1600-h/08_Everest+134.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5201539633462173618" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicLvD-6mhV9odliFFR3pxxtj6-BjqHpvvKrKUaq0ydtNNpK-fRLeVOMUy5FyejRoijwYlc3U7h3AebKQejrZelaCGVGA3D7Z58ADLkczmhnwjNbT9UqGjw8JPt1Bi7T_1zYW4JKaOoRZ36/s200/08_Everest+134.jpg" border="0" /></a>ew miles to a local Bazaar. It was unique in that this was not a Bazaar used to attract tourists, but a local trading spot for daily goods. The people here are very welcoming to tourists and it is fun to engage in conversations. The little school boys and girls are very excited to practice their English with us, and I am surprised with their knowledge of the States including past Presidents and State capitals.<br /><br />For dinner the group went to a nearby restaurant for outstanding Indian cuisine. It was fantastic.<br /><br />You could tell that many of us were getting pretty tired and were still recovering from the long trip in the past few days, so it wasn't long before it was lights out to recover some more.<br /><br />Which brings me to this morning. The big event today will be participating in Adam and Sabrina's wedding. We are all looking forward to it.<br /><br />Chris</div></div>NASA Everest Trekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14674573271503751233noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6808522121752035193.post-15451552429176358762008-04-26T12:37:00.004-05:002008-04-26T13:02:00.532-05:00From New York to New DelhiIt has been a long day but the group has arrived in New Delhi, India.<br /><br />Thirteen of us converged on New York City from various locations including Houston, Minneapolis, Denver, and Chicago. The Houston contingent had an eight hour layover which allowed us to go into New York City for the day. We ate pizza at Times Square, went to Ground Zero to see the progress in construction of Freedom Tower, walked to Wall Street to make a few day trades (ok, we didn't actually day trade), and walked to Battery Park along the cherry blossoms to get a glimpse of the Statue of Liberty. The weather was perfect and it was a beautiful day to spend in New York. Back to the airport.<br /><br />Thankfully no one in our group had significant delays getting into New York and we pressed on to New Delhi. It was a long flight; 13.5 hours. After several naps, movies, books/magazines, meals, and chatting in the isle we arrived in New Delhi excited to be in India! The taxi ride to the hotel was very interesting. Makes driving in Houston (or New York for that matter) look easy. I was surprised our luggage stayed on top of the car!<br /><br />It is already past 11:00pm (we are 10.5 hours ahead of central time in the United States) so we are all heading to bed and looking forward to going to Kathmandu in the morning.<br /><br /><br />ChrisNASA Everest Trekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14674573271503751233noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6808522121752035193.post-34192917562296311482008-04-24T18:01:00.001-05:002008-04-24T18:01:43.174-05:00DJ's first segment<!-- Converted from text/plain format --> <P><FONT SIZE=2>I've departed Houston! A few people have already left for Nepal. I'm in Chicago and will be meeting up with the rest of the group tomorrow when most of us will be converging in New York for our flight out of the country. <BR> <BR> Being a Chicago native I had to leave some stuff here since my little sister gets married two days after I get back to the states... Or if flights gets messed up she'll get married while I'm gone and will hear about it for the rest of my life...<BR> <BR> Bags are packed, NY tomorrow, India the day after, and Nepal the day after that. Yee ha!</FONT> </P> DJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04380061791031678266noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6808522121752035193.post-56136648423377628582008-04-19T21:56:00.004-05:002008-04-20T13:50:34.286-05:00Six Days and CountingI can tell you after being with many members of the group that we are all very excited to begin our trip. It seemed so long ago we were starting our preparation with the thought of traveling to the Base Camp of Mt. Everest so far in the future. Time has passed quickly and it is surreal that in less in a week our trip truly begins.<br /><br />To give you a glimpse of the main activity we have done in the past four months preparing for the trip, I’ll give a top level summary. The first items to take care of were making sure our passports were current, confirming our flight reservations, and getting the appropriate VISA's (India and Nepal) for the travel. Some of the other preparation included making sure we had the necessary equipment for the hike and camps (some of the camping will be in sub-zero temperature), getting updated immunizations, and exercising.<br /><br />Out of all these preparations the equipment and exercise are crucial to keeping us happy and healthy on the trip and have been a large part of our planning activity. Our hike will span a wide variety of temperatures – morning and evenings will be cold but the day time can be warm at high altitude. Layering is the best approach to keep comfortable, warm, and dry. Whether there is sun or rain, all of this is taken into consideration when putting together the list of clothing articles and gear to bring.<br /><br />Many of us have been exercising on our own but several members of the group have also been hiking stairs with full packs and hiking boots. This is a great relevant exercise that quickly gets the heart beating! We have also hiked outside on trails, but since many of us live in Houston, it is hard to find any elevation to challenge us.<br /><br />Well, I’ll close this blog for now but hope we will have the opportunity to update it during our trip for those interesting in following our adventure.<br /><br />ChrisNASA Everest Trekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14674573271503751233noreply@blogger.com0