Working abroad isn’t always easy on the stomach and after ten relatively sickness-free years in Nepal, I developed a good and robust case of typhoid fever. I was trapped in the throes of a high fever, headache, and stomach cramps that kept me delirious and in bed for over a week, and will take weeks or even months more to fully recover.

The southern belt of Nepal – the Terai – has been closed for a week now by a political group advocating for the rights of ‘Madeshis’ or Nepalis that live along the Indian border and who often have closer cultural and social ties to India than to the middle-hill dominated political scene in Kathmandu. The Madeshis have stopped all motorized transportation along the major highways in the Southern third of the country, effectively sealing off the entire country from any goods and stranding thousands of people.

So what does 4 feet of new snow look like in Rocky Mountain National Park?

While sitting in a t-shirt and flipflops this morning, enjoying a proper English breakfast (bacon, eggs, baked beans and toast, along with lots of french press coffee), I thought perhaps it was time for a dispatch with pictures. Important to do a bit of work even on a much deserved rest day!

This morning, the United Marxist-Leninist political party - one of the four leading political parties in Nepal -threatened to pull out of the government in reaction to the death of a young member of the party’s youth wing, the curiously named ‘Youth Force.’ The young man was allegedly shot by members of the ruling Maoist party’s youth wing, the ‘Young Communist League’ in the far western district of Rupandehi.

To my seven readers, I apologize for my failure to post anything the entire winter. America flashed past, like so many snowflakes in the headlights. The snow fell in inches and then in feet, was pushed into piles alongside the road, up against the barn – it slid off of the roof and shuttered the kitchen windows. Then, before I really even unpacked, I was off again. Board meetings in Colorado, donor meetings in Geneva, and blissful backcountry skiing and cappuccino in Chamonix. All fancy language aside, I am a slacker. Please forgive me.

It has been a whirlwind week since my last post, and finding time on a computer has been near the bottom of my list of prioirities. Apologies for that!

7 days into our trek to Everest BC we are at our final night in
beds and indoors. Tomorrow we head to the first of our tent camps,
Lobuche BaseCamp at about 16,200 feet. We will spend a couple of
nights there before moving up to our true basecamp close to
PumoRi. The good news today was that our last heli of equipment,
along with the boss - Russell Brice - arrived in Syangboche and
will join us in camp in the next 3 days or so. Due to maintenance
issues and other contracts, all of the commercial helicopters have
been unavailable for the last week, so we have been a bit

Three days into our trek to Basecamp and we are feeling great. Our
group has had good weather and views thus far, and we are all
using these days of hiking and evenings in rustic lodges to get to
know one another. There have been many card games to play, stories
to tell and hear, and yak steaks to enjoy.

One real highlight was spending last night with Phurba Tashi's
family at his lodge in Khumjung. Phurba is our sirdar, or head
sherpa, and has summited Everest 14 times. Hi is a legend here in
Nepal and the Khumbu Valley. He also has a fantastic wife and 4

I love this pack because, as a climber, it is the perfect size. With a volume of 35 liters, I can fit a 60 meter rope, a full rack of 14 or so cams, half a dozen quickdraws, several pairs of climbing shoes, chalk bag, harness...