April 13, 2008
Kathmandu
Happy New Year.
Yes, I am in Kathmandu, and it is the first day of the New Year in Nepal. As you must know by now, I contracted pulmonary edema in Pheriche and had to be airlifted off the mountain by helicopter to Kathmandu. This all started with the virus that attacked me in Namche Bazaar. I feel great right now and am back at the Yak & Yeti.
I plan to file a full report tomorrow, but now I am concentrating totally on the safe return of my daughters, who are trekking today from Namche to Lukla. I expect to see them later tonight or tomorrow. I am supremely confident of their safe return as they have the two best sherpas in Nepal by their side. They are also very strong and feeling quite well. Still, the separation makes my heart ache. How ironic: all my contingency plans were designed to insure their safe return if something happened to them on the trek to and from Everest Base Camp. Here I sit in the Yak & Yeti after a chopper ride down the mountain while they trek down the mountain to catch up with me.
Thanks to Jeff Giger (my son-in-law) for tracking me down at the Clinic in Kathmandu; Sharon, for her words of love and support; and Bud Allen for calling Sharon to let her know my daughters safely arrived in Namche Bazaar last evening. Thanks also to all of you for your prayers.
I may be down right now , but don’t count me out for this year. More on that tomorrow.
Bill