Relative Something

I understand that it doesn’t have to be this hard. I am so close. I just can’t seem to take it to the place that I would call,  …finished. I think I am close to being within weight limitations, even though I am not confident I am accurately interpreting the specifics of when the restrictions will be enacted, and to which piece. At one place in our information packet, it points out that the Sherpa will carry two duffel bags plus their own load and we are asked to stay around 30 pounds. Another source describes the plane ride to Lukla having a strict limit of 30 pounds, as well. But here it sounds like 30 pounds total, not just the duffel. My trip comrade, Gary, pointed out that we’ll feel better, when it comes to trying to get that smaller plane off the ground on our way to Lukla, if we haven’t cheated the weight limitations. Point well taken.

The plan during the trekking is for each of us to wear a day-pack that contains anything we think we will want to have during that day… rain gear, sun screen, camera, snack, mole skin, water bottles. I am beginning to picture it as my kitchen junk drawer. If I need anything, I look in the junk drawer. The duffel will be riding ahead of us on the back of a Sherpa or Yak (not sure which, yet), unavailable to us, on the way to that evening’s camp location. It will contain the extra clothes, some cold weather gear for possible use on days at the highest elevations, comfy camp shoes, more reading material (than what is in my ‘junk drawer’), gifts for the schools higher up the trail… that sort of thing.

That seems like a simple delineation of purposes. However, there are a couple of variations that are muddying up my ability to close down the packing phase. Prior to reaching that fine routine of the two separate bags for two different purposes, I have to get all this gear through airports in multiple countries. One of the bags, my duffel, will be checked and thus allowed to contain some of the items forbidden within the passenger compartment. The other one, my day-pack, will be carry-on. The two bags probably won’t take the exact same route to Kathmandu, so I want to be prepared for the possibility of delay in reuniting with my duffel.

I intend to pack a little differently for the first phase of the trip than I will for the actual trekking. These things are such a quandary for a person of concrete, sequential mindset. It’s causing a slight delay in accomplishing the completion of this part of preparation. I WILL take care of this detail before the required hour and I expect to get on with visualizing a series of pleasing, on-time plane rides to kick off the big expedition.

If you are able to supress your snickering over the likelihood of these visualizations, it may improve my odds of success.

As much as I’d like to credit myself for having had the inspiration, resources, and abilities to undertake a trek to see Mt. Everest all on my own, credit deserves to be given to those who have helped me to make it happen.

To start, here’s to Jim Klobuchar, who published columns describing his annual bike trips around the state and then kept the trips going long after his retirement. The year I first began riding on his Jaunt-with-Jim bike trips, it was their 20th. This year will be the 35th. Jim also guides international trips through Jim Klobuchar’s Adventures travel club, including, “The Dominion of Everest,” the trek that I am participating in.

It was at the beginning of last year’s bike trip that I had dinner with Ed & Deanna Newman, who had gone on Jim’s Himalayan Trek the year before, and they sparked the first inspiration that this might be the trip for me. On that same bike ride I met Gary Larson. I don’t know that I am yet able to describe how special that is. Turns out, he was having inspirations of taking the trek to see Everest, as well. We now jokingly each boast that it is the other guy’s fault we are involved in this adventure.

Most of all, when I think of being on a mountain, I think of my mom, Elizabeth (Betty) Elliott Hays. She spent time in the mountains of Glacier National Park, Montana, as a lookout on a fire tower with my dad when they were first married. In my mind, just my being in the Himalayan Mountains will be in honor of her. At the time of her death, I was still only contemplating how I would achieve a trip such as this. She has provided me the financial ability to do this during uncertain economic times and I am proud to honor her life by dedicating this trek in memory of her.

I try not to pay too much attention to the fact that this year I am reaching the milestone of my 50th birthday, but my in-laws, Fred & Marie Friswold, have helped me to be sure and notice by gifting me early with additional financial support for this Himalayan Trek. In addition to that, their support goes well beyond this, in many other ways behind the scenes, back so far that I owe them credit for my freedom to have even ridden all those bike trips in the first place.

I also want to thank everyone at Source Engineering & Manufacturing, especially, Gary Engelhart, for their support and for allowing me to be away from the workplace for such an extended time.  I’ll try not to make too many more jokes about not being certain whether or not I will come back from Nepal.

Lastly, it is by sad coincidence of timing that I will add Charlotte (Peterson) Enblom to my tribute list due to her recent passing from this Earth. As the mother of my life-long friend, Eric, and matriarch of a fantastic clan of individuals, she will be strong in my thoughts this week and I will bring her with me into the high elevations that naturally bring to mind, planes of existence beyond our reach…

Precious folks, every one. I am blessed to be traveling with their/(your) names on my heart and in my mind.

Departure, just days away now…

What might be the next best thing to climbing the mountain called Everest? I suggest, for the non-technical climber, it could simply be standing on a nearby summit to enjoy a first-hand view of the highest mountain on Earth. In Nepal the head of the sky is called Sagarmatha. In two weeks, I leave home in Minnesota, U.S.A. to participate in a 7-person, 3-week trek in the Solu Khumbu of Nepal with a goal of reaching Gokyo Ri (17,500 ft.) to view the Earth Mother.

For some perspective, let me point out that Nepal is pretty much on the opposite side of the northern hemisphere from me. I was born and raised in an area of approximate altitude of 700-950 ft. above sea level. I travel very rarely and have never experienced the degree of cultural and economic disparity that I can expect on this trip. This can be called a trek for me in more ways than one. Preparations have been in process for months, but it feels like it is getting down to the wire now and there is an increasing level of anxiety that is showing up.

Today, I picked off some of the little tasks. I laminated some ID and medical information and used a permanent marker to write my name and address on the inside of my bags. Every little step accomplished helps keep the task of preparing from feeling overwhelming. You know, as in, fooling myself. In the mean time, I am becoming increasingly  reverent about every visit to a toilet that offers a seat, to a hot shower of unlimited duration, to my bed; well in advance of how much I will grow to appreciate them in the weeks to come.

On Thursday, April 2, I fly to Los Angeles and then on to Bangkok, Thailand, and after a night’s layover there, to Katmandu, Nepal. After two days, we fly to Lukla, either by Twin Otter or helicopter (I’m leaning toward wanting a ride in a helicopter, but either one sounds “exciting”). We’ll tread the same path as those whose goal includes the death zone at the top of the world, visiting places like Namche Bazaar and Tengboche Monastery. There will be prayer wheels and flags and mantras of ‘om mani padme hum’. Our ultimate elevation will be higher (should I be allowed to achieve it) than Base Camp of the climbers of Everest. Cerebral Edema will not hesitate to take a life at lesser heights than this, if one disregards the signals.

I intend to actually write by hand in a journal during the weeks of the trek to capture details of our adventures. I am sincerely looking forward to being beyond the reach, and for me, subsequent lure, of my usual technologies. So, upon my return, I should hope you will find a series of posts on this site describing the wonder of it all and that you will be intrigued enough to return and explore them with me here.

Namaste.