This unique town has everything from dentist , doctors , cafes , restaurants and lots of shopping . These wonderful buildings are hand made brick by brick . My hotel room is cool – no heat but a nice hot shower . I hope we don’t have barking dogs all night like we did last year .
Just arrived in Nammche
We had a 6 hour trek to Nammche today , a lot of up hill . We are staying at the Base Camp hotel for a couple of days . Still about 6 to 7 days to BC . Last night we stayed at a really nice guest house off the beaten track – great hospitality and meals .
Off to Lukla
Up early this morning for breakfast before the 45 min flight to Lukla one of the most dangerous airport landing strips in the world – short and up hill with no radar . After we land it will probably be a 2 – 4 hour trek to our next destination. Hopefully I will have internet and will touch base when we arrive . Namaste
Permit for Everest
enclosed photo is the permit for Everest climb I have just been notified that we will be flying to Lukla by helicopter which is on the way to retrieve 2 climbers from Base Camp that don’t want to trek down .
Kathmandu
i had a great night sleep last night probably my last for a while in a real bed and able to watch CNN . Having a really nice breakfast now with a view of the pool and clay tennis courts . I will visit Kili Sherpas house today the owner of the expedition company I am with High Altitude Dreams . I will be leaving tomorrow, weather permitted to Lukla to start the 7 to 9 day acclimatizing trek to Everest Base Camp . There are 40 teams signed on to climb this year . The numbers per team and going for the summit I am unaware of at this time . I will be at Base camp with the mountain Gurus team of which they have 2 climbers plus me going for the summit plus guides and Sherpas , one person I am aware of is going just as far as Camp 2 . Today I will take it easy have a light work out and a swim .
Arrived in Kathmandu
Just arrived in Kathmandu @ 2:30 pm local time . Going through customs and getting my 90 day visa for $100 U.S. was very quick . It took a little longer for my luggage to come out . I will rest at the Yak & Yeti hotel for the next day and a half and on Monday we will trek to Everest Base Camp which will take 7 to 9 days as I acclimatize on the way . The weather in Kathmandu at the present is very windy and raining . I am sipping on a latte at the Royal Saino caffe just around the corner from the hotel . A lattee cost 1.20 rupees about 1.20 US .
London
Arrived in London – relaxing in the Air Canada lounge – just had a hot shower and shave and feel great and rested. I have about a 7 to 8 hour layover before I catch by next flight to Dehli on Air India . Shelly and the kids are just boarding their flight to Sarasota Florida . I will touch base a little later.
At the airport
Here I go again . At the Toronto airport on my way to Kathmandu via London and Dehli . Just said good bye to my daughter Kylee and sons Brandon & Jordan and wife Shelly . Thanks Shelly for holding down the fort while I am gone. This will be the sixth of the 7 summits and hopefully a successful expedition. I will touch base again in London on my 10 hour layover.
Leave a week today
I am 90% packed and ready to go a week today . Getting very excited . I will be going from Toronto alone without my friend Shehbaz. I will meet many climbers when I get to Kathmandu, Nepal . Hopefully everything goes smoothly this year . Nomaste 🙏
Everest climb
4 weeks tomorrow I leave for Kathmandu, Nepal for 2 months to this time conquer Everest . They are making the ice field a little safer this year by moving it closer to the center to lessen the effects if there was to be an avalanche. There is also talk that there will be less climbers this year so hopefully no big line ups on summit day . I will have 2 Sherpas and a guide to accompany me to the top of the world . I have already started to pack 2 large duffles weighing about 50lbs each . Nomaste
Joe's Everest Expedition 2015 