Updates From Everest Calonica Views of the Nilgiris and Tilicho Saturday, August 9, 1997 (Muktinath) Hi gang, It's me Craig, your local Muktinath Times reporter. Well today was a easy one, pretty much cruised until 10:30 a.m. getting our eyes full of the local Himalayan beauties. I awoke to an early morning sunrise light setting on Dhaulagiri at 8,167 meters high, and of course the Nilgiri peaks and Tilicho peak all setting around 7,000 + meters high and dangerously beautiful. I know first hand how dangerously beautiful these Himalayan peaks are -- they both go hand in hand and are never to be taken lightly unless of course, it's from a distance. Jomson: Duffles on Horses Later in the morning, Martina and I went off for a walk to a nearby peak for some acclimatizing time. On the way we stooped by and visited the Muktinath monastery. I came upon an old Tibetan lady who could hardly spin this huge prayer wheel (about 5 feet in diameter) so I gave her a hand for awhile. Poor little thing could barely move it, and in return she wanted to give me a present but I couldn't take it. I was happy just to help. After the prayer wheel we went off to the boar head fountains, washed up a Girls from Muktinath bit, took some photos and went off to the natural gas room -- unbelievable. You walk into this room and yep it smells just like gas burning and of course why not, it is. I don't think I'll ever get used to being comfortable while in or near that building. And yes, it was lit up, blazing away and sometimes blowing out a big flash. Ugh... I get nervous just thinking about it. After the gas room we went up a steep grassy peak using the narrow, muddy, slippery goat trails for our path up. Walking in this particular area seems like you're more in Hawaii then out in the middle of the Himalaya, as during this time of year it's very lush with steep, green hill sides. If I were to show you photos of the two you would never know the difference, until of course you looked over and saw Dhaulagiri and the other surroundings Himalayan peaks, but just the same you do get caught up by it. After some time we walked up to about 14,500 feet and it started to rain, so that was that. It was a rush to get out of there before the little trail turned even worse than it already was. Tomorrow? More acclimatizing. Until later. -- Craig Calonica, Expedition Leader [Back to Updates Home]