Dave Hahn calling in from Pheriche on our Everest climb. Hey, We're still in black out zone. A temporary black out for all internet and cell phones, so I'm calling from the satellite phone. It's our last night in Pheriche tonight. We had a great easy day here in Pheriche, the team went hiking this morning about 1500 feet above Pheriche about 15,500' or so. It was a nice hike and nice views of Makalu the 5th highest mountain, we had views of Lhotse, Cho Oyu the 6th highest mountain, great views all around. And everybody is feeling really well.
We attended a high altitude medicine lecture that was given by the Himalayan Rescue Association next door in the afternoon. We then had a pretty easy afternoon of resting, playing games, reading and nice dinner. A nice treat for us, Casey Grom's Base Camp and Island Peak Trekking Group fresh from Base Camp shared the the dining room with us for the evening, It was nice to visit with some friends. We're looking forward to moving up to Lobuche. It is currently nice, but we will see what we get this evening. A things being equal we be in Lobuche tomorrow.
We will keep you informed.
RMI Guide Dave Hahn and Team
Hey, this is Dave Hahn calling from RMI's Everest Expedition. We left Deboche this morning.... The team is now up here at 13,800 feet in Pheriche. We walked through snow today, about four inches of new snow over night. It was a beautiful morning for strolling through the last of the forest that we would be walking in today. We walked over to Tengboche and had an audience with Lama Geshe. He gave us his blessings and greeted us as always very friendly, and had a nice seating with him. We proceeded on our way towards Pheriche, had lunch in Somare and got here, Pheriche, by about 2:30 this afternoon. Everybody's getting comfortable now in the Himalayan Hotel, and enjoying the nice dining room here, under the stars, looking up at Ama Dablam and beautiful mountains all around. We will check in again tomorrow.
RMI Guide Dave Hahn
Hey, this is Dave Hahn phoning in from the RMI Everest Climb. We are in Deboche still. Last night I couldn't get through it was snowing fairly hard and I couldn't get a phone signal. This morning, it's looking a little bit better. A little sunshine coming through; there is still some high clouds. But right now we're at a green light to go up to Pheriche. Our intention is to go up through Pangboche, see Lama Geshe, and head up to Pheriche this evening. Yesterday was a nice quiet day for us. We just went up to Tengboche Monastery in the morning and then kinda hunkered down in our tea house here in Deboche to wait out the snowstorm. But nice afternoon taking it easy. Bye now.
RMI Guide Dave Hahn
Hey, this is Dave Hahn with the RMI Everest Climb calling in from Deboche. We set out this morning about 8:30 from Namche. A beautiful morning, blue sky, sunshine and everybody feeling good. It took us about 5 hours or so to go across the hillside down to the river and back across the hill at Pangboche, the big hill, and down the other side to Deboche. At our lodge tonight but figured we'd just checking with you. Great views of Mt. Everest and Ama Dablam today. Looking up there is a bunch of new snow on Everest and Lhotse. It clouded up a little bit this afternoon, but not a big deal. We are enjoying having the trails to our selves, I think we are a few days ahead of many of the climbers. [connection lost]
RMI Guide Dave Hahn
RMI Guide Dave Hahn calls from Deboche with an update on the progress of the Everest team.
Hi Hans and all together,
it´s phantastic to follow you on your trek higher and higher…stay in a good mood with sunny weather and keep you warm…
Lot of love to you, Hans - Ute
Posted by: Ute Novak on 3/30/2015 at 2:04 pm
Uncle Larry,
be careful and congratulations on getting to climb the highest mountain in the world. maybe after this you want to hop to train with me. Lol be safe up there. I agree with mom your beard hopefull keep u worm.
Walk a week or fly an hour? A very popular phrase with the bush pilots in Alaska. Here in Nepal, I will take the walk a week option.
If I were going to climb the tallest mountain in North America, "Denali", I would opt for the hour flight into the mountain, which drops you at about 8,000' to begin the ascent to 20,320 ft.
