Onward and Upward...No Pain, No Gain

4/24/13 Namche Bazaar to Khum Jung. Today Kevin taught us a step to use while climbing hills and steps. It incorporates a rest step and allows time for the muscles to have a rest period.  My friend Cindy had shown me this on the steps of the ship while we were working, but it was a bit different putting it to real use. Let me tell you, I climbed amazing heights without huffing and puffing or taking many rest breaks. 

Our climb today was 1600 ft and took took us 3.5 hours. The views as always are spectacular.  Our morning tea was at the Everest View Hotel.  During the trek we had intermittent spurts of snow.  Our final destination for the day was in Khum Jung, the biggest village in the Khumbu region. As you are walking down the mountain towards the village you can see rock walls all over. These walls separate gardens and family plots. One of the first sights upon entering the village is the Edmund Hillary School.  We visited the school and viewed an art classroom. Children were heard in the classroom,  but were unable to enter.

4/25/13 Khum Jung to Deboche The weather was perfect all day.

We trekked  2000 ft down to the river, crossed a suspension bridge and then climbed back up 2000  Feet.  The mantra of the day was "slow and steady."  The trek was 3 miles and again I can't thank Kevin and Cindy enough for teaching the rest step, it has been a lifesaver! The trek was up twisting and winding trails. When I asked Lalit when it would become flat, he said " it is flat, Nepalese flat!"

We visited the Tengboche Monastery and spent the rest of the day in Deboche.

As most of you know, I have never camped a day in my life. Life in Tea Houses with Sherpas is still a luxury compared to having to set up my own tent, cook my own food, blah, blah, blah. But for me, there still are challenges;

cold bedrooms with no heat, some have sitting toilets and others just a hole in the floor to squat over, many dinners consist of a potato dish, pasta and vegetables. They use yak dung to fuel the fire pit in the dining hall/common room. They dry the yak dung on the walls of their houses or buildings. Shower facilities are not available at all tea houses, some bedrooms have lights, others do not.

4/26/13  Tengbuche to Dingboche Today we will have a 2000 ft elevation gain and end at 14,800 ft. Our group has been experiencing isolated gastrointestinal problems, but today we have had the most people sick at one time, 25% of our group. 

Throughout the trek we had views of Lhotse, Everest and Ama Dablam.

Part of our group saw a yak that fell off of a cliff. The Sherpas left hay and placed a blanket over him. 

We had our Wilderness ortho lecture by Reed and some fine demonstrations by Reed, Bob an Kevin on how to fix a dislocated hip! In attempts to get warm in the cold Dining Hall the group sat around the chimney to get warm.  Dinner was ready and chairs were moved to the tables. As Andree went to sit down Lalit started to pull out the chair from behind her. Luckily they both noticed and she didn't fall to the ground!

4/27/13 Dingboche:  Today is a Rest day. Most of the group went on a hike, but 5 of us chose to just relax and start feeling better. During the middle of the night I woke with a headache which can be a sign of altitude sickness. I have increased my dose of Diamox and am taking my favorite drug (other than Jack Daniels) Ibuprofen.

Mount Everest Base Camp Here We Come

4/21/13 Lukla to Phakding: We started with an early flight to Lukla with 20 Trekkers and 6 Sherpa. Our group was split into 3 planes with the last group of 4 not able to fly out due to weather.  After hours of waiting and no flight for the last 4 an opportunity came up to fly them in a helicopter to Lukla. Again due to poor weather they had to land in a field quite a distance from the airport and start their trek and sleep at a different Tea House.  Our group had a shorter trek (5mile) due to the delay in the pouring rain stepping over yak dung and rivers of yak dung flowing down the stairs.

4/22/13 Phakding to Namche Bazaar. We were able to meet up with the other 4 at lunchtime! Today's trek was extremely rigorous with the last 1600 ft of the 2800 ft climb was going up hill and again the later half was in the pouring rain.  Walking down uneven rock trails, mud and steps with sporadic yak dung is a challenge, I  was so fearful of slipping and falling. Again I keep thinking how did I get into this mess? As I forged my way forward being the last in my group I did have my Sherpa bodyguard, Lalit, constantly by my side. There were a couple times that I was pinned in a corner trying to avoid being speared on the horns of a passing yak.

