Back in Kathmandu

Back and waiting

Dawn and still windy on Shishapangma - Jamie

9 Oct - the mission

The climbers cruised down to BC for lunch, but as there was a bus waiting rather than Landcruisers and so we had to wait for the sherpas who had rather more fun with the yak loads. We set off after 5pm, which worked with the timing of the road closures anyway.

Roadworks is a bit of an understatement. Apocalypse now is more accurate. And we drove thru it, in rain and fog, boulders lining the road, and clearances of inches, until the road was covered in rocks. Time to walk in the rain and fog, not even being able to see what was above, which was probably better anyway. Luckily TMA came thru with Landcruisers on the other side, and sometime after midnight we arrived in drowning Zhangmu.

10 Oct - to Kathmandu

Getting back to Kathmandu is always a bit of a mission but everything went smoothly enough and we arrived mid-afternoon.

10 Oct - Kilroy's

Where else would you go for a feast in Kathmandu?

Tristan (the five beers are not all his!), Francis, Eric, Mark and Gordon - steaks all round - Jamie

Outrageous Jen, Clive, Ursula, (Joe and opp Joe), Smiley Anne and Martin - Jamie

Joe F, Julie, Andrew Lock, Jamie and Janet

Alan Arnette managed to get out but everyone else has had to wait for their previously reserved flight to get out. Thai is very tight, although they have tried to help.

A thank-you

... both Wendy and I would like to thank you for being there while Mark was making his solo attempt on Mt. Shishapangma. Not only were you there, quite clearly your strength and expertise coupled with a quirky sense of humour and some marvellous photography were a wonderful support for everyone involved in the expedition- even us!!

We are often asked why Mark would want to punish himself by going it alone. I recently came across the following quote which may explain part of it. Marek Patzer is an intrepid South African photographer and mountain adventurer who often climbs alone, in strict defiance of the sternest law governing the relationship between man and mountain. He says however, he does so not out of a perverse sense of rebelliousness, but to test his responses to physical danger and hardship, a quest for the qualities Tom Wolfe calls "the right stuff". He says: "On the mountain nothing is illusory: extremes of heat, cold, exhaustion and fear are real. So too, the majesty and grandeur of southern Africa's premier mountain range". ...

Once again, thanks for being there and go well!
Wendy and Raymond

And for more philosophical musings, read Mark's blog.

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