2007 November 6, 2007
Second part of the story ...
October 11: mounted Lonak, 4600m. The climb is sunny, and is a very good pace, wind is fresh, the Himalayan peaks out through the clouds is beautiful! For the first time I see Edelweiss, I'm surrounded by snowy peaks that make me dream: I weep for joy! Girls give me an Edelweiss, now is the magical and intense!
We continue the climb and we arrive at the intersection of valleys, a place covered with grass dominated by towering peaks ... There is a river with sandy beaches, it is surprising to see the sand at this altitude. My little shower is very cool, but it's a good crazy!
The head banging a bit, but it's worth so e is beautiful around me! A superb vulture flew over us what majestic bird! And we will also see mountain goats ... fauna is richer than the Aconcagua!
The night is cool, -5 °, the tent is frozen, the grass crunches under my feet when I go to pee at 3:30 am. My sleeping bag was not warm enough, so that the night was pretty bad! But ...
October 12: The clock is magic, the sun warms us from 6:30 in the morning, wake up the tops lightly with grandeur and majesty! Youngest discussion with french, and we leave for the base camp of Kanchenjunga. The peaks are towering around me, I'm happy! In the valley, the mist gives an air of mystery to the landscape! girls and I are excited and happy to be there for us ... all is well, but for the Korean (Miss Song), it's hard, it has very little to the head, it moves more slowly than usual . We take care of it by giving him biscuits, and water, Alexia takes his bag, Sylvie and I take the affairs of Alexia, Sylvie gives him an aspirin and walk with her in the mist and wind joined us ... Later, she will be fine.
Arrive at base camp to 13h. Kanchenjunga is not seen, or else sees through the fog. And then suddenly, there it is, imposing, majestic and beautiful. What a mountain!
A Dutchman, John and his wife are here, it tries the top, and she expects to CB. They are both beautiful. He is in love with this mountain, it's the 3rd time he tries, and this time, in 6000, it's too dangerous, so he decided that his life is not worth the trouble. He and his wife is happy too!
At base camp, a Puja is performed for two Korean climbers missing in 1999. The evening is relaxing. The CB is very clean at first, but by going to the right and left are cans, and waste hidden under stones! No system of waste collection in Nepal, so Nepal that are outside the village in the holes.
October 13: magnificent revival of the peaks around the CB, it was cold, the tents are covered with frost, and some clothes left outside are hard like cardboard! Breakfast is quietly with the sun that warms us, and we Kanchenjunga offers an exceptional and majestic.
9, the cleaning begins, the waste is grouped under stones or in waste pits, cleaning is done in one hour, and we (Korean and French) reap 100kg of waste, mostly cans, wrappers, bottles glass. The waste is sorted to be "managed" (landfill) in Kathmandu. Leave the batteries found in my bag with me to France where they will be recycled ... I did the same on Aconcagua in Argentina.
Around 12pm, the Koreans back down. I stay with the girls a few more hours, and we go for a walk above the CB to the Dromo Peak. The views are magnificent, the atmosphere is warm and funny as usual with the girls. Around 14h, I leave for Lonak, it's hard to say goodbye to the girls, it means so much.
It will take me 2 hours to reach the Korean camp LOnak. During this walk, I'm all alone in the middle of the valley, the mood and the atmosphere is quiet and magical. I feel very small and very alone so the tops are huge! The sky is deep blue, the snow is pure, the lines are soft in the evening light. I notice a large herd of mountain goats, I always looking for the snow leopard eyes, never see him ... I will not see a dry turd. The Himalayan partridge clucking around me, their song is nice, like the sound of the bells of Yaks.
I pick up the waste that I meet on my way, it's cold, my left hand is frozen and starts to be painful. I arrive at camp with hot tea waiting for me, what service!
The evening passes quietly without laughter as the girls are not there, they fail me, so I'll play cards with the carriers, it's funny how I would lose 2 Thurs 50 euro!
October 14 and days: the descent is going well, still in the midst of beautiful scenery with the colors of Fall .... I love! I see also Janu, the summit very technical, but especially impressive beauty and strength combined. The descent will be different from the rise without the girls, I do not laugh much, and at night I was alone, Koreans making no effort ... I understand. The observation of stars and play with small children in Nepal are becoming my favorite pastimes!
On October 27, I returned to Paris after a long journey and a very long wait from 14 to Daka airport in Bangladesh where I caught a cold because of air conditioning ... but I go forward to this wonderful journey I discovered a part of the Himalayas, the mountain that I so much wanted, and that always makes me feel like ...
Monday 29: I go down by train to Avignon for a conference with the Rotary Club of Orange, the people are very interested, the welcome is very warm, and encouragement are numerous. And to make things even more interesting, the Rotary Club gave me a cash donation for my projects. Without asking, they thought, and with great pleasure they gave me the check ... I thank them deeply! This gesture is very motivating because from the beginning, I finance all my projects with my savings ... it helps, but mostly it is balm to the heart to see that people believe in me and shown voluntarily. Thank you to the Rotary Club of Orange and Henry Bouachon who organized the meeting.
Today is Tuesday 30, I now heads to the White Mt where I will spend the next 3 weeks for the final draft of the sweeper tops for 2007 ... I will try to use the Mt Blanc to get my message, I hope he will accept my presence again.
Good day to you, and remember that our planet deserves an effort!
Arian, The sweeper tops
