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| that our day was done because here
offered a good campsite, he stepped in to help.
Dawa sent runners ahead at intervals so that a
communication link was established by relaying the yells. It was primitive and beautiful listening to the porters
and Dawa echo their yells down the canyon.
The main body of porters wanted to stay at our camp since
there was a ready supply of water and good camping
conditions. The sick Chinese was game to move on, but
doing so may have endangered his life if he took a
turn for the worse. The group leader, out in front,
wanted to go on to the next camp another two or three
hours away. Some of the porters refused to move and
it looked like mutiny. They wasted much time trying
to agree |
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The
Serrated Edge of The Ridge Cuts the Clouds |
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Last
Camp Before the Hinku Valley |
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on what to do that by now it was 4:00 PM and day light was
running out. The whole bunch finally left us in peace.
Flying into Lukla and not spending enough time allowing
the body to acclimate to the high altitude has been one of
the leading causes of death in the Hongu. Until a few
years ago there was no way to bring victims out quickly
and, there, they died and were buried. With the
advent of helicopters able to attain the high altitudes
necessary for going over the passes, retrieval of the sick, injured or
dead is now possible, even though, expensive. |
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| The new tent is up and is perfect for this trip. It is
light, under six pounds, and roomy enough for two. It is
quick and easy to pitch, wind slippery and steep walled to
shed snow. Dawa is cooking in the vestibule. One of the
stoves has malfunctioned, but the other is roaring away. And
I am in no hurry to break out the repair kit. Dawa does the dishes, a chore that back home I am
usually stuck with, and we take turns doing the cooking. He |
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Ascent,
Then Descent, Then Ascent Again! |
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Page 63 |
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