Thought I would pay a few bucks for some internet time today, about $15 for an hour of service thats slower than dial-up. I still can't reconcile that there is an internet cafe here. There is also a bakery. I paid about 3 bucks for a cinnamon roll that wasn't half bad.
Today Kerry left our group- she was the only one not going all the way to base camp because she could not get the time off of work. She will be back down to catch the plane in Lukla in 2 days and then back to her hedge fund job in NYC. Barbara, the 76 year old, is still plugging along. She made it this far on her last attempt last Spring but got so sick she had to be helicoptered out. This time she gets help carrying her pack from one specific sherpa, Nanga. For the record, that helicopter evac costs about $7500. The cost was actually picked up by her Travel Guard insurance, in full. I actually am insured by them for this trip, phew!! The group split into 2 for easy and hard acclimatization hikes today. I chose the easy one and it was almost too easy. It was 3 hours and the elevation gain was less than 500 feet. The hard one was almost 4 hours and very steep but afforded views of the 2 big lakes behind Ama Dablam. People in that group were absolutely worn out when they returned in the afternoon. Our group headed towards the ridge at Nuptse and ended up getting some spectacular pictures. Tonight we have time with all of the sherpa staff to get to know them and a bit about their families. Then we are free after 630pm dinner. Last night all of us were in bed by 830. The worst part about the night besides the cold room is the trek to the bathroom with a headlamp on. Its about 40 degrees right now but very windy. We are on our way to the tiny store to buy more toilet paper, about $1 per roll. Headed to Lobuche tomorrow, above 16,000 feet. One of the hardest climbing days so far. Thanks for all of the comments and emails!!
Monday, October 17, 2011
Sunday, October 16, 2011
Dingboche
Arrived in Dingboche at 3pm, elevation about 14,500 ft. This is where everyone starts to feel the effects of altitude. Several people in the group have already started taking the Diamox which helps with symptoms. Several people have pounding headaches and awful coughs. Only about half of us are sleeping. And when I say "sleeping", this means most of us are getting a very restless 2-3 hours a night of any type of sleep. I imagine I will get the green light for diamox in the next couple of days because of the wheezing that started last night. Other than that, I have no nausea or headache or vomiting, or bathroom problems like the others, just the wheezing which was pretty scary last night. Being up and around on the trail made it better today as did a few puffs of the inhaler( I think about 50% of my problem after the wheezing was anxiety as to what its going to lead to) but today has been another tough climb. The air is noticeably thinner and the trails are so dusty that it is necessary to always wear a buff or handkerchief covering your mouth and nose all day long. That is hard when you are already sucking wind. The air is bitterly cold to inhale and feels terrible coupled with a sore throat. My throat is a bit dry, but chewing gum along the way helped today. I'm consuming 4-5 liters of water every day in addition to the tea and Tang we get with meals. This is difficult for me because usually I do not drink much during the day at home. I like the taste of the Tang at lunch and I gulp several glasses at a time before we even eat just so I can hydrate. I don't mind the hot water in our water bottles, its pretty soothing. I know I'm showing signs of slowing down becaue I'm losing my appetite. Today's breakfast of porridge, egg, and pancakes was only half consumed. I tried to force a lot down at lunch but I'm not hungry for dinner (which is in an hour) tonight...but I will try to eat. My ipod is charging with my phone on a plastic picnic table outside of the lodge hooked up to a generator. A full charge for a Blackberry and ipod equals 600 rupees or about $8. Tomorrow we rest in Dingboche with only a few short hours of hiking, then on to Lobuche. Our beds tonight are a cot with a thin mattress and pillow. No bedding, only using the sleeping bags that we carry with us. Last night it was extremely cold and I was happy that my 0 rated bag kept me warm. Everest went out of view today and we will see it again in 3 days but we are at the foot of Nuptse's ridge (group photo). The weather during the day was sunny and warm and I hiked in only a shirt and long sleeved shirt over that. Tonight I will sleep in long underwear and fleece pants in my sleeping bag in an unheated room. Bathroom is again outside. Although the common room where we eat is heated in the evening by the stove with the yak dung fueling it, it is not heated at breakfast and we all must wear our heavy coats and fleece. When the sun rises high enough to peek in the 2nd floor windows in that room, it will heat up within 10 minutes so that we can sit around in a long sleeve shirt or light fleece. Our Sherpas are really nice and really attentive. Everyone treats them with respect and we have fun memorizing each other's names. Most of them only know a few words of English so it is amazing how much we can communicate using gestures, smiles, laughs, nods and a few words. Since there is nothing to do in the evening we play dice, read, listen to music or talk in the common room, but its either smoky or cold there and not well lit. Our rooms, if they have a light at all, are the equivalent of a Charlie Brown Christmas light bulb...only a few watts...10, maybe? If you are in your room reading at night, you are in full cold weather gear, in your sleeping bag, with a headlamp on and only your hands and face peeking out. So, needless to say, no one reads for very long and most people are in bed by 9pm. We usually get morning wake up tea at 630am and have to have our bags packed by 730am breakfast and are out on the trail by 815. Most likely this will be my last post for awhile because of the limited services available.
Saturday, October 15, 2011
Buddhist Monastery Tengboche
We were able to observe a prayer service of monks here and they blessed our prayer flags that we purchased in Kathmandu. Lama was also busy doing blessings for a man who was very sick.
Arrived here at 13,500 elev. its cloudy and no view of mountains at all. Rooms are teeny w no bathroom must go to outside hole in ground. We all have our midweight jackets and winter hats on, as with no sun its very cold-guessing below 40? Learned today that The goddess Tara was derived from the Buddha's tears and is the deity of compassion.
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Addendum-got up to go to the bathroom in the middle of the night and went outside only to see the clouds had cleared and the dark night sky yielded bright stars and crystal clear views of the mountains. Even if you are not religious, looking around you have to believe there is a force greater than yourself in the universe. It is beautiful beyond words.
Got stuck behind 30 of these on the way to lunch. IMG00289-20111015-1130.jpg
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Friday, October 14, 2011
Rupees
Just got a massage...an hour for 2000 rupees--about $26. Probably the best massage I've ever had in my life. Weird though, walking to the massage person's house just down the road in a village I've never been to before. His "office" and his "massage room" are interesting, like he is the Shaman in the village and has lots of jars of potions. He stops twice during the session to take a call on his cell phone (!) but goes right back to work, very proud of his craft.
Unfortunately there is not hot water when I get back to the room at the teahouse which means a shower will have to wait.
Tasted water buffalo for dinner. Kind of like a spicy meatloaf taste. Had spam and okra served on flatbread for lunch. Most of us opted for PBJ instead.
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Unfortunately there is not hot water when I get back to the room at the teahouse which means a shower will have to wait.
