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Current Everests
Five guys trekking to EBC and climbing Island Peak
Scott is embarking on a climb of Ama Dablam
Fiona's building a website business for word of mouth information
Paul's second Mount Everest climb: an unfinished goal 
TA's Mt Everest climb, inspiring young people to dream big 
Pat is climbing Mount Everest - the last of his 7 summits 
Gavin is following his dream to climb Ama Dablam 
Aeronik continues her reinvention as she climbs Mt Kilimanjaro
On the road to Lukla
The following is a message from Carol, Pat's wife;
Carol
[filename: Terraced fields are part of the landscape between Namche and Lukla. Photo taken by Pat Hickey on May 28, 2007.]
Happy Memorial Day Weekend to all my American friends ... and to all others hello and hope this blog message finds you happy, healthy, and relaxed!
Hello everyone from Lukla. What an adventure it has been to get here from Mt. Everest basecamp. Little did we know yesterday (Kiwi Mike and self) that we would essentially be walking/hiking a marathon the day after we returned to basecamp! I guess if we had looked at a map we would have seen that the distance was equal to a marathon (usually my wife Carol does the map reading for us ... so now without her at my side was reliant on an Air New Zealand pilot) and in fact, there was a marathon being run on this course today! Advertised as the world's highest marathon, I had actually considered running this course after my climb of Mt. Everest (but unfortunately left my running shoes in Kathmandu ... yeah, right!) . However on the walk out from basecamp I soon came to realize that there was no way that I would have been able to compete as the course undulated throughout the mountains where the trails were less than favorable for footing as there were huge boulders to be navigated, streams to be crossed, and yaks to be tended with! The marathon walk yesterday took about 11 hours ... and we were "motoring" pretty quickly! Thank goodness there was a slight cloud cover in mid-late afternoon which changed to fog/mist in the early evening and made our climbs more favorable. It was kind of funny as I did not have much recall of this trail as it had been 2 months ago when I first walked ths course ... and if I had remembered it I might have hesitated to cover so much ground as there were some major hills/climbs which challenged our already aching muscles from the previous seven days of climbing up/down Mt. Everest! But, as some have mentioned in todays blog postings, we went into some kind of mechanical mode where we set our sights on a certain objective and did not stop until we got the job done! What we did yesterday was not unlike our climb where we established our objective (get to Namche), had measurable goals (get to certain towns within established time frames) and had the training to get us there! If my feet could talk this morning they would be saying, "are you crazy" (similar to a text message sent to me by my wife Carol this morning!), and now you intend to walk 5 more hours today! The walk today was beautiful as we paralled a river and walked into a cooling headwind. Don't get me wrong though as there was a lot of elevation change, however we took it slow and easy (Festina Lente) and was very manageable!
Tomorrow we are scheduled to be on the first flight out of Lukla for Kathmandu ... dependent on early morning fog and/or bad weather. This runway is quite unique as it is extremely short, with a 12 degree downward takeoff slope, and according to Mike, little to no room for error! The adventure continues ...
I regret that I still have not been able to respond to all of the wonderful messages that have been received, but do promise to respond as all of you took the time to write! Unfortunately I have been a little preeocupied with some climbs up/down Mt. Everest, as well as some "marathon" hikes! Perhaps in the next few days it may be more relaxing as I may have time in Kathmandu to respond!
The next big challenge for me is to get home! I will find out tomorrow if my flight from Kathmandu-Delhi has been changed to get me home in the next few days, and then am hopeful that a Chicago gate agent (Geri) will be able to help with the American Airlines segment from Delhi-Chicago-Charlotte! My return flight was not scheduled until mid-June as we had no idea whether weather (unique combination of words) would be favorable or not! I am anxious to be home as it is now Day #62 since I last saw Carol. Hopefully everything will work out in the next few days!
I do have a lot more that I want to share with all of you such as details about summit day, the physical and mental challenges of getting back down the mountain after the summit, my evaluation of the experience and what my future plans will be specific to using this adventure to further the cause of the Summit Scholarship! So, please do not drop off the blog yet as with a little more time I can hopefully wrap up this advenure and at the same time give all of you some words of wisdom learned from this climb of the highest mountain in the world that you can use in your daily lives!
