Glenn Michael Morley

Second Side of the Blade - Adventure continued ...

... of course you have your near misses - your successes and your something-less-than-sucesses whenever you consider doing an Adventure - without the risk it would not be adventurous but whom counts on that risk going against them? - few - I had a nice three week leave in February 2018 and decided to visit India that soon became transformed into Nepal and a 2 week trek through the Himalayan Mountains to Everest Base Camp - Problem #1 - I have NEVER trekked in my life never mind in the Himalayan cornucopia - Problem #2 I had zero trekking gear Problem #3 - I have been at altitudes of 2500-3000m road cycling up some mountains but Everest Base Camp is set at 5380M and was new oxygen-deprivation territory for me - Problem #4 my hiking boots would be brand new never worn and fully expected to be blister-city for the expected 6-8 hour daiy trek over harsh terrain except for the greatest hiking boots in the world - Merrell MOAB - that lterally saved my feet from pure HELL - Problem #5 - it was off season and COLD temperatures with little electrcity and less heat anywhere on the trek except your sleeping bag which even though rated for -20C left you awake at night shivering even WITH a base layer on - Problem #6 Lukla airfield going IN and OUT is a landmine of problems due to weather and is rated the most dangerous airfield in the world with reason - Problem #7 - it COSTS a lot Problem #8 high altitude sickness - Problem #9 - Yak Cheese + Meat + Ice + Water + a LOT of food stuff you take for granted eating each day suddenly becoming a source of food poisoning Problem #10 - imagine walking up stairs two-at-a-time for 2.5 straight hours - that is what the physical demands were when going UP - reverse that when going down but imagine like you are falling with only your feet stopping you and each and every harsh bracing jolt driven through your body and back Problem #11 - I did it WITHOUT ANY pharmaceuticals - no Diamox - no PILLS at all - Problem #12 - 3 AM deep-breathing exercises each night for half an hour to help acclimatize to the rapidly thinning air - Problem #12 - off-days of "rest" that included friendly 600-900m hikes up steep scenic rock outcrops which were great but very cold and windy - Problem #13 - watching an Everest movie one night about Uwe Gianni Goltz who climbed Everest sans oxygen and summitted in 2008 but died shortly thereafter on the descent Problem #14 - Khumbu IceField >4000M Cough and the HUGE impact it had on your already diminshed oxygen supply Problem # 15 - lack of hiking poles - I repeat - NO hiking poles !!! Problem #16 - expensive bottled water that got more expensive te higher you climbed and at 3L minimum a day to fight dehydration set you back plenty - Problem #17 - blazing ahead of the group only to find yourself taking the wrong turn in the trek and being left in the middle of nowhere and feeling sort of LOST Problem #18 - the smell of kerosene gas in the teachouses each day and night was nauseating Problem #19 - becoming very disorientated due to altitude sickness and falling over in the hall on the way to the bathroom at night - never mind walking on the rocky outcrop trek - Problem #20 - only being able to maintain a trekking "pace" of 30 steps + 30 breathes for hours on end Problem #21 - watching Sherpas dance up the Mountains with 20-30kg strapped to their backs Problem #22 - contracting pneumonia  Problem #23 .......................................................... you get the picture - it WAS an Adventure - some day I write a book !!! - if you are wondering - did I make it to the Everest Base Camp? - dude - of course I did !