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NEWS
30th Mar 2013

Sherpa Trek A finishes testing in the Khumbu

Leaving Namche

For more than two weeks we have been saying goodbye to the trekking groups leaving Namche to ascend further after finishing testing in our laboratory. Last Wednesday we could welcome the first trek returning safely to our ‘base’ after completing the hike to, and all their testing at, Everest Base Camp.

Sherpa group A returned, all members smiling from ear to ear. For some it was the first time to go up to Everest Base Camp (EBC), others made it up for several times before. Serki celebrated his 100th and at the same time his first time. 18 years ago, he started his career as a trek leader. The path to Base Camp was less accessible because of paths being much smaller, rockier and windier. Ever since, the route has become busier as an increasing number of tourists trek up the route up to over 5300 metres. With that, he has seen many lodges being built, now even double-glazed with solar panels on the roofs, and part of the route being smoothed out.

He also took part in several expeditions to Mount Everest and Cho Oyo, but sadly never made it to the top: throbbing headaches and severe sickness around 7500 m made him return and eventually abandon any further attempts. This time he only experienced a mild headache on arrival at Base Camp. Otherwise he enjoyed this trek very much, his first time as client, not feeling any responsibility, walking at slow pace. It was even more special because his daughter, Ngima Tadjekee, joined him. Born in Kathmandu and having worked in New York for eight years, she so far never made it to enjoy a view on Mount Everest in the Sagarmatha National Park. She absolutely loved the whole trip, felt great all the way through, was struck by the fresh air, enjoyed the company of all fellow Sherpa-trekkers, and even thought the high altitude ‘bike ride’ at EBC was much easier than down in Kathmandu. Freshly showered, her hair blowing dry in the thinner air of Namche Bazaar, and nicely dressed, she looks like a woman of the city, not like an untrained trekker who successfully and uneventfully hiked up to 5360 m and rode a bike!

Ngima Futi, born at altitude in Pangboche at 3930m, but now living in Kathmandu, was in EBC many times before as well. She used to bring up her loaded yaks to EBC to supply expeditions. On one of those trips, she met her now husband, who summited Everest 5 times. Whenever she returns to her hometown to visit her family, she never suffers from any symptoms related to high altitude. Lakpa Dorje agrees in that; having led a group of tourists to EBC before without facing any medical problems himself, he was confident to finish this trip easily. And so he did, to happily return and perform as DJ in the celebratory night in our own, and highest nightclub ‘Club Namche’.
The following day, blessed, and possibly with a little headache of some sort(..), the first Sherpa-trek continued their descent to Lukla, eventually back to city-life.

Jildou van der Kaaij - Namche Laboratory Medical Officer

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Comments on this article

By: ngima diki sherpaWhen: 4th Apr 2013 10:25

nice photo........thanks:)

By: andrea harveyWhen: 31st Mar 2013 20:21

HAPPY EASTER DANIEL MISS YOU LOTS. xxxx



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