1.
Why are you doing this environmental cleanup of Everest?
We're
doing this because we want to make a positive contribution to
the Everest Region and to Nepal. This is a place that is very
special to us because we have spent a great deal of time here,
and have become good friends with many people from this area.
We strongly believe in the saying that "Nepal is here to change
you, not for you to change it", and this is a principle we plan
to adhere to.
2.
How do you get to Mt. Everest (from North America)?
To
get to Mt. Everest, our team will fly from all parts of North
America to Los Angeles, California. From there, we will fly
to Bangkok (with a quick stop in Japan) where we will spend
a night before flying on to Katmandu, Nepal. Since we cross
the International Date Line, we arrive in Nepal 3 days after
leaving L.A! Once in Katmandu, we will fly by helicopter to
Lukla (a village in the Everest Region) and trek for 10 days
to get to Mt. Everest Base Camp.
3.
What is the weather like in the Everest Region?
During
the day, it is actually quite warm, even at Base Camp. If you're
lucky, you can even walk around in a T-shirt, but once the sun
goes down, the temperature drops very quickly. At dinner, most
of us have to wear thick down-filled jackets and hats just to
stay warm!
4.
What are the effects of altitude...how do they impact your daily
activities...can you do anything in preparation for altitude?
Altitude
affects every person differently. Most people feel slightly
more out of breath as they climb higher. This is sometimes accompanied
by a headache or a feeling of being more tired than usual. You
can avoid serious side effects if you ascend slowly and be sure
to rest after major gains in altitude. It is also very important
to stay hydrated and well nourished, so that your body is able
to adapt.
5.
Can you describe base camp?
Base
Camp sits on the Khumbu Glacier which flows down from Mt. Everest
and is covered by rocks from surrounding mountains. Our tents
are set up on beds of flat rocks that are arranged to make platforms.
As the glacier melts during the spring, we constantly have to
rebuild these platforms and readjust our tents to keep them
from collapsing.
6.
What do you eat for the duration of the trip?
Are
you supplied with fresh food at all? We eat a mixture of packaged
and fresh food for the entire trip. Since our bodies our working
so hard during the expedition, we bring a lot of tasty food
with us from North America to ensure that everyone eats enough
to stay fit and healthy. We also eat a lot of local food including
rice, curried vegetables and "dal" (a form of lentil soup).
7.
How do you train for an expedition like this?
We
do whatever we can to improve our cardiovascular fitness and
overall strength. This includes running, cycling, weights and
most importantly, climbing!
