On The Trail Again - Day 4

< Newer | Older > Thu, 05/10/2007 - 16:12 — Patrick

Buddhist Monastery at Tengboche. Taken by Pat Hickey on May 10, 2007.Day #44

Location: Pangboche
Altitude: 3930m
Local Time: 9:45pm / May 10
Weather: Warm (60's) cloudy/windy

Today we were visited in our guest house by a group of adventurers who will be attempting to parajet over Mt. Everest. A parajet is a parapent (rectangular parachute with a seat/harness) with a motor attached. Within the group was Bear Gryills who is the star of the Discovery Channel series, "Man vs. Wild". I have watched this show a few times and have always been impressed how Bear is able to be dropped into the wilderness and survive by using his talent and skills as a survivalist! Visit their website (www.parajet.com) for a link to their Mt. Everest adventure!

Today we hiked to Tengboche to visit a beautiful Buddhist Monastery (see picture). Enroute we passed through rhododendrom forests, heard birds singing, and saw flowers blooming. Spring is definitely here on the lower slopes of Mt. Everest. The monastery itself is very ornate and we attended an afternoon prayer ritual of buddhist monks. On our departure a younger monk approached and asked if we would be able to troubleshoot his computer. We were led into very private quarters where this 25 yr. old had a brand new computer as the centerpiece of his barren room. After quick exam we were able to help him with his computer and he was most gracious. It was so interesting to see this young buddhist monk, with a computer, in the middle of a mountain village where there were only basic facilities to be seen!

One of the highlights of my day was being interviewed on my favorite radio station, Rock 93.5, in Columbia, SC. It was nice to have this connection to home and the opportunity to let the listening audience know about the looming nursing shortage, and my quest to raise money for the Summit Scholarship. Unfortunately my voice was quite hoarse as I am battling a sinus infection and a mild touch of the Khumbu cough ... but the connection was clear and I got the message across! Thanks Dave & Charlie!

My wife Carol has now joined the Summit Scholarship Challenge as her company, "SC Heart Center" has donated $1000.00. Carol is challenging all other hospitals/medical practices/nursing organizations, etc. to meet the challenge also! Thanks for your hard work Carol ... your the best! And thanks to SC Heart Center for being a Mt. Kiliminjaro level contributor!

Your Messages:

Carol:
Hi sweetheart. Hope that you had a great trip to California today. Look forward to receiving your emails and text messages regarding your visit and wish that I could be there with you!

I love you and miss you terribly :>)

Pat :>)

AORN Friends:

Bonnie ... thanks so much for the Van Morrison lyrics and the "moon theme" of both lyrics and the lunar cycles!
Carol is from Clark, SD which is above Watertown. Nice area ... but too flat for me!
At present suffering from a bad sinus infection so can't tell the difference in the air ... only that it is a challenge to breathe!

Charl ... thanks for the posting and appreciate the prayers! Do you think AORN will meet the challenge thrown out by my wife Carol?

Lisa ... great to hear from you and glad that you can live vicariously through my adventures ... from the warmth of your living room! Conditions have not been too bad, but we are getting spoiled by nice weather, and the variety of food here in the valley! Say hi to all at AORN and hope that they can meet the challenge thrown out by my wife Carol!

Canadian Friends:

John, Jane, & Family ... great to hear from you and thanks for the updates!
Glad that the kids are busy and great that you are starting a new job! Hopefully you won't have the same challenges with employees at this new job!
Thanks for keeping Mom & Dad up to date!

Palmetto Health Friends:

Kate ... great to hear from you and glad that you are still working on raising funds for the Summit Scholarship! If you listened to Rock 93.5 today you would have heard my hoarse voice. Hope that you and the baby are well and can't wait to see you and your belly!

Sandra ... great job on mobilizing the troops at Palmetto Health Richland! Sounds quite impressive what Levi is doing and appreciate that Kate is helping too!
I love the Florence Nightengale quote and plan to use this one alot in future interviews ... thanks so much!

