My life in Nepal and other things

I processed the Nepal pictures, checked the expedition blogs and took a call from Alec, who was at Everest Base Camp this morning (it was night for him). His voice was hoarse but he said not to think much of it. Everyone’s is that way, he said.

He made a second successful ascent of Lobuche Peak (20,000 feet) and is resting before they move across the increasingly-dangerous Khumbu Icefall and take up residence at Camp 1 on Sagarmatha, nee Everest.

I don’t like the stories in the blogs about close calls by climbers from other expeditions traversing the icefall. It’s at the bottom of the mountain but it’s the most perilous part of the climb because the ice is constantly shifting and breaking off.

On a lighter note, a blog post by a climber from New York tells the story of getting stuck with the tent nearest the edge of a drop-off.

Also, a European journalist/climber tells of finding someone’s dirty underwear in her sleeping bag in another blog at www.billibierling.com. I hope it wasn’t Alec’s underwear.

As for life on Murphy Dome, I started a course of antibiotics, went back to work and moved the chickens from their cage in the garage to their coop outside.

The Bottle Washing Fairy filled the water tank, replenished the fridge, packed her suitcases and hopped on a plane south.

Lucky and I went to a 1st birthday party yesterday where she tore down the drapes in the host’s living room. Putting her in her crib for a nap or bedtime continues to foster hysterics.

I am enjoying being a skinny bitch, knowing it probably won’t last long. I poured myself into a pair of size 12 culottes last night and pledged to remain skinny. But then I polished off the candy leftover from Lucky’s Easter basket.

Drum roll, please. Finally, what you’ve been waiting for … Introducing, the pictures from Nepal.

The lobby in the Hotel Tibet in Kathmandu.

Careful engineering of public utilities in Kathmandu.

A temple in Kathmandu.

Inside a Buddhist temple.

Lukla, where the trek started.

Yaks rule the trail.

A child carries another child.

My favorite bridge.

Dawa, the porter who helped me when I was sick.

A reward is offered for information on a missing trekker.

Namche Bazar.

A house in rural Nepal.

Close-up of a yak.

The trail.

Almost everyone seemed to run a small store in their house.

Me and our first guide, Nuru.

A typical privy in this Third World country.

The money exchanged in Nepal.

A porter.

Al inside a tea house with Ang Nuru, our second guide.

Me and the village munk of Khumjung, who was wearing a skirt and who grabbed my butt.

A porter carries a tall load.

A Buddhist monestary about halfway to Base camp.

A mother and daughter in Nepal.

A Dutch couple met several times on the trail. My favorite fellow trekkers, so fun-loving.

A pretty tree along the trail.

A yak train crosses a snowy slope.

Note to self: spread the sun screen all over. Duh.

Me and Alec at Lobuche Base Camp.

Himex Everest Base Camp.

The Base Camp dome tent, complete with bar and big-screen tv.

Me and the Irishman. Dawa took the picture, cutting off poor John's head.

Laachu, my last guide.