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Hey Doug, would love to share photos, funny stories, etc. Not sure I can swing last weekend in June though...have Desolation Wilderness permits the following week...
Yes, this was a heckuva trip. Didn't realize I had booked what is probably the most strenuous pre-packaged Everest trek (peaks and passes). Stomach issues made the physical challenges seem impossible at moments. But so worth it. Didn't realize how fabulous the passes would be in their own right. And the thing about digging really deep is how great you feel when you actually make that pass or peak.
Rosie, please reconsider Memorial Day! Please! Please!
Enjoying my second to last breakfast at the Courtyard. Sigh.
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Karin... sending you a message on FB
"What we have done for ourselves alone dies with us; what we have done for others and the world remains and is immortal." Albert Pike
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Are we really already talking about the Fourth of July?
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Yes, this was a heckuva trip. Didn't realize I had booked what is probably the most strenuous pre-packaged Everest trek (peaks and passes). Stomach issues made the physical challenges seem impossible at moments. But so worth it. Didn't realize how fabulous the passes would be in their own right. And the thing about digging really deep is how great you feel when you actually make that pass or peak.
Type 2 fun ?
"fun only in retrospect, hateful while it's happening."
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"Type 2 fun," I needed that! Perfect. When my energy was really flagging, I often wondered if the brain would eventually do that funny thing it does after a hard trip, smooth the hard edges, and amplify the euphoric moments.
So far, my memories are pretty real (the great, the good and the, well, less fun). But then again, I am still suffering from GI issues and jet lag, so perhaps the glossing has not yet had a chance to occur....
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Around lunchtime, a group of seven Japanese Seniors arrived back from a climb of Kyanjin Ri. We spent meals and more together for the next few days. The Elder Statesman of the group has a son named Shinichi and the group got a kick out of seeing Shin on Baldy and as the flying eagle on Pinky Finger.  That's me with The Elder Statesman and his wife.
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BTW: Doug, Doug, Carole, Cayden, Maya, the crows/ravens do the same "spiral dance" over here. I saw a big crowd just below the Thorong La.
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A New book to add to the list... The Call of Everest: The History, Science, and Future of the World’s Tallest Peak. ...and an interesting Mark Jenkins article from Nat Geo: http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2013/06/125-everest-maxed-out/jenkins-text(Some pretty gruesome photos if you go thru the album...)
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A New book to add to the list...
The Call of Everest: The History, Science, and Future of the World’s Tallest Peak. Richard, thanks. I did not know this book was out. The recent Anker-led team was not able to repeat the Hornbein-Unsoeld traverse of Everest via the West Ridge. The extremity of that 1963 event is reflected in Hornbein's earlier book: Death had no meaning, nor, for that matter, did life. Tom Hornbein, Everest. The West Ridge, page 175
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http://world.time.com/2013/05/27/fears-g...ewsletter-dailyOne of these lakes is very near Island Peak. They've been talking about the potential for it to burst its dam for quite a while. Didn't know they have an early warning system in place. I guess if I saw the Nepalis running, I'd run too.
Last edited by Richard P.; 05/28/13 01:17 PM.
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One of these lakes is very near Island Peak. They've been talking about the potential for it to burst its dam for quite a while. When I was there, there was a massive scar from a recent burst very visible on the slopes above the Hongku valley south of Island Peak. After crossing the Amphulabsa northbound to the Imja area, we camped on the south side of Imja Tso (lake) one night, then on the more traditional north side/Island Base Camp area the next night. Much of that lake had already burst through its natural dam some years ago. But I looked at Google Earth just now - it looks to me like it has filled up again. Ready to pop.
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With this anniversary year, Time magazine sure is giving Everest a lot of press: http://science.time.com/2013/05/29/60-ye...ewsletter-dailyEdit: If you follow the bottom link in the article, it will allow you to see the original Life Magazine article... pretty cool!
Last edited by Richard P.; 05/29/13 05:47 PM.
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http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/blog/2013/may/29/everest-breathtaking-medical-researchPassed on pasting links to successes and fatalities regarding this season, but this link takes you to a study by a British team of medical researchers... I met some of the medical staff and subjects in Dingboche.
Last edited by Richard P.; 05/31/13 02:04 PM. Reason: BTW: I finally managed to get all of the 2736 photos uploaded...
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Richard thanks for the link to the medical study
here's a quote from the mountaineering literature
Everest is the highest place on earth. More than two-thirds of the earth’s atmosphere lies below its summit, and for an unacclimatized man without oxygen, the top of the mountain is more endurable than outer space by only two or three minutes.
William Siri, in introduction to 2nd edition
Thomas Hornbein, Everest. The West Ridge, page 5
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No motivation to do anything else with these albums...
Annapurna Region: http://piotrowski.smugmug.com/Whats-New-1/Nepal-2013-Annapurna-Region/29447588_qVkGbs#!i=2531453458&k=2QdLff8
Helambu/Langtang/Tamang Heritage Trail: http://piotrowski.smugmug.com/Whats-New-1/Nepal-2013-Helambu-Langtang/29679647_MT92ZW#!i=2540978250&k=kDZfNvs
Everest Region: http://piotrowski.smugmug.com/Whats-New-1/Nepal-2013-Everest-Region/29441491_fBvtcb#!i=2543814035&k=WCsG2Mr
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Hey Richard - Haven't been checking in here... was traveling a good part of June. Wanted to spend some time to view the photos from your trip. Amazing. What would you say were the highlights? Again, amazing photos!!
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I've been contemplating how to answer this...
Yes, there are some good memories from Nepal,,,
But, the highlight was the first drive back up to Lone Pine and Whitney Portal, when I saw Lone Pine Peak and much more of the High Sierra with its new dusting of late-Spring snow...
The first thought that popped into my mind when I saw that awesome view? Why did I leave California?
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Great answer! Though my time in the Sierra was primarily in the 80s... I can't get the eastern Sierra out of my thoughts. My 1st love.
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