Leo Power Everest Marathon Dispatch

May 20, 2011 – Khunde, Nepal, 3840m/12,598ft

Namaste,

I awoke at 5 am, stared in awe from my bedroom window at the majestic mountains and then proceeded to read a bit of Hillary's View From The Summit.

After a breakfast of porridge we trekked to the Thame Monastery which supports 37 monks and I was pleased to learn this was yet another restoration project sponsored by Sir Edmund Hillary and his Trust a number of years ago. When we returned to the Valley View Lodge artist Passang N. Sherpa was waiting to show me a fine display of his paintings. I purchased one and before he departed he presented me with a kata, a ceremonial good luck scarf.

We arrived in Khunde at 3:30 pm and we will stay tonight at the home of my guide Nuru. Nuru's 75 year old Mom, Nawang Tharchen Sherpa, was at home but his wife Passang Doma Sherpa , son Chepal Kalden Sherpa and daughter Nima Yangjee Sherpa have been in Kathmandu for the past 5 months while Chepal recuperates from surgery on both legs.

I visited the Kunde Hospital and the doctor confirms all is good and my oxygen saturation level is acceptable. Altitude Sickness (AMS) is always of major concern and at today's altitude I am keenly aware I am getting less molecules of oxygen per breath. At my current altitude of 12,598 ft. there is approximately 40% less oxygen in the atmosphere. At Everest Base Camp, close to 17,500 ft., there is approximately 45% less oxygen and at the summit of Everest there is 67% less oxygen! Altitude sickness is preventable and thus the reason we are taking 11 days to reach base camp.

I had vaguely been aware of Hillary's good work in Nepal but I now understand the enormity of the man's contributions, especially in the areas of education, health, refurbishing monasteries and so forth. While at Kunde Hospital an exterior plaque described a 1960 visit by Hillary to Khumbu and a delegation asked if he would help them by building a school. Hillary not only built the school but went on to build 40 others in the Solu Khumbu area. The Hillary Trust also focused on building hospitals/clinics including the one in Kunde which was built in 1966 and today provides medical services for 10,000 residents in the region plus helping visiting trekkers to the Sagamatha National Park.

I was again so proud to read that since 1978 the Sir Edmund Hillary Foundation of Canada has provided the bulk of financing for the continued functioning of the hospital. Many Canadian, and New Zealand, doctors have volunteered at the hospital since its opening. In 2002, Dr. Kami Temba Sherpa (owner of the Valley View Lodge in Thame) has served as the Chief Medical Officer. As we trekked towards Kunde we met Dr. Kami trekking home to Thame and we had a great conversation about the Sherpa culture and Nepal over a cup of tea in a lodge at Syanboche.

Weather today again prevented my first glimpse of the summit of Everest, but tomorrow is another day!

– Leo Power