While I’m not normally one to be a slave to the calendar, I do still find myself to be enjoying the occasional reflective, introspective flight of fancy. So, with that, I’m looking back at the year that was 2009. Some of this may repeat from the look back I did mid-year, but my perspective has changed enough since then that I hope not too much.
I think everyone on the trip had their own personal “OMG!” moment at some point. Some of us even had several of them. The arrival at Tengboche and subsequent time spent there was most certainly one of my two big emotional goosebump days. Sadly, I did a pretty poor job of enunciating how I was feeling in the commentary for this episode, but hopefully I’ll do a better job here. This was the day that what I was doing really sunk in, the day I really let it sink in.
For as much time as we spend talking about all the struggles and challenges of the trek, some might begin to wonder why in the world anyone would do something like this. Why would you want to go and do something that seems so decidedly un-fun? This episode gives a good window into how much fun there was to be had on the trails every day.
Ahh… technology. You don’t realize how much a part of your daily life it is until it’s taken away. And the harshness of the conditions you’re in really hit home as you watch how it impacts your gear. Frosted lenses, frozen batteries, failing memory cards, powerless laptops… the Himalayas can be really rough on technology.
I’ve decided to do a sort of behind-the-scenes commentary on the trek as each episode comes on. Provide even more detail about what went on in each episodes. A bit of a “The Rest Of The Rest Of Everest” if you will. As Jon Miller’s tentmate, I saw a little but more of the background … [Read more…]
Time for another journal entry! There are two entries from this day, as it was a rest day with lots of time to relax and do some writing. This entry came after what was the most difficult day of the trek, but I survived it and kept on going! The hike up to Namche Bazaar … [Read more…]
Here’s the second journal entry from the Everest Trek. This entry is the first from the trail, and I found it interesting that I was concerned about how I’d handle the trekking the further in we got. The reality for me was, the higher we got the better I felt, the opposite of many others. … [Read more…]
I’m finally getting around to typing up and posting my paper journals from the Everest Trek 2009, and this is the first of many. I’ve decided to keep them intact and do only a minimal amount of editing, mostly to fix minor things like grammar or sentence structure. It got worse and worse the higher … [Read more…]
With the first half of the year having now passed by, I’ve found myself feeling a bit reflective today. Looking back on how the first six months of 2009 have gone, and wondering what the next six might hold for me. While I expected a lot of change this year, I still find myself in … [Read more…]
I’m home now, have had a night sleeping in my own bed, showered in my own shower, had to make my own tea in the morning, and generally begun to shift my brain back into the western world. I’ve had a little time now to reflect back on the trip, and wanted to share a … [Read more…]
Things have just about come together for the Everest Trek 2009. My duffel is packed with 5 pounds to spare, and I have everything I need. Busy topping off all my batteries today, then I just need to get my hair cut later tonight, do some laundry, and then get my daypack loaded for the … [Read more…]
As I wind down to the final three weeks before I leave for Nepal and begin my Trek to Everest, I’m also trying to wind down my preparations for the trek. Both my “to-do” and “to-buy” lists have grown very short, and are nearing completion. My training is finally getting close to hitting full stride. … [Read more…]
I was very happy to find my shiny, new passport waiting for me in my mail last night when I got home from my weekly grocery shopping. (It was a nice change of pace from an otherwise pretty shitty week!) This was the one, last major hurdle between me and my Everest Trek in May. … [Read more…]
Thematically, this one is about feeling like you’re on the cusp of great change. Like you’re reading the prelude to a new book, getting ready to dig into the pages to follow and explore what there is to experience. I’m feeling a lot of this in my life right now, like I’ll be a very … [Read more…]
I’ve hinted at it a bit in some previous posts, but I’ve had a big announcement I’ve been saving up for a while and I figure it’s past time to make it public now. I am going to Everest! I will be spending 3 weeks hiking from Kathmandu, Nepal to base camp at Everest. But, … [Read more…]