A UAE-based Palestinian was attempting to summit the world's highest mountain. Ali Bushnaq - along with expedition leader Lance Trumbull - have been keeping a diary of their Everest attempt.
May 31: Lance Trumbull
I did not want this story written until the principal participants were able to write it themselves, so I will write an incomplete account of what transpired on the nights of May 18th and May 19th.
I am hoping that the heroes and main players of the story: Jamie McGuinness, Selebelo Selamolela, and Namgyal Sherpa will soon be able to give their own detailed account from their first-hand experience on the mountain.
My main reason for not saying anything immediately was that I was concerned about Sele's friends and family and did not want to say anything until I knew what was really happening. I also did not want to create media chaos where there did not need to be any. We took care of the rescue and handled it extremely well and there was a happy ending
At approximately 11 am I got a radio call from the EPP climbing director - Jamie McGuiness. It shocked me and made my blood curl.
"Sele's gone - he's exhausted and is not moving... I sat there speechless and motionless - shock entered my body... it seemed like an hour had passed, but it had only been a few seconds. The Sherpas on the radio in the background yelling back and forth awoke me. And then Jamie's voice came on again, "I don't think we can get him down... "
It was now around 1pm and Jamie radioed again, Sele was on his butt... scooting along inch by inch - but this would not get him down as he has plenty of difficult and tricky terrain that he still has yet to cross and he could only do this under his own power and on his own feet.
"Sele... you can die up there - please find the strength from somewhere... find the strength in God, please pray to God. Get up... do it for your parents and for your girlfriend and for the people who love you... pray to God, have God give you strength Get Up! Get Up! This is your life - Please start walking!" I shouted over the radio to him. And then it was Ali's turn: "Sele please, please - we want you back Sele you're one member of the group - we want you back - safe, please do your best Sele... "
One hour later Jamie came on the radio...
"Sele may have been under reduced flow oxygen... we sorted out some kinks in his hoses... we will see what happens." This was encouraging news as Sele immediately started feeling better and was now walking under his own power. For the first time in hours I heard some good news and I started to get a feeling that things may turn around.
3pm More time passed - Jamie came on the radio again - Sele was now moving and moving fairly well. Jamie now said that he thinks they have a slight chance of getting him down. I am happy but cautiously optimistic knowing that things could turn at any moment.
9pm Jamie, Namgyal, Sele, Dawa Gelje, and Goombo reach camp 3 (8300 meters - 27,000 feet) and relative safety. Jamie and Namgyal put Sele on oxygen and to bed. Jamie later tells me that Sele was crying all night from the pain.
However, it would still be another 14 grueling hours of climbing back to advanced base camp for Sele. Halfway through the descent Jamie made the decision that they would need to stretcher Sele through most of the North Col to ABC. Fortunately, Jamie was prepared and had a stretcher waiting. He dispatched Scott to have a Project Himalaya Sherpa bring it up and they met him along the way near the top of the North Col. The rest of the way Sele was stretchered down - at times by a group of up to 15 people (Sherpas and Tibetans) taking turns helping to carry him.
It was now dark - about 9pm and Jamie called that they needed some help with the stretcher - Me, Ali and a couple of people from Project Himalaya raced up to meet them part way and then we all carried him down to safety.
Three hours later we finally got Sele cleaned up, somewhat fed and hydrated, and ready for sleep. Scott Woolums hooked him up with oxygen and I slept next to Sele standing watch over him all night. He was safe on oxygen - sleeping 6 inches from me. Sele was going to be okay! Our prayers were answered!
Sele was very fortunate (others this year were not so lucky.) Our "Everest Climb for Peace" was a different sort of expedition as it was all about teamwork and people depending and helping each other. And it was a complete team effort in which 25 people from The Everest Peace Project and Project Himalaya played a significant role in his rescue; we truly had a support system of people who cared and who were in a position to heroically help Sele safely get down.
May 25: Lance Trumbull
I can't tell you how proud I am and how I have appreciated all the encouraging and positive emails and messages that we have received over the last several weeks.
The EPP website has been viewed by people from two hundred different countries; there have been hundreds of news stories across the world - including feature stories in Israel and in UAE, which reached over five million people.
I would like to first thank our heroic climbers and Sherpas who all risked their lives to prove an important point: that people from various faiths and cultures can work together cooperatively and accomplish amazing things and that in an atmosphere of peace and through friendship and teamwork anything can be done - and that even the tallest mountain in the world can be climbed.
