October 19, 2007

Today was a different day for our normally exuberant group. Hushed whispers spread word of fallen soldiers from our Love, Hope, Strength army. On my third trip to the communal dark cold toilet in the middle of the night I thought that I imagined the sound of retching, apparently the illusion was reality. As the breakfast conversation commenced we were to find that there were 11 new cases of various degrees of illness. There was a mixture of empathy and fear for the small quiet group of us who could leave our rooms. The sadness that we felt for what is largely a new group of friends is so palpable. I have known the majority of this group for only 9 days but there is such a bond that puts us all on the same team and ultimately the same level. It is as though one is talking to our mom as a child that we graphically describe projectile vomiting and diarrhea to people we did not know 10 days ago. We are all in the trenches together.

Ade gives us 30 more minutes to collect ourselves given the malaise of the group, and the always charismatic and slightly mad Glenn regales us, 1st with his fabulous monologue, a Herman’s Hermits song and ending with the Nancy Sinatra song ‘These Boots are made for Walking’. We start ‘slow and steady’ as Ade recommends, as though there were any other choice at this altitude! The musicians are kicking butt and I marvel at their stamina. 1/2 way up Slim Jim lights a cig, and I decide he is the rock star of the day! Any sissy can eat a granola bar and hike. This is mine and obviously his idea of yin and yang. Balance Baby. Garrie is looking better and eating which delights me. So far he has not followed through on his threat to hire a helicopter to fly him out of here. Mike is carrying the kindergarten teddy bear, as Jules had said he certainly would not mind. I was happy to have teddy in my room the 1st night of the trek. As always, we think that the scenery could not rival what we have already seen, but every angle, every shadow, every degree of light drastically change the exact peak and make it even more glorious. We reach 15,200 which was the goal for the day and we are advised to hang in that spot as scuba divers in the Caribbean trying to avoid an air embolism. I knock over my expensive bottle of water and head down with Jamie, Tom, Kris, and Mike J. We pause to watch a child flying a kite. The children’s ingenuity and joy is so refreshing. We come down to the lodge and at 1 we have lunch. We check in on our new dear friends to see how they are fairing.

The boys do a rehearsal outside mainly for their concert at Kala Patthar and discuss the logistics of performing before 10,000 in Katmandu. As a fledgling musician I cannot get enough of the guys discussing keys and seeing how readily harmonies and songs are figured out; I suppose that is why they made it to the levels that they have achieved in the competitive world of the music business…boundless innate talent. I love the interaction among them and can’t believe that I have the privilege of watching them not only perform, but to feel their true passion for their art. One of my favorite moments of this perfect journey, which did not happen today, but I have to mention was watching gentle Jamie share his gift with Sonam Sherpa and a couple of other Nepalese boys in the lobby of our Shangrila Hotel. In a matter of moments, a Jimmy Cliff song was being played by a new band. Nick asked about a folk song and then he is writing lyrics as he sings with the boys. .Sorry for the diversion to another day but it exemplifies their love of the music, which I share, just not the talent!

We now sit in the dark of the restaurant. Glenn goes to play ‘terrorist pool’ . Headlamps silhouette the room and the count goes up. It appears as though there are 16 of us affected including our dear Shannon who has orchestrated this great event. As usual, she considers the good of the group and selflessly claims that she would rather have the illness than one of us. She is in good company though. I think the count is up to 16. The spirit that brought us all here still brings tired smiles and the humor may be subdued, but still irrepressible. We await another meal of what I guess will be lentils, rice, and potatoes and hope for the best. As Cy said earlier in the day, ‘Cipro, Kid, is a friend of mine’!

Julie Lampton
Love Hope Strength
October 19, 2007
Dingboche, Nepal
14,300 ft, 4,358 m

Happy Birthday to Reid Love Chucchi Steph!
Happy Birthday to Charlie to Aunt Shanny!

Final Note from Mike Peters:
I am writing this in the common room of the lodge before heading for bed, the mountain is alive with anticipation of our trek and word goes out before us. I will finish tonight with a note that was literally just handed to me seconds ago by a trekker from another party that just happens to be staying in our lodge in Dingboche tonight.

“My name is Juan. I’m from Uruguay, a small but beautiful country in South America. My father died 25 years ago. He had cancer. I was planning my trekking to Everest Base Camp since February. I don’t know why, but I planned to be there on October 21st, and I didn’t know about your challenge. Now I know why I decided to be at Everest base Camp on that date. It was a message from my father. He sent it to me to say to all of you THANK YOU! And to say to all of the people who suffer by cancer FIGHT, FIGHT, FIGHT.” Juan

I have just read this message out aloud to the Love Hope Strength trekking team and now, via this message and it’s posting on the internet, the world will read it. This is why we are here.