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Things went a little smoother today. Weather in Kathmandu was improved. There were still some clouds but no rain when we got to the airport at 6 AM. In no time at all we were getting on board the AStar B3 helicopter bound for Lukla. It was exciting and exhilarating to get up out of the Kathmandu Valley and to see the Himalayan peaks rising in a line to the North. They were impossibly big and steep and beautiful with the first rays of the sun finding them. We flew for about 45 minutes and caught a clear -but brief- glimpse of Mount Everest stabbing into the sky before we landed in the shadows down in Lukla.
Our trek began with a good breakfast. We set out walking at 9:30 and started downhill. This part of the valley is all forest and farmland with a big violent river charging through the middle. There was plenty to see as we followed our Sherpa guides, Dawa, Tenzing and Tsangdu. Finally we crossed the river a little after noon and pulled into Phakding. We lunched and then napped away the afternoon at 8600 ft of elevation. By dinner time the tea house had filled with trekkers recounting their exciting first day on the trail.
Best Regards
Wendy! I see you are back at it! Good luck and have fun.
Posted by: Cory on 10/6/2023 at 4:54 am
The sun came around the mountain at 10 AM today, which was also about the time we got out of our sleeping bags and unzipped the tents. There was a faint breeze keeping things cool, but we clambered into the dining tent for a leisurely breakfast/brunch/lunch. By the time we waddled out and suited up for climbing it was 2 PM. Yesterday, although we were roped to one another for glacier travel, it was just walking with ski poles. Today, we had on crampons and carried ice axes. It only took a few minutes to get to the base of the fixed ropes where we paused briefly to rig up and review techniques for climbing steep snow. The goal was “lunch ledge” about an hour up the lines. We were starting to get some pretty good views of our surroundings -including a cloud bank pushing in from the northwest. By the time we’d descended, the clouds were covering the summits and blocking out the sun. Luckily there wasn’t any wind to go with this change in our weather. We were back in camp by 5 PM and set in for an evening of snacking and rehydration. Dinner was fashionably late at 8:45 PM and we were back in the tents by 10 PM. The plan is to move to highcamp tomorrow if the weather holds and everybody has stayed healthy.
Best Regards
RMI Guide Dave Hahn
Happy New Year guys! Enjoy the view! Be safe. Shoutout from Dayton Ohio fan club.
Posted by: Michael on 12/31/2019 at 8:27 pm
Posted by: Zeb Blais, Nate Goodwin, Nick Scott
Categories: Expedition Dispatches North Cascades
Elevation: 9,131
Posted by: Brent Okita, Solveig Waterfall, Mike Soucy
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mount Rainier
Elevation: 14,410'
Looking good guys!!!
Posted by: Sarah on 6/22/2014 at 2:48 am
GO TEAM!!
Posted by: Jan Hejl on 6/20/2014 at 11:08 pm
On The Map
Bruce & Michael - You’re living the life you love & loving the life you live. GOOD LUCK to your entire team! xo Jen
Posted by: Jen Bush on 6/13/2014 at 6:17 pm
Dear Bruce and Michael,
It is great to see you “climbing” your dream. Sending you well wishes,
Kathy
Posted by: Kathy Damico on 6/13/2014 at 2:59 pm
Posted by: Dominic Cifelli, Ben Luedtke, Michael Murray
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Aconcagua
Elevation: 9,000'
Welcome to the Blog! This first one will be written by me, Dominic Cifelli, but throughout the trip we pass the torch to all the climbers in order to gain different perspective on the day in/day out of the trip. Keep a lookout for your loved one's name on the blog and please enjoy!
We're off! Landing in Mendoza, we were greeted with the warm temps and long days of the South American summer. A far cry from the cold snap our loved ones are experiencing in the U.S.A. The day was filled with long lunches, a siesta or two, and perusing the local markets for gifts and very late Christmas presents.
The first days of an expedition are exciting and quite hectic as we prepare, check, and recheck our equipment for the journey ahead. I always find that once we start walking, everything gets simpler because we can no longer quadruple check that we packed that favorite pair of socks or brought the right mittens. What's packed is packed and the job will become putting one front in front of the other.
That's for tomorrow's enjoyment, however. The rest of the day will be filled with prepping the duffels and food for the rough ride they take on the mules to Basecamp.
We do this in the "town" of Penitentes, close to the entrance to Aconcagua Provincial Park.
Stay tuned and wish us luck as we try to finish up the monstrous task of packing for a three-week trip.
Adios!
New Post Alerts:
Aconcagua Expedition January 12, 2024
Get it! Wishing you all enjoyable and safe travels. You all trained and prepped so diligently, now it’s time to enjoy the trek to the top. Prayer and encouragement from Seattle.
Posted by: Ed DaPra on 1/16/2024 at 6:18 am
Good luck! Praying for a safe summit!
Posted by: Michelle DeMers on 1/15/2024 at 4:38 am
Posted by: Tyler Jones, Lindsay Mann, Chase Nelson
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mt. McKinley
Elevation: 17,200'
On The Map
Ken your almost there. Keep safe and don’t give up. The view from up there is breath taking, enjoy. Jose
Posted by: Jose Gonzalez on 6/15/2015 at 4:18 pm
18 days of hard work….at D.G.‘s rate you guys are going to be minted!!
Best of luck in the coming days!
Posted by: Will Ivy on 6/15/2015 at 3:24 pm
Tom,
Greetings from Wilsonville! We are all wishing you luck here at work. Enough with this wind already…I told mother nature to be kinder today! Take care, Leslie
Posted by: Leslie on 5/19/2011 at 11:30 am
great picture of the climbing team! you all look ready and able to do this thing—-now if the weather cooperates. have fun ; enjoy the journey and take pleasure in the destination.
Posted by: jim dunn on 5/18/2011 at 1:33 pm
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