K-du

After four months of prep & anticipation and 25 hours of travel from NYC (through Qatar) I arrived in Kathmandu! I’m exhausted and I haven’t even started the expedition yet. K-du is a fascinating place. NYC cab drivers are civil compared to the roads here – no lanes, unpaved dirt roads mixed with bikes, three wheel trucks, buses, stray oxen roaming around. And you can’t help but be overcome by the smells of incense, dust and foreign food. We did a little sight-seeing of temples and a rug weaving facility run by Tibetan refugees. Here is a shot of what is known as “monkey temple.”

I already interviewed five, unique Sherpas here in town. They have each broke through barriers by branching out beyond the traditional mountain guide profession, including: the first Sherpa journalist, the first popular Sherpa singer, a female business owner, the co-founder of the largest Nepalese airline and an adventure sports daredevil (who not only reached the Summit of Everest, but then proceeded to jump from the peak with a paraglide and when he landed, kayaked the Gange to the Indian Ocean!). Thanks to my friend Brian I also got to have dinner at the home of Ben, an American who came here ten+ years ago and runs a wonderful non-profit that helps mountain porters and villagers. Check it out at: www.dzifoundation.org.

It is now 4am local time on the 27th. I get picked up in an hour to head to the airport. We’re taking a short plane ride to Lukla where the gateway to Everest begins. I am excited and a bit nervous. There are seven Westerners and about six climbing Sherpas in our group. The lead Sherpa has reached the Summit seven times! We were supposed to be eight Westerners but Linda broke her foot in India on the way over. She’s a trooper and is staying to complete her work with the non-profit she supports. Ok, time to attempt to Skype home and then off to attempt to get to Everest Base Camp. Don’t worry, there is not a paraglider in my bag for the way down the mountain!

onward and upward,
Lee