Day Four

9th April 2008

Paribesh has switched his electronic identities, acquiring a Mero Mobile (the talk is that Mero Mobile is the ideal connection on the trekking route) and switching onto his gmail address. Talking with him at 1030 this morning, the team was just setting off from Namche.

The latest is that while all team members suffered from some degree of mild altitude sickness, Birendra continues to have slight headaches and will have to stay back in Namche and go upto Thame by tomorrow and wait for the team to come back from Dig Tsho. The team is putting in extra effort to make up for the day lost with the cancelled flight from Kathmandu. They expect to reach Thame around 3 p.m.

Day Three

8th April 2008

We were at the risk of beginning to sound like one of those 2nd World War SOS telegraphic machines...arrived at lukla airport stop...going onto Monjo stop...

Suddenly with some goading from Rajan and the youngest team member, Paribesh picking up energy we are getting more information through the dispatches.

Ram Narayan Raj his wife in a "doko" (traditional basket) is on his way from Sanasa to their village in Solu - a good seven days' walk. His wife has been in the hospital for a week, suffering from severe headache, constant vomiting, loss of appetite and is severely dehydrated. The team advises the man to give her "noon, chini, pani" (oral rehydration solution of salt, sugar and water).

A break in the journey to take in the sight of the Dudh Koshi River and Bhote Khosi River confluencing at Larje Dobhan.

At Jorsalle, the ICIMOD tough guys pose for a photo in front of the gate marking the entrance to the Sagarmatha National Park, dispatched by Birendra - but would not recommend the photographer for another shot...'

People use dzopkyo (male crossbreed between a yak and a cow) as a means to transport goods and other materials to Namche and beyond.

After a grueling 4 hours of steep climb from Monju (remember the hearts are still getting into the mode of pumping faster, with all the Kathmandu diet cholesterol clogs) Research Team 1 was greeted by the "grinning welcome committee" of two kids from Namche? must have been the team's state of mind after the climb, reflected in the dispatch: (welcomed) "with sheer jubilation and a little tease."

At Namche Bazar, the great minds meet - Dawa Steven Sherpa, his team and Alton Byers, the climbing team's technical coordinator Pertemba Sherpa (read more about him in www.EverestHistory.com) and of course the ICIMOD tough guys at the Danfe Lodge, sipping "a warm cup of tea at the misty camp site", note that some romanticism is creeping in ...perhaps it's the altitude

Dawa must have been relieved to meet the team as upon arrival at Phakding he was frantically heard, asking Bobby of Asian Trekking over the mobile "Where is the ICIMOD team?" It turns out Dawa had not heard about the cancelled Lukla flight as he got in on the first flight and had headed down to Phakding.

Day 1 and 2

6th & 7th April 2008

The first dispatch from Team 1 has come in at 10:30 this morning. The original scheduled flight on 6th April had to return to Kathmandu as it was unable to land due to unfavourable weather conditions. Basanta has sent in the following dispatch of their arrival at Lukla Airport:

"The Team 1 of ICIMOD Eco Everest arrives in Lukla."

Lukla Airport is at an elevation of 2,860m and is situated in the town of Lukla in eastern Nepal. The airport is the starting point for trekkers climbing Mount Everest. The paved tarmac is only accessible to helicopters and small fixed wing short takeoff and landing (STOL) aircraft such as Twin Otters. There is about a 700-metre (2,000 ft) angled drop at the end of the runway to the valley far below.

 "We are all set to go to Monjo."

Monjo at a height of 2804 m is a 2.5 hours' trek. It is the gateway to the Sagarmatha National Park.

4th April 2008

Auspicious Beginning for the Eco Everest Expedition and the Scientific Research Teams

On 4th April 2008 at ICIMOD, the Eco Everest Expedition and the Scientific Research teams were given a traditional and auspicious start to their mission to spread the message about climate change and the need for every individual to be involved.

The Expedition team was represented by Dawa Steven Sherpa (leader of the Expedition) and Basanta Shrestha (leader of the Research Team). Other team members included: Samjwal Bajracharya, Birendra Bajracharya, Paribesh Pradhan and Sarad Joshi.

The auspicious symbols of tika (blessed vermilion powder) flower garland, and khada (silk scarf with auspicious symbols and greetings) representing Nepal's multicultural society were offered by ICIMOD colleagues Samjhana Thapa, Anjali Shrestha and Prerna Thapa respectively. These items symbolize protection, safeguard and success for anybody embarking on a major mission.

Milan Tuladhar rounded the ceremony off by "sweetening" the mouths of the team members by feeding them "laddoos" a traditional sweet, another symbol for wishing the team success and fruitfulness in their venture.

"... on behalf of the Team 1, I would like to express sincere thanks and appreciation for our Directorate colleagues for a surprise traditional Nepali programme 'wishing all of us a good luck' along with Dawa Steven Sherpa."- e-mail message from Basanta, 4th April 2008