The Climbing Club

So I will do a quick rundown of outdoorsy activities that I’ve been able to see while abroad. I’m clumping it all in one, pretty much because I’m just lazy. Unfortunately, the internet connection I am able to get is terribly slow, so I will have to try and do a slideshow (not anything by Ethan’s standards) when I am back winter quarter!

New Zealand
While in NZ, I stayed on the North Island in Auckland, although Mason and I took roadtrips north and south, so I covered a fair amount of the island. Places they call mountains, are really just hills by our standards, but nevertheless, I will mention them! Mount Eden is in Auckland, where at the top is a great view of the city, and a large crater. One Tree Hill is farther than Mount Eden, but has many grazing sheep and a monument at the top because that is where a former Maori chief was believed to live because you have such a commanding view of the incoming water transports. Down in Wellington, we went to the top of Mt. Victoria that offered a beautiful view of Wellington and the bays surrounding it. The most impressive mountain we went to, which is the 2nd tallest on the north island was Mt. Taranaki/Egmont. We hiked through the dense jungle to stay at a hut. Unfortunately it was overcast so we didn’t have the best view of the summit, which had snow, but the day before we had a great view from a far. For our roadtrip north, we went to Cape Reinga where I saw the Tasman Sea and Pacific Ocean meet. It was impressive and beautiful to see the waves of different water bodies crash into one another and see the difference in colors. Back in Auckland, I went to Rangitoto Island, a desolate place where the main purpose is to go and hike to the summit of the 600 year old volcano. Very pretty views of Auckland again.

China
So due to travel mishaps, Nathan and I did not go to the Taisan area where we would have walked up steps to get the top of Mt. Tai. We did a lot of sightseeing, and probably the most “outdoorsy” thing that I did while there was go to The Great Wall, where really, we just walked along the stone pathway, getting our fair share of steps in. The great thing about this, besides being the Great Wall, was that we walked to a point where restoration was being done, and where they had fenced off the wall, and it was overgrown with the plants around us. We reached an unrestored section of the Great Wall!

Thailand
While in Thailand, I was consumed by sightseeing in Bangkok, and then went to Koh Kradan Island and did not end up making it to Rai Leh to go climb. However, I want to in the future! I did go snorkeling along the reef though!

Nepal
Everest Base Camp Trek! What to say about this, I don’t even know where to start… I did the trek “solo,” and made it up to Kala Pattar, over Cho La Pass, and to Gyoko and up to Gyoko Ri, staying around the Khumbu and in Sagamartha National Park. Nepalese are so great! I am in love with the general population, especially in the hills, in addition to the natural beauty of their country in the “wilderness.” Absolutely stunning! I walked a lot, slept great above 5000m for two nights, saw a lot of cows and yaks, as well a musk deer!

Tues 9/8 (1): Fly Kathmandu to Lukla(2840m/9317ft). Trek to Namche(3440m/11,286ft) 10h
Wed 9/9 (2): Acclimization day in Namche
Thurs 9/10 (3): Trek to Tengboche (3860m/12664ft) 4h30m
Fri 9/11 (4): Trek to Dingboche (4410m/14468ft) 4h
Sat 9/12 (5): Acclimization day in Dingboche; Hike Chhukung (4600m/15124ft) 1h30m roundtrip
Sun 9/13 (6): Trek to Lobuche (4910m/16109ft) 3h45m *see body wrapped in a blue tarp tied with rope being carried down on a ladder that was brought down by an avalanche (climber from last season)
Mon 9/14 (7): Trek to Gorak Shep (5180m/16863ft) 2h; Trek to mid Base Camp (5364m/17598ft) 1h15m; Trek to Everst Base Camp with expedition 30m; Trek to Gorak Shep 1h35m *see 4 avalanches!
Tues 9/15 (8): Hike to Kala Pattar (5550m/18208ft) 1h40m up, 40m down
Wed 9/16 (9): Trek to Dzonglha (4830m/15846ft) 3h
Thus 9/17 (10): Trek over Cho La Pass (5368m/17600ft) to Thangnang (4700m/15419ft) 4h50m; Trek to Gyoko (4790m/15715ft) 2h
Fri 9/18 (11): Hike to GyokoRi (5483m/17988ft) 1h45m up, 1h down; Trek to Dhole (4110m/13484ft) 3h45m *begin trek down & runny nose*
Sat 9/19 (12): Trek to Khumjung (3780m/12401ft) 3hr30m; Trek to Namche 1h
Sun 9/20 (13): Trek to Phakding (2610m/8563ft) 3h30m
Mon 9/21 (14): Trek to Lukla 2h30m
Tues 9/22 (15): Fly back to Kathmandu!

Teas included: Black, ginger, mint, nepali masala, tibetan tea
Breakfasts included: tibetan bread with peanut butter and/or honey, vegetable hasbrown
Lunches/dinners included: vegetable fried rice, vegetable fried noodle, sherpa soup, potato soup, potato/onion/veg pizza, Daal Bath curry, vegetable steamed momos, garlic soup, vegetable fried spaghetti, rara noodle soup
Snacks on the trail included: nature valley oats and honey granola bars, RJs raspberry licorice from NZ, sour patch kids, a few clif bars, a chocolate bar, dried prunes and apricots, snickers bar, peanut cookies, cashews, saltines!

Card games learned: chapati (like the food), lucha (awesome austrailian game I can't remember quite all the rules!), slam (similiar to speed)

Other games played: chess, gin, rummy, crazy eights, uno
Books I read: Into the Void, Into Thin Air, The Law of Similiars, studied Hindi

Notable people: 3 Nepalis I trekked with day 1 to Namche and helped me find a place to stay; Jounralist Kaci Christian who insisted I stick with the Aussis; Austrailian guided group of 7 that I met in Tengboche and was on the same schedule until Gorak Shep; UK Alex and his guide Harry who I met in Tengboche and met up with again in Gorak Shep to go over Cho La Pass; 2 Germans hiked with to Gyoko;

Exciting news: Saw Brittany, girl from UW program in India, in Namche!

Weight of pack: 17kg/38lbs (approx including water and base weight taken from airport scale) although this decreased as the trek went on as I ate my snacks!

India
I am living in the middle Himalaya with a view of the Gharwal Himalaya including Trisul and the sacred peak of Nanda Devi. Gorgeous country! I walk about 15k roundtrip for school. Uttarakhand is beautiful! Most importantly, there is a place to climb, undeveloped, just a 20 minute walk from where we live. One of the cooks showed us the area because he and friends would rappell there. However, after cleaning some parts of the rock, there is so much potential for routes! Sport, trad and bouldering! I’m so excited! My friend brought a rack and we are going to talk to the van panchayat (forest council) about bolting the rock for top rope anchors. If not, there are some trees that are suitable for anchors. As Brittany said today, “First ascent in the Himalaya!” We of course didn’t just go to check it out. Granite that you can smear on anything. It’s awesome. Over the weekend we are going to start working on establishing the area, or at least explore some more! We are thinking that a Jackie Rock, Allen Wall, Brittany Rock and Buckingham Wall may need to be in order. We may have to get more original with the names though!

Awesome! I'm surprised you and Jim didn't run into each other in Nepal!

Sounds amazing Jackie!

Sounds like an amazing trip thus far. Don't forget to develop a guide book for your new area

That's awesome, Jackie! I agree north island NZ mountains aren't so exciting, but if you get the chance the south island is really incredible! Rangitoto is pretty wild. Can't wait to hear more of your adventures in India!

Fabulous, Jackie! When do you get back? I'm excited to see your photos ... a slide show of everyone's amazing international travels is definitely warranted this fall!