Friday, April 1, 2011

April 1st Departure Day

In a perfect world we would have spent months preparing for a departure like this, but as with most similar endeavors the constraints of everyday life have intervened.  Apa and I are getting on the plane in a dozen hours whether we are ready or not.  On the other hand, we did have 50 days to prepare so that’s 49 days more than many people have had to make much greater escapes.  I think of Ioan who works in our shop and who escaped from Romania during the cold war.  One night 35 or 40 years ago Ioan and a friend made a mad dash for the wire fencing with bolt cutters, and Ioan was shot in the back by a border guard with a dog who spotted him when he was almost to safety.  Lucky for Ioan, and for us, he was still able to wriggle through a hole in the fence and survived.  Ioan will run the shop until Mike gets back from his trans-Alp ski trip.  Mike’s plan is to cross from Switzerland into Italy on skis, and then back again.  He flies out today as well. Our shop has quite a bit of adventure going on: Mike flying to Europe, and Apa and I to Asia—all in one day.  That’s pretty exciting for a small group like ours.  Having said that, the credit goes out to the guys who are staying behind and who make all this possible by working so hard.  Today happens to be Mike’s and Apa’s and Terrell’s day to stretch our wings and take flight, and we hope all the rest of the guys get to take their turns later on.

2 comments:

  1. Hi Terrell...can't wait to get your first update from the road....hope your travels are smooth...take care!

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  2. Very glad & happy you're on the way. Go Apa Sherpa!!! Go T.S.Pool!!! Wish I could be there!!! Just wishing you both well and wanted you to know that I'm 100% there with you in spirit.

    BTW, when I was on the Snake River last summer, my daughter and I went rafting with a guide---named Krishna, who was Nepalese, if I'm not mistaken---and Apa's name came up. This was the day after the horrible lightning strike on the Grand Teton tourist route when around 17 people had to be rescued and one guy fell and didn't make it out. It was awful, and I was trying to find out if the river guides, some of them also climbers, knew anything more about the incident, and when Krishna told me he was from Nepal I asked if he knew Apa. His face and those of the other American guides lit up, became radiant, full of awe, and then all the heartfelt compliments about niceness and generosity started flowing. Please be super safe and looking forward to reading more about the whole experience.

    All very best for a safe ascent & wonderful time,
    Jeff

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