Local time: 31 March 18:45
Location: Kathmandu, Nepal
Altitude: 1315m
Weather: Overcast, 24C
Hi It’s Paul sitting in an internet café in Kathmandu writing this update. I have had a reasonably relaxed day today, meeting with Lhakpa to sort out oxygen, meeting with Billi (Ms Hawley’s representative) and looking at gear shops.
Meeting with Ms Hawley
Alas Ms Hawley couldn’t meet with me herself today, so she sent a representative, called Billie. I had a really good chat with Billie about Ms Hawley, which I recorded and hopefully I’ll be able to post it up here soon. I found out that Ms Hawley has been gathering statistics herself since the first American expedition here on Everest in 1963 and has personally recorded all the details of the expeditions since then on over 250 peaks. She has also documented the details of the climbs prior to 1963. Billie told me how Ms Hawley likes to look at people’s email addresses and she says that you can tell a lot about a person from their email address. I asked Billie how they track people down and she explained some of the lengths that they have to go to contact the climbers.
Buying some extra oxygen
I met with Lhakpa this morning to sort out buying some extra oxygen. I have 5 x 4 litre bottles included with my base fee, but I wanted to get a few more to have in case I need to make a second attempt or stay a another day on the South Col to wait for better weather. Judging from last year, I think that I would be OK to stay at the South Col without oxygen, but having a little would make things a lot better. A couple of times we got up to go to the toilet and didn’t bother taking any oxygen with us, and we were looking forward to getting back on it by the time you got back to your tent. But lying in your tent it was just Ok without. I haven’t had it confirmed if Lhakpa can actually get some, but hopefully he can. (The Sherpas bring surplus oxygen bottles off the mountain and you can buy it. Obviously it’s not advisable to use this for critical situations, but for sleeping at C3, going up to C4 and resting at C4 I think it’s fine.)
Lhakpa also mentioned that he wants to take me to the Lama for a special blessing on Monday. Hopefully I will be able to take Tim and Damien too, as this should be quite an experience.
Tomorrow I have a logistics meeting with Mohan, my brothers Tim and Damien arrive in the early afternoon and then we need to get them a few items of gear (sleeping bag, down jacket, trekking poles), but this should be pretty easy here.
Cheers, Paul.
Hi Paul,
I have arrived in Bangkok ok – and with all of your gear! Although the second achievment looked to be in jeopardy at one point. My bags were almost the very last ones to arrive on the conveyor belt, and I was mightily relieved when they finally did. The flight from New York was ridicuously long, but very nice and smooth: 17hrs and 20 mins! The flight path took us over Canada, Greenland, Finland, Norway, Moscow, 3 of the ‘Stans, Delhi (and therefore closeby to Kathmandu) before arriving in Bangkok. Fortuntely I got lucky at the hotel I am staying at in Bangkok and they have upgraded me to this ridicuously large suite (huge balcony overlooking Bangkok, an office, 2 bathrooms, jacuzzi, etc.. etc.. ). I guess I should enjoy the luxuries while I can. I am about to head out to the Bangkok ‘night market’ to check it out.
See you tomorrow,
Tim.
Good to read that you have arrived safely in K.
Is it possible to check air flow/quality in bottles before deciding that they are suitable for use later on if needed? Don’t forget 6-8 glasses minimum of best available drinking water every day and some garlic cloves/powder (1/2 teaspoon approximately of powder, a single clove of garlic thinly sliced mixed in with warm meal ) if available to be taken with meals and snacks once per day as an additional bacteria defense might prove beneficial.
The snowpack in the California Sierra Nevada mountain range has been measured at 40% of average according to the states most recent survey.
wp
Hi Paul
I would be so curious as to what Ms. Hawley can tell about a person from their e-mail address. She seems to be a fascinating person and it is wonderful that she has documented so many climbs!
Very glad to hear that all your luggage arrived in Kathmandu. I can only imagine the scare when you did not see one of your bags on the conveyor belt!!! By the time you are reading this, you should have it all, including the luggage arriving via Tim and Damien!