May 25: Lance Trumbull
Except for Jamie and a couple of the Sherpas who are now clearing the mountain, everyone is safe in Kathmandu, Nepal. We all reached Kathmandu late on Wednesday. The first thing we did (after taking showers) was to go to the Cewec Clinic to check our health.
Micha had some slight frostbite on his two big toes, but the prognosis is very good and he will be fine in a few weeks.
Sele who had trouble getting down from the summit (at some point he or Jamie will write about it) - has some frostbite on his fingers - he got some medicine and got them re-wraped. Sele is healthy, in good spirits and is feeling well.
Everyone is fine and enjoying being back in civilisation!
May 18: Lance Trumbull
I apologize for not updating sooner - but our climbers are still on the mountain (on the way down) at various camps and I did not want to publish anything before I physically have seen that everyone was okay. But since I have gotten so many concerned emails. Everyone should be returning to ABC today feeling exhausted but happy they reached the summit.
On May 18th, 2006 at 6:51am Israeli David (Dudu) Yifah and Nepalese Namgyal Sherpa stood on the roof of the world! "I don't think I have been happier in my life", radioed Dudu from the summit of Everest. Shortly thereafter at approximately 7:25 am, it was Tonya Riggs' turn - as she reached the summit she decided to sing a song for everyone to hear. Da Yula Shepa of Nepal accompanied her (not in song, but in summit!)
At 7:58 it was Brad Clement's turn, Lakpa Sherpa followed him a few minutes later. At 9:35am Jamie McGuinness and Micha Yaniv stood on the summit of Everest. Micha said that at times he felt like quitting, but that he continued on so he could 'share his summit' with Palestinian Ali Bushnaq who had to abort his summit attempt due to illness.
At 10:20 Selebelo Selamolela and Dawa Gelge Sherpa summited.
The Everest Peace Project Everest Summits:
1. David 'Dudu' Yifrah - Israel: reached the summit 6:51 am
2 Namgyal Sherpa - Nepal: reached the summit 6:51 am
3. Tonya Riggs - USA: reached the summit 7:25 am
4. Da Yula Sherpa - Nepal: reached the summit 7:25 am
5. Brad Clement - USA: reached the summit 7:58 am
6. Lakpa Sherpa - Nepal: reached the summit 8:02 am
7. Jamie McGuinness - New Zealand: reached the summit 9:35 am
8. Micha Yaniv - Israel: reached the summit: 9:35 am
9. Selebelo Selamelola - South Africa: reached the summit: 10:20 am
10. Dawa Gelge Sherpa - Nepal: reached the summit: 10:20 am
Noteworthy:
Selebelo Selamolela became only the second black African to summit Everest
David (Dudu) Yifrah became only the second Israeli to summit Everest (Micha Yaniv soon thereafter became number three)
Special mention: At 7000 meters (23,000 feet) Ali Bushnaq reached higher than other Palestinian
May 17: Lance Trumbull
Our Peace Climbers are now safely at camp three. All climbers arrived by 5pm Nepal time.
Right now everyone is boiling water to put in their Nalgene bottles so they can drink on the way up to the summit and on the way down to camp two (staying hydrated is critical).
Each climber should have two - 1 litre bottles in which they will put inside their down suit so they do not freeze. Our Peace Climbers are also in the process of making themselves a light meal (although probably no one has an appetite) and hopefully getting three or four hours of sleep before they leave for the summit.
The summit push should begin by 11pm - with everyone on their way by midnight.
If all goes well and the weather is good and the winds are light - our team could start summiting Mt. Everest by 8am Nepal time on May 18. After they summit, the climbers will return to camp 2 - spending the night there and then the following day return back to Advanced Base Camp, where I will give them a heroes welcome!
I will be sleeping in our communications tent tonight standing by the radio all night - following our Peace Climbers progress and providing any moral support via the radio if needed.
Please send our Peace Climbers your good thoughts and prayers as they attempt to summit the tallest mountain in the world.
I will update the website as soon as I hear news from them.
Climbers who are on the summit attempt: Dudu Yifrah, Micha Yaniv, Jamie McGuinness, Tonya Riggs, Brad Clement, Selebelo Selamolela, Namgyal Sherpa, Da Yula Sherpa, Dawa Gelje Sherpa, Lakpa Sherpa, Sange Sherpa.
