Excellent trip report. Since you were going "off the beaten track", were you or other members of your group concerned about a close encounter with Maoist guerrillas? What, if any, precautions did you take in that regard? Thanks!
There are very few Maoists out there now. They are now proportionally represented in government and are pushing for the abolition of the monarchy and establishment of a republic. This looks to be inevitable given the country's desire for peace and the way the current king came to power.
We took no precautions because we deemed none necessary. I doubt very much that we would have met any anyway once east of Siklis - too remote - no one coming that way to fleece.
I recently injured both knees in the Western Himalaya - but not nearly as badly. I simply strained ligaments in both my left and right knees. Now I'm taking it easier. I hope you recover quickly. Great TR.
This is the kind of trip report that keeps me coming back to Summit Post. Truly a well written and gripping account of an epic tale. Thanks for posting, and best wishes on a speedy recovery. (Knees... the Achilles’ heal of the human body.)
By the way, I too believe that such selflessness is not entirely lost in the West. I travel to Mexico quite a lot, and find that the small villages and pueblos still exhibit that sense of humanity that seems to be lacking in our 'civilized' society.
Thanks Andy. It's a lot of work to write such a lengthy report but all worth it to receive comments like yours. I also appreciate your best wishes re my damned knees.
Got to take issue with you about Mexico though. The only country in my long experience of foreign travel in which I've been robbed twice in a day. One of which was by the police.
Beautiful country, some wonderful people to be sure but inescapably mired in corruption.
Having got into trouble we were regarded more as an opportunity to take further advantage of rather than as fellow human beings in need of help. A far cry from Nepal I'm afraid. But different people have different experiences of course.
Ahh... corruption, now that's another topic entirely. I'm sorry that you've experienced that unpleasentness. Many (myself included) have also fallen victim to 'la mordita' (or worse)in Mexico. But not, I contend, in one of the many small villages. I truly believe that we all, at our very core, posses some form of human decency. I further believe that it is those persons who lead a simpler life (here meaning those unfettered of the trappings of modern civilization) who can and do find that decency easier to share with the rest of us. You've illustrated that point well with your TR. Thanks again for sharing it. Andy
Great Story - got a lump in the back of my throat reading it. Unbelievable just how strong those porters are. I hope your knee recovers well - a custom build knee brace (while expensive) can do wonders for bad knees (speaking from experience).
Thanks so much. A lump in the throat isn't usually how I affect people. A lump on MY head would be more typical. Nevertheless, I will show this to my wife in the hope of providing some evidence that she's been wrong about me all along.
I talked to my orthopod about a knee brace (or 2 since I've had both menisci go now) and his opinion is that with high quality surgery, none should be necessary. And I stress here that this is private care not what passes for the public health care system in BC - which is a joke.
There's a book in there somewhere Martin. It puts into perspective the presumption by many "westerners" that there is no possiblity of rescue from High Altitude or remote areas. We seem to have lost the "can do" attitude that permeates your tale. Good luck with your recovery. Mick.
You're right, of course, there is a book in there. Problem is that Herzog has already written it - and what I went through doesn't even scratch the surface of what he suffered.
Still it helped me put his (and Lachenal's) suffering in perspective as well as illustrate that the essential values that Nepalis held in 1952 still hold true today. The people who looked after me are truly, truly, remarkable.
Many thanks for reading my story and for your kind words.
I am just reading Herzog's account of their summit on Annapurna and read your story with great interest. Thank you for sharing your thoughts and pictures. Your story and pictures put a lot of the book details in better perspective for me. I have never traveled to Nepal and likely never will so immersing myself in stories and pictures will have to do. It is unfortunate you had to suffer as you did during this trip but it sounds like it made for great reflection as well. Thanks for sharing and I hope your knee troubles are well behind you.
Warren
Many thanks Warren - and welcome another VI-er to SP.
Congrats on the new empty nest status. You'll find that the Bank of Mum and Dad is still very much in business however!!
As the time becomes more available for hiking etc, you may find many of my VI pages on SP useful for trip and route planning. There's a selection of everything from the far north to the Cowichan Valley and everything in between. Always more coming as I find the time to write them up.
Amazing coincidence in that I'm just now reading - rereading after 30 years actually - Herzog's account too. The porters carried me exactly the same way - except that I had 3 days of it. Herzog had nearly a month. He had an incredible will to live.
