Her dark black hair was pulled back in a pony tail yet a few strand fell across her forehead as she looked up. Her four-year old eyes were as black as her hair and so large I could almost see my own reflection in them. I held out the crayons and she took them in her tiny hand.
Soon her big brother and a few other children came to see what she was getting. The oldest was wearing a uniform of sorts and I asked if he was gong to school. He nodded his head and then said "fish" as he looked at the Crayola crayon box. There was small fish on the box. I gave him four packages of pens and he smiled knowingly at the usefulness of the present.
My pace picked up as I walked away. They have so little and yet are so happy.
Continue reading "Pens and Crayons" »
Somehow snow in the trees make for a nice start to the day. We woke up Friday morning to a gentle snowfall. The trees were loaded and the ground was white. But the yak trains had already marked the trails as we left our teahouse for the next village.
We continue to move up valley. Everyone is in good health and we are right on schedule.
Continue reading "Snow in the Trees" »
The email read in part "can you see if his memorial is still there?" The trek to Base Camp takes you through 30 or more stone memorials built to honor climbers who have died on Everest.
This email was from the 80 year-old Father of such a climber.
Continue reading "A Father's Memory" »
OK, left side is best. No, on my back. Right side - yes, that is it. Ugg, the crocodile roll begins.
The last night in a tea house was supposed to be comfortable - a quasi mattress, walls, a roof. But three hours of sleep was the best I could muster.
Continue reading "Welcome To Base Camp" »
The Lama said Thursday the 10th between 7:00 and 10:00 AM is best for the Puja.
OK - who would argue with that?
Continue reading "Pujas: A Mystery" »
The Khumbu Icefall – 2,000 feet of moving ice – serves as the gateway to almost all routes on Everest’s south side. It is incredible to think that the early Swiss and British expeditions made this ascent in leather boots with nails for crampons and trees for ladders.
Today we made our entry into the ice fall.
Continue reading "The Khumbu Icefall: Gatekeeper for Everest" »