August 26, 2015
Nepal Here We Come!
Last December, Ryan and I were in Patagonia scouting out an access point for a future expedition. We had hoped to find a safe route up to the southern end of the Southern Patagonia Ice Cap, but after several attempts, we had to abort the mission as the glacier we were hoping to climb had melted too far back.
In the moment, we were frustrated not having achieved our goal. Equally disappointing was the fact that we would have to rearrange our adventure schedule for the upcoming year. We were hoping to return to Patagonia in the fall of 2015 for a bigger expedition. Luckily, it didn't take long for a new plan to form: Rolwaling Expedition - go to Nepal and climb unclimbed peaks in the Rolwaling District.
With that plan in place, we went about our lives. Ryan went to Argentina to guide Aconcagua. I traveled to Winnipeg to lead my annual Polar Training Course. Ellie was born in April and roughly 10 days later a devastating earth quake tore across Nepal. Ryan was guiding on Everest at the time. His base camp survived the avalanche but others were not as lucky.
Our initial goal in climbing in the Rolwaling was to simply 'explore'. Go to a place where the map is blank fill in routes. After the earthquake all that changed. Now while we are still going to climb and adventure we also want to do a little good along the way.
Earlier in this summer, both Ryan and I were involved in a fundraising event sponsored by Zeal Optics and raising money for the Nepal-based DZI Foundation and we thought that our trip to Nepal would be a great extension of that initial event.
With that in mind, Ryan and I have partnered with the DZI foundation in their efforts to rebuild 20 schools!
The DZI foundation's partner communities have approached them to help with reconstruction of at least 20 damaged schools, impacting 4,200 children. Building schools is a first step that will allow community members rebuild a crucial sense of unity and capability. We need your help to raise much-needed funds and to spread the word.
Learn more and please make a donation today. https://dzi.org/
In the mean time, we are in the normal expedition mode of 'moving piles' - getting ourselves and our gear from Boulder, Colorado to a remote valley near the border of Nepal and Tibet in the Rolwaling District of Nepal. Our first step was simply packing. We managed to squeeze all of our climbing and base camp gear into six Granite Gear duffels. Then to the airport, through security, onto our flight...
We are now enjoying the benefits of Ryan's jet-setting life style: the United Club.
Image: Catching up on office work in the United lounge in Newark.
In the moment, we were frustrated not having achieved our goal. Equally disappointing was the fact that we would have to rearrange our adventure schedule for the upcoming year. We were hoping to return to Patagonia in the fall of 2015 for a bigger expedition. Luckily, it didn't take long for a new plan to form: Rolwaling Expedition - go to Nepal and climb unclimbed peaks in the Rolwaling District.
With that plan in place, we went about our lives. Ryan went to Argentina to guide Aconcagua. I traveled to Winnipeg to lead my annual Polar Training Course. Ellie was born in April and roughly 10 days later a devastating earth quake tore across Nepal. Ryan was guiding on Everest at the time. His base camp survived the avalanche but others were not as lucky.
Our initial goal in climbing in the Rolwaling was to simply 'explore'. Go to a place where the map is blank fill in routes. After the earthquake all that changed. Now while we are still going to climb and adventure we also want to do a little good along the way.
Earlier in this summer, both Ryan and I were involved in a fundraising event sponsored by Zeal Optics and raising money for the Nepal-based DZI Foundation and we thought that our trip to Nepal would be a great extension of that initial event.
With that in mind, Ryan and I have partnered with the DZI foundation in their efforts to rebuild 20 schools!
The DZI foundation's partner communities have approached them to help with reconstruction of at least 20 damaged schools, impacting 4,200 children. Building schools is a first step that will allow community members rebuild a crucial sense of unity and capability. We need your help to raise much-needed funds and to spread the word.
Learn more and please make a donation today. https://dzi.org/
In the mean time, we are in the normal expedition mode of 'moving piles' - getting ourselves and our gear from Boulder, Colorado to a remote valley near the border of Nepal and Tibet in the Rolwaling District of Nepal. Our first step was simply packing. We managed to squeeze all of our climbing and base camp gear into six Granite Gear duffels. Then to the airport, through security, onto our flight...
We are now enjoying the benefits of Ryan's jet-setting life style: the United Club.
Image: Catching up on office work in the United lounge in Newark.