Island Peak 2018: A Push to the Top and the End
My throat was so tight, I couldn’t swallow. My chest felt like it was exploding from the inside out. And with every step I took higher, the pain level increased. So, why in the world would I take another step towards the summit of Imja Tse aka Island Peak this Saturday in October 2018? The […]
Island Peak: Summit and $25,000++ for Alzheimer’s!
What a short journey this has been!! Kami and I summited Island Peak around 10 am on October 21, 2018 but what I will remember more is that YOU donated over $25,000 to the Cure Alzheimer’s Fund. Thank you, Thank you, Thank you. I often say that you never know which donation will fund the […]
Island Peak 2018:Time to Climb
Well time has come to stop posting and to start climbing! First I wish all a happy Dashain. Kami and I leave Tomorrow 19 Oct for Island Peak. The summit is on the ridge far behind the face as shown in the pictures. Today we did our final acclimatization hike to Chungkung Ri, about 17,700’ […]
Island Peak 2018: 3 Degrees of Separation with Kami Sherpa
Traveling with Kami Sherpa in the Khumbu is like being with Kevin Bacon except it’s not Six Degrees of Separation it’s more like three! For the past 11 days everywhere we go Kami says “oh, that’s my ____” fill in the blank with cousin, uncle, sister, friend … This guy is a rock star!!!!! Seriously, […]
Island Peak 2018: Alan, Do you have Alzheimer’s?
As Kami and I arrived in Dingboche this morning, we were treated with a perfect view of Imja Tse aka Island Peak, only seven miles away. I stopped in my tracks to study our objective. Even though I have seen this view many times before, my eye had always focused on the 8000er Lhotse looming […]
Island Peak 2018: Crossing the Cho La
Today was a big step on our way to Island Peak. We crossed the 17,782-foot/5,420-meter pass, the Cho La. We made the crossing from west to east from the village of Dzongla at 4,830-metres/15,850-feet to Thagnak at 4,700-metres/15,400-feet. We had hiked from Goyko the previous day. Kami and I were awakened by another group in the teahouse at 3:00am who […]
Island Peak 2018: Reaching a Milestone
Setting and striving to achieve hard goals is central to my life. I’ve found that when I lack a goal, I feel like I’m drifting with no destination in sight. Thus today was a milestone in a series of goals I set almost two years ago. When that 100 mph wind gust sent me spinning […]
Island Peak 2018: On our Way
At some point in every trip, you feel like you have moved from planning to doing. Well that’s exactly how I felt today as Kami and I left Namche for the Goyko Lakes. Once again, the morning skies were crystal clear with a bite in the air signaling that winter would be here soon. We […]
Island Peak 2018: Pictures Say it All
I spent the day visiting a few of my favorite places around Namche Bazaar. A few photos from the day. Thanks to all who donated yesterday. We are at $4,925 of the $10,000 goal. Aiming for $25,000 including the matching grant. Climb On! Alan Memories are Everything
Island Peak 2018: Different and the Same in the Khumbu
As I trekked up Namache Hill, my mind drifted to 1997 and the first time I walked these trails. I was awe struck by the stunning natural beauty of the steep hillsides covered with such green vegetation. The roar of the Dudh Kosi river kept me company as I walked, struggling to catch my breath. […]