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.
We had climbers circling the thunderclouds, climbers flying back and forth to Delhi, planes delayed back on the Great Plains... But ultimately, we had the entire RMI Mount Everest 2015 climbing team assembled on time and with all gear at the Yak and Yeti Hotel in Katmandu. Six climbers, two base camp trekkers, two guides, one base camp manager and one Sherpa Sirdar enjoyed a fine dinner together- without so much as one person falling asleep at the table. Quite a feat considering all the time zones and datelines crossed. We didn't discuss intricacies of Everest climbing just yet. Rather we caught up on each other's jobs, families, pets and hobbies. Finally, we sang Happy Birthday to Peter Rogers and devoured the cake commemorating the occasion.
Tomorrow is for packing and prepping and perhaps a few naps.
Best Regards,
RMI Guide Dave Hahn
Peter! Great to see you and Bonny…Mike and I look forward to following your adventures and continue to be inspired. Safe travels.
Posted by: Ferrall Dietrich on 3/27/2015 at 6:58 pm
Peter, Bonny & Team!
Congratulations on beginning your adventure! Know that everyone at Frontpoint will be following along every step of the way and wishing you all the very best! What an exciting trip for everyone and know that we’ll be cheering you on from around the world!
All the best,
Chris, Aaron, and the Frontpoint Team
In Lukla, roughly eight thousand vertical feet below our Everest Basecamp home of the past three weeks, we were pretty comfortable. But just for one night. The team was awake by five am yesterday, eating by 5:30 and walking over to the airport check-in at six. We watched -partly in awe, partly in horror- as Twin Otters, Dorniers and A-Stars roared in and out of the compact one acre loading and unloading zone, pirouetting into place, revving engines, disgorging trekkers, cases of beer and heavy bags of rice at a frenetic pace. When summoned by frantic hand gestures, we shouldered our packs, walked out onto the tarmac and took over the seats in a Twin.
A few minutes later, we were in the air, over a few craggy passes and cruising toward Kathmandu. Upon landing, we were no-longer climbers, or even would-be climbers, we were happily transformed to overdressed tourists. As such we took off a few layers and began showering, shaving and eating eating eating.
Although we are still far from home, the program is finished. We continue to enjoy each other's company, we still rely on one another to make sense of the sad events and unexpected turns our trip has taken. The team is grateful that so many have followed our journey on the blog and offered up kind words and support.
Best Regards,
RMI Guide Dave Hahn
Watching the Discovery Channel broadcast on the Avalanche. Thank you Dave, Mark & team!
Posted by: Susan on 5/4/2014 at 7:13 pm
Dave - We’ve been thinking about you guys every day for the past two weeks. Glad to hear everything is well with you. There will be many more days to climb. Stay safe.
Billy Nugent led the way out of Namche, down the big hill and into the valley of a thousand farms and small villages. We made it in six hours to a comfy tea house next to the airstrip in Lukla. The rain caught us for the last hour or so, but didn't actually bother anybody enough to make them put a raincoat on. We ate the afternoon away in our new low-altitude home. Mark Tucker made a surprise appearance for dinner, having finished up his duties at Basecamp today and figured out a way to heli-hike in minutes what had filled up three days for the rest of us. We are now poised for an early wake-up and some airport hustle that may or may not get us to Kathmandu by fixed-wing aircraft. All depends on the weather.
Best Regards,
RMI Guide Dave Hahn
Nicole LoBiondo: I hope you have safe travels back home and I am so happy to hear that you and your team are safe! I’ll see you soon! Much love, Sammy
Posted by: Sam Borneman on 4/28/2014 at 8:25 pm
I hope you all have safe travels back home! I can’t wait to hear all about your adventure at Copper Canyon with a margarita! And of course the salad with the bacon, fish tacitos and the steak!!!! Love ya Nicole!
Today was a big walking day, up and down the hills of the Khumbu Valley from Pheriche to Namche. Right out of Pheriche, where we started hiking at 8 AM, we crossed the river, climbed a hill and turned into the inhabited portions of the Khumbu. We turned our backs on rocks and ice and walked down into rhododendrons, pine trees and villages. JJ led the way as we rolled through Shomare, Pangboche, Deboche, Thyangboche, and Phunky Tonga. We got hot enough to sweat a bit, which was a novelty, we passed a million trekkers and heard about a million helicopter laps as the B2's and B3's flew over us on their way back and forth to Everest Base. Finally, at midday, we got working our way up the giant dusty hill that would put us on level with Namche. It took us about six hours to reach Namche -still quite familiar to us since we spent three days acclimating in town on the way in. This time... no acclimatization needed... so fine to be below 12,000 ft for the first time in close to a month. The team enjoyed a fine evening at comfortable Camp De Base.
One more big day of hiking to go before Lukla International.
Best Regards,
RMI Guide Dave Hahn
Nicole Lobiondo: Safe travels from Lukla to you all! Nicole H.
Posted by: Nicole Howard on 4/28/2014 at 6:27 am
Hey Spencer, So sorry you weren’t able to make it this time. You’ll be back under better circumstances and the summit will be that much more sweet. Safe journey home!
Uncle Matt
Our last night in base was made dramatic by a lightning storm rolling through. A few inches of snow fell thick and fast, making morning, bright, fresh and beautiful. At 11:15 AM we filed out of the ghost town that Mount Everest Basecamp has become. The climbing team, accompanied by Lam Babu, made good time in losing three and a half thousand feet to reach Pheriche in four hours and forty-five minutes. We each paid Everest's summit a couple of last longing looks during the march, but then paid more attention to the task at hand; walking an uneven, slippery mountain trail while dodging trekkers, yaks and porters. The gang stuck together wonderfully, demonstrating what a close knit and fit climbing team we've become. With each village on the descent, through Gorak Shep, Lobuche and Thukla, we each noticed the thicker and easier air. We coughed less and walked faster. All enjoyed seeing the baby yaks trying out their legs on our homestretch into Pheriche. Tonight, we are indoors again... safe, enjoying each other's company, and quite comfortable. We hope things are going well for Mark Tucker and the bulk of our Sherpa Team, back at EBC for a last couple of days to button things up properly.
Best Regards,
RMI Guide Dave Hahn
What a pitiful attitude Bob has!! Wishing your team a safe journey back home. That is very admirable for Mark to have stayed back with the Sherpa team! Again it says a lot about the quality of a team you all are!! God Bless each and everyone of you!!!!! Tammy
Posted by: Tammy Doppenberg on 4/26/2014 at 4:47 pm
Oh Spen,
Tuesday’s not gone. There’s a lifetime of Tuesdays left for you. That mountain is not going anywhere. You’re young and strong and we got your back. Love you, Weasel,
Momma
Absolutley AMAZING!
Posted by: tiff on 4/2/2015 at 6:30 am
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