Tasted water buffalo for dinner. Kind of like a spicy meatloaf taste. Had spam and okra served on flatbread for lunch. Most of us opted for PBJ instead.
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First View
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Friday-First View
Forgot to mention the flight from Kathmandu to Lukla was beautiful on a crisp morning. The Tara Air twin otter plane lifted off easily and floated to Lukla with clear views of Everest and a flawless touchdown on the super short runway. It was not scary in the least and didnt even come to an abrupt stop like I thought it would considering the short landing strip and brick wall at the end.
Today was an acclimatization day in Namche, but that does not mean REST. We took a 3 hour, 1000' elev gain hike to Everest View Hotel and had coffee at the cafe with the world's best view. Rounding the corner on the trail that gave us the first view of Ama Dablam was spectacular and breath taking. She is beautiful. Everest stands to the left but you can only see it's squatty triangle granite peak. It has been said that Everest is the short, fat man amongst beautiful women and alas, this is a great description. I tried to post pictures from my blackberry but nothing has pushed through today. There have been many rescue helicopters up and down the mountain today. Our guide says this is common, an eveyday occurence. We were able to view the trail on to tomorrow's destination, by the way. Descending the steep trail back to the lodge was hard on the feet but lunch was waiting, as were showers. We have the afternoon free and I am at an internet cafe in the village. I purchased some souvenirs for the boys and enjoyed looking at the shops which sell real mountaineering gear as well as knockoff name brands. And yak bells, which are a popular item to bring home. I may even go for a cheap massage later. First, there will be tea and biscuits at 430pm with dinner at 630pm. At dinner, Deana- the guide- gives us instructions for the next day--wake up time, packing deadline, breakfast time, a snippet of the trail type-difficulty and elevation gain as well as number of hours we will be hiking. Each morning the sherpas knock on our door with a wake up of hot tea. Water is boiled at breakfast (and every meal) to refill our water bottles. Yesterday I drank 4 liters but some of the group can drink 6! Each morning and night we are required to tell the guide what meds weve taken and then they check our heart rate and oxygen saturation with a device. So far I am feeling good and my sats are good too. Have I mentioned there is a doctor in the group? A neurologist....Hilly. In Namche, we met up with Barbara who is in her 70s and tried this trek last year. She failed to get to EBC so is at it a 2nd time, this time spending more time acclimatizing. 4 group members are already having health problems, I hope I can stave all of that off.
The highlight of my day was my phone call home to hear my little ones voices. Happy!!
PS I am unable to login to post comments but I have replied to some comments already made under as anonymous. Keep the emails and comments coming :)
Today was an acclimatization day in Namche, but that does not mean REST. We took a 3 hour, 1000' elev gain hike to Everest View Hotel and had coffee at the cafe with the world's best view. Rounding the corner on the trail that gave us the first view of Ama Dablam was spectacular and breath taking. She is beautiful. Everest stands to the left but you can only see it's squatty triangle granite peak. It has been said that Everest is the short, fat man amongst beautiful women and alas, this is a great description. I tried to post pictures from my blackberry but nothing has pushed through today. There have been many rescue helicopters up and down the mountain today. Our guide says this is common, an eveyday occurence. We were able to view the trail on to tomorrow's destination, by the way. Descending the steep trail back to the lodge was hard on the feet but lunch was waiting, as were showers. We have the afternoon free and I am at an internet cafe in the village. I purchased some souvenirs for the boys and enjoyed looking at the shops which sell real mountaineering gear as well as knockoff name brands. And yak bells, which are a popular item to bring home. I may even go for a cheap massage later. First, there will be tea and biscuits at 430pm with dinner at 630pm. At dinner, Deana- the guide- gives us instructions for the next day--wake up time, packing deadline, breakfast time, a snippet of the trail type-difficulty and elevation gain as well as number of hours we will be hiking. Each morning the sherpas knock on our door with a wake up of hot tea. Water is boiled at breakfast (and every meal) to refill our water bottles. Yesterday I drank 4 liters but some of the group can drink 6! Each morning and night we are required to tell the guide what meds weve taken and then they check our heart rate and oxygen saturation with a device. So far I am feeling good and my sats are good too. Have I mentioned there is a doctor in the group? A neurologist....Hilly. In Namche, we met up with Barbara who is in her 70s and tried this trek last year. She failed to get to EBC so is at it a 2nd time, this time spending more time acclimatizing. 4 group members are already having health problems, I hope I can stave all of that off.
The highlight of my day was my phone call home to hear my little ones voices. Happy!!
PS I am unable to login to post comments but I have replied to some comments already made under as anonymous. Keep the emails and comments coming :)
Thursday, October 13, 2011
Namche Bazaar
Arrived just now in Namche, elev. 11,500ft. After climbing 6 hours, it is a welcome resting spot. It was a brutal -but pleasing-3000 ft elevation gain from breakfast and included several bridge crossings and encounters with dzopkyos (yak crossbreeds who carry supplies). This teahouse is called Hotel Camp de Base and has flush toilets and hot showers in the room, a total luxury. Tomorrow is an acclimatization day- climbing slightly higher for 3 hrs then retreating back to Namche for the night. Climb high, sleep low. Made brief phone call home tonite from cell phone. C was at orchestra practice but I got to talk to B! There is an internet cafe here so will try to log on tomorrow if we have downtime. We get oxygen saturation and pulse monitored at night and in the morning at breakfast. So far I'm doing very well in that regard. We apparently will start feeling the effects of altitude on a regular basis from here on out so they want to have a baseline for us. Medical checks also involve reporting if you've taken any kind of medication, how much water you have consumed, and stating how you are feeling or any concerns you have.
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Wednesday, October 12, 2011
Monday, October 10, 2011
Kathmandu
Arrived safely at KTM airport. Every person on the plane looked like they were headed on some sort of trek, esp. the old Japanese dudes with brand spanking new hiking boots and North Face coats. The 7 hour flight seemed like a cakewalk compared to the previous 14 hour flight to Seoul, and the seat next to me was open. There IS a God! From the air, I was able to view Everest out the window since I was on the right side of the plane. Everest photo out plane: Got a huge lump in my throat looking at it from the air for the first time. I've waited a long time for this.