Personal responses coming soon ...
Pat :>)
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Messages
Dan & Sheri's Stag
Visitor — Mon, 05/28/2007 - 16:52Hey Pat,
That was a real nice touch Saturday night to phone Dan & Sheri at their stag. We put the Mic up to the phone andeveryone was able to hear you. Not sure if you could here them clapping and cheering for you or not. Dan & Sheri really appreciated the call. The Stag went well and we all had a few drinks for you to congratulate your success!! Look forward to hearing from you soon.
Take care.
Kevin.
On to Kathmandu
Visitor — Mon, 05/28/2007 - 16:53Pat, It would surely be nice to be meeting you in Kathmandu! Hopefully you will not be there long and will be winging your way home to Columbia where the heat/humidity awaits. I imagine it will be quite a shock to your system. I look forward to listening to your stories during a celebratory meal with a bottle of red wine. Hurry home, sweetie!
Carol
Well done, Pat!
Pumori — Mon, 05/28/2007 - 17:54It killed me to leave for a five-day camping trip at the very moment you were on your way to the summit from Camp IV. The first thing I did upon returning home was check your blog. Wow, I'm so thrilled that you made it up and down safely, and I can't wait to hear more details when you have the time. (No need to respond personally to me...you have your hands full!) I had heard about the winds and was concerned that they might hinder you, but you persevered and made it to the top in spite of them.
I never doubted that you could do it, and I'm delighted that you achieved your goal. Again, you make us "Over 50s" proud! Well done! I'll keep reading as long as you keep blogging. Have a safe journey home.
Shanda
Hi Pat
sed52 — Mon, 05/28/2007 - 18:17Hi Pat
Wow!!! After all the intense preparation to climb Mt. Everest then doing such and then an 11 hour hike over very challenging terrain. I get tired just reading about your adventure. My wish for you is that you can get back home to Carol ASAP and after a well deserved rest then you can start speaking about your wonderful accomplishment not only for your own self satisfaction but also to bring awareness of the need for recruiting competent and enthusiastic people to take over the nursing profession when the nurses in our age group retire etc..
Although I have always enjoyed being a nurse the day to day grind sometimes takes a toll on my enthusiasm however, I too want to see the best come into this profession and realize just how important a calling the work can be. I find myself trying to talk people sometimes the young woman taking my order at the deli, a checkout clerk, patients etc........into to studying to be a nurse.
Keep up your good work and look forward to meeting you and Carol someday.
Give my best wishes to the others in your group and maybe at least one of them can speak with you at a presentation in the future.
Have a safe journey back home
Susan Danieley
AA flight back home
geri — Mon, 05/28/2007 - 18:50Hi Pat...congrats on getting back down safely and enjoy a little rest after achieving your goal..let me know what day you want to return from Delhi to Charlotte and I'll work on getting it changed for you. Send me a email with AA flight as subject so I know it is from you..climbers99@msn.com. GERI
Bonnie D
Visitor — Mon, 05/28/2007 - 19:14Hey Pat - glad to hear your decatholon (of its own customized definition) is coming to an end. But I am wondering what sort of let down you might have upon return. It will be difficult to truly absorb all that you have experienced - and there is not a bigger mountain to accomplish (what to do from here?!). As you have said in the past, it begun as a midlife crisis - so perhaps, the crisis has also been left behind (as has the midlife - huh?). As we continue on into the 50's, at least for me, I have different perspective from the 30s and 40s. But then, I may not push myself like you do - perhaps you will have more adventures you are striving for (but what can "top" Everest?!). I trust you are journaling all that you have experienced emotionally and spiritually - as your journey is not one that is superficial (even though, physiologically it must ache and hurt superficially as well!) Guess it is called "all consuming".