I know I knew I was climbing a mountain, but let me tell you, I really had no idea what it entailed. We are following the Dudh Koshi river and had to cross a suspension bridge over the river 4 times. Doing that consisted of going up and down hill each time, exhausting! There were boulders laying close to the river that we had to pass over or around. I was hoping that nothing would break from the mountain as I passed.

There were points I didn't think I would make it, but my bodyguard, Lalit was by my side encouraging me all the way. I can't tell you how relieved that I was to arrive at the Namche Hotel Tea House in Namche Bazaar!  The most surprising thing was that I was only 5 minutes behind the rest of the group.

4/23/12  Namche Bazaar: Today is for rest and acclimatization.  Rest included a 2 hour hike with spectacular views. We were able to see the peaks of Tabuche, Mt Everest, Lhotse, Ama Dablam,  Thamserku. The viewing site was called Chorcamp and had a nice Sherpa Museum. We increased altitude about 500 ft and returned to Namche Bazaar. The rest of the afternoon was for whatever you cared to do. I went for a massage!

Kathmandu: The Final Days Before the Trek Begins

4/19/13 Reed, Andree and I arrived in Kathmandu and were met by our Outfitter Jiban. Allison and Kevin arrived a day early and brought me a fabulous gift, a new iPad! Reed had called them and placed the request after I lost mine in Boston. After getting settled we took a stroll to see if we could find a camera adapter for the iPad with no success. In the short time of being in Kathmandu I don't understand why Bob Seger would want to go there. If only as a gateway to the mountain that makes sense. The city itself is chaotic, dirty and noisy!  I was taught the meaning of the beeping horns in Delhi, but in Kathmandu I think you need to just lay on the horn and don't let go.

4/20/13 The rest of our group arrived and got settled in. Anyone interested was invited to take a walk to Durbar Square. We enjoyed a festival going on in the town. At dinner we had our first Medical/Nursing Lecture, Introduction to Wilderness Medicine.

What are the Lines For?

Upon arrival at Boston airport I realized that I forgot my iPad in the hotel lobby due to post traumatic stress with the bombing (I'm making excuses) and my dementia. I called to see if they found it and of course, it's  gone. Then in baggage at Delhi Airport guess whose luggage does not arrive, yes, mine!  It never made it during the transfer in London.

We had our first nail biting taxi ride in Delhi on the night of April 16th on the way to the hotel.  I made Reed and Andree crazy with my observations that there is no such thing as "Rules of the Road." Stop and go lights exist, but at night when red we sailed right through.  During the day I was able to observe the driving techniques a bit better. I wondered what the lines on the road were for because nobody paid any attention to them. Drivers were all over the road, in fact for a 3 lane road there were 5 across. The sport of driving was like playing a game of chicken. When our car was jockeying for position Andree noted that there was no rear view mirror...the driver then opened the console between the seats and said "yes, I have one" and held it up!  They also beep the horn constantly. I learned that a short beep means "I'm here". A double hard beep is "don't move, stay where you are if somebody is overtaking you in a crowded lane." The long beep is "move over, give me the way." Our tour guide, Vikash said "three things you need to drive in India; a good horn, good brakes, and good luck!

The beauty of touring in Delhi during the off season is that it was not crowded and the 100 degree temperature was tolerable. During the two days we had Vikash as our tour guide he took us to many places including 3 UNESCO sites; the Red Fort, Humayun's Tomb, the Qutab Minar. The Chandri Chowk markets and spice market was our favorite. We walked down the streets with the locals, coughed and choked to the smells in the spice market, and enjoyed the fragrance in the parks along with bird watching.  Being the token white people locals came up and asked to take pictures with us!

