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Title image - BAI takes you to: Everest Basecamp
Why climb with Berg Adventures

Everest Base Camp Trek Dispatch

May 12, 2009 – Farewell to Steve

The team arrived in Namche around 3:00 p.m. on Monday. We walked through light, cool clouds and a light rain all the way from Pangboche. Our luck with weather on this trip has been outstanding and the trend continued on Monday. Not long after we moved into our spacious and comfortable rooms at Panaroma lodge, a full, hard monsoon-type rain broke out on Namche. After we had hot showers it was cozy relaxing in our beds and listening to the downpour outside.

When we went in to the dining room we found our friend Ang Pasang, the Sherpa thanka painter, waiting to see us. Pasang had walked all the way from his home in Thame to deliver the paintings we had purchased from him when we met him near his home there. It was great to see him. Lida and Callie Ann were pleased to find that somehow he had found time to paint an additional thanka that they had especially liked.

The staff baked a farewell cake for Steve; Steve we will miss you

The staff baked a farewell cake for Steve; Steve we will miss you

The night of the 11th was our last night as a complete group. Steve’s daughter Lauren is graduating from Boston College next weekend. Steve and Min will head down to Lukla early so Steve can catch a flight home in Bangkok and on to the US in time to be there for the graduation. Our dinner on Monday night was a farewell party for Steve. It will not be the same without him, but each member of this group knows that they will see Steve again. He will be back here in Khumbu next year at this time to attempt to reach the summit of Everest and he is already setting the dates for his visits to Halifax for a reunion with Rob and David. Lida and Callie Ann also have a dinner date with Steve and his girlfriend Bee in Bangkok on Friday, May 22. As is often the case this trip has shown that one of the best things about BAI trips is the bonds formed with one’s fellow adventurers and the lifelong friendships that are created.

This morning we woke up at our usual early hour. At 6:00 a.m. the staff knocked on our doors with morning tea and coffee and we all looked out our windows to see a beautiful snow fall on Namche Bazaar. Over breakfast none of the other team members envied Steve and Min who were going to begin the 8 hour walk to Lukla in the sloppy weather. I have been watching Lakpa Doma survey the goings on in Namche from her window about the town for many years. She and Temba seem particularly fascinated by this unusual May snowfall this morning.

Calli-Ann and Lida proudly display their new Thanka with the artist, Ang Pasang Sherpa

Calli-Ann and Lida proudly display their new Thanka with the artist, Ang Pasang Sherpa

Lida is still shopping

Lida is still shopping

On his last night with the group Steve said he had to do something that he would never do in the US, order a Budweiser! This “Bud” is a unique one, brewed in China it had come into Namche on the back of a Yak from over the Nangpa La

On his last night with the group Steve said he had to do something that he would never do in the US, order a Budweiser! This “Bud” is a unique one, brewed in China it had come into Namche on the back of a Yak from over the Nangpa La

Steve enjoys a “Bud”

Steve enjoys a “Bud”

Steve and Rob, two guys who will be seeing one another again

Steve and Rob, two guys who will be seeing one another again

On Tuesday morning we woke to this view of Namche

On Tuesday morning we woke to this view of Namche

Temba and Lakpa Doma survey a white Namche from the window of Panaroma Lodge

Temba and Lakpa Doma survey a white Namche from the window of Panaroma Lodge