May 16: Camp 2 - climbers safely at Camp Two - 7600 metres (25,000 feet)
Our Peace Climbers are now safely at camp two. Most climbers arrived by 5pm. Tonight our climbers will sleep at 7600 meters - some might decide to sleep on half a litre of oxygen. They will leave for camp three on May 17, at approximately 8am Nepal time.
The peace climbers will all hope to arrive by 4pm. They will then try to quickly eat, boil water - perhaps get a little bit of sleep and then by midnight leave for their summit bid!
For those who are interested in seeing the route from the North Col to Camp Two - please check out the video on the website - it was shot from Advanced Base Camp; and yes, some of those tiny specs on the screen are EPP climbers!
Climbers at Camp Two and their condition:
Dudu: was the first to arrive at camp two; he is strong and feeling well.
Micha: arrived at camp two fairly tired but is doing well.
Jamie: arrived at camp two feeling well (as usual).
Tonya: arrived slowly but steadily and is in great spirits.
Sele: arrived slowly and is tired - but is in good spirits.
Namgyal: arrived like a lighting bolt and is doing well.
Da Yula, Dawa Gelje, Lakpa, and Sange are all strong.
Lance: is managing things from Advanced Base Camp and is by the radio all day and night to give moral support, to provide weather updates, and to help in any way possible.
Ali: due to health reasons Ali has had to abort his summit attempt but is waiting for his teammates at Advanced Base Camp.
Gautam: was not able to join the team due to various reasons and is not climbing with the EPP team; he is hoping to find a later summit window.
Da Wanchu Sherpa: has had some throat and chest problems and will probably not attempt to summit.
Fur Tenzi Sherpa: has a fairly bad chest infection and will not attempt to summit.
May 15: North Col
Today is a rest day at the North Col. While other teams just spend one night here - Jamie, our climbing director feels it is best to spend an extra night acclimatising here and since the weather still looks good for a summit attempt on May 18th - it is the best option. Things are looking good and those who are at the North Col are doing well and are in good spirits.
Everest push: timetable
May 14: North Col, 7,000m May 15: Rest and acclimatisation May 16: Camp two, 7,500m May 17: Camp three, 8,200m May 18: Summit, 8,850mMay 14: Attempting the summit
World History - Palestinian and Israelis - Together, on Everest Summit Push. The Everest Peace Project team has left advanced base camp (21,000 feet) to begin its history-making summit push. The summit team consists of: Ali Bushnaq, David (Dudu) Yifrah, Micha Yaniv, Selebelo Selamolela, Tonya Riggs, Jamie McGuinness and Brad Clement. Gautam Patil will leave tomorrow and Lance Trumbull is staying back as advanced base camp manager who will manage all communication with the team and the outside world.
May 13: Lance Trumbull
While we are at Base Camp and Advanced Base Camp (ABC), our Sherpas are carrying loads up the mountain (the 'loads' consist of food, tents, stoves and gas, toilet paper, oxygen, and masks and regulators for the oxygen). Without their support there would be no way we would be able to have a successful climb.
Our team of Sherpas - Sange Sherpa, Namgyal Sherpa, Lhakpa Sherpa, Dawa Gelge Sherpa, Da Yula Sherpa, Fur Tenzi Sherpa and Da Wanchu Sherpa - are truly the heroes of the expedition.
While the EPP climbers are feeling the altitude here at 21,000 feet - our Sherpas have been carrying these loads up and down from 21,000 feet to 26,000 feet. Truly amazing! Thanks guys!
May 12: Lance Trumbull
A lot of people have emailed me wanting to know how we communicate to the outside world. The answer is simple: our Panasonic Toughbook laptops ? they are our lifeline to the outside world. We use our Toughbook laptops to send and receive emails, to receive weather updates (an important safety measure), and often at night, we use the Toughbook?s to watch movies or old reruns of "Friends". All at 21,000 feet elevation! May 6: Lance Trumbull
Yesterday we had lots of fun: we had a nice stroll from ABC to BC - it was only a 15 mile hike through snow and high winds that descended almost 4000 vertical feet!
We all arrived safely and now we are at base camp resting for several days.
The idea is for everyone to relax and recover here at base camp (and yet still get a little bit of exercise). For at ABC (advanced base camp) - the elevation is so high: 6400 meters (21,000 feet), your body just deteriorates and healing is not possible. Even a simple cut won't really heal up there.