It is Memorial Day - and what that means in Denver is "fly overs" by the Air Force academy. I saw a couple of Blue Angels today and just now heard more flying overhead. Boulder has the "Bolder Boulder" run - apparently the 2nd largest (but first at highest altitude) 5K run - today it was won by a Kenyan, US came in second and Morracan came in 3rd. I haven't heard too much about car racing - Paula will have to fill you in on that (I believe there was a Nascar 600 in Charlotte yesterday - caught the end of it as I was waiting to watch the Simpsons last night after a busy day of gardening). Hail to our service men and women who we send extra appreciation to on Memorial Day weekend!
All the best to you with your take off from the short runway (Paul described it in his blog too - it sounds a bit ominous). Paul and Fiona have been reunited with others on Asian Trek team - hope you will also have some celebration time with others while in Katmandu (even though the task at hand it to catch the first flight home!).
Thinking of you and visioning a safe and uneventful journey back to the states (as Carol said, temperature and humidity await you - not to mention sealevel altitude! You will probably be feeling all that extra O2 capacity upon return!)
Bonnie
Happy Take Off from Lukla and Happy Landing in Katmandu
wmpopper — Mon, 05/28/2007 - 19:41and all points further along the arc of your adventure. Your quick recovery and 11 hour marathon, testimony to your training and acclimitization techniques...Hope that your flight connections manifest with relative ease and that you and friends are able to relax and enjoy time in Katmandu as you reenter "civilization" and await that jet home. If you have time and it does not detract from your activitys, it would be fun to receive a postcard from Katmandu from you..
Thank You - Safe Journeys...
WP
529 The Alameda
Berkeley CA.
94707-1615
Congrats!
Visitor — Mon, 05/28/2007 - 19:41Congrats on all of your success!! I heard you on Rock 93.5 Friday morning and I was just so excited for you and what you are doing. You are definately an inspiration to all of us!!
Courtney Hanks
College of Nursing
Thank you!
Visitor — Mon, 05/28/2007 - 19:49Hey Pat! Glad to hear you are slowly making it home. I bet Carol really misses you and vice versa ... 62 days apart is too long. I just wanted to thank you for the phone call Saturday night (our stag). I think everyone who attended was quite surprised ... especially Dan and I. It was nice to hear your voice. I/we can't wait to hear about the whole experience when your down for the wedding. Take care. We'll see you guys in July. Sherri
Congrat's
Visitor — Mon, 05/28/2007 - 20:49Pat, I have enjoyed following along on this blog to see how your progress was doing.....I had a few Nurses who work for Service Canada with me, following as well and would like to congradulate you on your successfull accomplishment. Personally it exhausted me reading about all the physical endurance you have put yourself through. Wishing you a safe trip home and a special reunion with Carole. You certainly deserve it.
xx
Theresa (Keyes) (Ottawa, ON)
Thankyou
Visitor — Mon, 05/28/2007 - 22:15Hi Pat ,Joan Allsop ,Michaels Mum from New Zealand here . I want to thankyou so very,very much for all the immense time you have put into keeping us all up to date for the 58 days of your magnificent achievement . Your writings have helped us all here keep our fears in check and bear the excitement and terror that most of us will have felt for Michael and all the team. With many Blessings Joan Allsop
Coca Cola 600
Paula Graling — Tue, 05/29/2007 - 00:58Well Pat....
Not a great night for Jeff Gordon at Lowe's motor Speed way, he crashed out early but he's OK. Hopefully he will do better at Dover next week and if you keep up your pace maybe you'll be home to see him! Casey Mears was the ultimate winner of the race beating out Tony Stewart and Dale Jr. because they had fuel issues. Indy 500 had a weird ending also because they had a long rain delay at the Brickyard but I am not so great at following those races so someone else on the blog is going to have to fill in that gap. Stay strong and hope you are back to Carol real soon.
Paula
Congratulations Pat!!!!
Sandra D — Tue, 05/29/2007 - 02:09Pat, I have been out of touch (no internet) and just got back from vacation. All the while I wondered if all went well. It is thrilling to know that you made it!!!! Great job Pat! I am very happy you made the trip down safely as well. What are you, the marathon man??? I just caught up on all the blogs I missed and I can't believe you walked 11 hours down 1 day after coming off the mountain!!!
