Wilderness Medicine Conference at Everest Base Camp Dispatch
October 8, 2009 – Our First Trekking Days, Course Work and Our Life in the Khumbu – Part 1
On the morning of Oct. 5th we were at the airport early for the flight to Lukla, Jeff, Don and the others were eager to begin.
Yes, there are flight attendants on the flight to Lukla!
Ours was an enthusiastic guide, here she identifies the high peaks of the Himalaya for Christine
We flew past Gari Shankar and Menlungtse, both over 7000 meters
Arrival in Lukla is colorful and invigorating
We were met by our Sherpa staff, including Ang Tshering
Ang Temba was busy packing our loads and directing logistics for our trek
A regular on BAI treks, Nim Phuti, our favorite “Yak Girl” is a woman whose grace brightens everyone’s day
Our first lodge in Phakding, along the Dudh Kosi River, provided an excellent venue for lectures and discussions
We used our sunlit classroom for both afternoon and morning lectures
In one of our first lectures Luanne used her iPhone to show Homer Simpson’s Cat Scan
Eric endorses Cadbury fruit and nut bars
We took off early on the morning of the 6th, porter loads included our cameras, computers and umbrellas!
Patricia loves trekking!
It has been observed that we are a color-coordinated group. When it began to rain, Lori got out her umbrella
Just before lunch we arrived at the entrance to Sagarmatha National Park
We will remain inside the park for the rest of our journey
Right inside the park, we happened across Ted Atkins, the British engineer who developed the “Top Out” mask, which is the best oxygen delivery system of climbers yet developed
We crossed four bridges on the 6th, this was the final one which is at the base of “Namche Hill”
At each bridge crossing we would wait for the yak trains to cross before we started