It is still very cold, windy, and at times snowing. But compared to ABC it feels quite comfortable.
Today was the first time I washed my hair in about 3 weeks! And me, Ali, Brad, Micha, and Tonya all got to shave various parts of our bodies that were in need of shaving! I am starting to feel human again...
The plan is to stay here at base camp for a few days and regain our strength and then wait for a 'weather window' - a several day period of time where the weather looks good and the winds aren't too high.
It is literally impossible to summit Everest in bad winds as one can actually get blown off the mountain.
And so if the weather gods obey and the winds die down and it stops snowing then we could leave for the ABC in a few days, and then start our summit push.
Conceivable we could be looking at a summit day of around May 15th - but that is pure guess work at this time.
May 3: Lance Trumbull
Today, the rest of the team is still at the North Col working on their acclimatization process; since I am not going to attempt to summit, I have come down to ABC.
Lance - not attempt to summit - what?!
This project has never been about me - it has always been about the team and the message of peace and teamwork and cultural understanding.
I am the founder, the person who put this entire project together, and the expedition leader in spirit. I have climbed with the team up to 23,000 feet and I will go no higher. I will continue to serve (hopefully) as an inspiration and motivation to the rest of the team from BC and ABC.
It was never my goal to climb Everest, but to hopefully have at least one of our team members reach the highest place on earth. And even if that does not happen, I feel our mission has already been a success as our message of peace and teamwork has spread across the world.
April 30: Ali Bushnaq
Ali is now in Everest with a team of eight other climbers from around the world in an expedition for peace.
In an e-mail interview with Gulf News, Ali says he is enjoying the climb with every bite of chocolate from his stash. Before the climb, he had said he will bring 100 bars of dark Swiss chocolates.
"I managed to bring more but I am stashing it for the more difficult days as we are just now in the high altitude when you start to lose your appetite and need that extra energy," he says.
Everyone in the team is adjusting to the high altitude and coping with nausea, he says.
"We are now at ABC (Advanced Base Camp) and the climb was a big jump from BC (Base Camp). We will hopefully be stronger to go to higher camps soon," he says.
"We are now at an area with a very nice view of the Everest. There are snow storms every night it is unbelievable that we are still connected to the internet!" he marvels.
April 30: Lance Trumball
Today we had our "Puja" - a Buddhist ceremony in which our Sherpas blessed our team, our equipment, and paid respect to the mountain; it was about an hour and a half long ceremony.
I wish I could go more into detail about the background and all of the philosophical aspects of the puja, but alas - my brain is a bit too tired and I need to go bed as we will have an early start in the morning.
After the ceremony, Jamie, Dudu, Micha, Sele, Namgyal and most of our Sherpas went up to the North Col. They called to let us know that they are all safe and okay, which is wonderful news!
Tomorrow (May 1st), Tonya, Brad, Ali, and myself will go up to the North Col. We will leave early in the morning to allow ourselves plenty of time to reach our goal.
Sorry for the short dispatch - but my sleeping bag is calling me!
April 29: Lance Trumball
Today we took an acclimatization hike up to the fixed lines on the North Col of Everest. It was a beautiful day and an excellent team building experience. It was great for morale to see what we are up against.
We climbed about 260 metres (850 feet) in elevation and believe me you can feel it; we stopped at about 22,000 feet.
We were walking on snow and ice and took up the opportunity to put on our summit boots and crampons. It was fun!
Everyone did well and most of us are feeling fit. However, a couple of people are not quite as strong as we would like and are having some slight health issues or they are feeling like they want more time to reach the North Col.
And so we have decided it best to put the team for our trip to the North Col into two groups. Group 1 will leave on Sunday the 29th; group 2 will leave for the North Col on Monday the 30th.
I think this plan is the best team option and will give everyone the opportunity to acclimatize properly and to have the best shot at summiting when the time and opening arises.
April 28: Lance Trumball
We left on April 26th for ABC (advanced base camp). Most of us left around 8am and arrived at ABC around 3 or 4pm that same day. We will probably do this hike from Base Camp to ABC at least once or twice again. It was another long hike with another big climb in elevation.