The Unthinkable: Patriots Day, Boston Marathon, 4/15/13

Andree and I met in Boston on the 14th a day early in case there were any flight delays. The next morning was beautiful day for the Boston Marathon. We were out early to see the sights in Boston and walk the Freedom Trail on Patriots Day. At 2pm we met my cousins daughter, Michele, at the Parish Cafe.

Buses were parked all down the street with the runners belongings.  We were seated in a perfect location to see the runners as they came to pick up their things..  While visiting we heard 2 large explosions and saw white smoke coming up from 2 blocks down the street. Everyone sitting at the outdoor cafe appeared confused as to what the sound came from. There was a news media truck parked on the street next to the Cafe. The crew came out and got on top of the van with their camera, but hey appeared casual and were laughing. Time moved in slow motion, conversations resumed and we still did not know what happened. The police officers standing near us had not moved and were monitoring radio communication.  After what seemed like a long delay the police officers faces became serious and they started running in the direction of the explosion.  Large numbers of people were now walking our way some appearing confused and others near tears. The first instructions for those sitting at the cafe was from one sole police officer walking down the street yelling "you might want to get away from here." It was then that word came through that the unthinkable had occurred......2 bombs exploded.

This was an extremely surreal experience being so close to the attack. My heart goes to the victims and their families.

Covering all of the Bases

I wouldn't consider myself a religious person, I would say spiritual at best. It's amazing what one resorts to at a time of uneasiness. Ok, true confessions. I must admit that the upcoming adventure has made me a touch nervous. It probably doesn't help to read the book Into Thin Air, or watch the IMAX documentary Everest. You would think by my apprehension that I was mountaineering and climbing to the summit.  No, I'm just doing this casual walk to base camp and then to an altitude of 18,450 Ft at Kala Patthar! I don't even have to do all the work, I have a Sherpa carrying my duffel and I'm responsible for bringing what I need for the day.  So, no worries, right?

Just in case I'm wrong I've tapped into a few resources to cover all of the bases. It's kind of like politics, but I'm doing my bargaining with the angels and the devil! The first thing I did was have my BFF Dawn do her long distance Reiki to help get rid of the pain in my left hip. It just seems wrong to start start a 13 day trek in pain. Next I called my ex-cousin in-law the Priest, Father Tom Griffin. He gave me the Sacrament of the Sick to help rid the pain and any other unexpected events! The beauty of this is he has absolved me from all my sins so I'm good to go and start all over upon my return home!    

How Did I Get into this Mess??? The Beginning of the Next Adventure...

Again, I must point fingers at another ship nurse, Andree it's your turn! So, in conversation I talked about what got me onto the ship in the first place. I mentioned going on an expedition to Antarctica on the ship National Geographic Explorer. The guest speaker for my expedition was Peter Hillary, the son of Sir Edmund Hillary, the first man to summit Mount Everest. With him were his friends, and now mine, Merv and Susan. When I returned I could no longer do land based nursing and I was off to sea.

Somehow Andree interpreted that I was the adventurous type and about a year after meeting her, she emails and says that one of her ER docs from NH was organizing a trek to the Base Camp of Mount Everest and would I like to join. My initial thoughts were you have got to be crazy.  You see, that involves exertion, like exercising! Those words were definitely NOT in my vocabulary. Being the cordial person that I am I told her to send me the information.  Upon receipt I'm looking at the docs name and said to myself, you have got to be kidding....there can't be 2 ER docs in this world with that name and I asked her to find out if he trained in Chicago. The world is an amazingly small place, and wouldn't you know, I worked with him during his residency and have not seen or talked to him in 17 years! Needless to say....guess where I'm going?

Peer Pressure

Have you ever succumbed to peer pressure? Well, I have caved in.  Cruise Director Steve said that I needed to blog as he expressed that we have many tales to tell working and living on a ship. Then I happen to work with nurses on the ship who blog; Kelli, Eric and Mary who has authored a book. Eric helped me to set up the site a month ago in hope that I will blog about my upcoming non-ship adventure.  It has taken all of my effort to write these few words and let me remind you, writing is not my strong point, but I will give it a go.