Go To MountainZone.com
Everest 2000 titleEverest 2000 title
"The highest of the world's mountains
...lord of all."
— George Mallory
NEPAL TIME:
mouse over
>> South Col Climb >> Khumbu Treks >> Everest-Lhotse >> Highlights
AAI


MORE EVEREST: Get expanded coverage on Everest2000.com

You are here: Everest Home >>Khumbu Treks >>Dispatches >>Dispatch

Thame: Rich in Climbing History
Thame - Sunday, April 2, 2000

DISPATCHES
previousnext
Wally Berg
Berg
Hear Wally's Call
LISTEN: [RealPlayer]  [Windows Media]

(Requires a FREE media player to listen)




Click For
Dispatch Photos

Mountain Zone, I'm calling you from Thame on the morning of April 2nd. This is my favorite Sherpa village. It's really always nice to come out here. As you know they're two things out here, there's the monastery and we did go up this morning. We had a great walk up to the ridge where we see views of Cho Oyu, which is always special to me, and then on up to the Thame Monastery. They're Rinpoches in Kathmandu, but we had a great time visiting the monastery, watching one monk pray and just enjoying the early morning light.

Now we'll be walking back to Thamo to Pasang Rita's house for lunch and on to the village of Khunde. While I'm out here in Thame though it is always, as many of you know...the thing that is out here for us, as much as anything else, is the Sherpas. Lhakpa Rita who's the climbing Sirdar for this year's Alpine Ascents' Everest Expedition, as he has been for many of the past ones, is from this village. Many of you know historically, in terms of Sherpas and climbing on Everest, this is an important place. Tenzing Norgay, of course, is from here.

Just before we left Kathmandu I saw my good friend Apa, promised to stop by and see his wife. Apa's up to something like 10 or 11 summits and of course Ang Rita as well is from this village. So besides the proximity to Tibet, the wonderful setting with great views for us tourists, but also a good area for Sherpas, for yaks, and potatoes and the commerce coming from the other side...there's a history of climbing out here. It's really involved with all the families and we see a lot of old friends. And we'll be back on the next trip of course and many of these characters we mentioned will be in the spotlight as we continue trekking back towards Everest, hook up with some of the expeditions and move closer to the action on the mountain this year. Great visit out to Thame this time.

We'll be in Khunde this evening and then we're heading on to the Thyangboche Monastery and the trek to Everest Base Camp. We'll check in with you as we move along the way.

Wally Berg, Alpine Ascents Guide and MountainZone.com Correspondent

email to a friendEmail this story to a friend

[Climbing Home] [MountainZone.com Home]