Towards the end of the trek to ABC it started to snow and then the wind kicked in?it made for an interesting journey! The trek from interim camp to ABC is incredible and visually (and physically) breathtaking. The views of Everest are spectacular and all along the way you walk by these amazing pyramids of ice called seracs.
Although we have a full support staff of Sherpas and crew ? this is not the Ritz! It is damn cold ? easily dropping down to 10 degrees Fahrenheit with colder night ahead. People are really feeling the elevation here ? the altitude is 6400m. Everyone has at least had some headaches, nausea, and just general malaise; it takes all of your energy just to go the bathroom at this elevation!
April 23: A Beautiful trip
Weeks into their quest for world peace, members of the Everest For Peace Project headed to the Rongbuk Glacier towards the North Face of Everest for a "fun and adventurous day trip".
The day's adventure consisted of "going over mud, rocks, snow, ice and a couple of frozen streams", says team leader Lance Trumbull. "The view of the Rongbuk Glacier was awe inspiring!"
The seven-hour day trip served to put the team of nine mountain climbers into more teambuilding experience, and to help them get used to the acclimatisation process (at 5400 meters or 18,000 feet). They hope to reach advance base camp on the 26th.
After dinner, everyone crowded to watch two episodes of South Park on Lance's laptop. " Some of the group thought it was hysterical - others were not so impressed. What can I say...not everyone can appreciate the high-brow humor of South Park!" he says.
The break time allowed everyone to have a look at health and hygiene, and it seems getting a shave is the topic of the day.
Health and hygiene update from Lance:
Lance: I am happy to say my stomach problems have passed and I am feeling stronger. I finally shaved a couple of days ago, although I did a bad job. I am quite stinky as I have not had a shower in at least a couple of weeks and I am not too proud to admit that I went 1 week without brushing my teeth! I think my wife is lucky she is not here!
Ali: is probably the cleanest person I have ever met! Somehow Ali manages to shave and trim his goatee everyday! Ali is doing well ? he is still getting some headaches, but Brad has a theory why: Brad thinks that Ali is going through caffeine withdrawal. It seems that Ali normally drinks 4 to 5 cups of coffee a day!
Ali is the feature of the Gulf News Friday Magazine
Jamie: is going for the bearded Grizzly Adams look - he is acclimated and doing fine as nothing seems to affect him (he was the only one not to get sick - probably because he lives in Kathmandu and has been to Tibet so many times.)
Tonya: is in good spirits and seems to be ready to go to ABC (advanced base camp). She shaved her legs the other day - she proudly told everyone, for if she didn't - she was going to be able to put it in dreadlocks soon!
Gautam: although he says he is fine, Gautam has developed a cough, which is not good at this elevation.
Sele: is doing well - he is a very calm and mellow guy and it seems that one of his favorite hobbies is sleeping! We have told him that he should write a book and call it "the art of sleeping" by Sele. We think it would be a bestseller.
Micha: is strong but is still getting his "daily 12 o'clock headache". It could be altitude related, but perhaps he too is going through caffeine withdrawal?
Dudu: is also strong and does not have any current issues with health other than a slight headache every once in a while.
Brad: is doing well - his stomach issues seem to be behind him (so to speak?) - nothing seems to phase him!
Namgyal: our official Nepalese peace climber is doing well.
April 21: Ali Bushnaq
Every morning we wake up to take a look at this magnificent view although it has been snowing heavily for the last three or four days. We are all in good condition; our health is in good shape and I am only suffering from slight headache due to the altitude here which is more than 5150m.
We spent the afternoon training on the ropes. Two of our experienced mountaineers, Mica and Brad, prepared a training class for the team and it was a success. We are waiting patiently for the arrival of the oxygen bottles for the climb as the trouble in Katmandu is preventing the transport of people, goods, and information as the situation gets worse.
We are having more time to talk about various subjects with all the team members as our days are spent acclimatising and getting used to this height with small hikes to the near by small summits. This time together is making us a small family as everyone is discussing opinions about the various things happening in the world and especially about the climb that we are doing.
April 20: Lance Trumbull
Today we did some team building. We set up some ropes on a snow hill a few minutes from our camp, got our climbing gear on and practiced going up and down the ropes. This was good for acclimatization, teambuilding, and it was just fun to get out of camp.
Tomorrow we will do a day trip to the Ronbuk Monastery - it is about a 5 hour roundtrip walk. We should get some nice pictures, meet some interesting people, and get a good workout.