The airport was busy and small and the visa line moved quickly. Grabbing my bag from the carousel it was sensory overload with the heat and dust and honking from outside. No one checked the bags and I exited quickly into the throngs of waiting taxis and buses. I spotted my ride right away with the MM logo and joined 2 others in my group- Chris, a chemist from Michigan roughly my age, and Kerry, a recruiter for a hedge fund in Manhattan. The ride to the hotel was eye opening- the word filth comes to mind- I am trying hard to keep an open mind but the raw sewage flowing in some of the streets was nuts. The close calls with other vehicles was unnerving. There are monkeys in the streets on some alleyways! The hotel is in an "upscale" neighborhood if you can call it that. The hotel is opulent in the midst of grossness in the streets. I get to my room and nap for 2 hours before the team meeting at 5pm. The room is clean yet worn, the equivalent of an OLD 2 star hotel type room, yet the lobby is quite ornate. My coffee at the bar costs 180 rupees, about $2.50. On the street you can get it for less than 50 cents. Internet here costs 10 rupees a minute, about $8/hr. The group has one outstanding character from Canada who was pretty drunk at the meeting...Randy. There are twin sisters, Joanne and Dianne (in their 50s) and a friend, Hilly, from Florida (age 71!), Me, Chris, Kerry, and Katie, the recent college grad from New York who will be my room mate for the next 3 weeks. 1 person from New Jersey in his 50's, Steve, and his "adopted" son Derek from Colorado who is 23. There is also a couple from Atlanta in their 40s-Abby and Andy. Jon is in his 50s from just outside of Washington DC. Of the few people who do have children, most are already grown. The ice is broken when someone admits that they are worried about how often they will be able to get a shower and what the bathroom situation is like on the trail. The leader Deana is likable right from the start. She has a good command of the group. We go to a private residence with a beautifully maintained garden patio for a traditional dinner of Dal Bhat. The talk turns to Fantasy Football near me. Groannnnnnn. I cant get away from it! The power is out sometimes at the hotel as a means of conserving energy in the city. In peak months, the power is off in the city about 12 hours a day. The hotel however has a generator that comes on. Heading out as a group to go to the market and a monastery today. More monkeys today, too. Tomorrow morning is the 6am flight to Lukla, landing at the world's most dangerous airport.
Sunday, October 9, 2011
Incheon Airport
No taking shoes off thru security and no 3oz limits on liquids, just cant have any water (drinking). Amazing how fast the line moves this way when there's nothing to inspect! 2 stamps in the new passport --as you have to clear immigration IN and OUTbound. Seoul's airport is huge and modern and extremely busy. Flight attendants of every asian airline are dressed to kill: tight short skirts, high heels, bright red lipstick to match their modern pillbox hats. I managed to get some sleep at the transit hotel last night. Skipped dinner in lieu of sleep! Off to Kathmandu in a half hour, hope breakfast is served right after takeoff :)
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Saturday, October 8, 2011
Causing Trouble Already
Got my favorite leatherman pocket knife tool confiscated at the airport. I forgot it was folded up in my in my first aid kit! TSA managed to find it buried in about 6 layers of clothing and bags. Impressive. Dammit tho!My mini tool was one of my favorite outdoorsy thingies I own!!
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Homecoming in the fog
Wish I could have stayed longer at the game this morning, but I didn't want to miss my flight. The boys were doing awesome!
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Pre-departure Nerves
Went to bed early and slept ok until about 330am and then stared at the ceiling for an hour before getting up. I'm not used to the feeling of butterflies that is currently occupying my stomach, which is accompanied by my inability to focus on anything. Looked at the paper, paid some bills online, walked around the kitchen a million times trying to make sure I've crossed my T's and dotted my I's. Gwen, I know that is the incorrect use of apostrophes but it looks funny the other way ;)
Many people lose themselves after having kids because they give up everything they are/were to make their kids the focus. I firmly believe in not giving up who I am just because I have kids. My kids complete who I am, having kids was part of my hope for my life, but it does not negate who I was before having them or what interests I have. Do my kids come first? Absolutely. Are they the most important thing in my life? Yep. I would do anything for them. I just think you can be BOTH a person and a parent. Is it such a bad example to set to go on this trip? I don't think so. It is not a case of Mom being gone for a month, yet rather a case of how the kids will survive with the help and kindness and love of their extended family, friends, neighbors, and community. It is an extrodinary gift that I am able to make this journey, I know that. Everybody's going to be just fine.
Many people lose themselves after having kids because they give up everything they are/were to make their kids the focus. I firmly believe in not giving up who I am just because I have kids. My kids complete who I am, having kids was part of my hope for my life, but it does not negate who I was before having them or what interests I have. Do my kids come first? Absolutely. Are they the most important thing in my life? Yep. I would do anything for them. I just think you can be BOTH a person and a parent. Is it such a bad example to set to go on this trip? I don't think so. It is not a case of Mom being gone for a month, yet rather a case of how the kids will survive with the help and kindness and love of their extended family, friends, neighbors, and community. It is an extrodinary gift that I am able to make this journey, I know that. Everybody's going to be just fine.
Friday, October 7, 2011
Last Minute Random Thoughts
Now that I think about it, I should have given access to this blog to my friend Gwen. She could be my editor... The closer I get to departure, the less time I have to edit my posts for spelling and grammar. Once I'm posting from a Blackberry, that will probably go right out the window...and you know how those kind of things irk me. Sigh...
24 hours to go before I'm on the plane and I still have a few things to do. So what am I doing right now? Wasting time. I got up early, blew off the gym, and am watching the news and surfing the internet. Ok, so I'm doing last minute laundry, too, but am mainly shirking my packing duties. Yes, friends, It's my rarely seen procrastination mode. While looking up what the weather was going to be for the next few weeks in Nepal, I came across a Blog of the EBC Trek by NASA employees in 2008 and scrolled through the posts for 45 minutes trying to pinpoint where they were staying, what they were eating, were they freezing or sick or tired? Were there hot showers at certain teahouses? The same thing I've read about on other blogs for the past few years. I check the weather: Kathmandu is a balmy 82 today. Lukla is forecasted to be in the mid 60s during the day this week. By the time I am up to Lobuche, it will possibly be 40 and rainy during the day and snowy and ZERO at night.
24 hours to go before I'm on the plane and I still have a few things to do. So what am I doing right now? Wasting time. I got up early, blew off the gym, and am watching the news and surfing the internet. Ok, so I'm doing last minute laundry, too, but am mainly shirking my packing duties. Yes, friends, It's my rarely seen procrastination mode. While looking up what the weather was going to be for the next few weeks in Nepal, I came across a Blog of the EBC Trek by NASA employees in 2008 and scrolled through the posts for 45 minutes trying to pinpoint where they were staying, what they were eating, were they freezing or sick or tired? Were there hot showers at certain teahouses? The same thing I've read about on other blogs for the past few years. I check the weather: Kathmandu is a balmy 82 today. Lukla is forecasted to be in the mid 60s during the day this week. By the time I am up to Lobuche, it will possibly be 40 and rainy during the day and snowy and ZERO at night.
My devices are all charging on the counter, my packing mostly done, my passport and ticket checked and re-checked. Today will be spent mostly focusing on the kids, who have been accordingly prepped for my time away. I'm sure they will be fine, I'm just not that sure they will be able to identify the feelings they might have, such as "missing" someone. They promise to send emails, talk to each other, look at photo albums of us together, follow the blog/leave comments. They plan to keep a journal of the things I am missing while I'm away, including taking pictures and video to share with me when I return.
