Sent Friday, March 30, 2001
Diary of a Trekker V:
The Second Trek
Back in Kathmandu
March 15, 2001
After Rich and Marci, my first two trekkers, left Nepal, I met Megan and
Russ, father and daughter, at the Kathmandu airport to begin my second trek.
These are customized vacations. It was hard to coordinate schedules so I
completed two twelve-day treks to Kalapathar at 18,000 feet during the six
weeks I was in Nepal.
The second trek was much the same as the first. One interesting point on the
trail the second time was visiting the Himalayan Rescue Association's Health
Post in Pheriche at 14,068 feet. The doctor there (from Colorado) mentioned
that a dismembered yak was found at the top of a nearby ridge. He had hiked
up to see it because it was a mystery how this yak had been killed. The
locals were certain it was the evil work of a yeti.
It seems the standard kill of a snow leopard is attacking the throat and the
back of the neck of its prey. A snow leopard wouldn't -- couldn't --
dismember a yak. I looked out the window before I went to sleep that night
and closed my eyes wondering what I would do if a yeti walked by in the
moonlight.
Two days later we woke up at four AM to trek to Kalapathar. We had a full
moon. It was so bright outside, we didn't need our headlamps. It was every
bit as cold as the first trek but this time I brought my new down booties and
wore them on my hands with hand warmers inside!
We had a beautiful sunny day while climbing Kalapathar this time. The views
were amazing. Walking back along the Kumbu glacier was again a thrill. This
is now my new favorite place, perhaps the most magical spot in the world.
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