On and On - Tilman Trek Reloaded
3 Dec, 09 - 12:44
Blackstar Canyon Sunburst
The Thanxgobbling week was full of good cheer, good people and a bit of food...but we managed to make our way into the desert at the end of the week...in an attempt to reflect upon the excesses and burn off some of the extra baggage of the Holidazzze.
The Leadership Team at Medtronic's Tissue Valve Manufacturing Facility
Chris and I were also fortunate enough to connect with the fine people at Medtronic's Tissue Valve manufacturing facility in Orange Country...and actually meet the technician who produced my Freestyle valve. =^o
Many thanks go out to all the people who have been (and will be) involved in the biomedical innovations that alleviate pain, restore health and improve quality of life.
Steve and Phill en route to Blackstar Canyon
Since 'It is in the Wilderness that we find our True Hearts'...I'm just about to head out on another project...and will be out of comms for almost a week. I'm not taking much in the way of electronic or communication gear, due to weight considerations. We will be 'encumbered' with only the essentials. More about that when I return.
In the meantime, let's go 'retro' again and look back to the end of October 2008...while Caroline, Dana, Dawa and I were getting ready to trudge up Mera peak in Nepal.
**********
October 27th, 2008
Cloudy morning in Khare, Nepal
Another day of Cold Chillin' in Khare. B^)
I'm listening to Erykah Badu while dreaming of (other) exotic places and beautiful faces(actually...one in particular). The sunshine at 16000ft is quite intense and I'm soaking in every ray. Simply awesome. B^)'
Connecting from anywhere...anytime! B^)
The BGAN is gently charging in the sun...Dawa is embroiled in a (not so) high stakes card game...Caroline is sleeping...and Dana is re-visiting the Arun Valley via Tilman's book.
I've had an impossible amount of sleep (for me) in the last 24 hours...and plate after plate of tasty meat. =^P
More meeeeat please! =^P
Caroline had a major headache this morn and We of the 'Sniffle Kingdom' voted for another day of acclimatization.
In the morning, clouds glided by the lofty peaks at prodigious velocities and a bit of sleet fell from the heavens. By lunchtime those clouds had chased each other westward and we were left with clear blue skies. The crisp clear air made for some very vivid images...and we were truly on a natural high.
Mmmmmm...now it's dinner...and there is more meeeeat! I loves me my roast beast. =^P
The path towards Mera
We've been discussing how experiencing a trip like this would be a major paradigm shift for most North Americans. Hmmmm...that's probably why we've only seen a half a dozen of them. There are quite a few Euro types and the odd Japanese person in these parts. You have to be willing to be exorbitantly open minded and accepting to enjoy this kind of excursion. Trying to impose one's culture on the locals would be fruitless. We are the visitors here...and we are pleased with that role. =^]
Peaks various as seen from Khare, Nepal
Back in this tidy (and drafty) tea house...we are digesting, absorbing and contemplating. I'm trying to understand a Sherpa conversation about money lost in a card game. Dawa is quietly translating a discussion about how one tea shop owner lost a month's worth of earnings in a single card game. That tea shop owner is currently drinking his sorrows away...right next to me...and his aura is one of confusion and pain.
Compulsive gamblers suffer in every culture, but life goes on. Ideally we all learn from our mistakes...rather than repeat them. Right!?
Speaking of which, I should know better than to stay up all night before a day of high altitude climbing...so I'm off to my tent.
A close inspection of peaks various
Assuming everyone is feeling well, we'll move to Mera La(approx. the same elevation as Everest Base Camp...17500ft/5300m) on Tuesday...and maybe have an afternoon snowball war...B^)
Until Soon
Phill =^)
PHILL MICHAEL
Expedition Leader and Summit Climber
Everest Freestyle Expedition/Secret Spot Seven Summits
SecretSpot.NET
PhillMichael.COM
SherpaSchool.ORG
SecretSpotStore.COM
The Thanxgobbling week was full of good cheer, good people and a bit of food...but we managed to make our way into the desert at the end of the week...in an attempt to reflect upon the excesses and burn off some of the extra baggage of the Holidazzze.
Chris and I were also fortunate enough to connect with the fine people at Medtronic's Tissue Valve manufacturing facility in Orange Country...and actually meet the technician who produced my Freestyle valve. =^o
Many thanks go out to all the people who have been (and will be) involved in the biomedical innovations that alleviate pain, restore health and improve quality of life.
Since 'It is in the Wilderness that we find our True Hearts'...I'm just about to head out on another project...and will be out of comms for almost a week. I'm not taking much in the way of electronic or communication gear, due to weight considerations. We will be 'encumbered' with only the essentials. More about that when I return.
In the meantime, let's go 'retro' again and look back to the end of October 2008...while Caroline, Dana, Dawa and I were getting ready to trudge up Mera peak in Nepal.
**********
October 27th, 2008
Another day of Cold Chillin' in Khare. B^)
I'm listening to Erykah Badu while dreaming of (other) exotic places and beautiful faces(actually...one in particular). The sunshine at 16000ft is quite intense and I'm soaking in every ray. Simply awesome. B^)'
The BGAN is gently charging in the sun...Dawa is embroiled in a (not so) high stakes card game...Caroline is sleeping...and Dana is re-visiting the Arun Valley via Tilman's book.