Not only am I excited to see Mount Everest up close, I am excited that I will walk in the shadows of Ama Dablam, a nearby mountain with a distinct shape that dominates the skyline for several days during the trek. It is pictured in the above photo- and yes, I cut it off! Ugh, I don't have time to crop it correctly!! Steep ridgelines and a short flat summit area between them. Ama Dablam means "Mother's Necklace" with the ridgelines being the chains to the glacier's "pendant" in the middle.
Not looking forward to the boredom of the plane trip- 14 hours to Seoul, Korea with another 7 on to Kathmandu.
The focus of the next month will be curiosity, open-mindedness, sense of humor, flexibility, mental toughness, and staying well. Thanks to everyone who has helped me with my journey in some way big or small. The moon and stars have had to align to make this possible. Let the fun begin!
Sunday, October 2, 2011
Facts and Figures in No Particular Order
Mt. Everest, also known as Sagarmatha in Nepali (which means Mother Goddess of the Sky) stands at 29, 028 ft (8,488 meters) above sea level and is the highest mountain in the world. The Tibetan name is Qomolangma ("Holy Mother").
Many sites list the official height of Everest at 29,028 feet but an American team remeasured the peak using GPS technology in 1999 at 29,035 feet. (*Additionally, China disputes these meansurements and officially lists the peak at 29,015 stating that the additional height the Nepali use is owed to snow cover on the peak.) Early in 2011, the government of Nepal ordered the mountain to be re-surveyed in 2012 to determine the new official measurement.
While our group will attempt to climb Kala Pattar, a nearby peak that is approx. 18,500 ft. which will afford us spectacular views of Everest, Everest's base camp sits at approx. 17, 500 ft., at the foot of the Khumbu icefall. The icefall consists of towering seracs of ever-shifting, skyscraper-sized ice columns that must be crossed on the way from Base Camp to Camp one, not just once but repeatedly during the acclimatization process of a summiting expedition. Would I go further than Base Camp if it weren't for these seracs? You bet. I'm anxious to see them up close, though, maybe they won't scare me to confront them. Umm, sure...
Veteran climbers gush about the fear they produce in every mountaineer who must face them on the way to the top and 1/3- 1/2 of all deaths on Everest happen in the ice fall. As the sun melts the ice towers during the day, they tend to melt and tumble down! Here, take a look: (Mom, you should skip this part :) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=moBJMGNSql4
Geologically speaking, the Himalayan mountain range is very young compared to other ranges (such as the Appalachians). Everest straddles the border of Nepal and Tibet (China), so even dummies can find it on a map..here's how: Locate China-its HUGE. Look south...right below it there is a gigantic country called India. Nepal is a tiny country smashed between the two borders.
Most expeditions use the Southeast Ridge route via Nepal, but the more technologically demanding route via the Northeast Ridge begins in Tibet (China). The name "The North Face" on the jacket you're probably wearing right night is derived from the fact that the North Face of a peak is usually the hardest/most demanding.
Permits for climbers heading to the summit are approx. $25,000. Trekking permits, however, are less than $100.
While Everest is the highest peak, there are actually other peaks which are more technically challenging, such as the nearby K2 or Nanga Parbat. Everest's challenges are mainly altitude sickness, weather, and wind.
The top 5 highest peaks in the world are, in order:
Everest, K2, Kanchenjunga, Lhotse, and Makalu.
There have been more than 5500 ascents and 225 deaths on Everest since 1953 Hillary/Norgay expedition. Over 100 women have summited!
Many sites list the official height of Everest at 29,028 feet but an American team remeasured the peak using GPS technology in 1999 at 29,035 feet. (*Additionally, China disputes these meansurements and officially lists the peak at 29,015 stating that the additional height the Nepali use is owed to snow cover on the peak.) Early in 2011, the government of Nepal ordered the mountain to be re-surveyed in 2012 to determine the new official measurement.
While our group will attempt to climb Kala Pattar, a nearby peak that is approx. 18,500 ft. which will afford us spectacular views of Everest, Everest's base camp sits at approx. 17, 500 ft., at the foot of the Khumbu icefall. The icefall consists of towering seracs of ever-shifting, skyscraper-sized ice columns that must be crossed on the way from Base Camp to Camp one, not just once but repeatedly during the acclimatization process of a summiting expedition. Would I go further than Base Camp if it weren't for these seracs? You bet. I'm anxious to see them up close, though, maybe they won't scare me to confront them. Umm, sure...
Veteran climbers gush about the fear they produce in every mountaineer who must face them on the way to the top and 1/3- 1/2 of all deaths on Everest happen in the ice fall. As the sun melts the ice towers during the day, they tend to melt and tumble down! Here, take a look: (Mom, you should skip this part :) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=moBJMGNSql4
Geologically speaking, the Himalayan mountain range is very young compared to other ranges (such as the Appalachians). Everest straddles the border of Nepal and Tibet (China), so even dummies can find it on a map..here's how: Locate China-its HUGE. Look south...right below it there is a gigantic country called India. Nepal is a tiny country smashed between the two borders.
Most expeditions use the Southeast Ridge route via Nepal, but the more technologically demanding route via the Northeast Ridge begins in Tibet (China). The name "The North Face" on the jacket you're probably wearing right night is derived from the fact that the North Face of a peak is usually the hardest/most demanding.
Permits for climbers heading to the summit are approx. $25,000. Trekking permits, however, are less than $100.
While Everest is the highest peak, there are actually other peaks which are more technically challenging, such as the nearby K2 or Nanga Parbat. Everest's challenges are mainly altitude sickness, weather, and wind.
The top 5 highest peaks in the world are, in order:
Everest, K2, Kanchenjunga, Lhotse, and Makalu.
There have been more than 5500 ascents and 225 deaths on Everest since 1953 Hillary/Norgay expedition. Over 100 women have summited!
Monday, September 26, 2011
Don't Tell My Mom
This weekend, a small plane crashed near Kathmandu airport after a sightseeing flight in the Himalayas. There were no survivors. http://www.nydailynews.com/news/world/2011/09/25/2011-09-25_plane_touring_mt_everest_crashes_in_nepal_killing_19_including_2_americans.html
I'm trying to figure out how to keep my Mom from reading that story in the newspaper or seeing it online. She'd probably have a stroke, as she was never keen on my goal to go to Everest to begin with...
Oh, and and I'm pretty sure she missed last week's story about the earthquake and landslides there, too: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/19/world/asia/earthquake-shakes-india-and-nepal.html
Yep, 40 years old and I'm still worried what my mom might think. Take for instance how I changed the name of this blog recently because the *real* name had a swear word in it. Gasp! I think Mom would have been mortified to have friends and relatives follow a blog in which her daughter refers to herself as a "Half-Assed Perfectionist".
