Lukla
September 22, 2017
Dear Family & Friends:
My Yak & Yeti wake up call was at 5am for a 6am departure for the airport. The flight to Lukla was scheduled to depart KTM at 7:30 am. But, the cloudy skies were a bad omen for an on-time departure. Because the airplanes are not equipped for instrument landing, many flights to Lukla are cancelled before takeoff or are aborted after takeoff because of bad weather. Good thing, because Lukla airport is rated one of the most dangerous in the world.
Our flight on Summit Air took off around 8:30am. The flight time from KTM to Lukla is 27 minutes. Alas, just short of Lukla, our flight was cancelled because the heavy cloud cover obscured the approach to Lukla and the runway.
After one more false start from KTM, all flights to Lukla were cancelled.
We decided not to return to our hotel and attempt a flight to Lukla on September 23. The weather forecast for 9/23 was not encouraging, and we did not enjoy the priority morning departure times. After a lot negotiating, we arranged a helicopter flight to Lukla in the early afternoon. So, we are now resting in Lukla.
Our plan to trek to Phakding today has been switched to tomorrow because we will be spending the night in Lukla.
This puts us one day behind schedule, but no one is concerned.
Enjoy our photos.
Bill
Pre-flight jam session at the airport
Micah & Richard at the airport
Bill, I remember that yak eyes are on the menu at the Lukla teahouse.
Ain’t it time to try them?! I look forward to your description!
Paul
Bill–
I’m rooting for your successful achievement of your goals. Be strong. Be safe. Come back as the first person to do a first ascend on a Himalayan peak named after himself!
I’m not religious but I’m keeping my fingers crossed for your safe return.
Remember you’re my hero and my great inspiration!
JW
Another great adventure living with “Murphey’s Laws”….even in Nepal, too.