I've had an impossible amount of sleep (for me) in the last 24 hours...and plate after plate of tasty meat. =^P
Caroline had a major headache this morn and We of the 'Sniffle Kingdom' voted for another day of acclimatization.
In the morning, clouds glided by the lofty peaks at prodigious velocities and a bit of sleet fell from the heavens. By lunchtime those clouds had chased each other westward and we were left with clear blue skies. The crisp clear air made for some very vivid images...and we were truly on a natural high.
Mmmmmm...now it's dinner...and there is more meeeeat! I loves me my roast beast. =^P
We've been discussing how experiencing a trip like this would be a major paradigm shift for most North Americans. Hmmmm...that's probably why we've only seen a half a dozen of them. There are quite a few Euro types and the odd Japanese person in these parts. You have to be willing to be exorbitantly open minded and accepting to enjoy this kind of excursion. Trying to impose one's culture on the locals would be fruitless. We are the visitors here...and we are pleased with that role. =^]
Back in this tidy (and drafty) tea house...we are digesting, absorbing and contemplating. I'm trying to understand a Sherpa conversation about money lost in a card game. Dawa is quietly translating a discussion about how one tea shop owner lost a month's worth of earnings in a single card game. That tea shop owner is currently drinking his sorrows away...right next to me...and his aura is one of confusion and pain.
Compulsive gamblers suffer in every culture, but life goes on. Ideally we all learn from our mistakes...rather than repeat them. Right!?
Speaking of which, I should know better than to stay up all night before a day of high altitude climbing...so I'm off to my tent.
Assuming everyone is feeling well, we'll move to Mera La(approx. the same elevation as Everest Base Camp...17500ft/5300m) on Tuesday...and maybe have an afternoon snowball war...B^)
Until Soon
Phill =^)
PHILL MICHAEL
Expedition Leader and Summit Climber
Everest Freestyle Expedition/Secret Spot Seven Summits
SecretSpot.NET
PhillMichael.COM
SherpaSchool.ORG
SecretSpotStore.COM
Posted by Phill Michael at 12/4/2009 12:12 PM 
Categories: Satellite Phone Store, SecretSpot.TV, tibet, Mera La, Everest, Sherpa, Mera Peak, HumanEdgeTech.com, Kathmandu, SkypeVidCon, SatellitePhoneStore.com, SecretSpotAfrica, SecretSpotEverest.com, SecretSpotStore, SecretSpotStore.COM, Mustang, Tilman Trek Reloaded, BGAN, Frick, Nepal, Phill Michael, Podcast, SherpaSchool.ORG, secretspot7summits.com, Kilimanjaro, phillmichael.com, Thanxgobbling, SecretSpot.NET, Email, Video Conferencing, Surefire, Buddhist Tankas, Inmarsat, Tilman Trek, Medtronic, Oakley, Seven Summits
Tags: Satellite Phone Store SecretSpot.TV tibet Mera La Everest Sherpa Mera Peak HumanEdgeTech.com Kathmandu SkypeVidCon SatellitePhoneStore.com SecretSpotAfrica SecretSpotEverest.com SecretSpotStore SecretSpotStore.COM Tilman Trek Reloaded BGAN Frick Nepal Phill Michael Podcast SherpaSchool.ORG secretspot7summits.com Kilimanjaro Medtronic phillmichael.com Thanxgobbling SecretSpot.NET Email Video Conferencing Surefire Buddhist Tankas Inmarsat Tilman Trek Mustang Oakley Seven Summits
Categories: Satellite Phone Store, SecretSpot.TV, tibet, Mera La, Everest, Sherpa, Mera Peak, HumanEdgeTech.com, Kathmandu, SkypeVidCon, SatellitePhoneStore.com, SecretSpotAfrica, SecretSpotEverest.com, SecretSpotStore, SecretSpotStore.COM, Mustang, Tilman Trek Reloaded, BGAN, Frick, Nepal, Phill Michael, Podcast, SherpaSchool.ORG, secretspot7summits.com, Kilimanjaro, phillmichael.com, Thanxgobbling, SecretSpot.NET, Email, Video Conferencing, Surefire, Buddhist Tankas, Inmarsat, Tilman Trek, Medtronic, Oakley, Seven Summits
Tags: Satellite Phone Store SecretSpot.TV tibet Mera La Everest Sherpa Mera Peak HumanEdgeTech.com Kathmandu SkypeVidCon SatellitePhoneStore.com SecretSpotAfrica SecretSpotEverest.com SecretSpotStore SecretSpotStore.COM Tilman Trek Reloaded BGAN Frick Nepal Phill Michael Podcast SherpaSchool.ORG secretspot7summits.com Kilimanjaro Medtronic phillmichael.com Thanxgobbling SecretSpot.NET Email Video Conferencing Surefire Buddhist Tankas Inmarsat Tilman Trek Mustang Oakley Seven Summits
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