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LIFE&FAMILY
122
February15
What was the most memorable moment
for you?
Selina:
Reaching the 5,093-metre summit of
the Ngula Dhojhyang Pass on the Nepalese-
Tibetan border was the real highlight for me. That
final climb on the last day was optional, and it
was certainly tough, but I relished the physical
challenge.
Christine:
We’d left at 4.30am, armed with
head-torches and with the water still frozen in
our CamelBaks. After traversing windy plains, icy
rivers, landslides and small glaciers, we reached
the top of the pass around midday. Once there,
we unfurled a banner to reaffirm our commitment
to our cause. After 20 minutes, though, we had
to head straight back down to get to Mu Gompa
Monastery before nightfall, 13 hours after we had
set out. Though overwhelmed with fatigue, our
sense of achievement was indescribable.
Just how physically challenging was the
expedition as a whole?
Christine:
Overall, it was the toughest of our
three trips so far. The Everest Base Camp climb
involved an ascent from 2,800 to 5,400 metres,
and I thought that the altitude adjustment would
be easier this time round because we started in
the lowlands at just 730 metres. Well, it wasn’t!
Also, the lodges were farther apart on this trek
and there were fewer tea-houses and other
places to rest, so we trekked for longer each
day: up to 10 hours, sometimes, instead of five
or six. Following a river meant traversing a lot of
hilly terrain, and it was often necessary to cross
rivers, too.
What was the lodge accommodation
like?
Selina:
Fairly basic, to be honest – squat
toilets, rudimentary or non-existent ablution
facilities, thin mattresses on hard floors; and,
one sleepless night, the rustle and squeak of
rats! Corinna even felt a furry body running over
her hand.
Christine:
For the first few days, it was possible
to take cold showers. But as we climbed higher,
the temperature plummeted below freezing as
soon as the sun went down over the mountains.
We stopped washing our hair on Day 5.
The lodge with the rats that Selina mentioned
had just one squat toilet for everyone staying
there, and it was also the only place to wash. I’ll
never forget trying to get clean with just a basin of
lukewarmwater while squatting over a smelly pit.
It makes you really appreciate your nice marble
shower when you get home!
The team looking at how far
we still have to go
Reconnaissance trip to
the landslides
Roof and Tibetan-style
chimney with view of
the mountains
Arriving at Mu
Gompa Monastery