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Alpine Ascents Rendezvous
Kenjoma - Monday, April 10, 2000

DISPATCHES

Berg

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Hi Mountain Zone, it's Wally Berg calling you from Kenjoma, which is just about an hour out of Namche on the walk back through Thyangboche, into Namche, from Pheriche. We just had a wonderful day, running into old friends. A lot of expedition traffic going up today, I ran across Jim Bruton, Jeff Rhodes, Dana Welsh; a lot of old, good friends, including many, many Sherpa friends. Just finding out from everybody which trip they're going to be on this year, exchanging stories and catching up. Pretty busy time along the trail today.

But the best thing that happened was that our trekking team ran across the Alpine Ascents' expedition approaching Base Camp and it was really a great, great time just visiting along the trail, especially seeing Al Hanna. All of my group when we finally got to Thyangboche together said, 'He looks so young and he's so good humored and full of spirit.'

And Al was just the Al Hanna I remember. He's in his element here in the Khumbu. He's giving everybody a lot of grief, he's smiling and laughing and telling stories and it's just great to see his spirit back here in the Khumbu where we spent a lot time together. The other members all looked great as well and it was great catching up with the entire crew briefly as we crossed paths, today.

So we'll be back at Namche pretty soon. I'm here in the back of the line with Bruce and with Gary Kenyon, we're hanging out at my friend's lodge here watching the afternoon sun on Ama Dablam and just sort of taking it easy. Gladys, who I mentioned got that ambulance ride, Sherpa ambulance ride, down from Gorak Shep yesterday. She walked the first part of the day, but due to her not doing so well with trekking at this point I had contacted — sent a message — to Cherub Zombu at the Panorama Lodge last night and he sent a pony out and picked Gladys up. So she's riding on the horse now, riding the pony all the way into Namche. I'm sure she's been there for some time by now because it moves pretty fast. Cute little pony — she looks great on it and she's doing well.

We also, from the expedition members, learned that Wai Bun got back to Singapore as she had intended to do when she turned back a few days ago. And Wai Bun decided that this trekking life wasn't really what she was up for in terms of going up high. But when she headed down with her Sherpa guide they got back to Namche and she had the very fortunate experience — and it sounds like the very fun experience — of getting to know the climbing members, the expedition members, as they all spent time at the Panorama Lodge together. Wai Bun was waiting for a helicopter ride back to Kathmandu, and which she did get. She got to know these guys and they were talking about good times spent with her back at the Panorama Lodge. Wai Bun is in Singapore with her friends tonight, which is what she told me she was very much wanting to do a few nights ago when she headed in that direction.

So our travels are going well on all parts and those of us that are still out here I think the key word is we're savoring every moment here in the Khumbu. We're heading out and it feels great to be in the thicker air, moving closer to comforts that we've known on the way in, starting with the Panorama Lodge tonight in Namche, but of course culminating at the Yak & Yeti [laughter] in Kathmandu where we'll be before long, but along the way we're savoring every step. This has been a magical trip and it's not over yet.

— Wally Berg, Alpine Ascents Guide and MountainZone.com Correspondent

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