USC Friends:

USC SNA girls ... thanks so much for your posting on the blog! I am so happy for all of you and can't believe that convocation is here for you already! It was my pleasure to be with all of you in Baltimore (loved the angelic singing on the way home), but most importantly I enjoyed having all of you as my students. Please enjoy your convocation and graduation and do keep in touch! Look forward to seeing all of you on my return ... as each of you decide to pursue even higher education! Dr. H :>)

All The Others:

Sally (Ward's Mom) .... great to hear from you but at present our team is split up as Ward/Bo/Rob are in basecamp, while Mike (NZ), Mike (GB), Anna and myself are "down valley" resting! I will save this message for Ward/Bo.

Jen ... thanks for the posting and will relay to Bo your request for 24 hrs! Many thanks for the prayers!

Steve ...thanks mate, nice to be getting all this support it means a lot to me, I have a small koru on my high altitude down suit so I'm taking all my mates from Air Nz with me to the top. Just resting at low altitude 3900m / 13,100ft. The air is so thick down here compaired to base camp. bye for now mike

MC ... thanks for throwing out your challenge to others to provide quotes as you do as we love the quotes! Bring them on!
We continue to enjoy warm weather and great food!

Bill & Michele ... no word yet on calling us back to basecamp but we are hoping to be back there within a week! In the meantime we enjoy warm spring like weather, a bed, and a great variety of food! Have not heard from any television stations yet but have been interviewed by radio and newspaper this week!

Evie ... great to hear from you again! If you decide to trek to basecamp keep in touch so I can help you with logistics. As I spoke to my wife Carol this morning on the sat phone there were so many trekkers that passed by me on the trail. They looked they were having great fun! Thanks for the prayers. I recall that you said you received your law degree at USC ... if in a practice, maybe you can challenge your group to contribute to the Summit Scholarship!

Ken ... thanks for being the first Kiwi to accept Mike's challenge! I appreciate it! Thanks also for the update on Paul and Fi ... I look forward to meeting her at basecamp!

Jean ... I'm not sure what the balance is for the Summit Scholarship but am sure that Liesl can update us with those numbers.
We continue to wait for our call and are enjoying life "in the valley"!
Happy National Nurses Week!

David (aka Demento) ... no pulse ox here so unable to do as requested! Wish we could have brought one from basecamp!
Have a bad sinus infection, no decongestants, and a clinic two days away! Any recommendations on antibiotics?
Signed ... desparate to breathe!

Messages

the MC quote challenge...

jfayne1 — Thu, 05/10/2007 - 19:24

"Strength does not come from physical capacity. It comes from an indomitable will." Mahatma Gandhi

End of the Semester

Visitor — Thu, 05/10/2007 - 22:09

Pat,
I have just posted the grades for 231. 1 C+, 2 B's, 7 B+'s and the rest A's. One of the B+'s is appealing her grade. The group project did her in. Her appeal will be waiting for you back in the REALl world!!
We had a great time in SD. The most sobering sight was on the missle silo & command center tour. Seeing the minuteman missle in the silo bought home how close we came ( and may still ) to destroying the world. As ususal Rushmore and the Badlands did not disappoint.
I am off to Window Rock Saturday to appear before the NAvajo Human Research Board of Review to get material approved so I can start some educational programs. I am so sad I will be missing Research Camp?!?
Connvocation went well today and tomorrow is graduation. It is great to see how excited the students get. Hang in there. Jane

Thousand Oaks, California

Visitor — Thu, 05/10/2007 - 22:52

Hey Pat,
I'm here with Kim at lovely Thousand Oaks, California. All flights on-time (but then you'd hope so when you have a 6am departure). Kim says hello and Dale is not home from work yet. Your article came out in the State today and I gave mom and some friends the heads up about the radio interview. Please get rid of that Khumbu cough and sinus infection! Will keep in touch from the West Coast!
Love you,
Carol

