We prepared for our trip to Nepal by frequently hiking cross-country throughout the Mt. Rose and the Mammoth area. We also biked all of June Lake and navigated a horrendous uphill grade on Highway 395. We should have known better, but we did it anyway.
We arrived in Kathmandu, Nepal, and met our eight companion hikers from New Zealand. All were in their twenties and thirties. We were in our fifties and, as we learned, in much better shape than our “flat lander” and much younger co-hikers.
We also had a crew of four Nepalese to carry food, tents, and assorted stuff. We were well cared for at every stop, and when we camped, we were given hot tea and cookies.
Our goal was to reach a stone village at about 16000 feet and a base camp another 2000 feet farther if we could make it.
Incredibly, Lenette and I had no problem with the hiking or elevation, although some of the hikers from New Zealand did. Four had to be taken back to Katmandu with serious lung issues. The other four still had difficulties breathing. Living in Reno at an elevation of almost a mile made a big difference for Lenette and me.
We loved the full roaring river we hiked along. We would climb a few thousand feet and go back down a thousand feet, following the river’s course flowing off Everest. Now and then, we would have to cross back over the river. This proved to challenge Lenette, as the rope bridges scared the hell out of Her. Depending on the height above the water, she came close to freezing in her tracks, refusing to go an inch farther. A few times, a team support member would hold Lenette, helping her cross the river below.
She did not trust me to help her, so I waited for her to cross over. My courageous Lenette kept on trucking, and while she never lost her fear, she kept hiking throughout the climb. She made it every time.
Needless to say, we made friends with our Nepal guides. They were wonderful people who loved their country and loved working with foreigners.
