Daily Dispatches [CLICK FOR INDEX] Gordon Janow Climbers and Joggers
Tue, April 6, 1999 — Pheriche, Nepal
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We went down to the nunnery in Deboche and each got to spend a little time watching one of the nuns do a spiritual blessing of the climb named Cho Oyo—it was pretty cool. And then we headed up back on the long climb. The terrain really changes from Pangboche up to Dingboche where we were headed, but unfortunately, we ran into the Everest Marathon. This is about 90 people running from Gorak Shep, which is close to 16,000', down to Namche. It borders between very cool and absurd out in this part of the land.

Stupa It's going on. So we rerouted ourselves away from Dingboche, where most of these people are staying, to Pheriche, and that worked out pretty well for us. We were able to keep the continuity going, and sort of have a private trek as we've been doing. It's been very dry out here, so that's been a big problem as well with the wind blowing and having wind in your face all the time. I think those of you who might be joining us in the fall will have probably better climate as the rain has a tendency to keep everything from blowing around, and the weather in the fall's usually pretty good. We're looking forward to that when we come back. [Click to see the online auction for the Alpine Ascents Fall '99 Khumbu Trek.]

The Everest Marathon has kind of been a big thing here, and you see people jogging up and down, all around—definitely out of place. I think this goes on every other year. We also met Heidi Howkins, a climber who's going to be attempting Everest and then K2 back to back, so that should be interesting.

Khumbu Valley Otherwise, we're going to spend two nights in Pheriche. One to acclimatize: tomorrow we'll take some walks up to some shepherds' huts. They are really beautiful huts—kind of reminds you of Scotland or something like that—where there are stone cabins really. And as you're walking on these plateaus, you pass them along the way. What's left of anything green is along those trails as well. So we're looking forward to that as well, and we'll check in tomorrow. Either I or Todd will give you a call. Thanks very much.

Gordon Janow, Trek Leader
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