Here in the High Himalaya, with that hour flight they could drop us at Everest Base Camp, it sits around 17,300', you would be in a world of hurt, that is a bit too much of an altitude jump for 99.9% of all humans. So here I sit in a nice Tea house at 13,000', half way through my eight day trek to Base Camp. Kind of a long commute to work, but traffic has not been to bad. Yep another season of life on the Glacier for this Himalayan Veteran.
Excited for RMI 2015 Everest Expedition? I sure am.
No wonder RMI was voted #1 Outfitter,with the return of the finest Guides, for the climb and trek.
The reason I continue these wild adventures is the RMI solid commitment, time and again, to provide the best available resources and infrastructure.
The team is looking forward to sharing this Expedition with you as best we can over the next couple of months.
I wish you could be here. I know the challenges you will face in everyday life may not be as unusual as ours but in there own way just as impressive. Climb your own Everest. Get out when you can!
RMI Guide Mark Tucker
Special shout out to -
MOM
HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
Love, Mark
Tuckie Wonder: glad to hear that you and the team are safe. Was due to volunteer at CIWEC in Pokhara later this year (we will see if that’s helpful or just another mouth to feed as the weeks unfold). Cheering for the enduring Nepalese spirit from afar for now. Travel safely, old pal. Cheers, Sara
Posted by: Sara Whitner on 5/6/2015 at 9:44 pm
Hi Mark-this is Philip-part of the BBC film crew for Everest ER in 2006/2007-has been way too long. My thoughts are with you all in Nepal and am glad to hear that you are safe. I also heard Dave is good too and I hope all your team. Thank goodness. We are all devastated with the crisis that has hit Nepal and will do what we can to help in some way. I just wanted to catch up with you again and wish you well and safe journey home. keep in touch and hopefully one day we can grab a beer or two together or go climb a mountain or something. All the best Philip
Posted by: Philip North-Coombes on 4/30/2015 at 1:41 am
Our last day in Namche dawned surprisingly clear and sunny. That was a little unexpected given how persistent the rain was yesterday afternoon and evening. We took full advantage after breakfast, trooping up to the Hilltop National Park Headquarters to see if the mountains were out. Indeed they were, and those of the team that hadn't yet gotten a look at the world's highest mountain were predictably in awe. Those of us that had seen it a few times were also in awe. New snow made the peaks radiant and sparkling in the strong sunshine. Conditions were so calm and pleasant where we stood that we were tempted to gaze for hours. But there was plenty to get done on our final day in the "Sherpa Capital". Our team enjoyed the museum exhibits at the Park Visitor Center and the nearby Sherpa Culture Museum. They shopped the climbing stores, markets, galleries and book stores along the small and winding avenues of Namche. They caught up on the web and friended each other on Facebook. They rested, drank water and got ready for going higher into the mountains in the coming days.
Best Regards,
RMI Guide Dave Hahn
Today was an easy one; rest and relaxation plus a little hiking and exploring. We are staying in Namche for three nights in order to get used to the altitude. Early wake up was optional, giving a chance to swill a little 6 AM coffee before hiking to the top of town in order to see daybreak and a first look at Mount Everest. The mountain didn't disappoint. The first rays of sunshine turned summit after summit into golden monuments around us, but our eyes kept returning to Everest... still about thirty miles away, but regal nonetheless. Those who slept in hoped to see the mountains a little later as we day-hiked up to the "Everest-View Hotel" but by then the clouds had rolled in and obscured the great range. We hiked on to the village of Khumjung and then made a circuit of things, crossing the misty ridge one more time to return to Namche. The gang was back at the hotel in early afternoon, just before rain began to fall. That made it pretty easy to lie in and relax away the afternoon, although some made their way down to check out Namche's well-regarded bakeries.
Best Regards
RMI Guide Dave Hahn
Hi Erin!! What a life changing experience! Thanks for letting me live vicariously through you ;) Take care and be well!
Posted by: Adrienne on 3/31/2015 at 7:56 am
Erin - your smile and eyes tell a beautiful, comforting story! Being able to see your face and images of your journey is truly incredible and I feel blessed to be a spectator! Thank you for letting me in. You are courageous and brave! Love you toots!
