Leeds Metropolitan University

Everest West Ridge 2006

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John O'Hara

Location

Kathmandu

Time

13th April 2006

Day 1

Arrival and Orientation at Kathmandu

The Everest West Ridge Visiting Team arrived in Kathmandu at 0630 this morning feeling very weary and tired from the long journey. The journey was relatively smooth considering the distances being covered, though waiting three hours or so at Doha for our connection to Kathmandu was only just tolerable, with standing room only at times. It was also a great relief to actually be here after the anxiety caused by the fluctuating problems of civil unrest across Nepal which had momentarily threatened to delay or even cancel the whole trip.

The orientation meeting and briefing session at the Summit Hotel was reassuring in that central Kathmandu was starting to re open after the protests, which had escalated over the last few days. This meant that we were able to visit the Thamel district of Kathmandu, rather than being stuck at the hotel in case of being caught up in the protests. However, the police and military presence was very obvious in certain parts of the city though everything was calm whist we were out. The only real sign that things are not quite normal is that the city is relatively quiet compared to its usual frenetic pace.

The first impressions of the Nepalese are that they are extremely friendly and happy to help in anyway they can, though you are putting your lives in their hands when you choose to take a taxi ride. The road system is non existent and anything goes, with near misses at every junction, which occurred far too frequently, but then for the minimal sum of £1.00 you have no grounds to argue really. Try driving like that in Leeds and you would upset a lot of people and cause havoc.

We need the rest of the day to catch up with our own rest and prepare for leaving for Lhasa. We are going to share our expectations for the expedition with the whole group this evening and then it is likely to be an early night for all.

Travelling is tiring; we need to be well prepared for what is to come.

The Junior Team are looking to be summiting on Easter Sunday and we wish them all the best in what will be a fantastic achievement for them all.

Carnegie Visiting team 26 April

John O'Hara 24 April