Thanks once more writing. Maybe I'll see you out in the forests and mountains of our Island paradise sometime.
Thanks for the welcome Martin and hey not too much information about the book... I haven't got that far yet! :) Both my wife and I have been scouring the website for information on VI and the many trails and trips it has to offer. We have "bookmarked" your particular pages for exactly that reason, you have some great trip reports and very useful information. We are what you would consider late bloomers with regards to backpacking but we seem to be making some steady progress. Thanks again for all of the information you provide on your SP pages. Perhaps we will cross paths out there someday.
Warren
Thanks John. Glad you enjoyed it. It's exactly one year to the day that I left Kathmandu on the way home from this experience. Seems like a lifetime ago!
I sent this link to my husband last year when he was reading Herzog's book. I see he loved it as much as I did! LOL You have a wonderful style of writing that immerses the reader in your stories. I loved the photos as well. Thank you.
Sam Page - Dec 9, 2007 4:23 pm - Voted 10/10
Glad you made it back!Excellent trip report. Since you were going "off the beaten track", were you or other members of your group concerned about a close encounter with Maoist guerrillas? What, if any, precautions did you take in that regard? Thanks!
vancouver islander - Dec 10, 2007 12:25 pm - Hasn't voted
Re: Glad you made it back!Thanks so much for such kind comments Sam.
There are very few Maoists out there now. They are now proportionally represented in government and are pushing for the abolition of the monarchy and establishment of a republic. This looks to be inevitable given the country's desire for peace and the way the current king came to power.
We took no precautions because we deemed none necessary. I doubt very much that we would have met any anyway once east of Siklis - too remote - no one coming that way to fleece.
Eleutheros - Dec 10, 2007 11:56 am - Voted 10/10
Best of LuckI recently injured both knees in the Western Himalaya - but not nearly as badly. I simply strained ligaments in both my left and right knees. Now I'm taking it easier. I hope you recover quickly. Great TR.
-Danny
vancouver islander - Dec 10, 2007 12:27 pm - Hasn't voted
Re: Best of LuckThanks Danny. Take care of your knees. They're tricky buggers and need looking after, particularly as you get older.
bajaandy - Dec 11, 2007 11:31 am - Voted 10/10
Nothing quite like an epicThis is the kind of trip report that keeps me coming back to Summit Post. Truly a well written and gripping account of an epic tale. Thanks for posting, and best wishes on a speedy recovery. (Knees... the Achilles’ heal of the human body.)
By the way, I too believe that such selflessness is not entirely lost in the West. I travel to Mexico quite a lot, and find that the small villages and pueblos still exhibit that sense of humanity that seems to be lacking in our 'civilized' society.
vancouver islander - Dec 11, 2007 11:52 am - Hasn't voted
Re: Nothing quite like an epicThanks Andy. It's a lot of work to write such a lengthy report but all worth it to receive comments like yours. I also appreciate your best wishes re my damned knees.
Got to take issue with you about Mexico though. The only country in my long experience of foreign travel in which I've been robbed twice in a day. One of which was by the police.
Beautiful country, some wonderful people to be sure but inescapably mired in corruption.
Having got into trouble we were regarded more as an opportunity to take further advantage of rather than as fellow human beings in need of help. A far cry from Nepal I'm afraid. But different people have different experiences of course.
Cheers,
Martin
bajaandy - Dec 11, 2007 1:01 pm - Voted 10/10
Re: Nothing quite like an epicAhh... corruption, now that's another topic entirely. I'm sorry that you've experienced that unpleasentness. Many (myself included) have also fallen victim to 'la mordita' (or worse)in Mexico. But not, I contend, in one of the many small villages. I truly believe that we all, at our very core, posses some form of human decency. I further believe that it is those persons who lead a simpler life (here meaning those unfettered of the trappings of modern civilization) who can and do find that decency easier to share with the rest of us. You've illustrated that point well with your TR. Thanks again for sharing it. Andy
AJones - Dec 11, 2007 1:37 pm - Voted 10/10
Really good storyGreat Story - got a lump in the back of my throat reading it. Unbelievable just how strong those porters are. I hope your knee recovers well - a custom build knee brace (while expensive) can do wonders for bad knees (speaking from experience).
vancouver islander - Dec 11, 2007 3:04 pm - Hasn't voted
Re: Really good storyThanks so much. A lump in the throat isn't usually how I affect people. A lump on MY head would be more typical. Nevertheless, I will show this to my wife in the hope of providing some evidence that she's been wrong about me all along.
