TECHNICAL BITS

Here is the itinerary:

Ø April 12 fly out of Vancouver to Kathmandu, Nepal via Hong Kong
Ø April 14 arrive in Kathmandu; stay 3 days
Ø April 15 day in Kathmandu
Ø April 16 day trip to Baktaphur (ancient site)
Ø April 17 day trip to Nagarot (sunrise over Everest)
Ø April 18 leave Kathmandu for Trekking Destination
Ø April 19 – 26 Trekking
Ø April 27 return to Kathmandu
Ø April 28 rest
Ø April 29 travel by bus to Pokhara
Ø April 30, May 1 & 2 Pokhara
Ø May 3 return to Kathmandu
Ø May 4 Kathmandu
Ø May 5 leave for home
Ø May 6 arrive home

Itinerary for the Shey Phoksumdo Lake Circuit (Dolpa) Camping Trek:

Ø April 18 Kathmandu to Nepalgunj (by flight); stay in guest house or hotel
Ø April 19 Fly to Dolpa (Juphal) trek to Dunai, exploring/acclimatization day
Ø April 20 Dunai to Chepka (2670m)
Ø April 21 Chepka to Renje (3010m)
Ø April 22 Renje to Phoksumdo Lake
Ø April 23 rest day at Phoksumdo Lake (3600m)
Ø April 24 Phoksumdo Lake to Samduwa
Ø April 25 Samduwa to Hanke (2660m)
Ø April 26 Hanke to Juphal
Ø April 27 Juphal to Nepalganj to Kathmandu (by flights)

This is only a guideline and may change due to local conditions but it will give a good idea of our whereabouts. I am estimating that it is 18 – 20 km one way (hard to tell with the twists & turns) then we go back on the same route and stop at different places for our campsite. I believe the highest altitude we will be reaching is about 4400m by Phoksumdo Lake. We are camping (tenting) along the way and have porters to carry our large packs. This is for safety reasons and also it provides much needed employment for the Nepalese.

I have posted a map in the previous entry. If you click on the map, it zooms in pretty good. The red trail is what we will be on from Juphal (lower left part of the map) to the point by Phoksumdo Lake then we loop back. I have been finding out that spelling of words varies so you may see Phoksundo Lake, also. Or Dolpa instead of Dolpo. The elevation is marked on some of the hamlets/villages/peaks.

I am part of a group organized by Sharon F.; there will be five women and one man on this trek plus a guide, Sherpa, chef, porters. Three sisters have formed a company in Pokhara called “3 Sisters Adventure Trekking” and will be leading this trek. They also run a guesthouse with a restaurant which is where we will be staying after the trek. I have been emailing these women to get information in regards to the needs of school children in Pokhara, where their guesthouse is located.

I appreciate all the well wishes, thoughts, prayers, excitement, concerns and support so many have conveyed to me. There are many risks with this type of quest but there are more rewards. I have just read about avalanches that have occurred close to the Tapriza School in early March, one of which has killed a student and many yak. We may be trekking in some snow but the weather will be much milder so it should be better while we are there. Monsoon season is later as summer arrives. There are food concerns, also but the best defence is being informed and being prepared. Helicopter rescue insurance is a requirement to be able to join the trekking group. High altitude sickness is a major factor due to the lack of oxygen as we ascend. From my reading I have learned that there is half as much oxygen at Everest base camp (5380m) than at sea level. At the top of Everest (8840m), there is one-third the oxygen than at sea level. There is nothing that can predetermine if the higher altitude will affect someone. The best thing is to ascend slowly. Some people take medication that helps with lower oxygen levels at high altitude. We are trekking to about 4400m maximum.

I am trying to be more practical as to my approach on helping out the schools and I am getting as much information ahead of time on how supplies are transported, since the hardest part will be getting the supplies to where I would love to see them go. I will take what I can in my daypack without compromising the necessary items I must take and if there is room in my large pack with my clothing, sleeping bag, sleeping pad, etc, I will put as much as I can up to the weight restrictions. I will most likely take limited supplies, purchase some while in Pokhara and give a cash donation to the organizers of the schools so they can purchase the supplies that they need. Getting supplies to Nepal is easy; the difficult part for me would be on the buses, planes and trek within the country. The Tapriza School is located very close to Phoksumdo Lake, which is the furthest point we trek before looping back.

I will have access to computers in Kathmandu and Pokhara so I hope to update my journey during those times before and after my trek. I have been warned that there are frequent power outages so it could be an adventure in itself!

Linda