back2base http://www.back2base.com.au Most recent posts at back2base posterous.com Sat, 16 Oct 2010 03:28:00 -0700 Thank you http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/back2basecomau/~3/nJI3d-uxGdY/thank-you http://www.back2base.com.au/thank-you

Last night was our final night of the trek, after flying from Lukla to Kathmandu at 7am yesterday. We went to a restaurant near our guest house and had a meal together before going our separate ways today.

Today, we really started to think about the trek & the last 12 days, so whilst we only went to the bottom of Everest (Base Camp), we still feel proud of getting there, because on the way we have:

  • Trekked over 100 km's, 
  • travelled up to 5364m above sea level,
  • met some amazing friends,
  • had a complete adventure,
  • dropped a few kg's,
  • had an experience we will never forget and
  • Hopefully (through your generosity) raised some money for The Black Dog Institute.

Phil and I started to write a mental list of the people that we need to thank, I hope we have everyone:

  •  
    • Prem - "The Sherpa Tiger" & the head guide
    • The Nepalese guides and porters some of which carried over 20kg per day (while we carried about 5kg) - those guys are legends!
    • The team that we trekked with: Mark, Madeline, Peter, Kenny, Andy, Ruth, Jenny, Zoe & Dave (from UK).  We hope to remain great friends with all of you.
    • Mark Williams (Ray White Commercial) and our other corporate sponsors.
    • Our amazing friends & families. 
    • The Black Dog Institute and
    • Everyone who donated – Thank you!

 

 

 

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]]> http://posterous.com/images/profile/missing-user-75.png http://posterous.com/users/4wzvfsBqOEHD davidinkster davidinkster http://www.back2base.com.au/thank-you Thu, 14 Oct 2010 21:10:59 -0700 Photos to 15.10.10 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/back2basecomau/~3/7YWQuTIDKNM/photos-to-151010 http://www.back2base.com.au/photos-to-151010
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]]> http://posterous.com/images/profile/missing-user-75.png http://posterous.com/users/4wzvfsBqOEHD davidinkster davidinkster http://www.back2base.com.au/photos-to-151010 Tue, 12 Oct 2010 20:54:00 -0700 AND NOW... for the real Photos to 12.10.10 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/back2basecomau/~3/MIyRvsRLdYE/and-now-for-the-real-photos-to-121010 http://www.back2base.com.au/and-now-for-the-real-photos-to-121010

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]]> http://posterous.com/images/profile/missing-user-75.png http://posterous.com/users/4wzvfsBqOEHD davidinkster davidinkster http://www.back2base.com.au/and-now-for-the-real-photos-to-121010 Tue, 12 Oct 2010 04:32:00 -0700 Base Camp http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/back2basecomau/~3/CIKpvjTaTsY/base-camp http://www.back2base.com.au/base-camp

It is hard not to feel something as you arrive at base camp as we did (10.10.10) at 2pm (we had hoped for 10 am) - most people were crying and hugging and there was a never ending smile on the face of everyone, as for us it had been surreal to even be in Nepal - let alone at Base Camp.

Base Camp is a weird outcrop of rocks which doesn't actually offer a view of Everest (that is seen on the trek to the camp) but it is non-the-less spectacular! (as the photo's in a couple of days should show?!)

Out of our group of 11 people from Germany, Scotland, England & Australia, 4 people had servere problems with altitude sickness with one (Kenny) not able to go to base camp. Phil and I had the normal problems?? - being short of breath, a dry cough and I had a flu like feeling but that has now gone as for the past 2 days we have descended quite fast (according to the guides) and we are now back at Namche Bazzar our favourite spot as it has a hot shower (we stink) and a place to buy some new clothes...may even have a beer tonight!

We have 2 more days of descending before flying back to Kathmandu of the 15th October - we have heaps of photos and will download some of the more interesting ones in Kathmandu.

