I have now met my team for Makalu and wanted to tell you a little bit about them. This is the second time that I have come to Nepal and joined a team of complete strangers. When I did it in 2006 I said I would never do it again and yet I am doing it again.
We have Mr. Gia Tortladze from Georgia on his 30th expedition!, Mr. Will Cross from the US, a good friend of Brad's and someone I had met at OR a few years ago (so nice to have a friendly face), Mr. Arjun Vajpai from India (only 19 years old), Ms. Krushna Patil also from India, Mr.
Dominique Dejose from Belgium, and Mr. Juan Fernando from Columbia making his second attempt on Makalu.
It is a great group with a lot of experience. We understand that Don Bowie will be flying in to climb the mountain as well. Most of us are using oxygen but two members are attempting the climb without. Those of us on oxygen (myself included) will all be using Ted Atkin's TopOut system. I met with Ted yesterday for three hours and learned all about how he designed his most widely accepted regulator and mask system. As of next year, he will be bottling his own oxygen in Nepal.
On the 10th we will fly to Tumlingtar to begin our 11 day trek to base camp. My communications will be very limited once we begin our trek. I do hope to get a few texts out to Brad via my inREACH Satellite system that is designed to create two way communication in text format.
I wish I had planned this trip farther in advance as I think it will likely be an amazing trek, off the beaten path, to the base amp. It is likely that Will's father will be trekking in while we are on the mountain. Krushna is also hopeful her boyfriend will make it in. I will take a lot of photos to share upon my return to Kathmandu so that you may all consider this trip in the future.
Tonya
Ted Atkins with some of his TopOut Oxygen equipment.
