Sherpas on Denali?!
Posted by Phill Michael at 4/20/2008 10:15 AM and is filed under Kathmandu,Everest,Alaska,Denali,Nepal,tibet,SDCN,Seven Summits,Tilman Trek,Olympic Torch Parade 
Alex, Dawa,Chandra,Little Buddha,Rambally and Friend
I just got a dispatch from Alex...from Kathmandu! He's over there for another couple of weeks:
- helping the Social Development Centre of Nepal
- working out paperwork issues with Dawa so we can host our Sherpa friend in the USA...and have him climb Denali with us
- exploring the New Nepal
Here's what Alex had to say:
>>>>>>>>>>
Alex Mondau checking in from Kathmandu, Nepal.
A long awaited return to Nepal is finally happening and it's good to be back. Visiting friends and getting re-orientated has filled our first few days. The mood in the city is one of relief... and anticipation. The elections happened without too much turmoil or violence and unexpectedly the Maoist Party has taken many of the seats. As a big change in government is looming, everyone now waits to see if the promised changes can be realized and at what costs will those currently in power try to remain. There continue to be rolling power outages and fuel is more expensive here than in the US, even so: The New Nepal is coming!
The climbing world is also on hold as the thousands of people involved in Everest climbing season are currently reduced to 'Advanced Trekking.' With no one above Camp 2 on the South Side, the intermediate climbers and adventurous trekkers are actually higher in the Himalayas as they attempt peaks such as nearby Island and Mera Peaks.
Secret Spot Everest Climbing Sirdar Ang Dawa Sherpa is returning from guiding just such a climb and will be able to pass along the latest news gained from the Sherpa Pipeline (the local version of the BBC by word of mouth). From chatting with camera toting trekkers, it seems the standard visits to Kala Patar and EBC are happening, but with a few extra Nepali Army and Police personnel in the photos.
The Kathmandu Post today ran an article stating they had permission to 'open fire' if anyone gets unruly or sneaky.
My uncle Joe Mondau and I have passed our days working at the Social Development Center of Nepal, the orphanage here in Kathmandu I work to support. Lots of progress being made there, so future news of projects should be forthcoming. The children started a new year at their school, the Darwin Academy a few minutes walk from the home. We have a great volunteer on site long term at the moment and all the children are healthy and happy, so things really couldn't be better on that front.
A long awaited return to Nepal is finally happening and it's good to be back. Visiting friends and getting re-orientated has filled our first few days. The mood in the city is one of relief... and anticipation. The elections happened without too much turmoil or violence and unexpectedly the Maoist Party has taken many of the seats. As a big change in government is looming, everyone now waits to see if the promised changes can be realized and at what costs will those currently in power try to remain. There continue to be rolling power outages and fuel is more expensive here than in the US, even so: The New Nepal is coming!
The climbing world is also on hold as the thousands of people involved in Everest climbing season are currently reduced to 'Advanced Trekking.' With no one above Camp 2 on the South Side, the intermediate climbers and adventurous trekkers are actually higher in the Himalayas as they attempt peaks such as nearby Island and Mera Peaks.
Secret Spot Everest Climbing Sirdar Ang Dawa Sherpa is returning from guiding just such a climb and will be able to pass along the latest news gained from the Sherpa Pipeline (the local version of the BBC by word of mouth). From chatting with camera toting trekkers, it seems the standard visits to Kala Patar and EBC are happening, but with a few extra Nepali Army and Police personnel in the photos.
The Kathmandu Post today ran an article stating they had permission to 'open fire' if anyone gets unruly or sneaky.
My uncle Joe Mondau and I have passed our days working at the Social Development Center of Nepal, the orphanage here in Kathmandu I work to support. Lots of progress being made there, so future news of projects should be forthcoming. The children started a new year at their school, the Darwin Academy a few minutes walk from the home. We have a great volunteer on site long term at the moment and all the children are healthy and happy, so things really couldn't be better on that front.
New friends and adventures come our way every day here and I hope to provide images and another dispatch very soon!
ALEX MONDAU | Logistics Manager | Everest Freestyle Expedition/Secret Spot Seven Summits
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Alex and Joe just got back from a quick white water rafting trip. Alex will be sending another dispatch and images about that soon.
We will also have a Social Development Centre of Nepal (SDCN) website launched soon. I'll announce that via a future blog entry. It's an ongoing, charitable project that Alex has 'spearheaded' and is very passionate about. Awesome!
I'm glad to hear that things are going well for Alex in Nepal...despite all the politics and protests surrounding the Olympic Torch Parade. It sounds like the folks who are attempting Everest from the south side, this Spring season, are running into all sorts of obstacles regarding communications, and freedom of movement, etc. This was expected...so they shouldn't be surprised. It also sounds like the Olympic Torch Parade is on it's way up the Tibetan side of Mount Everest. I've been watching that with some interest. =^]
Hopefully everything is back to normal (politically or otherwise) for our Everest Traverse in Spring 2009!? Time will tell...as it always does.
Dana and Phill
I'm going to be back in Nepal, retracing Tilman's steps, in October/November 2008...with some great people...including Dana Engler. Dana is also going to be part of the Secret Spot Seven Summits team for Mount Elbrus in 2011.
We've got Secret Spot Denali coming up in less than a month...and YOU will be able to virtually climb with us via the internet! We're looking forward to virtually having YOU on our support team!
Until Soon
Phill =^)
PHILL MICHAEL | Expedition Leader and Summit Climber
Everest Freestyle Expedition/Secret Spot Seven Summits
>>>>>>>>>>
Alex and Joe just got back from a quick white water rafting trip. Alex will be sending another dispatch and images about that soon.
We will also have a Social Development Centre of Nepal (SDCN) website launched soon. I'll announce that via a future blog entry. It's an ongoing, charitable project that Alex has 'spearheaded' and is very passionate about. Awesome!
I'm glad to hear that things are going well for Alex in Nepal...despite all the politics and protests surrounding the Olympic Torch Parade. It sounds like the folks who are attempting Everest from the south side, this Spring season, are running into all sorts of obstacles regarding communications, and freedom of movement, etc. This was expected...so they shouldn't be surprised. It also sounds like the Olympic Torch Parade is on it's way up the Tibetan side of Mount Everest. I've been watching that with some interest. =^]
Hopefully everything is back to normal (politically or otherwise) for our Everest Traverse in Spring 2009!? Time will tell...as it always does.
Dana and Phill
I'm going to be back in Nepal, retracing Tilman's steps, in October/November 2008...with some great people...including Dana Engler. Dana is also going to be part of the Secret Spot Seven Summits team for Mount Elbrus in 2011.
We've got Secret Spot Denali coming up in less than a month...and YOU will be able to virtually climb with us via the internet! We're looking forward to virtually having YOU on our support team!
Until Soon
Phill =^)
PHILL MICHAEL | Expedition Leader and Summit Climber
Everest Freestyle Expedition/Secret Spot Seven Summits
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