BikerZ goes to ... NEPAL!

[crazycanuck]

BZ..A co-worker did this trip earlier in the year & loved it! Great photos!!!

Have tons of fun & keep safe.

C

[andtckrtoo]

I really noticed a wall last weekend at about 10,600. I was fine (relatively speaking) schlepping up 1600 ft of steep rocky switchbacks, and when all the hard stuff was over, and it was just a very gentle grade between 10,600 and 10,800, I felt so bad, nauseous, legs of lead, totally down on myself, wondering how I could be so crazy as to think I could do something like this, etc... and that's when I lost focus and stumbled and turned my ankle. What was disconcerting was that I never considered that all that it could be altitude. (Part of it was not enough food too).

YES!!! You described the feeling I get at 12,500 feet very well! I've had it happen often enough to know to expect it and just deal with it (and ask my companions to ignore me while I have my hissy fit ). Once past that point, I'm okay. Eating is very tough at altitude. You simply are not as hungry. I tend to keep trail mix in my pockets and just nibble on it as often as I remember. That helps.

Glad to hear you have experienced guides. I cannot wait for a full report! That just sounds wonderful! I've been wanting to hike there for ages.

[Trekhawk]

Have a fabulous time Ann!
I look forward to seeing some of your snaps.

[bikerz]

Thanks for your good wishes, everyone!

It's getting down to the wire now!

[SadieKate]

Keep calm and eat.

[bikerz]

Thanks SK! I packed a bunch of nectar bars on your recommendation!

It took me all day to pack (interrupted by by client calls, 4 hours of unexpected work, one last minute trip to whole foods, and the VP debate), but I finally got my trekking bag under 30 lbs. I take off in exactly 12 hours.

I'm going to K-K-K-K-K-K-Kathmandu! (Sing along, everyone!)

(I'm wearing my AV socks tomorrow for good luck!)

See y'all on the 21st!

(I think this is a personal best of exclamation points per word in a post)

[SadieKate]

Is she back yet? Is she back yet? I wanna see pictures. BikerZ takes great pictures (when she isn't tripping).

[CLM]

Very sad news from Lutka today. From her post I think this was the day that Bikerz was to arrive there. Thinking of her and wishing her well.

[snapdragen]

Is she back yet? Is she back yet? I wanna see pictures. BikerZ takes great pictures (when she isn't tripping).

I think she get's back on the 21st, patience grasshopper.

Not the greatest welcome to Lukla:

| 09.10.2008 | 02:00 UTC
12 Germans die in plane crash in Nepal

18 people have died, among them 12 Germans, when a plane crashed in the Himalayan country of Nepal. Four Nepalese and two Australians also were killed when the Yeti Airlines twin-propellor aircraft crashed while landing at Lukla airport, about 150 kilometres north-east of the capital Kathmandu. The pilot was the only survivor. Lukla is a frequent first station for mountaineers preparing to climb Mount Everest.

[jobob]

Yeah, my heart skipped a beat when I read about that this morning. That sure won't help Z's fear of flying.

[SadieKate]

On Wednesday, we fly to Lukla (8700 ft), in NE Nepal . . .

Does anyone know more? Have a phone number for her roommate, puppysitter, sister?

Wait a minute. I just did the math. 18 died and all were from other countries. Whew for BZ. But the other families. Crap.

[jobob]

Right, it doesn't appear to be her flight. Plus if there were americans involved it likely would have been reported more extensively over here. I'm (selfishly) comforted by that fact.

Poor Ann, that's got to have freaked her out ...

[melissam]

I called BikerZ's roommate to get the official scoop. BikerZ is fine. She's still in Kathmandu, since the airport in Lukla is closed.

The scary part is that if she'd left a day earlier, she would have been on the ill-fated flight.

[SadieKate]

Thanks, mel. Hopefully, she'll be able to get there anyway. One of her dreams.

[Aggie_Ama]

Oh man horrible news about the crash, horrible she is delayed. I hope she still gets to go but how sad to fly in after that happened.