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KATHMANDU, NEPAL - On March 29 we arrived in Kathmandu, the capital city of Nepal and also the largest city in Nepal with a population of just over 25 million.

THE TEAM AT KATHMANDU ARPORT

CELEBRITIES - Not me, the two next to me. Apa and Lhakpa Gelu met us at LAX and here we are at Kathmandu Airport where they are being swamped with cameras (so I felt like a celebrity). Apa would go on to summit once again, increasing his world record to 17 summits. Lhakpa Gelu, who also summited from the south this season with Apa, holds the world speed record. He went from base camp on the south side to the summit in 10 hours, 48 minutes! They both now live in Salt Lake City.

KATHMANDU

SHOPPING IN KATHMANDU - After checking our equipment, it seemed everyone needed at least one more item and everything was available in Kathmandu. I needed a headlamp with a detached battery pack for summit day so that I could put the batteries in my down suit pocket to prevent them from freezing....EXCITING !!

KATHMANDU - We came here for a blessing.

DR. JULIO WITH THE LAMA - Julio was raking in valuable karma points. When the Lama heard there was a cardiologist in the house, he asked to have his blood pressure taken so he could see if his medication was working (it was). I ran back into the room to take this picture, forgetting to take off my shoes. Karma is really not going well for me.

But I look good here.

ZHANG MU - This town, just across the border in China, was our first stop. Base camp for Mount Everest on the north side is located in China. Although it theoretically could be reached by jeep in one day, we stayed in three towns at increasing altitude along the way to acclimatize. The first was Zhang Mu . Next, we stayed two days in Nyalam (3800m / 12,500 ft). Finally, we stayed another two days in Tingiri (4300m / 14,000 ft), before heading to Chinese Base Camp.

ZHANG MU (2400m / 7900ft) - There's no sleeping in this town.

NYALAM (3800m / 12,500 ft) We stayed here for two days.

We stayed at the Snow Land Hotel, complete with creaky wooden ladder/stairs, outdoor rooftop toilet, loud American man in the room next door, and woman with mask over her face.

PHANDEN - We went on an acclimatization hike but because I was up most of the night with an upset stomach, I took it easy and descended early with Phanden. Phanden is our Sirdar, or lead Sherpa.

Julio blending in in Nyalam

On the road to Tingiri

The car broke down a few times but our driver always managed to find a way to get it started again. About an hour after taking this photo, suddenly, at the top of a hill, our driver pulled over and stopped the car. As he got out, we all looked around, wondering what he was doing. Did he have to pee? Did the car break down again?

...he's taking a cigarette break!

The road to Tingiri

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But I look good here.

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