May 5, 2013 - The Orphanage

Saying good-bye to the children Our time at the orphanage has sadly come to an end and we are now back at our hotel awaiting the arrival of our friends before we start our trek to Everest Base Camp. Leaving the orphanage was an emotional day. The children wrote letters for us each and Shankar, who runs the orphanage, bought us each a small gift. It was truly a rewarding and fulfilling experience for the four of us; one that we shall never forget. I can honestly say that we have grown to love each and every one of the children and hope to be...

Apr 26, 2013 - We are now in KATHMANDU!!!

Kathmandu We left Australia and after 21 hours of travelling we finally landed in Nepal. We arrived in Kathmandu late at night and got to our hotel around midnight. Leaving the airport is always exciting as you are inundated with taxi drivers, hotel peddlers and pick pockets. Needless to say we were all tired by the time we arrived at the hotel at midnight. We spent the next day walking around Thamel, a district in Kathmandu, showing Sarah and Amy all the exciting sights the area has to offer. I was here in 1991 and this was Glenn’s 9th...

Apr 14, 2013 - Trekkers back at kathmandu

I had a long talk with Mary Clay last night. This is the first time I have spoken with any of the team since I left the mountain two weeks ago. Mary reports that the hike from Base Camp to Lukla was very difficult. The hike from Base Camp to Pheriche and from Pheriche to Namche were both long and cold. They were basically traveling twice as far each day on the way down than on the way up. But, after all of the trials and hardships, they are safely back in Kathmandu preparing to return home Tuesday. I asked Mary if she was glad she went on...

Apr 7, 2013 - Still no word from the front plus random notes and photos

Sunday afternoon, April 7, 4:30 PM EST Still not word from anyone on the mountain. I believe the schedule was for the guys to move to Everest Base Camp today, which means that either they are still at Loboche, have no cell or Internet signal at Everest Base Camp, or are just want to torture me. It is now early morning on the mountain, so it is unlikely we will get any word until sometime fairly early Monday morning, Kentucky time. I will keep you posted, but as the IMG website reports, no news is good news. The pictures I have posted are...

Apr 3, 2013 - Reports from the Front

As it is now 4:45AM on Wednesday in Kentucky, it is obvious that my internal clock is still considerably out of whack. I was semi productive part of the day on Tuesday , but then basically hut down about 2:00 PM (which, I think, is about 11:00 PM Nepal time) and went to bed. I made myself, with some help from Hannah, wake up about 6:00 PM, and then went back to bed at midnight, only to wake up a few minutes ago. I did get some scattered reports from the mountain over the course of the day. A part of the group, including Martin, Chris, and...

Apr 1, 2013 - Home

I made it home about 7:00 this evening, about 60 hours, I think, from when I first noticed the blood in my urine. I am physically and mentally exhausted. I am still wishing I was on the mountain with the rest of the gang, but I must confess my bed is looking pretty appealing right now. I have not heard if Viki has started a journal, but Mary sent me this link for Chris' blog. Chris is Viki's old English friend who has done this trek before. She is also a good egg. Check it out. http://ruggedtales.wordpress.com/ keep in mind that the team is...

Mar 31, 2013 - Hong Kong airport

It is 10:00 AM and I am at the Hong Kong airport. Not surprisingly, it is huge. I left Kathmandu on a Dragon Air flight last night at 11:30 Kathmandu time. The flight to Hong Kong was four hours and the plane was, again, packed. I was fortunate to have an aisle seat. I have a five hour layover before boarding a United flight to Chicago for 15 hours. Yuck!!. But, then a short flight to Lexington and home. As they say in Breathitt County, when it comes to Kathmandu, " you can't get there from here". I am receiving some reports from the...

Mar 30, 2013 - The Flight off the Mountain

Kathmandu 5:30 AM Sunday I was in too foul a mood last night to post about the flight from Kathmandu. It was an interesting experience. After I was given the final word on my imminent departure, I was sent to my room to to pack up. I was only given 30 minutes because it was raining and the the clouds were coming in. I was surprised how emotional being sent off the mountain had made me. I tend to not get that way. Justin had to have my credit card information for the helicopter people. I have medical evacuation insurance, but the chopper...

Mar 30, 2013 - Flight from Namche

Sunday Morning 5:30AM I was in too foul a mood last night to report of trip from Namche to Kathmandu by helicopter.. It was, shall we say, an interesting experience. After I got the news of my eminent departure, I went up to my room to pack. I was given 30 minutes because the clouds were starting roll in and it was beginning to rain. it was get out now or wait until the next day. Peter did not want to wait just in case i had a serious problem. Packing up was a difficult chore. I was surprised how emotional being forced from the mountain had...

Mar 30, 2013 - Being sent down the mountain

Unfortunately, this looks like my last posting. I found a considerable amount of blood in my urine and the IMG powers that be are afraid to let me continue until I can get things checked. They are almost as unhappy with the situation as I. The smart money says I have just stressed myself the last few days and my kidneys have let some blood into my system. But there is a possibility of other issues such as kidney stones and it is relatively easy to medevac me out from Namche and much more difficult as we go further up the mountain. It is...

Mar 30, 2013 - Going home

Kathmandu Sunday noon Well, it is official. I am having to head home. Two kidney stones, one on each side. Small enough to potentially pass on their own. One slightly less than 7mm, and and the other slightly less than 6mm. The doctor thinks , considering the blood in the urine, that I should get on home as soon as I reasonably can. So, I am now booked on a flight from Kathmandu tonight at 11:30. So ends a great adventure. This a magical place with wonderful people. I encourage everyone to put Nepal and the Everest Base Camp trek on your...

Mar 30, 2013 - Back at Hotel Tibet in Kathmandu

I am back in room at Hotel Tibet waiting for an ultrasound in the morning at 9:30. The urine test showed a lot of blood. This was not a surprise for me, but it also showed some crystals which may be indicative of a stone that might, or might not, still be luring around. The amount of blood was more than the doctor would have expected if the problem was just exertionally based I was very frustrated that Peter and Justin felt that they had to send me down, but it was the smart play. If I had gone any further up the mountain and had a problem,...