Enjoy your time in Kathmandu.
MC
Hi hon,
Hope everything is going well. We had a farewell dinner for Damien with your Dad, Mary, Beck and I last night and I later heard that he was able to check onto the plane with all the luggage. He and Tim should be arriving there in a few hours I think. So soon it will be time for the Lama visit and then shopping for gear. I’m glad I’m not with you for that part as I can hardly imagine the extent of the negotiations with 3 Adler boys involved. Those poor shop keepers don’t know what’s about to hit them. At least 2 of them should be jet-lagged to slow them down a bit!
I’ve just gotten home from Paige’s 1st birthday (yes, I’m out raging already!). Remember how she was born when we were almost at basecamp last year (and we said her name should be “Tuesday” following the Sherpa tradition of being named after the day of the week you’re born on!). She’s almost walking now and had a fabulous time with lots of kids, food and everyone spoiling her.
Bye for now,
Fiona
PS – I’ve now had 3 really good night’s sleep and think I’m fully recovered from the ordeal of getting you ready!
Hi Dame, Paul and Tim
At last the three amigos are together for the real start to the adventure! Hope your purchasing goes well and that the weather is pleasant. Looking forward to some pics!
Love Beck R
It’s great to picture you three brothers together at the start of yet another adventure in the life and times of the Adler family….so we say “hi” to each of you and let you know your bulletins will be read with eager interest. Love Ron and Anne, Black Rock.
Hi Paul,
Good to read that you have arrived in Kathmandu safely. I hope the Hotel Vaishali is treating you and your brothers well.
I am now in Pokhara, having just returned from Annapurna base camp.
I am hoping we can meet in Kathmandu…when are you flying to Lukla? It looks like I will not be back in KTM until the 4th April.
If not, you know I will be following your progress very closely on Everest this year and wishing you all the best.
Climb well!
Gavin
Travel safely
Phil M
Hi WP,
Its difficult to check on the bottles for anything apart from pressue and weight (I have bought scales with me). I try and drink as much water as I can when I am walking and climbing. We can often get Galric soup at the lodges and at base camp, so I will try and drink as much of this as I can.
Thats amazing about the snowpack decrease. Paul.
Hello Ron & Anne,
Thanks for your message. It was fantastic meeting up with my brothers. First Dame and I found each other wondering around Bangkok airport. This was actually quite a feat as the new Bangkok airport is 2 kilometres from end to end! We had about 2 hours before our flight to Kathmandu. We saw Paul in the lobby of the hotel. As the new update shows, we spent the afternoon shopping for gear.
We are off to dinner after finishing at the internet cafe, and then an early night to try and shake off some of this jet lag.
Best wishes,
Tim.
It does feel a little strange this year being still in Kathmandu, when last year we were nearly at EBC. Will be interesting to compare the difference.
We went pretty easy on the shopkeepers. I think that with more tourists in town this year compared to last, they are a little more easier to deal with.
Surely it was all joy and fun helping me get ready!
Paul.
Thanks for your message. It is great the three of us over here together emabarking on an adventure. We have been mistaken for each other several time already so think the people here may be finding it confusing. The purchasing has gone well and we have nearly everything we need to head off!
Love,
Dame
Gday Gavin,
We are off to Lukla on Tuesday early morning, so it doesn’t look like we are going to cross paths, which is a real shame. Look forward to reading about yourt trek. The hotel is in a great location – really central and you are right about the noise – there is no issue with it, but I can see how other places might not be so good. Thanks for your advice.
Paul.
Hi Paul,
That’s a real bummer that we won’t get the chance to meet up in Kathmandu. The earliest I will be back there is Tuesday afternoon – but more likely Wednesday. Maybe we will catch up in Australia sometime later this year…
Anyway, I will be thinking of you as you head into the Khumbu with your brothers.
Enjoy every moment of it,
Gavin