What?! Your daughter swears?! Shit. If she only knew...
The description though, is quite accurate, Half-Assed Perfectionist: If something is worth doing, it's worth doing right. Well, when I feel like it. And that's truly my personality. Things have to be "just-so" ALL THE TIME, until I can't take it anymore and succumb to being a slacker for a little while.
I'm trying to figure out how to keep my Mom from reading that story in the newspaper or seeing it online. She'd probably have a stroke, as she was never keen on my goal to go to Everest to begin with...
Oh, and and I'm pretty sure she missed last week's story about the earthquake and landslides there, too: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/19/world/asia/earthquake-shakes-india-and-nepal.html
Yep, 40 years old and I'm still worried what my mom might think. Take for instance how I changed the name of this blog recently because the *real* name had a swear word in it. Gasp! I think Mom would have been mortified to have friends and relatives follow a blog in which her daughter refers to herself as a "Half-Assed Perfectionist".
What?! Your daughter swears?! Shit. If she only knew...
The description though, is quite accurate, Half-Assed Perfectionist: If something is worth doing, it's worth doing right. Well, when I feel like it. And that's truly my personality. Things have to be "just-so" ALL THE TIME, until I can't take it anymore and succumb to being a slacker for a little while.
Sunday, September 25, 2011
Inadvertent Stupidity
I always manage to do at least one incredibly stupid thing before I leave on a trip. Once it was getting a speeding ticket the night before my flight. Goodbye necessary airport identification!
Once it was getting a bad pedicure just before I left on a trip to Italy. Nothing says walking the streets of Rome for a week like clipped-too-short toenails. This time my incredibly stupid thing was using a new ATM and forgetting to take back my card at the end of the transaction. In my defense, my usual ATM is the "swipe" kind and this one was the kind where you feed it in and then it expels it at the end after you take the receipt. Because I didn't take my card back at the end, the ATM "ate" it for security purposes. Oh, and this particular bank destroys any cash station cards that get eaten by the machine if the card was not issued by them. Getting a new one from my bank will take 10 days, cutting it really close to the day of departure. Withdrawing money from an ATM overseas is a necessity, that replacement card better get here fast.
Once it was getting a bad pedicure just before I left on a trip to Italy. Nothing says walking the streets of Rome for a week like clipped-too-short toenails. This time my incredibly stupid thing was using a new ATM and forgetting to take back my card at the end of the transaction. In my defense, my usual ATM is the "swipe" kind and this one was the kind where you feed it in and then it expels it at the end after you take the receipt. Because I didn't take my card back at the end, the ATM "ate" it for security purposes. Oh, and this particular bank destroys any cash station cards that get eaten by the machine if the card was not issued by them. Getting a new one from my bank will take 10 days, cutting it really close to the day of departure. Withdrawing money from an ATM overseas is a necessity, that replacement card better get here fast.
Wednesday, September 21, 2011
Thanks of the day
Thanks to my good friend Del for the kids' personalized Mad Scientist costumes from her Halloween party a while back... that's what the kids are going as this year so I don't have to leave the costume issue up in the air while I'm gone.... They look awesome!
One more thing off my to-do list!
One more thing off my to-do list!
Sunday, September 18, 2011
Just in case...medications for the trip
Various antibiotics, pain medications, altitude sickness medication, etc. In total there are 19 medications that are being brought along for daily and/or emergency use.
In addition to the medications, the immunizations I got for the trip were: Hepatitis A and B, Polio Booster, Tetanus, and Typhoid (hurt like a bitch for days!) ***Cha-ching! Even at the county health department these were more pricey than I expected!
Friday, September 16, 2011
If you have to ask...
Many people are curious about the cost of this trip. Nosy, I know. But there is a thing called Google and you could probably easily find out by looking up the trip cost on the Mountain Madness website if you really wanted to...but does it matter?? Well, no. But you're going to snoop and look it up anyway, aren't you? Land only cost, plus airfare to Asia plus several thousand more for gear, insurance, shots, medications, tips for the guides, spending money...you do the math. I'm sure there are those who won't bat an eye at the final total, and there are those whose jaws need to be picked up off the floor. I have saved for over a decade to take this trip so I don't really care what you think or don't think about the cost.
If you've never heard of the company Mountain Madness, one of the premier guiding and adventure companies in the world, then you also don't recognize the name of the founder, Scott Fischer. Which means you probably never read Into Thin Air in the first place. Wikipedia is a handy source to read about Mountain Madness and Scott Fischer.
Since you're busy looking up all sorts of information about my adventure on the internet right about now, here are a few handy links on some of the specifics:
Information about the company can be found at http://www.mountainmadness.com/ and the specific trip details can be found at http://www.mountainmadness.com/adventures/trekking/asia/nepal/everest-base-camp-trek#trip-overview/description.
The trip leader is Deanna Zabaldo and here is her bio: http://www.parahamsa.com/about/about-deana-zabaldo/
The Introduction to Mountaineering course I took 12 years ago can be found here: http://www.mountainmadness.com/adventures/schools/north-america/introduction-to-mountaineering-course#trip-overview/description
If you've never heard of the company Mountain Madness, one of the premier guiding and adventure companies in the world, then you also don't recognize the name of the founder, Scott Fischer. Which means you probably never read Into Thin Air in the first place. Wikipedia is a handy source to read about Mountain Madness and Scott Fischer.
Since you're busy looking up all sorts of information about my adventure on the internet right about now, here are a few handy links on some of the specifics:
Information about the company can be found at http://www.mountainmadness.com/ and the specific trip details can be found at http://www.mountainmadness.com/adventures/trekking/asia/nepal/everest-base-camp-trek#trip-overview/description.
The trip leader is Deanna Zabaldo and here is her bio: http://www.parahamsa.com/about/about-deana-zabaldo/
The Introduction to Mountaineering course I took 12 years ago can be found here: http://www.mountainmadness.com/adventures/schools/north-america/introduction-to-mountaineering-course#trip-overview/description
Monday, September 12, 2011
Which column do you fall into?
Everyone who knows about My Big Plan falls into 1 of 2 categories-Those who have readily embraced the idea and said, "Really?? That is fantastic!!!" and those who have said, "Why would you want to do that?"
The people who think it is a great idea usually then ask how I came up with the idea in the first place. Truth be told, an old co-worker is to blame. Kim is an avid reader and everyday at the hospital, the social workers would sit in the cafeteria at lunch and discuss which books each of us was reading. Or should I say they were reading. At that time, I was more interested in reading research articles than novels. When I said that I didn't really like fiction, Kim asked if I'd ever heard of the non-fiction book Into Thin Air by Jon Krakauer. I hadn't. In fact, a book about mountaineering sounded kind of dull and boring. She said I'd "love it" (everyone says that) and then loaned me the book. I finished it in a few days and then proceeded to push the book on everyone I knew, telling them, "No, you HAVE to read it!! You'll LOVE it!!" And thus began my obsession with Everest.