 

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]]> http://posterous.com/images/profile/missing-user-75.png http://posterous.com/users/4wzvfsBqOEHD davidinkster davidinkster http://www.back2base.com.au/base-camp Fri, 08 Oct 2010 01:56:00 -0700 8th October, 2010 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/back2basecomau/~3/taPWBe2Nn58/8th-october-2010 http://www.back2base.com.au/8th-october-2010

We arrived in Dingbouche yesterday, it is 4400m...today (day 5) was an acclimatisation day so we trekked up a local mountain (or might be a hill they only call them mountains over here when they are over 6000m) we took 2.5 hours to go up to 5140m - we all struggled to breath with 50% oxygen. The views were amazing with snow capped peaks in every direction it was hard to know where to photograph first (i will download more photo's when we have a better internet connection). Out of the 11 people on the tour 3 people are suffering with altitude sickness quite badly, so whilst Phil & I have the 'Everest cough' as they refer to it over here we are doing quite well so far (touch wood).

We have a 5 hour trek tomorrow to Labouche then an early start on 10.10.10 for the trek to base camp we are very excited about the prospect that we will be at Base Camp in 2 days...

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]]> http://posterous.com/images/profile/missing-user-75.png http://posterous.com/users/4wzvfsBqOEHD davidinkster davidinkster http://www.back2base.com.au/8th-october-2010 Tue, 05 Oct 2010 17:42:22 -0700 Photos to 5/10/10 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/back2basecomau/~3/tSWH8i5xzM8/photos-to-51010 http://www.back2base.com.au/photos-to-51010

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]]> http://posterous.com/images/profile/missing-user-75.png http://posterous.com/users/4wzvfsBqOEHD davidinkster davidinkster http://www.back2base.com.au/photos-to-51010 Mon, 04 Oct 2010 04:57:00 -0700 We will sleep well tonight http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/back2basecomau/~3/hIXWcPkbKZ8/we-will-sleep-well-tonight http://www.back2base.com.au/we-will-sleep-well-tonight

After an unbelievable plane trip from Kathmandu (it is weird being in a plane and having to look up - at mountains) we had a fairly easy trek day one (3 hours) to Phakding. Today was a very different story at the end of the day both of us were happy to get to our tea house it was an early start from about 2600m for steady walk until lunch with some freaky suspension bridges then in the afternoon we climbed about 800m to Namche Bazar (3445m) - we were happy to only feel sore as this is generally where altitude sickness starts to kick in... we have a great group of very supportive people lead by "Prem" our Sherpa guide who is a classic. We have taken loads of pictures however I won't have enough time before dinner to download (dial-up to Kathmandu) today - I will try tomorrow as I don't think we will have many other opportunities to use the net. 

The weather has been hot during the day but very chilly at night (obviously) - we are looking forward to an acclimatisation day tomorrow which means a 4 hour trek up and back a nearby peak for our first look at Everest? - so we hope for clear skies. Food and drink has been great, we are both going vegetarian as there is no real way of keeping meat chilled in many spots - overall though we are very smelly, a bit tired but very excited about the the next couple of days, not least because we have worked out that our base camp day should be 10/10/10 - that has to be good luck!!

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]]> http://posterous.com/images/profile/missing-user-75.png http://posterous.com/users/4wzvfsBqOEHD davidinkster davidinkster http://www.back2base.com.au/we-will-sleep-well-tonight Fri, 01 Oct 2010 06:08:00 -0700 from the roof-top of kathmandu guesthouse... http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/back2basecomau/~3/VHEqkwRRc5A/from-the-roof-top-of-kathmandu-guesthouse http://www.back2base.com.au/from-the-roof-top-of-kathmandu-guesthouse

Kathmandu 01.10.10 not sure if these photo's will download -maybe Kathmandu needs an NBN?

