“American Prayer Flags”. Well, we’re now in the shadow of Mount Everest, in the little town of Tingri, Tibet. This place is around 14,000 feet and a popular spot for climbers to start getting used to the altitude. We’re staying in a little hotel right off of “Main St.” and since there are so few […]

Everything changes before Everest. It took a while, but we’ve made it up the side of the Tibetan Plateau. It’s striking how different the terrain is up here. After all of this driving uphill in our fleet of Land Cruisers, we’re suddenly at the bottom of some very flat valleys. Well, this is Tibet, and […]

Why is everyone speaking Mandarin? We finally cross the Friendship Bridge into Tibet and enter the town of Zhang Mu. Of course the experience is anything but friendly. Once we’re in Tibet we’re immediately under the watchful eye of the Chinese government officials and we’re not allowed to film anything. It’s hurry up and wait […]

Everest here we come! Kathmandu has been great but it’s time to get moving towards the mountain. We start the day off with the first of many, many kilometers along the Friendship Highway. This road connects Kathmandu, Nepal with Lhasa, Tibet and is the highest continuous road in the world. As we begin the drive […]

Looking good is half the battle. Lhawang said that every step brings you closer to the top of Everest. Well, I guess some steps are smaller than others. Today is the final day we’re spending in Kathmandu, and it’s a day full of little steps that are all part of the journey. Ben has a […]

“Down with the U.S. Imperialism.” Lhawang, our head Sherpa, or Sirdar, and Ben’s Everest climbing partner finally arrives. It was great to meet Lhawang after hearing so much about him from Ben. The two were part of a Dhaulagiri expedition just 10 months earlier so this was a great reunion. Earlier, we check out one […]

Om Mani Padme Hum. Major finally arrives and the Everest expedition continues. We check out the largest Stupa in Nepal: Boudhanath. I can’t get over how amazing this place is. I just want to spend the day walking around and around the central spire (in a clockwise direction as is the custom) and stare up […]

Forget Bob Seger. We’re not going to Kathmandu, we’re already here. The gateway to Everest. Unfortunately, Major’s still behind in Bangkok but he’s on his way. Ben and I visit Swayambhunath Stupa, where the Eyes of Buddha watch over us. This is a place I will never forget. Part Buddhist and part Hindu, the temple […]