The following is a continuation of Mera Peak Expedition — Kote to Tangnag. Wednesday, 19 October Life is great after 14 hours of deep sleep. The morning was clear though it would be a few hours before the sun would warm the valley as a subsidiary summit of Mera Peak shades Tangnag in the early […]

The following is a continuation of Mera Peak Expedition — Odare Camp to Kote. Tuesday, 18 October Morning was the coldest yet, with our clothing that was hanging on the line having frost streaks where the dew fell and then froze overnight. We slept with our sleeping bags zipped together for the first time and […]

The following is a continuation of Mera Peak Expedition — Ngyngso Camp to Odare Camp. Monday, October 17 Morning was cold and clear and started with the hot water for tea or coffee and washing water, as always. It was very dark on this side of the mountain, shaded as we were by the steep […]

The following is a continuation of Mera Peak Expedition — Namdolingomba to Ngyngso Camp. Sunday, October 16 There was a steady patter of rain on the tent as we fell asleep which we always find very reassuring somehow, perhaps because we live in dry Southern California.  At some point during the night the temperature dropped […]

Dilli Bahadur Rai, or “D.B.” as he is known to his customers, is a senior guide in the Himalaya Mountains of Nepal. He comes from the village of Basa 6, one of 9 villages that make up Basa Village Development Committee (VDC). These VDC’s are a creation of the Nepal government for administration purposes and […]

The following is a continuation of Mera Peak — Adheri to Namdolingomba Saturday, October 15 Morning came at 5:30am as usual, and we were packed and ready by 6am “washing water.” followed by a delicious breakfast of rice pudding. Karlin was late for breakfast for a great reason, he agreed the night before to meet […]

The following is a continuation of Mera Peak Expedition — Spending a day in paradise Adheri, meaning “dark place” was very appropriately named. It sits high on the same steep mountainside that Basa occupies, but is situated in a way that the sun comes up very late over the mountain to the east and sets […]

We have a habit of spending holidays doing very non-traditional things, taking advantage of inexpensive hotels and less-crowded places. Thanksgiving 2011 was no different as we took the long holiday in our favorite island destination, Kaua’i. Past adventures We’ve been here several times together and have found it one of the absolute best islands to […]

The following is a continuation of Mera Peak Expedition — Why Basa matters so much If arriving in Basa was remarkable, spending a day there was incredible. We slept incredibly well after our prior evening of rahksi and dancing…and rahksi. Even though we were in their home village and they slept in their own homes, the […]

The following is a continuation of Mera Peak Expedition — Arriving in Basa Challenges Nepal is a great example of what happens when extremely poor meets well-meaning. Westerners have been coming to Nepal in large numbers for several decades because of its amazing mountains and equally amazing people. Westerners have opened their hearts and pocketbooks and donated […]