The High Road...a wonderful view » Posts about Everest http://torryburdick.com Mount Everest Base Camp trek adventure Wed, 30 Nov 2011 05:34:16 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.5 So very sad (and quite scary)… http://torryburdick.com/2010/12/16/so-very-sad-and-quite-scary-2/ http://torryburdick.com/2010/12/16/so-very-sad-and-quite-scary-2/#comments Fri, 17 Dec 2010 01:35:50 +0000 Torry http://torryburdick.com/?p=1013

From Manesh Shrestha, For CNN December 16, 2010 12:57 a.m. EST

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// Kathmandu, Nepal (CNN) — A DeHavilland DHC-6 Twin Otter aircraft that went missing en route from Lamidanda to Kathmandu in eastern Nepal crashed in a mountainous area east of the capital, killing [...]]]> 22 dead in Nepal plane crash

From Manesh Shrestha, For CNN December 16, 2010 12:57 a.m. EST

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Kathmandu, Nepal (CNN) — A DeHavilland DHC-6 Twin Otter aircraft that went missing en route from Lamidanda to Kathmandu in eastern Nepal crashed in a mountainous area east of the capital, killing all 22 people aboard, an airport spokesman said Thursday.

“The aircraft seems to have hit a mountainside,” Purusottam Shakya, operations supervisor at Tribhuwan International Airport, which serves Kathmandu, told CNN.

The plane disappeared Wednesday, and search and rescue teams looked for it until night fell. A search team in a helicopter found pieces of the aircraft Thursday morning about 150 kilometers east of Kathmandu, said Shakya.

Lamidanda is about 200 kilometers east of Kathmandu.

Shakya said the plane carried 19 passengers — including one U.S. national — and three Nepalese crew members. The other 18 passengers were Nepalese.

In August, 14 people were killed when a plane crashed in central Nepal.

]]> http://torryburdick.com/2010/12/16/so-very-sad-and-quite-scary-2/feed/ 0 Time for a video… http://torryburdick.com/2010/06/01/time-for-a-video/ http://torryburdick.com/2010/06/01/time-for-a-video/#comments Wed, 02 Jun 2010 05:16:17 +0000 Torry http://torryburdick.com/?p=738 Check out this video. What strikes me is the dichotomy between the availability of solar power, satellites, the Internet and pizza and the poverty that the people are living in. Very striking. What must it be like to live in the Khumbu region all the time and not just for a 21-day trek? Especially [...]]]> Check out this video. What strikes me is the dichotomy between the availability of solar power, satellites, the Internet and pizza and the poverty that the people are living in. Very striking. What must it be like to live in the Khumbu region all the time and not just for a 21-day trek? Especially when you know there is another world out there.

I feel so lucky to have been born into the life I have, even with its challenges. I try not to dwell on the negative, but I’m human and I’ve been known to have a pity party now and then. The next time I feel one coming on, I’m going to think what it would be like to be me born in Nepal instead of Louisville. That is bound to give me some perspective.

Sometimes I lose my cool about things that really don’t matter. For example, right now I’m going through a phase of being sick and tired of hearing about the “first woman” to do whatever. We are all just people. Enough. When will this end? Or rather, when will I stop reacting to this news negatively? Next time I hear this, I’ll remember that for each “first woman” we’re one step closer to never hearing this again.

Listen carefully to the description of the trek from Lukla to Namche Bazaar. Quite frankly, I am speechless watching this video. I think reality may be starting to sink in. This is going to be an amazing journey, but very hard on many levels. You’ll see what I mean soon enough.

Training Summary
Physical Activity: Nada Why not?
Nutrition: Pretty good Healthy breakfast and dinner. But, forgot to bring lunch to work.
Hydration: 32 oz. Totally thirsty all day and didn’t think of drinking more water. Oh my!
Sleep: 8 hours Slept through the “emergency” alarm this morning.
]]> http://torryburdick.com/2010/06/01/time-for-a-video/feed/ 0 And, the video that answers my most pressing question… http://torryburdick.com/2010/05/11/and-the-video-that-answers-my-most-pressing-question/ http://torryburdick.com/2010/05/11/and-the-video-that-answers-my-most-pressing-question/#comments Tue, 11 May 2010 22:49:22 +0000 Torry http://torryburdick.com/?p=435 Well, this video answers some of my questions, but not all. If you’ve been looking at any of the video, you’ll see that there are v-a-s-t expanses without any structures…or trees. So, exactly how does that work? I’m not sure I’ll have any modesty left! If you’re a hiker, mountaineer or just someone who [...]]]> Well, this video answers some of my questions, but not all. If you’ve been looking at any of the video, you’ll see that there are v-a-s-t expanses without any structures…or trees. So, exactly how does that work? I’m not sure I’ll have any modesty left! If you’re a hiker, mountaineer or just someone who prefers not to use the loo…please give me a few hints!