Safe journey home! Time for a well deserved rest! Good luck with the flights home! I can't wait for the book!
Great going!!!!
Sandra
High Boss!
Rporter — Tue, 05/29/2007 - 01:52I can't tell you how relieved we are to have you this close to home! Wow what fun this has been! I haven't checked in as my father passed away early Thurs morning & w/family, arrangements, ect... BUT this only means I now have another guardian Angel & ,as Sioux, we believe this is a time of celebration! Thank you so much for allowing me to be one of your cheerleaders and I can't wait to answer; 'Hello, AORN how may I direct your call?' & hear your smiling voice! I may only be at work a couple days this week but will hold my breath in anticipation of hearing from you in the early weeks of June. GO PAT!!!! Luv, rose :)
Well Done !!!
Visitor — Tue, 05/29/2007 - 01:54Congratulations!!! What an exciting adventure! You don't know me. I am a retired first grade teacher, live in Irmo, and sing in the choir with Debbie Woda. She told me about this sight and I have been following you all the way up and down the mountain ---- holding my breath at times, and praying that you would be safe.Thanks so much for the detailed blogs that have allowed me to climb Everest from the comfort of my home. Patsy P.
Safe Flights
Ann — Tue, 05/29/2007 - 02:12Hi Pat,
we hope that your feet recover quickly and let you do as many climbs and lectures in class as you want to! Take it easy and enjoy the down time now as you head towards the steamy south!
Take care,
Ann and Graham
PS. The fireflies are out here in KY and everything is in bloom!!
Welcome home.....early
Paul — Tue, 05/29/2007 - 02:53Hi Pat:
Congratulations again and welcome home early (although I'm sure the best welcome you could possibly hope for is Carol awaiting your arrival at the airport).
I'm glad you have achieved your latest challenge (as if there were any doubt) and I look forward to a long tale (with many pictures and wine) about your adventure.
I'm hoping we can spend some time together when you travel to CO.
Take care and Thank You so much for sharing your travels with us all.
Paul
Congratulations!
Visitor — Tue, 05/29/2007 - 04:25Hi Pat, glad to hear you are back on solid ground! Now go home and get some well deserved rest! You are an amazing person and you should be very proud! Congrats also to your team! Take care. Hope to hear from you soon. Sue (Elliott) Topping
Soon you will be back home.
Bill and Michele — Tue, 05/29/2007 - 13:17Soon you will be back home. I've really enjoyed the blog and was able to see and hear things I never would have known about Everest. It was fun. I read some of the other blogs and agree with Demento, what are we going to do without your daily blog, we need to know about your life now everyday when we get on our computers. It's become part of my routine:) And what is a "stag"? Carol has amazing patience, you've been gone a very long time. Take care and continue to stay safe. Looking forward to hearing more details about climbing Mt. Everest. Michele
What an achievement!
Visitor — Tue, 05/29/2007 - 16:08Pat,
Although I have not written you have been in my thoughts and I wanted to let you know that kept up with your progress. I was very happy and relieved to hear that you achieved your goal, not only everest but the seven summits. I had no doubts you are one determined person. Have a safe trip home. I look forward to hearing about the adventure in person. I hope you have amazing pictures to share.
Deborah
Link to blog
Visitor — Tue, 05/29/2007 - 16:35Pat - I asked a nurse blogger that I read to post some info on her site about your climb and your scholarship. She has a broad readership and is respected in the nurse blogsphere. You can link to it here. www.pixelrn.com - I want to see your goal met! Gina Griffin, Hartford, CT
In flight to USA
Visitor — Wed, 05/30/2007 - 00:58Just wanted to let everyone know that Pat (as usual) worked out the flights and as I write he is on his 15 hr flight from Delhi to Chicago, arriving @5am, May 30th! From Chicago he has an 11am flight to Charlotte, arriving at 2pm. I will be picking him up in Charlotte tomorrow! Wow! What a whirlwind since he summited, less than a week ago! Can't wait to see him. He'll be updating everyone soon! Once again, thanks for your support and seeing him through this great achievement. More from Pat, later.
