Updates From Everest Tumpach Trekking To The Other Base Camp Thursday, October 13, 1997 (Syangboche, Nepal) Today we are at SYANGBOCHE — elevation 3720m. I wrote "WE ARE" because before I left KATHMANDU, I got together with a cameramen from the CATALONIAN/SPANISH EXPEDITION and he joined me to EVEREST SOUTH COL to do filming for me on my three SONY digital cameras. It is very difficult to film myself while climbing and trekking to Base Camp from SYANGBOCHE. My Sherpa -CHONGBA- is walking from LUKLA, where he is picking up four local porters to help us carry our equipment to EVEREST base camp, where we will join the SPANISH or FRENCH EXPEDITION to EVEREST. We flew in by helicopter from KATHMANDU; we had a flight booked yesterday, but unfortunately the weather at LUKLA was bad and all the flights in and out were canceled. Yesterday, we spent all day at the KATHMANDU airport waiting for the helicopter to arrive; at 3:30pm, we were told to go home and come back tomorrow at 6 am. Well, today is the 13th and we got to the airport at 6am as we were told and we flew out on the first flight. The flight to Lukla is only 30 minutes and from Lukla to SYANGBOCHE (which is located 900m above NAMCHE BAZAR, elevation 2820m, a very important commercial and tourist community in the KHUMBU region), the flight takes only five minutes. It is a stopover for two days for all trekkers who are heading to GOKIO or KALA PATAR and EVEREST base camp for acclimatization. It is a one-day hard walk from LUKLA to NAMCHE BAZAR and because we lost one day waiting for the flight and our five backpacks weigh 115kg (three SONY digital cameras, KODAK still digital cameras, computer, sat. phone and many batteries) we flew straight to the nearest airport and to the EVEREST BASE CAMP. Syanboche is a very active airport and mostly used by trekkers who did not take enough time to visit NEPAL and are rushing to see only GOKIO or KALA PATAR. The Nepali government STOPPED the commercial flights last spring for two reasons: one, a Major problem arose from complaints by communities between from LUKLA to NAMCHE BAZAR, that they were losing trekkers' business and more and more trekkers flew over them which created lost revenue; and two, the concern for the HEALTH of tourists flying directly to SYANBOCHE, most of them were coming from sea level and many tourists developed the invisible KILLER disease, pulmonary edema overnight. That was not our concern because we are fully acclimatized from NORTH COL. So, I am sitting in the local TEA HOUSE and writing you the LATEST NEWS from KHUMBU. Luckily they have electricity so I can work on the NEC computer and update you with the latest news . If you want to experience a real mountaineering EXPEDITION and want to join an EXPEDITION TEAM to EVEREST Base Camp from NEPAL next year, you can write me for more information, my personal Email is gt7summit@bc.sympatico.ca. I am leading a CANADIAN EXPEDITION of eight very experienced mountain climbers to Mt. EVEREST. All team members are from British Columbia and our principle is based on "TEAMWORK". Our departure is schedule for the second half of MARCH '98 from the west coast of USA and CANADA. We are flying to Kathmandu with "SINGAPORE AIRLINE," one of the best airlines in the in the business. From Kathmandu, I will personally lead the trekking group from JIRI to LUKLA., where we will join our TEAM and continue with a 40+ YAK caravan and several Sherpas to the Mt. EVEREST base camp, where you will have opportunity to spend a few days and experience the EXPEDITION fever. If you have more time, you can join us for several acclimatization treks. Come with us to cross the famous CHALA-LA Pass, elevation 5420m, and visit the village of GOKIO, elevation 4750m, where you will get the most spectacular view of the highest HIMALAYAN mountains. It is a very unique and one-of-a-kind opportunity for anyone who wants to be in the middle of the action. No expeditions from other countries do anything like this. I WANT TO SHOW the people who will join us the behind-the-scene activity — how and what it takes to be part of the action. — George Tumpach PREVIOUS UPDATE | UPDATES HOME | NEXT UPDATE