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| our food supply too far behind. The French arrive about 4:00 PM.
The expedition leader, who’s food I have been eating
surreptitiously, stopped by to say hello. They are camped a
short distance away. He is a man with a lot of experience
having climbed Mt. Everest, as well as numerous other peaks. He
wished me well and headed for their special dining tent for
some croissants and tea. I stayed put, listening to my
stomach growl in hungry anticipation of anything resembling
food.
Dawa has been negotiating a deal for some kerosene. The
kerosene will be transferred to us tomorrow up the trail by
the advance party. Just a liter to make sure we have
enough. |
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| This valley makes me
feel like I am in another geologic time or perhaps even another
planet. It is raw and one feels it’s rawness. |
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Heavily
Etched trails Speak of Travelers before Me |
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I know there are fossils in the area. They have been found
near the summit of Everest. And so I walk with my eyes
peeled to the ground. I attempt to break what looks to be
some layered sand stone with my ice axe. But I can’t seem to
break them along the seams and I am doing a real good job of
putting nicks in the blade of the axe. There is rose quarts
galore. Large chunks just waiting to be picked up. My
ignorance of geology is tough on me - seeing without
understanding.
Ten years ago this area was seldom traveled, but now a trail
is etched deep in the fragile top soil. Over moraines and
ridges the trail disappears but is then marked by rock
pyres. It could be travelled alone, as was my original plan,
but a miss step is a broken leg and here that would be
fatal. I have never walked on so many rocks in my life. It
takes only a little imagination to believe one is walking on
the moon. |
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