Killing time in the Timika airport this morning. Over 3 hours, which is a long time on cold, creaky metal chairs after 2 nights in airplanes. The waiting room is packed with sweaty, unwashed bodies and the damp air is stagnant and stale. My eyes hurt, after 40 hours on the road and no proper …
Category: 7 summits
Sometimes a power nap is all you’re gonna get
Lesson #1: always be ready to adapt plans. Lesson #2: my eyes don't like 32 going on 42 hour travel days. coming to you with an update from Denpasar https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rtSNSgd1myw
Travel weary and waiting
Preparation day had a couple of surprises. Like the last minute instructions from my organizer in Indonesia to bring two MSR burners and 4 pumps. What?! The day before I set off, I have to run around shopping for more gear?! Luckily I have a relaxed and supportive husband, who shrugged and said, "okay, let's …
a new adventure begins
“You’re going where?” “Papua.” Blank look. “You know, like Papua New Guinea.” Still blank. “Have you ever played Risk (the board game)? It's that big island down near Australia.” “ooooh. Why’re you going there?” “To climb Carstensz Pyramid.” “climb what? “ aaaand…eyes glass over. This is pretty much the conversation I’ve been having for about …
The Kilimanjaro Story
Do you remember the dreams you had as a teenager? And I don’t mean the steamy, hormone-driven kind that keep you awake at night. I’m referring to those grand ambitions we each had – the wants and needs that influence your outlook and drive your actions. The obsessions that determine your reading list and which …
Mt. Elbrus Expedition – the story (from 2013)
Day 1: Arrival in Mineralnye Vody It is a different world here. Arriving at midnight, I walked out of the arrivals hall (well, that’s a stretch – really just a room with a luggage track, exiting directly into the parking lot) and found my pre-arranged taxi driver holding a hand-printed sign “EURO Hotel.” So far, …
Continue reading Mt. Elbrus Expedition – the story (from 2013)
All the way down and out
Of course, the story can’t quite end, since we are still at Colera and I have every intention of making it all the way down the mountain, out of the national park, back to civilization and home to my family. So we get up on the morning after summit day, pack our things and once …
Mental and physical exhaustion… but goal accomplished
At the beginning of my trip, I read a book about the history of Aconcagua, featuring the early attempts on climbing the mountain. One of the first key explorers was Paul Gussfeldt, a German credited with a number of first ascents in the Alps, who then became fascinated and obsessed with Aconcagua, travelling to South …
Continue reading Mental and physical exhaustion… but goal accomplished
Last overnight on the way up
I hauled my 20kg of stuff up to Colera at 6000m today, and I’m now nestled in the tent, just awaking from a bit of a siesta. It’s strange to think that we are now camping at an elevation above the summit of Kilimanjaro. This is now – until tomorrow anyway – my altitude record! …
Contingency day in effect
Last night, the wind pounded our tent virtually uninterrupted. High winds with very high gusts, it was not a particularly restful night. Bernie was up at 6:30 on the 2-way radio and made the call that we’ll spend an extra day here in camp 2, only climbing higher tomorrow – hopefully after the wind lets …
adventuring through life 