By Jennifer Lowe-Anker | Progress Report February 2007
Kathmandu, Nepal was a calmer place this January 2007 with the newly reformed government in place. We met with NMA president, Ang Tsering Sherpa and officials to discuss plans for the ongoing Khumbu Climbing School. We also had the privilege of meeting with Elizabeth Hawley, famed historian of Kathmandu who gave a verbal endorsement.
The village of Phortse, Nepal welcomed the 2007 Khumbu Climbing School for a fourth consecutive year from January 14th through the 25th. A total of 56 men and women from various regions of Nepal comprised to form 7 groups of beginning, intermediate and advanced students. Included in the group were five porters recommended by Porter's Progress for scholarship attendance.
We were happy to have seven Nepali climbing guides including Gelbu Sherpa and Pasang Llamu Sherpa of NMA join our 15 western guides for teaching technical climbing. All were under the direction of fourth year guide, Adam Knoff. Our English program was directed by Lila Bishop who engaged five Nepali instructors for an excellent course of beginning and advanced classes. We were lucky to have Dr. Luanne Freer who is known to the Khumbu region for her outstanding Everest ER (www.basecampmd.com) join us. She taught wilderness medical classes which included outdoor rescue scenarios. Phillip Henderson of NOLS (National Outdoor Leadership School) joined Pete Athans to host a leadership seminar. At graduation, we awarded two scholarships to attend a NOLS course in the U.S. during the summer of 2007. Our school celebrated another successful year with no injuries.
The Khumbu Climbing School is an annual vocational training and instructional program for Nepali climbers. The school is designed to increase technical competency of Nepali people who work and climb in the mountain regions. Training is conducted on frozen waterfalls and rock outcrops near the village of Phortse.
Saturday January 20th offered us the opportunity to share Losar, the traditional celebration of New Year with the village of Phortse. We hosted a tea to honor 26 elders of the village and spent an enjoyable afternoon learning some history of the region and sharing some joy.
See the KCS 2006 Progress Report at http://www.alexlowe.org/06_kcs.shtml
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