Down but not Out

We have been trying to get in touch with Paul and Michele who have been treking in Nepal for the last 18 days, and encourage them to get the hell out of there. Here is a note we recieved this morning:

Greetings!

Thanks for all your concerned emails. I think you'd acutally need to be here in the Khumbu to realize what a complete world away the events are in Kathmandu. The effect on your daily lives as a result is probably far larger than it has been on us or any of the people who live up here. Also we've spoken to many trekkers who've just come up through the turmoil and it still seems pretty easy to keep out of harms way.

A much bigger deal for us was the fact that the Khumbu received it's largest late season snowfall in well over a decade. Luckily we'd completed most of our trek when it started, but we had to get out of our lodge in in Gokyo - through 2-4 foot drifts and pounding snow (lacking almost any of the nomal gear we'd have at home under such conditions) - otherwise we might still be stuck there. It was pretty hairy for a while - busting trail through some deep snow until we were able to combine efforts with another group and finally get some momentum towards the next lodge downhill.

Subsequently we've heard that at leat 3 climbers were killed in an avalanche on Everest.

Too much else to say about the treck here and now - other than that it's been one of the most difficult, challenging nand rewarding things we've ever done. One minute some cigarette smoking 50+ english woman would fly by us on the trail at 17,000 feet - apparently feeling no effects from the altitude (while we're sucking serious wind just shuffling along). The next, a rescue helicopter would be landing to take down some apparently very fit person with life threatening AMS. Very odd.

Paul & Michele

I'm sure they will update their blog as soon as the can, and here is the link:

http://escapefrombrooklyn.blogspot.com/

An amazing time to be there for sure, but we will feel better when they are out.

fwgh2o