Hi Pat ,today is

Visitor — Thu, 05/10/2007 - 23:25

Hi Pat ,today is International Nurses Day in New Zealand !Probably the rest of the world tomorrow because of the date change .All nurses in Auckland received fresh fruit kebabs just to remind us of the day and the multicultural aspect of nursing . Message for Michael ,the babes are well ,I minded them last night while Wendy went to Julie's for dinner [both lonely as your there and Mat is in Hong Kong ]Maya slept from 6pm and was still sleepy when I collected her for creche this morning .She's such a busy little bee . Ethan was delighted last night to "Find the Key" on his game .First time its been done !! I'm busy recording the 6 sessions of Extreme Everest -with Mark Ingils-up to no 3. Love and Blessings Mum

Interesting people

Mary Clare Reinhardt — Thu, 05/10/2007 - 23:30

Hi Pat and company

I can imagine the fascinating people you are meeting on this great expedition. I have not yet seen "Man vs. Wild" but I'll bet it is very interesting. Bear Gryills would definitely win on that Reality T.V. show "Survivor" (a show I definitely do not watch)!

Well, again, so far so good although I hope that your sinus infection and mild touch of the Khumbu cough will disappear quickly, Pat.

Take good care everyone,
MC

Hi Pat

Visitor — Thu, 05/10/2007 - 23:57

Hi Pat, are you able to ask Mike what the situation is with his email, is he able to check his hotmail? Thanks Wendy.....looks like I missed out on my fruit kebab!!!

Greetings Pat!

Sandra D — Fri, 05/11/2007 - 00:30

I missed the radio interview. We couldn't get that station in Rehab. The State paper article was great and I'm going to post it for our patients. Jim Roth told me that tomorrow (Friday) he would get the word out so we'll keep our fingers crossed. I sure do hope you get some antibiotics so you can mend before you climb the big hill! I just know you are going to make it! I read that the Sherpas believe that the mountain allows those with a just cause will be successful in the summit attempt. I can't think of anyone with a cause that is more just than your's.
"Enjoy when you can and endure when you must." Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe

Take care Pat
Sandra

From Your Dean

pohewlett — Fri, 05/11/2007 - 01:02

Pat - we enjoyed the CON convocation today and spoke about our "new firsts!" You were among them as the pioneer nurse scaling the 7 peaks. Causing quite a stir over here, I might add. Thinking of you as you prepare for the summit. Take care and know many, around the world, are cheering you on! -peggy

Hi Pat

sed52 — Fri, 05/11/2007 - 01:45

Hi Pat
I enjoyed reading the article in the State Newspaper today. I also read the article on line that appeared in the Charleston paper. The visit to the Buddhist Monastery sounds fascinating. In the last few years I have studied Buddhism. I find the meditation and staying in the present helps me deal with the inevitable stress that goes with being a nurse. But I also want to emphasize to anyone thinking about being a nurse just how rewarding a job it is and for me it has always felt like my calling.
I missed the interview on 93.5 I work night shift all the time so that is the way it goes sometimes.
I met Bear Grylls in late March in California he was giving a talk about his Mt. Everest climb at age 23 he was the youngest person from the UK to have ever completed the Everest climb.

One of my favorite inspirational quotes goes like this and I think is appropriate to your quest. "In the confrontation between the river and the rock,the river always wins...not through strength ,but by perseverance."

I look forward to hearing you talk about your successful summit of Everest.
Sending you and everyone in your group my best wishes.Stay safe and focused.
Susan Danieley

inhalations!!!

book — Fri, 05/11/2007 - 03:10

pat . try inhalations of hot hot water containing menthol, camphor, or eucalyptus if you have any. if you cant get a decongestive like pseudoephedrine the best antibiotics are probably co-amoxiclav[augmentin] or cefaclor. hope this helps [ken.nz]

A few quotes to hold you over!