I talked to my orthopod about a knee brace (or 2 since I've had both menisci go now) and his opinion is that with high quality surgery, none should be necessary. And I stress here that this is private care not what passes for the public health care system in BC - which is a joke.
Cheers,
Martin
tanya - Dec 13, 2007 1:21 am - Voted 10/10
Scarey!What a story :)
vancouver islander - Dec 13, 2007 11:42 am - Hasn't voted
Scarey!Sure was. Painful too. Don't think I want to go through anything like it again.
Cautious - Dec 13, 2007 5:13 am - Voted 10/10
Great StoryThere's a book in there somewhere Martin. It puts into perspective the presumption by many "westerners" that there is no possiblity of rescue from High Altitude or remote areas. We seem to have lost the "can do" attitude that permeates your tale. Good luck with your recovery. Mick.
vancouver islander - Dec 13, 2007 11:50 am - Hasn't voted
Re: Great StoryYou're right, of course, there is a book in there. Problem is that Herzog has already written it - and what I went through doesn't even scratch the surface of what he suffered.
Still it helped me put his (and Lachenal's) suffering in perspective as well as illustrate that the essential values that Nepalis held in 1952 still hold true today. The people who looked after me are truly, truly, remarkable.
Many thanks for reading my story and for your kind words.
Cheers,
Martin
vancouver islander - Apr 5, 2008 12:47 pm - Hasn't voted
Re: LolThanks for reading my report and for the nice words. Recovery is progressing well and I'm already back "out there" again.
mtnhikerz - Sep 21, 2008 11:40 am - Voted 10/10
Thanks for sharingI am just reading Herzog's account of their summit on Annapurna and read your story with great interest. Thank you for sharing your thoughts and pictures. Your story and pictures put a lot of the book details in better perspective for me. I have never traveled to Nepal and likely never will so immersing myself in stories and pictures will have to do. It is unfortunate you had to suffer as you did during this trip but it sounds like it made for great reflection as well. Thanks for sharing and I hope your knee troubles are well behind you.
Warren
vancouver islander - Sep 21, 2008 12:21 pm - Hasn't voted
Re: Thanks for sharingMany thanks Warren - and welcome another VI-er to SP.
Congrats on the new empty nest status. You'll find that the Bank of Mum and Dad is still very much in business however!!
As the time becomes more available for hiking etc, you may find many of my VI pages on SP useful for trip and route planning. There's a selection of everything from the far north to the Cowichan Valley and everything in between. Always more coming as I find the time to write them up.
Amazing coincidence in that I'm just now reading - rereading after 30 years actually - Herzog's account too. The porters carried me exactly the same way - except that I had 3 days of it. Herzog had nearly a month. He had an incredible will to live.
Thanks once more writing. Maybe I'll see you out in the forests and mountains of our Island paradise sometime.
Cheers,
Martin
mtnhikerz - Sep 25, 2008 8:35 am - Voted 10/10
Re: Thanks for sharingThanks for the welcome Martin and hey not too much information about the book... I haven't got that far yet! :) Both my wife and I have been scouring the website for information on VI and the many trails and trips it has to offer. We have "bookmarked" your particular pages for exactly that reason, you have some great trip reports and very useful information. We are what you would consider late bloomers with regards to backpacking but we seem to be making some steady progress. Thanks again for all of the information you provide on your SP pages. Perhaps we will cross paths out there someday.
Warren
John Duffield - Nov 3, 2008 8:25 pm - Voted 10/10
Wow!I confess I read this on the edge of my seat.
vancouver islander - Nov 3, 2008 10:14 pm - Hasn't voted
Anniversary voteThanks John. Glad you enjoyed it. It's exactly one year to the day that I left Kathmandu on the way home from this experience. Seems like a lifetime ago!
KingL - May 9, 2009 8:53 pm - Voted 10/10
This was wonderfulI sent this link to my husband last year when he was reading Herzog's book. I see he loved it as much as I did! LOL You have a wonderful style of writing that immerses the reader in your stories. I loved the photos as well. Thank you.
Laura