Everest Expedition Friends and Family Base Camp Trek Dispatch
March 26, 2013 – Waiting for Our Flight to Lukla
Well, it’s about 8 and I am calling you from Lukla. The entire Berg Adventures Everest Expedition climbing team and our trekking team are in Lukla. It was long. Some days when you get out to the domestic terminal, you can tell that the weather is not that great. The fixed wing air flights today were very limited because of high winds between Kathmandu and Lukla.
Regardless, this team will make you proud. They’re patient, they take things as they come and as a result, we had a pretty good day. We’ve been hanging out at the domestic terminal in Kathmandu with our boarding passes for about six hours! Temba kept checking and the winds were stretching to the day so at about 2pm, all Lukla flights were cancelled.
Temba went over and talked to our Dynasty Air friends. They have B-2 helicopters and a couple of them were available. One was on the ground in Kathmandu and the other was on the way back. Helicopters can fly at lower elevations and can take different routes into Lukla. We went five at a time; Temba actually remained behind in Kathmandu. He’ll catch a helicopter probably tomorrow morning. We worked our way out from Kathmandu using GPS.
It was a beautiful, thrilling flight to Lukla. By 4:30, both helicopters landed in Lukla and we were welcomed at Paradise Lodge. We had a great (late) lunch, and then we relaxed a little. The crew enjoyed popcorn while we were getting ready to turn into our private rooms.
Nim Phuti (our Yak lady) was waiting in Lukla, and I think she was quite relieved when I told her after 4 o’clock that we’d be spending the night here and then beginning out trek towards Namche tomorrow. We have plenty of time on this trip and we have no problems with the schedule for either the trekking team or the climbers. That’s part of what we build into the schedule with a trip like this. Uncertainties with weather are always a part of flying into Lukla, and it is part of the adventure!
We’ve had a long day, but a great day. We are really happy to be in Lukla and ready to begin our trek tomorrow!
Katie pulled out her cribbage board. A skeptical Ed needed to be taught the rules before he could play.
Today is a Hindu festival day in Kathmandu. Cassidy and Katie looked beautiful with their tika blessings inside the departure lounge at Kathmandu’s domestic airport.
Todd has been eager to see his dear friend Ang Tashi Sherpa who lives in Kangzuma, on the trail to EBC. By happy coincidence, Tashi was in the departure lounge waiting to fly home today. We will see her again soon when we visit her and her husband Lakpa Dorjee at their lodge
The team ready to fly to Lukla - this is one of two B-2's we flew ... which carried five members per helicopter.
After over 6 hours of waiting in the domestic departure lounge of the airport in Kathmandu, Ed - and the rest of our team were ready to fly!
Cassidy Moran, Katie Branham, Joanne Howes, and Katie Ross Posing with the helicopter. Everyone is in Lukla now except Temba, who will fly in tomorrow AM.
Wally gives us his thumbs up as he flies into Lukla with the girls.
By 4:30 our 2nd Dynasty Air B-2 helicopter had landed in Lukla. As Todd stepped out Min, Nuru and the rest of the Berg Adventures staff helped quickly unload. It is a great feeling to have all the team here.
Nim Phuti was waiting for us in Lukla
By 4:30 PM we were all on the ground in Lukla. It was a long day, but a great one, we made it to the mountains!