Now you see it, now you don't!



All checked!



All packed



Now you see it, now you don’t!

Wow you really don’t understand how much stuff you are going to bring on a trek until you lay it all out! This past weekend I purchased a couple odds and ends and I think I have everything.

I took some time this weekend to lay all my gear out so I could make sure I had everything and maybe even cut back on some of the stuff. Well Betsy wants me to take two of everything and loads of extra things “just in case”. The pack is jammed full and busting at the seams so I think some stuff will have to stay home! It is so hard to make sure that you have everything that you need before you leave even if you are not sure what kind of weather you will have. One thing is for sure that it will be cold.

My guide Pasang sent me a photo of his group up at base camp. He is well on his way back down now getting ready for the next trip. The days go by slowly with Saturday right around the next bend. It still feels like forever. Oh ya, last words of wisdom for the day: Next time somebody asks you to cut down a tree with a chainsaw a week before a trip of a lifetime, tell them that you will do it when you get back. I put a nice hole in my jeans and a good gash in my leg! Nothing that will slow me down!



Base camp on Sunday 12/9/12



Down to the wire!

Wow it is only 10 days now until I fly out on this world wide adventure! It has been 10 years since I came up with this idea to travel to Nepal and visit base camp of Everest and now I am only 10 days way. It was years of thinking about it and months of planning. Lots of internet spots checked, airfares checked, money raised, and gear purchased, sharing with friends and now it is almost here!

Travel has always been a joy for me. Backpacking thru Europe, Pecos NM mountain range, travels all over the US and now off to Nepal for the grand adventure. Here is something that has been with me these last couple of week that I want to share. “Certainly, travel is more than the seeing of sights; it is a change that goes on, deep and permanent, in the idea of living.”

I am not sure how much of this blog I will be able to keep up with on my trip but I will try to keep in touch so follow along with me please. If you would like to add a comment please do so to my e-mail : kklenk@ycds.org I look forward hearing what you all feel about this!

Somebody asked me how I feel about being so close to my trip and I am not really sure! I have all my gear and everything is all set but the idea of the unknown is very exciting. To travel to airports half a world away and step off a plane in a world that I have only read about is very exciting! It has been a great deal of fun setting this all up and now I guess the work is just beginning!    

Why would you do that?



My first upload attempt!





"Not all those who wander are lost"

J.R.R. Tolkien

            The other day I was talking to a group of friends about my trip and someone asked? “Why would you want to do that?”  At the time we were talking about the lack of showers and the distance that would be traveled each day. It was like the person could not believe that I would want to go to a place without hot water and walk on purpose for 5-6 hours in December! I guess we get accustom to certain things in life and some people could not live without them. This reminds me about a time that we took my son’s computer and cell phone away from him. He asked “How am I going to be able to talk to my friends and live?” I had flashbacks to the 80’s and had to ask myself “How we were able to survive?” We did OK and that brings me back to our discussion and what it all means.

Wander vb wandered; wandering 1: to move about aimlessly or without a fixed course or goal: RAMBLE 2: to deviate (as from a course) STRAY b: to go astray morally c: to lose normal mental concentration: stray in thought.

          Maybe J.R.R. Tolkien was on to something when he wrote “Not all those who wander are lost”. Could this be a main goal for this trip? To take some time to live and wander. Opening one’s self up to new places and new things and even new customs to help to better understand how good we really have it!

          The above photo is my first attempt to download a photo to my blog and I hope you enjoy it. It is something I have been working on for two years and it is right above my desk at work. If Sheldon can use a white board so can I! Bazinga…

In a heartbeat

I’ll be there in a heartbeat!

36 days to go.

        I recently started tracking all the spots I have travelled to on Trip advisor and it showed me that I have been to 132 cities, 11 countries and still have only traveled to 7% of the world! I guess I need to get busy. How much have you traveled?

         On Anthony Bourdain's last travel show he made a statement which really rang true, “Whatever you do, just get off the couch and do it!” So this is my challenge to you!

        Since my last post I have had many people approach me and ask me questions about the trip. It has been fun sharing my quest with so many people. As time ticks away towards take off day I think back about how much I have done to get to this point and how many people it has taken. For this I thank them all for all the support and well wishes for me to accomplish this dream.

        Wanted to pass on something somebody sent me recently. “It is not the mountain we conquer but ourselves” by: Edmund Hillary  Make today the best you can and stay tunes for more…….  

51 Days and Counting!

51 Days and Counting!

It has been a busy couple of weeks with trip plan all falling into place! This Saturday I turn 50 years old and it also marks the 50 day point till I leave! Research has been going well on gear for the trip and I’m finishing up on my pack list. I’m trying to keep it light but it has been hard not knowing the weather at that time of the year.

I wanted to share with you some info about my guide for the trip. He and I have been keeping in touch with the new thing called Facebook which has made it really easy to keep in touch.

Namaste, My name is Pasang Dendi Sherpa and I am a professionally qualified Mountain and trekking guide here in Nepal. I have many year of experience in guide and I only offer a top class service with my ultimate aim in providing all of the clients who I work with a safe, enjoyable memorable experience and always at a competitive price. Whatever you're aims and aspiration I can guarantee a suitable itinerary that will meet all of your requirements taking into consideration the associated hazards with altitude to prevent any problems. Too many people every year are caught out with altitude problems due to poor planning and over ambitious trekking itineraries. My approach is to prevent this by careful planning and by using my extensive experience and knowledge of this medical issue. I can facilitate you with all your arrangements and itinerary, and help you go around the town. I speak Nepali, Tibetan, English and Sherpa, so I can help you to talk to most of people in Nepal. My rates you will find to be very competitive. I do not have the same costs as companies do but certainly I offer better service. If you require any guiding services for your group regardless of the size please contact me to arrange a professional service.

Thank you all for the support and check the blog often for up-dates.

Going forward

Base Camp Everest

I have passed the point of no return for my trip! I have booked my flight for December 15^th 2012. The flight will be a long one but I am looking forward to the trip. I am going to leave from Washington DC and travel to London then on to Istanbul Turkey then to Bahrain before my last flight to Katmandu. I arrive two days after I leave at 11:45am in Nepal where I will meet my guide and spend the day looking around Katmandu. After some sleep (I hope) I will fly off to Luka where I start my trek. I hope a fair wind with be with me! Time to start getting my gear in order and finishing my packing list! I have a couple of things to buy still but at this point I am well on my way. “To accomplish great things, we must dream as well as act” Antole Frank. The dream is done now it is time to act!

To fly or not to fly?

Tourists headed for Everest region among 19 killed in fiery Nepal plane crash

Not the headline you want to wake up to when you might be flying on the same flight! Well its 74 days till I leave and I still do not have a flight booked yet! My guide Pasang Dendi Sherpa and I have been speaking thru Facebook about the things I need. After I get my flight set I will then buy a couple of things that I need and start packing. If you have ever had a dream for a long time you will know how it feels to have days before you set out on an adventure of a lifetime.