Carol
carol
book — Wed, 05/30/2007 - 01:23great news!! have a fantastic ''reunion''.cheers from 'downunder'. [ken.nz]
Carol:
StellarKart — Wed, 05/30/2007 - 02:27Yes, that is simply fantastic news, Carol! Glad to know Pat is jetting his way back to you as we speak. Can't wait to hear more from that Everest Summitin' husband of yours, like all the details of summit day, etc. Enjoy your sweet reunion, we are all very proud of what he has accomplished and that he allowed us to tag along.......
Blessings to you and your family.
Welcome Home, Pat!!!
Mark R in Lancaster, Pennsylvania
Welcome Home Pat !!!!!
sed52 — Wed, 05/30/2007 - 03:33Pat
Wow that is awesome that you will be home and back with Carol later today.That is going to some jetlag on the top of Mt. Everest one day and 6 days later at home in S.C. That will be one episode of jet lag that will be worthwhile. As soon as you get rested up I look forward to meeting you and Carol in the next few weeks.
Sending you and Carol my best wishes
Take care
Susan Danieley
Fantastic!!!
Visitor — Wed, 05/30/2007 - 04:06Pat, Mike,
I wrote an earlier message, but I don't know if it made it onto the site.....
I just wanted to say congratulations to you and Kiwi Mike!!! Outstanding job. I'm really psyched that the weather cooperated for you guys. I look forward to swapping war stories with you some day.
Until then, be well.
Ward
P.S. Bo was supposed to leave both his and my email addresses on a piece of paper in his tent. Hope you found that. If not, don't hesitate to contact Henry to get by email address. Take care.
thank you Carol - for keeping us up to date!
Visitor — Wed, 05/30/2007 - 05:28Bonnie in Denver here
I missed hearing (reading) Pat's update today - envisioned a safe trip to Katmandu, and thought maybe he would hook up with Paul Adler and Fiona at Rumdoodle's. But it sounds like Pat is a "man of mission" (superman as some have said) - guess he is driven to get home to his woman at this point!?! (can't blame him - she has been very patient!) Perhaps it is the Nurse in him that gets it done, anticipates and executes the plan?! Paul and Fiona sound like they are stuck for about 10 days - and here's Pat with a flight going through quickly! Go Pat Go (new motto!) The full moon is illuminating a safe return!
Can't wait to hear more. Glad Paula G posted the Nascar updates as that is a bit out of my league. Rockies baseball got hailed out today as we had goofy weather again. Its not monsoons of Nepal - but it sounds like there are a few similarities with what Pat has witnessed in the Himilayas (just lower altitude here at 9,000 to 14,000 feet getting snow again!).
All the best - Pat on your "re-entry" into the States. Paula and I are trying to figure if we need to submit a Congress proposal for you - so we may do a "place holder" if Susan B hasn't already done that. Committee will be in soon - so we need a few objectives and a title (and Paula and I will work on that as your jet lag and reacclimitization to sea level may wipe you out for a few days!).
But perhaps there is no jet lag for Superman/super nurse? I wonder if you will be tempted to walk 11 hours in some direction once you hit SC?! Carol - hold him back! hee hee - pitch a tent to the side of building if he needs altitude for a while?
I am staying tuned -
Welcome home!
Bonnie D
Bonnie in Denver - thinking of superman
Visitor — Wed, 05/30/2007 - 05:39Couldn't resist one more set of song lyrics - thinking of Pat changing clothes in a phone booth from mountain/climbing clothes to "professor Pat" clothes (instead of Clark Kent news reporter) - but nothing to do but "to go on home" - well, there is always Spiderman 3 to get caught up on?! No boredom for the return home - still lots of action - stopping crimes or stopping the nursing shortage - lots to be done!