]]> http://torryburdick.com/2010/05/11/and-the-video-that-answers-my-most-pressing-question/feed/ 3 Time for another video http://torryburdick.com/2010/05/10/time-for-another-video/ http://torryburdick.com/2010/05/10/time-for-another-video/#comments Mon, 10 May 2010 22:37:52 +0000 Torry http://torryburdick.com/?p=430

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]]> http://torryburdick.com/2010/05/10/time-for-another-video/feed/ 0 Setting the record straight http://torryburdick.com/2010/04/27/setting-the-record-straight/ http://torryburdick.com/2010/04/27/setting-the-record-straight/#comments Wed, 28 Apr 2010 03:56:50 +0000 Torry http://torryburdick.com/?p=236 It was brought to my attention I might want to clarify that I am not planning a trip to Disney World’s Expedition Everest. While Disney may be the “happiest place on Earth,” that’s not my destination.

So we can put this confusion completely to rest, let’s review a couple of key details about Expedition Everest…

Expedition [...]]]> Expedition EverestIt was brought to my attention I might want to clarify that I am not planning a trip to Disney World’s Expedition Everest. While Disney may be the “happiest place on Earth,” that’s not my destination.

So we can put this confusion completely to rest, let’s review a couple of key details about Expedition Everest…

Expedition Everest is an award-winning amusement park ride. Opened in April 2006, it took a team of “imagineers” months to create what they felt was a “real” Everest experience. Disney’s teams traveled to Nepal on at least 15 occasions to ensure they got it “just right.” To construct Expedition Everest approximately 18.7 million pounds of concrete and 5,000 tons of steel were used and it includes nearly 8,000 individual props. The ride take a little more than 3 minutes from start to finish.

Now some facts about Mount Everest…

It is not in Florida. It’s part of the Himalayan mountain range located between Nepal and Tibet. In Nepal, it is called Mount Sagarmāthā. The summit is 29,029 feet above sea level. The Base Camp, on the Nepali side, is at an altitude of 17,590. (FYI, I checked the National Geographic style guide to determine if it was Nepali or Nepalese. Amazing all the things I’m learning.) Everest was first summited by Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay in May 1953. The three-week Everest Base Camp trek is one of the most popular treks in the world with thousands of people attempting it each year.

Are we clear now? No FASTPASS. No parades. No Princesses. No photos with Mickey. And who knows, maybe the journey to EBC is really the “happiest adventure on Earth.”

]]> http://torryburdick.com/2010/04/27/setting-the-record-straight/feed/ 2 I hate hiking! http://torryburdick.com/2010/04/25/i-hate-hiking/ http://torryburdick.com/2010/04/25/i-hate-hiking/#comments Mon, 26 Apr 2010 01:12:41 +0000 Torry http://torryburdick.com/?p=198 Easing into Sunday, I started the day with coffee, a paper newspaper and YouTube. This is the fist video I watched. My neighbors must think I’m nutty…I was laughing so loudly and it was so early. But, I could see myself saying this after finally reaching Base Camp!

It got me thinking. Do I really want to [...]]]> Easing into Sunday, I started the day with coffee, a paper newspaper and YouTube. This is the fist video I watched. My neighbors must think I’m nutty…I was laughing so loudly and it was so early. But, I could see myself saying this after finally reaching Base Camp!

It got me thinking. Do I really want to go to Everest? Three weeks of pushing myself beyond what is reasonable…is that reasonable? I’m not quite sure what to expect, but I like showers. I love the Westin Heavenly Bed (so much so I have a special piggy bank to save for one). I appreciate good food and wine. And, museums new to me are the best.

Perhaps three weeks at a cooking school in Provence would be more fun. Or a biking trip through Ireland. Or a three-week externship at a non-profit. Or a trip to Bali. Or maybe no adventure at all. WAIT A MINUTE! An adventure. That’s why I’m doing this…an adventure.

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