One and all were singing the praises of Jo's Garden in Phak Ding this morning. After confusing days of travel and hustle and bustle and jet lag, it was wonderful to sleep deeply with the sound of whitewater from the nearby rushing river masking everything. As is typical, it was a clear and crisp morning with plenty of blue sky when we started walking at 8:30 AM. The first hour of our six-hour journey was spent either in forest or in the gardens that pass for farms along the river. Magnolia and rhododendron were in bloom, but then so were the apple trees. Before long we were looking up at the glaciers and impossibly steep ridges of Thamserku, perched several vertical miles in the sky. Within a few hours we'd reached the National Park entrance at Jorsalle. Then it was time for a relaxing lunch at the last of the teahouses before we crossed the river and got busy with the Namche Hill. We crossed the ultra-high cable bridges near the start of the hill and then plugged away in the heat for several thousand feet of vertical gain through the pine forests. At one point we heard the thunderous crashing of tons of ice cascading down the steep gullies on the opposite wall of the canyon. Finally, we eased into the magical village of Namche Bazaar. The town is built as a series of concentric half circles, facing the giant peak of Kwangde, across the valley. We strolled through the tight "streets" (there are no cars and probably never will be) until we reached our hotel for the next three nights, Camp De Base.
Best Regards,
RMI Guide Dave Hahn
Lovin’ the blog! It’s the first thing I check every morning and maybe several times throught out the day…yes, I know there is only one update per day. I’m enjoying living vicariously through this incredible journey. Keep changing with every step Robbie and Erin!
Posted by: Tiff on 3/27/2015 at 5:48 am
One of my dreams is to see Everest in person. I came across your blog and was stoked to know that I could read as your team progresses towards the final goal. Safe travels to you and your team Dave. Looking forward to many more pics and blog entries. Best regards Sir!!!!
This is Dave Hahn with the RMI Everest team and we are calling you tonight from Phakding. We made the flight in this morning from Kathmandu into Lukla. Conditions were pretty clear once we got out of the smoke and smog of Kathmandu. And we got a great view of the mountain. A beautiful day when we landed in Lukla and we got on the trail and were walking by about 9:30 this morning. We reached Phakding and Joe's Garden, our tea house by the river, at about 1 o'clock. Quiet after noon, resting and relaxing down along the river among the pine trees. Looking forward to tomorrow and a climb up the Namche Hill and our goal for tomorrow is to get to Namche. We will keep you informed.
RMI Guide Dave Hahn
RMI Guide Dave Hahn checks in from Phakding en route to Everest Base Camp.
The team got together several times today to eat, drink and discuss the trek and climb to come. We enjoyed the comfortable calm, immaculately cared-for gardens but at other times, got out into the hustle and bustle of Kathmandu streets to run errands. We were pleased that our bascamp manager, Mark Tucker, was able to fly into Lukla to begin working his way toward base, some 35 to 40 miles distant. Most worked to get bags properly packed and organized for an early start in the morning. As team leader, I was asked to stop by the legendary Elizabeth Hawley's home office for my yearly interview as to the makeup of our team. Miss Hawley has kept track of climbing in Nepal and Tibet for more than fifty years and has known every famous and want-to-be-famous climber along the way.
Jet lag remains a big challenge for the team, but our hope is that walking out in the fresh air of the Khumbu Valley will begin to work magic on us.
Fingers crossed for clear weather and smooth flying in the morning.
RMI Guide Dave Hahn
Larry, from all of us in the Society and the many other Tomb Guards that may be monitoring your climb, good luck to you and your team on your way to the top of the world….
Safe travels and looking forward to the picture of you holding your badge on top..
Lonny
Posted by: Lonny LeGrand Badge#249 on 3/29/2015 at 5:14 pm
Bonny and Peter….
Checking in from sea level! We miss you down here.
Peter, Happy Birthday up there in the clouds.
Bonnie, waiting for you at the Mah Jong table.
Hope everyone is safe! Take care.
- Janel Miller
Posted by: Janel Miller on 4/25/2015 at 2:04 pm
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