Mary Clare Reinhardt — Fri, 05/11/2007 - 03:33

Hey Pat and team

I am leaving for a quick training hike on Mt. Rainier. We will go up to Camp Muir (10,188 feet). Since I will be off line for a few days, thought I would give you a few extra quotes!!! MC

"Follow your passion for it will take you far beyond your everyday life." mc

"It is a spark in the imagination that will ignite your creativity and set you on fire." mc

"Allow things to fall into place by setting up the groundwork for things to fall into." mc

"Testing one's limits may create a risk factor but it is the only way to find out what you are truly capable of." mc

sinuses

Demento — Fri, 05/11/2007 - 04:10

Pat. look for Cephalasporins(Keflex), Quinolones (Levaquin, Cipro), or Macrolides(erythromycin,zithromax). Take a double dose to start with. Ask if anybody in the vicinity has a Netti Pot. (If they do, they will know how to use it-ask Scandanavians, especially). If the clinic has a large syringe and clean water(sterile saline, better), warm the water, lean your head forward 45 degrees and squirt the water under low pressure, up your nose toward the top of you head. If you get flow out of the other nostril, you've done it correctly. Dissolve some salt in the warm water. This can be amazingly effective; both palliative, and as a cure. Be careful with decongestants, as they can be very dehydrating-use a lower dose. Keep me posted. If you get near a pulse ox in BC, check your sat. David

AORN Bonnie

Visitor — Fri, 05/11/2007 - 05:13

Hey Pat
I agree with David (Demento) and Ken.nz about sinus remedies. I have had numerous bouts of sinuses (altho admittedly, none after acclimatization up to 24,000 ft) I have found gargling helps soothe the nasopharynx to promote drainage. Eucalyptus is great in the warm saline if you can add that when gargling. Denver gets so dry (and I would think you are in a similar lack of humidity) a steam room or breathing steam over boiling water on the stove with a towel over your head might help break up the congestion. For headache, try warm packs over maxillary sinuses especially when teeth are aching and inverting your head (or laying face down) to promote draining. Irrigation with Netti Pot also soothes. ugh - so sorry you have to have air pockets in your head clogged!
Here are some Jimmy Buffet lyrics to boost your morale?! Note that I made a few suggested changes from his original version
Changes In Latitudes, Changes In Attitudes (changes in altitudes?)
I took off for a weekend last month (insert - I took off for the Himalyas last month)
Just to try and recall the whole year.
All of the faces and all of the places,
wonderin' where they all disappeared.
I didn't ponder the question too long;
I was hungry and went out for a bite.
Ran into a chum with a bottle of rum,
and we wound up drinkin' all night.

It's those changes in latitudes,
changes in attitudes nothing remains quite the same.
With all of our running and all of our cunning,
If we couldn't laugh, we would all go insane.

[Chorus:]
These changes in latitudes, changes in attitudes,
Nothing remains quite the same.
Through all of the islands and all of the highlands,
If we couldn't laugh we would all go insane

Reading departure signs in some big airport (or visiting Buddhist monastaries?)
Reminds me of the places I've been.
Visions of good times that brought so much pleasure
Makes me want to go back again.
If it suddenly ended tomorrow,
I could somehow adjust to the fall.
Good times and riches and son of a bitches,
I've seen more than I can recall

[Chorus]

I think about Paris (So Carolina?) when I'm high on red wine (high in Nepal),
I wish I could jump on a plane.
And so many nights I just dream of the ocean (Everest summit).
God, I wish I was sailin' (climbing?) again.
Oh, yesterdays are over my shoulder,
So I can't look back for too long.
There's just too much to see waiting in front of me,
and I know that I just can't go wrong
with these...

[Chorus]

Wishing you good luck

Visitor — Fri, 05/11/2007 - 10:58

Hi Pat,

My name is Dana Weissbach (nee McCabe) - daughter of Eddie McCabe and Pam Moore of Almonte and Carp.

Although I don't believe we've ever met, I know your family well, especially Kevin.

Did my father ever teach you in elementary school? Did you learn any Buddy Holly in school? Ha, ha.

My husband, Chris was also a lineman at U of O and played right beside Kevin - to this day they are still good buddies.

Anyways, heard you were up on Everest and we wanted to wish you Good Luck!

Sincerely,
Dana

best wishes

rajendra singh — Fri, 05/11/2007 - 13:01

well I sincerely wish you should stand on the summit of mount everest.Here's wishing you the best and all the goodwill from indians.
rajendra singh