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]]> http://posterous.com/images/profile/missing-user-75.png http://posterous.com/users/4wzvfsBqOEHD davidinkster davidinkster http://www.back2base.com.au/from-the-roof-top-of-kathmandu-guesthouse Fri, 01 Oct 2010 05:41:00 -0700 Sentimental in Kathmandu http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/back2basecomau/~3/mi6Z7xn2650/sentimental-in-kathmandu http://www.back2base.com.au/sentimental-in-kathmandu

Today we arrived in Kathmandu - it is so full on...even though we want to be cool about it - it's an exciting city and has made both of us realise that we are a long way from home... independent of each other we have been thinking about our dads today. Phil lost his dad a few years ago to a heart attack and I lost mine to cancer over 10 years ago, however being here as 2 dads and wondering what our dads would have thought of us being here has been interesting for both of us. There is a weird connection between "kids" (even in their 30's/40's) or whatever age who have lost a parent...I guess everyone is looking for the approval of someone? Anyway I am sure a cool 'Everest' lager from the guest-house bar will ease my melancholy????

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]]> http://posterous.com/images/profile/missing-user-75.png http://posterous.com/users/4wzvfsBqOEHD davidinkster davidinkster http://www.back2base.com.au/sentimental-in-kathmandu Mon, 27 Sep 2010 23:42:00 -0700 Tears before the trip http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/back2basecomau/~3/xzhldJdXgeM/tears-before-the-trip http://www.back2base.com.au/tears-before-the-trip

Zh1_bw

My son rang me at work today, I was in the middle of an important call but I could hear in his voice that he was quite upset and I guess I was feeling actually quite flattered, as this was obviously a call about his fears for the safety of his Dad on the trip.

So in my best dad voice I said 'look mate, I can hear that you're upset just tell me what's concerning you and we will work it out?' he said between sobs "the thing is...for a very long time ('yes mate, you can tell me...') well dad, I have wanted to go the NRL finals for ages and I just found out that we can't get tickets...so I am really upset".

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/604212/david-inkster.jpeg http://posterous.com/users/5AkXTnvSQZ8t David Inkster back2base David Inkster http://www.back2base.com.au/tears-before-the-trip Mon, 27 Sep 2010 19:22:00 -0700 Hills Shire Times... http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/back2basecomau/~3/THq-mFCU0E8/hills-shire-times http://www.back2base.com.au/hills-shire-times

 

HST_detail.pdf Download this file

Nice article in the local paper!

 

 

 

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/604212/david-inkster.jpeg http://posterous.com/users/5AkXTnvSQZ8t David Inkster back2base David Inkster http://www.back2base.com.au/hills-shire-times Thu, 23 Sep 2010 20:40:00 -0700 Phil on steroids http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/back2basecomau/~3/Nf2GKtXsvLY/phil-on-steroids http://www.back2base.com.au/phil-on-steroids

Blog09

For the last couple of weeks we have been waiting to see whether Phil was going to be ok to trek to Base Camp.

He has 2 bulging disks in his back and has been in a great deal of pain and unable to train for the last bit of time, however, after 2 Cortisone (steroids) injections the doctors think he will be ok... we will require 3 yaks just to carry his pain medication but he will be there!

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]]> http://posterous.com/images/profile/missing-user-75.png http://posterous.com/users/4wzvfsBqOEHD davidinkster davidinkster http://www.back2base.com.au/phil-on-steroids Thu, 23 Sep 2010 20:14:00 -0700 6 days to go http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/back2basecomau/~3/bEKT_XjAQ88/8-days-to-go http://www.back2base.com.au/8-days-to-go

Blog05

Phil & I did an interview with the "Hills Shire Times" on Wednesday...you know you have made it when you have 13 and a half minutes of fame...oh and thanks also to everyone who has provided emails about tiger's being spotted recently in the Himalaya's...that helps the nerves as much as the stories about the pain of Altitude sickness...

 

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]]> http://posterous.com/images/profile/missing-user-75.png http://posterous.com/users/4wzvfsBqOEHD davidinkster davidinkster http://www.back2base.com.au/8-days-to-go