Its my guess that 50% of people who decide to do the Everest Base Camp Trek were spurred by the book Into Thin Air, so I know I'm not alone in my obsession and I know I'm not unique. A few months after reading the book, I decided to do something utterly ridiculous and book an Introduction to Mountaineering course with Mountain Madness, one of the guiding companies from the book. The course may not be out of the ordinary if you live in a place where there are mountains. Or even hills. Suburban Chicago, though? Yeah, not so much.
Hey, Ed Viesturs hails from Rockford, Illinois so I guess it's not that absurd of an idea, right? Yes, go ahead, I'll wait while you look up Ed Viesturs on Wikipedia.
The people who think it is a great idea usually then ask how I came up with the idea in the first place. Truth be told, an old co-worker is to blame. Kim is an avid reader and everyday at the hospital, the social workers would sit in the cafeteria at lunch and discuss which books each of us was reading. Or should I say they were reading. At that time, I was more interested in reading research articles than novels. When I said that I didn't really like fiction, Kim asked if I'd ever heard of the non-fiction book Into Thin Air by Jon Krakauer. I hadn't. In fact, a book about mountaineering sounded kind of dull and boring. She said I'd "love it" (everyone says that) and then loaned me the book. I finished it in a few days and then proceeded to push the book on everyone I knew, telling them, "No, you HAVE to read it!! You'll LOVE it!!" And thus began my obsession with Everest.
Its my guess that 50% of people who decide to do the Everest Base Camp Trek were spurred by the book Into Thin Air, so I know I'm not alone in my obsession and I know I'm not unique. A few months after reading the book, I decided to do something utterly ridiculous and book an Introduction to Mountaineering course with Mountain Madness, one of the guiding companies from the book. The course may not be out of the ordinary if you live in a place where there are mountains. Or even hills. Suburban Chicago, though? Yeah, not so much.
Hey, Ed Viesturs hails from Rockford, Illinois so I guess it's not that absurd of an idea, right? Yes, go ahead, I'll wait while you look up Ed Viesturs on Wikipedia.
Pre-trip Planning, the prequel
Have I mentioned the moon and the stars have had to align for this trip to become reality? A major concern of this trip planning process has been, What employer would ever give me this much time off of work?? Special thanks goes out to my boss who didn't bat an eye when I mentioned last year that I needed time off "to go to Everest". I believe his response (that was, may I add, without a snicker or an eyeroll) was, "Just let me know what dates you need to be gone so I can arrange coverage for you." What a great boss.
Pre-trip Planning
The first draft of the pages that will go in the "Who-Goes-Where" Handbook, aka "How to Care for my Children for 30 Days". In it you will find information about: school, homework, orchestra, soccer, football, directions, times, maps, needed gear, consent forms, schedules, meals, bedtime, and important names, phone numbers and emails. I'm sure I'm missing something! Lucky for me, I have a great sister-in-law who knows my kids really well and has offered to fly in for one of the weeks I am gone. Yes, that's right, she took off of work to spend a week with my kids. She has watched our kids in the past when we have vacationed and probably figures this time will be a walk in the park. In the past it has involved diaper changing, nap times, battling the flu, car seats, and the occasional time-out. This time I'm sure it will revolve around Wii marathons and loading them with Orange Crush.
Sunday, September 11, 2011
Thursday, September 8, 2011
This will definitely all fit!
Three stuff sacks and some miscellaneous gear inside the big red duffel... The stuff that is left will go in my carry-on, ie, my Osprey Talon 44 pack. Room to spare!
Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T
Wednesday, September 7, 2011
"B" words
The biggest concerns on my mind today while packing for my trip are the 3 B's: Blisters, Bedtime, and Bathrooms. My boots are as broken in as they're gonna get and one can only hope they treat my feet right. The backup plan of running shoes makes me happy just thinking about it. I love them.
Bedtime? If you know me, you know I need my sleep. I'm a light sleeper (that's a total understatement Honey, I know) but throw in 16 bunkmates in an unheated plywood structure hacking up a lung with the Khumbu cough, and I can tell you now, it ain't gonna be pretty. For God's sake, I can hear a pin drop in the basement of my well-insulated home and I sleep with a fan going for white noise. I'm just wired that way. It serves me well in other areas of my life to be so sensitive, but as things go, it's a difficult way to live. This is when the mental discipline will need to kick into overdrive on the trip. I'll say it again: In order to function, I need sleep. I don't care about waking up early, I just need to feel rested. It's really weighing on my mind because right off the bat I will be sleep deprived because of the time change and my inability to sleep on a plane. I'm hoping the sheer exhaustion from hiking every day will allow my body to rest at night. Just in case, I've got 3 different brands of earplugs.
Bathroom issues... As I line up the million medications I am required to take on the trip in the event I acquire any number of ailments along the way, I can't help but think specifically about all the potential intestinal problems that threaten trekkers in Nepal. I am famous for always touching my eyes, my mouth, etc.-a perfect host for various bacteria. I hope to be right smack in the middle of the bathroom spectrum, i.e., NO PROBLEMS. If I let my mind wander, I think about how awful it is when you have the flu and how you just want God to make the misery stop...and then I think, what must it be like to be sick in a place with no Western toilets and no running water? Ughhh. Ickkk. Prepare for the worst, hope for the best, I guess.
Bedtime? If you know me, you know I need my sleep. I'm a light sleeper (that's a total understatement Honey, I know) but throw in 16 bunkmates in an unheated plywood structure hacking up a lung with the Khumbu cough, and I can tell you now, it ain't gonna be pretty. For God's sake, I can hear a pin drop in the basement of my well-insulated home and I sleep with a fan going for white noise. I'm just wired that way. It serves me well in other areas of my life to be so sensitive, but as things go, it's a difficult way to live. This is when the mental discipline will need to kick into overdrive on the trip. I'll say it again: In order to function, I need sleep. I don't care about waking up early, I just need to feel rested. It's really weighing on my mind because right off the bat I will be sleep deprived because of the time change and my inability to sleep on a plane. I'm hoping the sheer exhaustion from hiking every day will allow my body to rest at night. Just in case, I've got 3 different brands of earplugs.
Bathroom issues... As I line up the million medications I am required to take on the trip in the event I acquire any number of ailments along the way, I can't help but think specifically about all the potential intestinal problems that threaten trekkers in Nepal. I am famous for always touching my eyes, my mouth, etc.-a perfect host for various bacteria. I hope to be right smack in the middle of the bathroom spectrum, i.e., NO PROBLEMS. If I let my mind wander, I think about how awful it is when you have the flu and how you just want God to make the misery stop...and then I think, what must it be like to be sick in a place with no Western toilets and no running water? Ughhh. Ickkk. Prepare for the worst, hope for the best, I guess.
