Berg Adventures 2013 Everest Expedition Dispatch

March 24, 2013 – First Full Day in Kathmandu for Climbers Always Means a Meeting with Liz Hawley

The indomitable Elizabeth Hawley is still at it. For decades, with uncanny reliability, she has appeared at the hotels of Himalayan climbers who arrive in Kathmandu bound for their expeditions. As many a great mountaineer has learned, Liz is after the facts, no more and no less. Her diligence and consistency is inspiring and the body of her work as a chronicler of Himalayan climbs over the decades stands an as unparalleled journalistic accomplishment. Diligence and consistency are traits that the best climbers value and strive for; perhaps this is the reason Liz and endeared herself to so many of those who are bound for their challenges at high altitude.

We were honored to have Liz show up this morning keen to learn the details of Steve, Daniel and Todd’s plans for Everest this season. It was even better because Billi Bierling, who has very ably been working to share Liz’s busy seasonal load of interviewing, was at the Yak and Yeti as well. We were delighted to meet both of these legendary women and spend some time with them. Unfortunately, Todd had called a bit earlier to inform us that he was delayed in Deli. Billi and Liz made sure we got Todd’s form to be completed by him and return it for their files before we leave. We will see Billi on the mountain this season; she will be attempting to climb Nuptse after she finishes her stint working with Liz in the busy early expedition season.

Steve and Daniel with the legendary ladies of Expedition Journalism, Elizabeth Hawley and Billi Bierling

Steve and Dan work on getting their facts right for Billi. Besides climbing this season and assisting Ms Hawley, Billi is hard at work translating the biography of the remarkable Austrian mountaineer, Gerlinde Kaltenbrunner, the first woman to climb all 14 of the 8,000 meter peaks, and, as of last year the first woman to climb Nuptse. Billi’s English translation of Gerlinde’s bio will be published by Mountaineers Books in Seattle.

Outside the Yak and Yeti, Liz proudly showed me that she is still driving her baby blue VW bug. The Bug is 50 years old now, and still carries Liz on her rounds to the hotels and guest houses to meet expedition climbers.

The girls were off for more interviews. Steve and Dan were honored for one more photo with them.