Notes from the Lads

Namaste and Good Victoria Day morning, all,
Dan’s dad here again.
The lads have sent a note early this morning via e-mail and have asked me to post it. They sent both accounts below as one e-mail note. Sound like they are having a fine time.
JP

May 16
This afternoon marks a momentous occasion and all of you are welcome to follow our example and have a "wee" nip of whatever you fancy … in a word "Everest". We completed today our plans to visit Everest and meet some of the well known climbers/summiteers -- Dave Hahn among them.
Backing up to when we last wrote. We left Dingboche early, enroute to Dughla, and made it in a blistering 2 hours. That morning we were lucky enough to add Island Peak, Peak 38, Lhotse, Makalu and Pumori to our list of peaks that we have seen. We enjoyed a quick lunch while we planned our attack on Awi Peak. It was a good, scrambly peak, with a lot more snow up top than anticipated. 200ft from the top, the footing got too iffy and we made the responsible decision as group guides and turned back. We were all pretty proud of the climb though. Yesterday we had an easy hike to Lobuche, followed by a quick visit to the Italian High Altitude Research Pyramid. We seem to have attracted quite the posse of trekkers. It’s nice to fill the teahouses with friends and feel like we own the place for the night. This morning we got an early start to Gorak Shep, then continued onto EBC after a snack. It was gorgeous, but it was probably one of the toughest hikes we have done. Tomorrow is Kala Patthar and then towards the Cho La Pass - conditions pending. Mike and Shyam have been doing a good job of coming up with alternative routes if needed.
On a different note, everyone reports that as we gain altitude their dreams become more and more bizarre. We figure it’s only a matter of time before the two of us have the same dream simultaneously.

Signed....The cheese


May 18

3:30 am came far too quickly yesterday. We both wondered what the point of leaving so early was. We left Gorak Shep just after 4am. It was foggy out and the climb (up Kala Pattar - 5550m) started steeply. As the light increased we got a fleeting glimpse of Everest through the fog. This inspired us to continue on our quest for the peak. Loose footing, winds, the damp morning air, and snow were among the obstacles along the way. Our numbers diminished as the altitude and weather took its toll on the group. In the end, when the summit was finally reached, we Canadians and Ron, our American friend, stood tall with our guides staring outwards towards our reward. The sky was clear, the sun’s rays showing all details of the Himalayan giants previously hidden by lower peaks. Smiles were beaming, congratulations all around, but no words, for words were unable to do justice to the accomplishment and scene. We took the necessary pictures and took in all the peaks we have seen along the way magnificently reaching through the clouds. After a quick breakfast we headed down to Dingboche, where today we enjoyed a well deserved rest day in the warm sun.

Signing off we are not going to forget our nation’s holiday... and its traditions.
The Intrepid Himalayan Travellers