Tashitom, Tibet, China
Tuesday, November 14, 2006
After leaving Lhasa and we continued to climb in elevation, the weather got continually colder. Over the next few days, we climbed in altitude to over 4400, then 4800, then finally to 5200 meters at Everest Base camp!!! Since my pack only weighs 11.7 kilograms, my winter clothes were limited to silk longjohns, a goretex rainjacket, my alpaca scarf from Peru (thanks Jonathan!), wool socks and my awesome new Timberland hiking boots (thanks Todd!), a lightweight fleece pullover and vest, and my Guinness hat (thanks Dad!), fleece gloves and a silk sleepsack rather than a sleeping bag. Every item proved critical to my well-being. Lightness versus warmth proved to be the right decision, but only because the weather was cold but clear, about 28 degrees F, or -2 Centigrade and not one degree colder. Conditions got continually rougher along the Friendship Highway in the west of Tibet with no running water, no heat and only intermittent electricity. Luckily, I also had my handy dandy headlamp (you were right Raf!) and my thermos which doubled as a hot water bottle
. Putting boiling water in that baby and going to bed with it between my legs (you heard right) was the best remedy for sleeping without any other form of heat. With all my layers and my hat and scarf on and the hot water bottle, I managed to keep warm at night and actually had to peel off some layers. A 9 hour long, but brilliant drive high into the Himalayas was worth all the suffering. Today, I see my first of what will be many awe inspiring views of the tallest mountain on earth, Mt. Everest. Wow. I never really thought I would get here in my life!! In my younger days, I may have entertained crazed thoughts of climbing the world's highest mountain, but now, being here, seeing how absolutely remote it is, I am absolutely gobsmacked. I can't even find an appropriate word to use, it is so overwhelming to be here. The anticipation builds as today we get our first real glimpses of the snow covered Himalayas, which look like white peaks only imagined in a dream world. Finally, we see the mountain itself, from a distance, and are teased by the clarity of its peak on this crisp sunny day. We pray that tomorrow the weather will hold and we will be lucky enough to see this fantastical mountain. We are told that many people come all the way here, never to see its peak, surrounded by storms, wind and snow. Upon hearing this news, we pray even harder, hoping that mighty Mt. Qomolangma, as Everest is known by the Tibetan people, will bless us and allow us the privilege of looking upon it at dawn tomorrow.....
Comments
Miss you
Dawn,
What an adventure. just being able to look up at Everest must be amazing.
I look forward to the pictures.
I'll have to give everbody here a slideshow of the trip soon.
Take care of yaself.
John
YO DAWN---Happy Thanksgigving!!!
We miss you to the maximus, but we know your having the time of your life...so just keep on trucking or hoofing I should say!! Your pictures and articulation are an education to all of us. Stay warm and stay safe. Lots of Love and prayers from the good old USA!
YO DAWN---Happy Thanksgiving!!
Hey forgot to mention the previous message was from us! Uncle Mark and crew! Love amd miss you again!!
Keep posting messages!
Happy Thanksgiving to you all! I'm now in Kathmandu, Nepal and what a huge difference from China. I'll tell you all about it..love the messages, keep em coming! Going trekking tomorrow for 5 days then to Chitwan Nat'l Park to see elephants and tigers!! Love to all! Dawn
Happy Thanksgiving Dawn
Wish we were their with you, sounds awesome. We hope you got great pictures of Mt. Everest. Have a Happy Thanks Giving, we love you and miss you!
Tom, Tracy, Kody & Brendin
YO DAWN- Feliz Navidad!!!
Glad to see your getting off that continent and heading to warmer weather. So now you have to watch out for the snakes instead of the spiders!!
Stay safe and stay juiced!! Love and miss you,
Uncle Mark and 'all' :)
KEEP IT COMING!!!
Missed you at the Christmas Party Dec. 9th! Glad to see your now in warmer weather, like FLA! It's 65-70 here. Is it the rainy season there? Went home for the Party, lots of relatives attended. Are you Homesick yet? Your in a great place in your life, keep enjoying it! Meredith is engaged & is attending Harvard for her Masters. Not graduating until 5/2008 and will get married after that. You'll be home by then, I hope! Hahahaha! Love you, Auntie
MY AFRICAN QUEEN......
Just spoke with Joan regarding Africa & told her about your thoughts. She said her favorite spot is Durban Napal, where you see the Indian Ocean. She said in Capetown they have like a Carnival, called 'Capetown
Coloured People' celebration which goes on & on in the streets. Have you seen it yet? When you visit me again, you can chat with Joan regarding Africa. She really misses her home town Johannesburg and her friends there.
It's wonderful that your friend Heidi is landing shortly to visit with you. That should kill your home sick blues!
What a great surprise!
Didn't I say you were going to have a Wonderful New Years, where ever you are!
Enjoy & HAVE FUN!....
Love,
Mo