Thursday, August 4, 2011
Calypso Cascade Elev. 9,200 ft.
Successful trial upload from my Blackberry at Rocky Mountain National Park, Wild Basin area. First day out in the park, "warm up" hike with B on his 7th birthday, we did about 5 miles, topping out at 9100'. It was a perfect hike to help him remember how to pace himself, hydrate, rest when needed, and descend rocky trails with sure footing. He enjoyed having his own camera to shoot whatever he wanted...mostly chipmunks and waterfalls. Enjoyable for me because of how well my boots and pack seem to be broken in already, the terrific weather, and the energetic and happy-go-lucky company of my son who finds delight in the smallest of things.
Monday, August 1, 2011
"You see that? Next year I'm going to climb that with Mom."
That's what Little Bro B told his big brother last July. Fast forward to a year later and here we are, packing for Colorado. Our goal: Flat Top Mountain, elevation 12, 324 ft. A side benefit to this adventure is the chance to break in some of my new equipment and get some conditioning at a higher altitude.
Thursday, July 7, 2011
You never know who you'll meet along the way
Handling life's little hiccups with grace is not one of my strong points. I can admit it.
My first reaction to everything that goes wrong, big or small, is to have a mini-freakout. I'm pretty sure the freakout is all in my head, because usually people remark about my ability to handle things calmly and professionally. I guess I have everyone fooled. The mini-freakout lasts for only a few moments but it's one of the things I'm working on changing about myself. I'd like my initial reaction to be, "I am capable of handling this" but it's usually something more like, "JFC!!" or "WTF?!" or "RUFKM?!"
Truth be told, one of my better traits is that I'm good at making a back-up plan. But what does that say about me? That I'm efficient and organized? Or that I lack confidence in my ability to execute Plan A?
The latest in life's string of hiccups is that I have a minor yet urgent health issue that requires exploratory abdominal surgery. Thousands of dollars in various medical tests so far have not yielded any conclusive results so here I am waiting for my pre-op anesthesia appointment for the surgery. I need to have this surgery before my health insurance ends in a month because my husband just got laid off. That's right, laid off.
Insert mini-freakout here.
As I wait for the doctor, the nurse draws a few vials of blood and then who should stroll in but the same anesthesiologist who had gone to extremes caring for me during my month-long hospitalization 8 years ago. One look at my name and his jaw drops open. I grin and feel ridiculous and proud all in the same instant, as he glances at me trying to identify some semblance of the person he remembers: a pale and swollen young woman in ICU with a collapsed lung, an emergency c-section, and a lung surgery three days later (in which the surgeon describes the fun of smoothing the chest wall with a surgical Brillo pad). Throw in a few decorations such as fetal monitors/chest tubes/IVs and an extra 60 lbs. The anesthesiologist repeats my name out loud and just starts spitting out long-lost details that I'd since forgotten (or purposely erased from my being): how I hated ABGs, what doctors I thought were jerks, which nurses I loved, how my health insurance payments practically paid for the new maternity wing....
That I've come through the whole lung incident in such a fantastically hearty way still amazes me. I'm a far cry from the pathetic looking soul they remember. The anesthesiologist reviews my chart again and notes that I have a 40th birthday coming up soon and asks if I am doing anything special to celebrate? As a matter of fact, I am.
We talk about Nepal and Everest Base Camp and the effect of altitude on the lungs. We talk about the timing of the surgery so close to my trip departure date and my husband's job loss in the middle of all of it. The anesthesiologist reminds me these things are all just little setbacks on the road of life. A case of the hiccups. No reason for a Plan B.
He reinforces what what I've been trying to tell myself all along: there will never be the perfect time to do this trip. There will always be some reason NOT to do it. He shares the story of finishing his residency, stressed out and in debt, taking his wife and kids to live in Paris for a few months. Some of his kids immediately loved it, but some did not. But the resulting personal, educational, financial, and social impact it had on the children as they grew older was immeasurable. He believes it's one of the best decisions he ever made, to put aside professional and financial concerns to do something daring and impractical.
Before leaving, he reminds me one more time that one of the best parts about taking this trip is the example I'm setting for my kids: choosing a meaningful goal and working towards it.
Thanks Dr. Powell, I'm glad our paths have crossed again.
My first reaction to everything that goes wrong, big or small, is to have a mini-freakout. I'm pretty sure the freakout is all in my head, because usually people remark about my ability to handle things calmly and professionally. I guess I have everyone fooled. The mini-freakout lasts for only a few moments but it's one of the things I'm working on changing about myself. I'd like my initial reaction to be, "I am capable of handling this" but it's usually something more like, "JFC!!" or "WTF?!" or "RUFKM?!"
Truth be told, one of my better traits is that I'm good at making a back-up plan. But what does that say about me? That I'm efficient and organized? Or that I lack confidence in my ability to execute Plan A?
The latest in life's string of hiccups is that I have a minor yet urgent health issue that requires exploratory abdominal surgery. Thousands of dollars in various medical tests so far have not yielded any conclusive results so here I am waiting for my pre-op anesthesia appointment for the surgery. I need to have this surgery before my health insurance ends in a month because my husband just got laid off. That's right, laid off.
Insert mini-freakout here.
As I wait for the doctor, the nurse draws a few vials of blood and then who should stroll in but the same anesthesiologist who had gone to extremes caring for me during my month-long hospitalization 8 years ago. One look at my name and his jaw drops open. I grin and feel ridiculous and proud all in the same instant, as he glances at me trying to identify some semblance of the person he remembers: a pale and swollen young woman in ICU with a collapsed lung, an emergency c-section, and a lung surgery three days later (in which the surgeon describes the fun of smoothing the chest wall with a surgical Brillo pad). Throw in a few decorations such as fetal monitors/chest tubes/IVs and an extra 60 lbs. The anesthesiologist repeats my name out loud and just starts spitting out long-lost details that I'd since forgotten (or purposely erased from my being): how I hated ABGs, what doctors I thought were jerks, which nurses I loved, how my health insurance payments practically paid for the new maternity wing....
That I've come through the whole lung incident in such a fantastically hearty way still amazes me. I'm a far cry from the pathetic looking soul they remember. The anesthesiologist reviews my chart again and notes that I have a 40th birthday coming up soon and asks if I am doing anything special to celebrate? As a matter of fact, I am.
We talk about Nepal and Everest Base Camp and the effect of altitude on the lungs. We talk about the timing of the surgery so close to my trip departure date and my husband's job loss in the middle of all of it. The anesthesiologist reminds me these things are all just little setbacks on the road of life. A case of the hiccups. No reason for a Plan B.
