High Park Fire Update
Posted on Jun 27, 2012 | Comments Off on High Park Fire Update
Hanging In There. Unfortunately, I’m having to push the next episode of The Rest of Everest another week as we’re still dealing with the enormous High Park Fire here in the foothills west of Fort Collins, Colorado. While I was evacuated from my home for several days, my neighborhood has not sustained any fire...
Episode 172: East Face Bace Camp
Posted on Jun 6, 2012 | Comments Off on Episode 172: East Face Bace Camp
Resham Phiriri. The Team makes it to the incredibly scenic Kangshung Face Base Camp and are treated to a very unique experience: the entire East Face of Everest all to themselves! The weather is perfect and everyone is having a great time–especially our Sherpa staff. In fact, Pemba, Lobsang, Tendi and Phurba break out...
Episode 171: Makalu
Posted on May 29, 2012 | Comments Off on Episode 171: Makalu
A Bonus 8000m Peak. The team continues towards Everest’s East Face Base Camp below the Kangshung Face. Unexpectedly, they come face-to-face with Makalu, the 5th highest mountain in the world at 8481m or 27,825 feet. This is indeed a treat as none of us were expecting to see Makalu is such glorious detail. Once again,...
Episode 170: Scree Happens
Posted on May 23, 2012 | Comments Off on Episode 170: Scree Happens
Scotland, Tibet. While Christine, Erin, Sonam and I stayed behind at Camp Mango, the rest of the team headed out for Camp Teacup, not far from Everest’s East Side Base Camp beneath the Kangshung Face. The weather looks like it’s going to be amazing and I’m very excited for all of us. The team heading up to BC...
Episode 169: Building Bridges
Posted on May 16, 2012 | Comments Off on Episode 169: Building Bridges
It’s Not Just A Metaphor. The Kangshung region around Everest truly has some of the most remarkable campsites I’ve ever experienced. The one we’re at for tonight is grassy and flat with a little trickle of a stream running through the middle of it. Beautiful. We were supposed to be spending a rest day here to...
Episode 168: The Kangshung Face
Posted on May 9, 2012 | Comments Off on Episode 168: The Kangshung Face
Third Side’s A Charm. This morning Everest finally revealed her last secret as we were able to get a clear view of her East Side, the mysterious Kangshung Face. The weather was as clear as it could possibly be and the white snow covering her flanks looked dazzling in contrast to the deep blue sky. We call this tallest...
Episode 167: Poolside On The Plateau
Posted on May 2, 2012 | Comments Off on Episode 167: Poolside On The Plateau
Uniquely Something Special. We finished our beautiful day of trekking towards Everest’s Kangshung Face by descending into an amazing campsite. Tonight our little backcountry village has been set up in a stunning alpine cirque at the shore of a small glacial lake. I find myself searching for superlatives to describe these...
Episode 166: See The Forrest For The Trees
Posted on Apr 25, 2012 | Comments Off on Episode 166: See The Forrest For The Trees
It’s My Show, I Can Do What I Want! All rested up, we left our camp this morning and headed out to make more progress towards Everest’s Kangshung Face. This trek has already shown us several surprises. The most striking surprise has been the absolute absence of people besides our group. We’re on our own and...
Episode 165: Women’s Work?
Posted on Apr 17, 2012 | Comments Off on Episode 165: Women’s Work?
Sleeping The Sleep Of The Just. The Just Plain Tired. Our first full day trekking towards Everest’s Kangshung Face was epic and exhausting so we were treated today to some much deserved rest. Apparently we were never meant to walk as far as we did yesterday but unfortunately the planned campsite didn’t have a...
Episode 164: Better Out Than In
Posted on Mar 28, 2012 | Comments Off on Episode 164: Better Out Than In
I’ve Been Trekkin’ All Night, My Foot’s Wet On The Hill. We had our first full day of trekking towards Everest’s Kangshung Face today. When you begin a trek, the staff usually lulls you into a false sense of comfort by only making you walk a short distance to the first backcountry camp. This is...