April 19: Lance Trumbull
Third freezing day at base camp
It is our third day at Everest base camp and it is so cold here I am typing with my gloves on. As we get better acclimatized to the elevation of 5150 meters (17,200 feet) here at base camp, it will not seem as cold to us - but then again, cold is as cold does?I just feel sorry for the people who are stuck higher on the mountain. Fortunately, the snow has stopped, but the wind never does...
This will be a short dispatch as my sleeping bag is calling me!
Everyone is doing fine - other than some mild headaches and some stomach grumbling we are healthy and happy! For those family and friends who are reading - do not worry, we truly are okay and in good hands (each others). Our email system is getting set up and you can expect some correspondence soon.
April 18: Lance Trumbull
After a bumpy and adventurous four hour drive from Tingri we finally made it to base camp. Yes, on the Tibetan side you can actually drive to base camp.
After having a quick meal we spent the rest of the afternoon setting up our tents and organizing our personal gear. Last night we woke up to several inches of snow and it has continued all day. It is pretty cold here!
Although feeling the affects of altitude, the team is basically doing fairly well - I am feeling a bit weak but at the same time, I personally feel quit proud - for we are here!
For over 40 months I have put together this project trying to accomplish something meaningful - and all throughout this time I had many people tell me I was crazy or that our Everest Climb for Peace would never happen.
Well, we are at Everest and it is happening! I don't know what the outcome will be and how many people will summit or if anyone will summit. But to be honest, just getting everyone together (including our Palestinian and Israeli teammates) here at Everest already feels like a success to me.
April 16: Lance Trumbull
We are in Tingri, Tibet - 4350 meters. The drive from Nyalam was long (about five hours) - but beautiful. For the most part the "highways" consist of narrow, bumpy dirt roads that often have precarious and steep drop offs on at least one side - the best thing is to just ignore your potential imminent doom and just trust the gods and the drivers - who could probably be professional race car drivers in America.
On the way to our destination we drove over a 5,000 metre pass in which we could see 360 degrees of the Himalayas - the most spectacular was Shishipangma - an 8,000m peak and one of the tallest in the world.
An hour later we got our first glimpse of Everest - it was an amazing sight to see - even from our far off location you could really see the wind howling and blowing the snow and ice off its face; today would have definitely been a bad summit day - with winds on the summit as possibly as high as 150mph. We then continued on to Tingri, arriving around 3pm.
Today we are spending another day here in Tingri to acclimate as you can really feel the elevation here. Some people are going on short acclimatization hikes; others are relaxing and getting ready for tomorrow. What is tomorrow you ask?
Tomorrow is the day we will arrive at Everest base camp and will be seeing Everest face to face! The morale is high and everyone is very much looking forward to finally being at Everest.
April 14: Ali Bushnaq
We have finally reached Tibet and are already in our second city at 3,700m. Getting acclimatised to the altitude. I feel very good but we are on Diamox which helps the blood to hold more oxygen. We will spend two nights here then after tomorrow we move to the third city at 4,500m where we spend another two days before reaching base camp on Tuesday.
April 10: Lance Trumbull
The Everest Climb for Peace team is stuck in the middle of violence and political upheaval in Kathmandu. It seems the world (and certainly Nepal) needs a Peace Climb more than ever.
Perhaps The Everest Peace Project is a small candle in the midst of a lot of darkness here in Nepal? I think our Everest Climb for Peace is just such an example. Will our climb change the world? Unfortunately, no - the world needs more help than that! However, people are motivated by the stories they read and the images they see.
Our Everest climb and our international peace climbers are providing and continuing to provide inspirational images and stories of peace and teamwork under the most extreme conditions. We feel that our Everest climb will inspire and bring a positive influence to people around the earth.
April 6: Ali Bushnaq
We have arrived in Kathmandu - all the team members have been spending the last few days organising equipment and transferring all of it into plastic waterproof drums as the trip to Everest Base Camp will be through very rough and wet terrain.
Due to strike in Nepal we are trapped here till the strike is over on the 9th when we start our five day journey to Base Camp into Tibet.
The last few days where full of activity as we donated a library to one of the schools in the Kathmandu Valley and did small hikes with the team members to get some fresh air as the city is polluted.
We are now in the hotel as the streets are quiet due to the strike and all the shops are closed. We can not wait to leave here as we are mentally and physically ready for the expedition.