He reinforces what what I've been trying to tell myself all along: there will never be the perfect time to do this trip. There will always be some reason NOT to do it. He shares the story of finishing his residency, stressed out and in debt, taking his wife and kids to live in Paris for a few months. Some of his kids immediately loved it, but some did not. But the resulting personal, educational, financial, and social impact it had on the children as they grew older was immeasurable. He believes it's one of the best decisions he ever made, to put aside professional and financial concerns to do something daring and impractical.
Before leaving, he reminds me one more time that one of the best parts about taking this trip is the example I'm setting for my kids: choosing a meaningful goal and working towards it.
Thanks Dr. Powell, I'm glad our paths have crossed again.
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
Self-Arresting
Careening down the mountain head first while lying on your back, your job is to stop yourself from plummeting to your death by digging your ice axe into the snow-while not ripping your arm out of its socket or accidentally getting your crampon snagged so you don't break an ankle. This was all new to me. As was crevasse rescue. These were beginner climbing skills. BEGINNER. Again, I just practiced them with the rest of the Intro group because I was on auto-pilot. Talk about foreign concepts! But sometimes it's just good to "do things". I'm a calculated risk taker, but there comes a point where you've researched something all you can and then next step is to just "DO". It's kind of like taking the first step out of a plane when you go skydiving. Just take that first step, because once you take it, you can't change your mind and step backwards into the plane. You have to deal with what's in front of you right then and there. Sometimes you have to trust the universe.
First Steps
Buying medical evacuation insurance makes this all real.
More so than putting down the $500 deposit and filling out the application.
More so than purchasing airfare that costs two grand.
More so than the UPS guy delivering the sleeping bag that is supposed to keep me warm for a month in the mountains, yet only weighs 3 lbs and compresses down into a bag the size of a small cat.
Yep, its the medical evacuation insurance that is the reality check. Especially the phrase in the contract that states that "transportation of mortal remains, if necessary" is covered.
The fact of the matter is, I probably have a higher chance than most people of needing to use this insurance. Eight years ago my lung collapsed while I was 7 months pregnant. The subsequent lung surgery to fix it (a few days after an emergency c-section, mind you) came after a month in the hospital with various chest tubes and other pain inflicting interventions...which came after months of bedrest for a high risk pregnancy which came after years of fertility treatments. Throw in a spouse's heart surgery and you've got a great first few years of marriage.
So I have an axe to grind. Or a bone to pick. Or an ass to kick.
Since I read Into Thin Air in 1998, I decided I want to go to Everest. The lung situation has put an interesting twist on my desire to go there. I said I'd like to do it when I turn 40 and here I am. Every cough or ache or doctor appointment in the past 13 years has me constantly thinking in my head/asking every physician, how will this affect my ability to go to Everest someday? They look at me like I am insane, but humor me anyway. My endurance, my stamina, my breathing...my mind spins with questions. Will I be ok at high altitude? Because being at high altitude is the wrong time to find out the answer to that question.
But the pulmonologist and thoracic surgeon have never wavered and both agree: The altitude won't affect my lung. I want to believe them.
Back to the sleeping bag.
I laugh that I even own a sleeping bag. I can count on two hands the number of times I've camped in my life, all 40 years of it. I'm pretty sure the last time I camped was 12 years ago, when I went on an Introduction to Mountaineering course in the Cascades. Imagine that, a girl from the flat Midwest just up-and-decides one day that she wants to climb a mountain. That's how it happened: I read a book about Everest and then decided, I'm going to take up mountain climbing.
When you're young, you do a lot of things without thinking. This can be good because it helps expand your horizons. But the sheer stupidity of things sometimes becomes apparent when you look back on them years later. One of the memories I have about the Intro course is how shocked I was the first night to find out I had to pitch a tent myself. On snow. Really? People camp on snow? Who knew? Not wanting to seem like an idiot, I just "did" stuff on the trip like I was "used to it". You know, like camping on snow. I vividly remember freezing all night long, even wearing every stitch of clothing I'd brought on the trip. Who knows what kind of sleeping bag I had back then...the gear list said "sleeping bag", so I probably just figured in my simplistic midwestern girl head that there was only one kind of sleeping bag. Lesson learned from that incident, though? Spend money on quality gear. Which is what I'm doing for THIS trip.
More so than putting down the $500 deposit and filling out the application.
More so than purchasing airfare that costs two grand.
More so than the UPS guy delivering the sleeping bag that is supposed to keep me warm for a month in the mountains, yet only weighs 3 lbs and compresses down into a bag the size of a small cat.
Yep, its the medical evacuation insurance that is the reality check. Especially the phrase in the contract that states that "transportation of mortal remains, if necessary" is covered.
The fact of the matter is, I probably have a higher chance than most people of needing to use this insurance. Eight years ago my lung collapsed while I was 7 months pregnant. The subsequent lung surgery to fix it (a few days after an emergency c-section, mind you) came after a month in the hospital with various chest tubes and other pain inflicting interventions...which came after months of bedrest for a high risk pregnancy which came after years of fertility treatments. Throw in a spouse's heart surgery and you've got a great first few years of marriage.
So I have an axe to grind. Or a bone to pick. Or an ass to kick.
Since I read Into Thin Air in 1998, I decided I want to go to Everest. The lung situation has put an interesting twist on my desire to go there. I said I'd like to do it when I turn 40 and here I am. Every cough or ache or doctor appointment in the past 13 years has me constantly thinking in my head/asking every physician, how will this affect my ability to go to Everest someday? They look at me like I am insane, but humor me anyway. My endurance, my stamina, my breathing...my mind spins with questions. Will I be ok at high altitude? Because being at high altitude is the wrong time to find out the answer to that question.
But the pulmonologist and thoracic surgeon have never wavered and both agree: The altitude won't affect my lung. I want to believe them.
Back to the sleeping bag.
I laugh that I even own a sleeping bag. I can count on two hands the number of times I've camped in my life, all 40 years of it. I'm pretty sure the last time I camped was 12 years ago, when I went on an Introduction to Mountaineering course in the Cascades. Imagine that, a girl from the flat Midwest just up-and-decides one day that she wants to climb a mountain. That's how it happened: I read a book about Everest and then decided, I'm going to take up mountain climbing.
When you're young, you do a lot of things without thinking. This can be good because it helps expand your horizons. But the sheer stupidity of things sometimes becomes apparent when you look back on them years later. One of the memories I have about the Intro course is how shocked I was the first night to find out I had to pitch a tent myself. On snow. Really? People camp on snow? Who knew? Not wanting to seem like an idiot, I just "did" stuff on the trip like I was "used to it". You know, like camping on snow. I vividly remember freezing all night long, even wearing every stitch of clothing I'd brought on the trip. Who knows what kind of sleeping bag I had back then...the gear list said "sleeping bag", so I probably just figured in my simplistic midwestern girl head that there was only one kind of sleeping bag. Lesson learned from that incident, though? Spend money on quality gear. Which is what I'm doing for THIS trip.
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