View from Ghorepani

Bill Martino

Bill Martino

Joined
Mar 5, 1999
Messages
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Here is a picture my nephew Kaji Sherpa sent me recently. It's Kaji and his dad, Ang Kami Sherpa and the pix was taken while trekking through Ghorepani. Since we've mentioned Ghorepani many times I thought forumites might be interested to know what the place looks like.

When he was younger Ang Kami was one of Nepal's premier expedition leaders. He has led perhaps 40 or 50 successful expeditions against all major peaks in the Annapurna Range. He tried Everest 7 times years ago before the Everest Superhighway but got weathered out each time. To Ang Kami's great credit he has never lost a single member of any expedition he led.

View
 
Handsome Father and Son. What a breathtaking view. Is that a Patagonia or LL Bean Fleece Jacket that Ang Kami is wearing? Sounds like he has great credentials.
 
Neat-o
I have lived in TX all my life, but have gone to Colorado a few times, and up to North Carolina when I was a kid. Both are Beautiful...but I still like Tx better. :D
 
And the background is fantastic. Nepal fits the old joke better than most places - "If you could flatten it out it would be bigger than ............. (name your own large country) :)
 
Not sure about the jackets but I'm fairly certain the hats are hand knit in the home. It is not uncommon to see Sherpa trekkers and mountaineers wearing upper scale clothing. Many of the more affluent trekkers and mountaineers leave their gear with the folks who tended to them well while up in the Himalayas -- token of appreciation.
 
Considering the danger it must be quite a feat to not loose any climbers.

Great picture, thanks for posting it.

Will
 
Heck I thought the hill at one of the larger local parks here in Miami was a pain in the butt to climb. Of course asthma as a child kinda made anything higher than a few flights of stairs a chore.
 
I can almost smell the mountain air and it doesn't reflect the name of the place.;)

I have always loved the high mountains and the pine forest, but on the other hand I also love the swamps and smells that at one time were common in Florida.
There's no such thing as an ugly place on our very lovely planet.
All places have their own special beauty if one only knows how to see it.
When I tell people about the panhandle of Oklahoma they always remark that there's nothing to see out there but flat land.
If they only knew................
 
Their accomplishments are impressive. I spent about four years in Alaska. While there, I went to the Northern Warfare Course. One day we climbed up and down an 8000ft mountain in less than eight hours, which does not compare to what they have done. That was the hardest physical thing that I have ever done to include Airborne and Air Assault Schools. Therefore, my hat is off to those two fine men.

Thanks,
Doug
 
Beautiful scenery and great story:)

Keep on posting these Uncle, brings back memories of when I first joined the forum.:)

Gotta say, my favorite story is about playing the flute on the rooftop...Could you repost that one at some point, or just tell me a description that would help me search for it? thanks!

Rob
 
Thanks very much Berk:):)

That is without a doubt, one of my favorite stories:)

Uncle Bill, for a man of few (typed) words on the forum, you are one hellava writer! I felt like I could see the whole scene, smell the cookfires, and hear the temple bells. I know its been said before, but if you decide to write a book, sign me up for the first ten copies.

I urge everyone who hasn't to read this story!
 
QM3SS,

You found a hill in Miami? I've been looking for 15 years (South Florida averages an elevation of about 5' below sea level).

Great picture Bill, and with my luck the knife shop would just over the next hill!!!!!

n2s
 
View


Here's a then and now comparison pix.

Top pix is Kami's trekking and mountaineering shop the way it looked in about 1983. He's since moved on to bigger and better things. The two Sherpa gals outside are Dicksung and Sanu, Yangdu's younger sisters. Sanu and Kami were married at the time but later and somewhat sadly divorced. But I still view Kami as a brother and the kids as nephews. I didn't divorce them along with Sanu.

Bottom pix was taken in Kami's apartment in Chetrapati. Dinner time. The kid on the far left wearing the baseball cap is none other than BirGorkha manager, Gelbu. Next kid going right is Kaji who appears in the top pix. Third kid is Pemba, youngest son. And there's Kami trying to get the dinner under control. I'm taking the pix.

I used to carry Kaji and Pemba around the streets of Kathmandu on my shoulders. Don't think I could do that today.
 
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