I first saw MAKALU in a parking lot of the Chamonix's ice rink … As in red dilapidated sign adorning a grim grey building of ENSA's dormitory… Standing next to PUMORI, another scarface high-rise tower. I gathered it was a mountain... somewhere far. That was 8 years ago … [Read more...]
What keeps us going?
An early Everest summit meant that I could squeeze in an unplanned week of family time in London before my appointment with the park service on Denali. This past week felt like a never-ending feast of sensations: smelling my kids hair, falling asleep while reading with Theo, … [Read more...]
Everest Summit: Exertion and Exaltation
Our summit bid journey from C2 to C3 was marked by high winds reaching 70 miles an hour. Jumar (an alpinist tool used for ascending up the rope) served as a lifeline on a 40 degree slope. You had to hold onto it really tight in order not to get thrown around by wind gusts. … [Read more...]
Known Unknowns
Tomorrow morning at 2am we will be leaving Everest basecamp for our final summit push. We know the routine: a silent breakfast, reflective pause at the stupa, headlight on followed by a 7 hour trip to C2. Our mantra over the next 4 days will be to conserve our energy by … [Read more...]
High Altitude Motherhood
The best present for Mothers Day that awaited for me at the Everest basecamp was a picture of my 6-year old doing Show and Tell on his mad mother's challenge. I hesitated sharing this photo. As is, I am deeply torn between the feeling of guilt of not always being there … [Read more...]