Episode 163: Cash, Candy & Contraband
Posted on Mar 20, 2012 | Comments Off on Episode 163: Cash, Candy & Contraband
The Trek Begins. The trek officially started today with a nice hike to our first backcountry camping site. I’m excited to see just how different this east side of Everest is since very few tourists visit this part of Tibet. Right away it became clear that we are in a very different world from the popular South and North...
Episode 162: Lazarus of Lhasa
Posted on Mar 14, 2012 | Comments Off on Episode 162: Lazarus of Lhasa
Welcome Back To The Land Of The Living! After lunch we headed back on the road for the last bit of driving towards our first campsite. The trekking portion of this trip is almost here!!! The Land Cruisers have been comfortable for the overland traveling towards Everest, but my feet are itching for some good hiking. We make a...
Episode 161: EVEREST!
Posted on Mar 7, 2012 | Comments Off on Episode 161: EVEREST!
The Tallest One In The Middle. This morning we passed a real milestone for the trek: we saw Everest in person with our own eyes from the top of Pang La. Crossing this pass is always a real highlight on the drive to Basecamp or in our case the drive to our first camp since we won’t see BC for a couple of weeks. Topping...
Episode 160: Chomolungma National Park
Posted on Feb 28, 2012 | Comments Off on Episode 160: Chomolungma National Park
So Much More Than a Sign. After leaving Shigatse we had some nice time in the Land Cruisers as we “cruised overland” through the stark Tibetan landscape. We’re all ready to be using our own feet as transportation at this point but these last days of vehicular transport are unavoidable. I have mixed feelings...
Episode 159: The Maitreya Buddha
Posted on Feb 22, 2012 | Comments Off on Episode 159: The Maitreya Buddha
Did I Mention That It’s Big? We spent the morning today exploring the Tashilhunpo Monastery here in Shigatse. I’ve been waiting to return to this monastery since the moment I left it back in 2007. I was incredibly impressed with the large statue of the Maitreya Buddha but filming it was off limits. No so this year,...
Episode 158: The Lhassi Club
Posted on Feb 14, 2012 | Comments Off on Episode 158: The Lhassi Club
Breakfast of Champions. We finished the day in Gyantse by touring the remarkable Kumbum, a 15th century temple containing “100,000” holy images of Buddha. Once again, the Kumbum was a building I was really looking forward to revisiting since exploring it in 2007. Kevin and I spent the afternoon together walking in...
Episode 157: The Roger Huff Show
Posted on Feb 8, 2012 | Comments Off on Episode 157: The Roger Huff Show
New Laughter From Old Jokes. We spent the night here in Gyangtse and spent the morning touring the Palcho Monastery. It’s a wonderful place to visit but one of the most interesting events of the day happened well before setting foot inside the monastery’s walls. Just after breakfast Roger, Thilo and Kevin were...
Episode 156: O Canada
Posted on Jan 31, 2012 | Comments Off on Episode 156: O Canada
Maple Leaf, OK. Snow Lions, Not So Much. One of the highlights of the Friendship Highway–literally one of its highest points–is the beautiful Karo La. The pass is somewhere around 5000m or almost 16,500 feet high and the view from the roadway is dominated by the magnificent Karo La Glacier. Although I had the good...
Episode 155: Pulse Ox Playoffs
Posted on Jan 27, 2012 | Comments Off on Episode 155: Pulse Ox Playoffs
This Is Only A Test. We’re continuing out of Lhasa and taking in a lot of mileage on our way to Gyantse. Personally, I am almost never simply a passenger in a car–I’m usually the driver. Sitting in the back seat of our Land Cruiser makes me act just like my two and a half year old son Sam: I am quickly lulled...
Episode 154: For Your Eyes Only
Posted on Jan 18, 2012 | Comments Off on Episode 154: For Your Eyes Only
Infinitely Improbable. The team finally made it to the Potala Palace today. It was closed yesterday for some kind of administrative meetings so I’m very pleased they were able to visit this amazing complex. The earliest parts of the current palace date back to the 17th century and when I visited with Scott back in 2007 I...
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