Welcome home - Bonnie
CRASH TEST DUMMIES LYRICS
"Superman's Song"
Tarzan wasn't a ladies' man
He'd just come along and scoop 'em up under his arm
Like that, quick as a cat in the jungle
But Clark Kent, now there was a real gent
He would not be caught sittin' around in no
Junglescape, dumb as an ape doing nothing
[Chorus:]
Superman never made any money
For saving the world from Solomon Grundy
And sometimes I despair the world will never see
Another man like him
Hey Bob (Pat?), Supe had a straight job
Even though he could have smashed through any bank
In the United States, he had the strength, but he would not
Folks said his family were all dead
Their planet crumbled but Superman, he forced himself
To carry on, forget Krypton, and keep going
Tarzan was king of the jungle and Lord over all the apes
But he could hardly string together four words: "I Tarzan, You Jane."
Sometimes when Supe was stopping crimes
I'll bet that he was tempted to just quit and turn his back
On man, join Tarzan in the forest
But he stayed in the city, and kept on changing clothes
In dirty old phonebooths till his work was through
And nothing to do but go on home
Mt. Everest
Visitor — Wed, 05/30/2007 - 14:38Way to go Pat. What an amazing accomplishment. You have certainly made all of us nurses proud here at the Richland OR. Take care and get some much needed rest. Janet Haynes,RN
WELCOME HOME PAT!
johnhickey — Wed, 05/30/2007 - 16:39We are so happy for both you and Carol to hear you will be home today! Enjoy your time together and we look forward to seeing you both in June!
John, Jane, Donny, David & Julia
Great talking to you!
Visitor — Wed, 05/30/2007 - 21:56Pat,
Thanks so much for calling today. We are so glad you are back in the big city of IRMO, SC!! I can't wait to hear more about your trip and see your photos!! I'm glad you had a safe flight and now you can get some much needed rest and enjoy this wonderful hot, dry, weather! I will give you a couple of months to rest before I call you for a panel hearing, maybe!! Hopefully, soon we can get together and eat some of Kevin's drunken chicken and enjoy your photo's.
Take care,
Phyllis & Ashlyn
hooray!
Paula Graling — Wed, 05/30/2007 - 22:46Pat and Carol- - glad to hear that Pat is home safe and sound. Enjoy your time together. Bonnie and I will give you a few days off before we get you to help us with the paperwork :) Congrats we are so proud of you and how you have represented nursing!
Paula
Welcome home Pat!!
Sandra D — Wed, 05/30/2007 - 23:56Carol, thanks for letting us know that Pat made it on his flight back to the USA. Welcome home Pat! You deserve a rest! Mission accomplished!
Sandra
Hi from kathmandu
Visitor — Fri, 06/01/2007 - 06:00Hi Pat, so glad you made it home safely!!!we figured you had got a quick flight out when we came to the Vajra and you were not there..we had a few beers up the top of the hotel which was great, awesome view of some of the city up there.......you missed out on that hug mate and Mike says he stills owes you $20....( you will definatly have to come and visit us now) I am having an incredible time here I really love it, it is great to see Mike and spend some time here before we go back to the real world, Mike is really looking forward to seeing the kids.......Had a couple of days with Rob and Anna they left on the 31st and Mike D left on the 30th....we are in Pokhara at the moment and back to kathmandu tomorrow and we fly out to Bangkok on the 3rd of June. Mike got some of his summit photos developed they are fanrastic I bet you have got many of yours developed too. we are off to do more shopping and have a look around..looking forward to staying in touch with you and look forward to meeting you some day soon...Wendy ( Mike says thanks for a great trip, and for being a good tent neighbour!!!!pretty memorable trip aye???take care Mike)
Welcome back Pat
Visitor — Sat, 06/02/2007 - 15:04"Climb the Mountains and get their good tidings. Nature's peace will flow into you as sunshine flows into the trees. The winds will blow their own freshness into you, and the storms their energy, while cares will drop off like falling leaves." John Muir
Prithvi Reddy
EAT
Demento — Sat, 06/02/2007 - 15:49You're skinnier than usual, Pat. How much weight did you drop? Eat some Mexican food. I'm off to Texas for 2 1/2weeks. When are you journeying to Colorado? David