Back To Everest

October 5, 2018

It’s no secret that Mt Everest has been a big part of my life, starting with the slide show at PLU in Tacoma, WA that my dad took me to back in 1965.  We saw the images and heard the stories from the 1963 American Everest Expedition.   As 10 year old boy I was super excited to meet expedition leader Jim Whittaker and get his autograph and that of Lute Jerstad, Tacoma’s first Everest summiteer (and PLU grad).  After that I started reading all the Everest books, and I was hooked!  Now, 53 years later, I am heading back for my 14^th trip to the mountain.  This time is different though, as we are going to the East (or Kangshung) Face.  This is the much less visited “backside” of Everest, and a place I’ve always wanted to go.

It was great to finally return to Lhasa.  I first came here in 1982 as one of the very first western climbers to the North side and since then I’ve been back a few times, but not since 2003.  Wow, the place has really changed!  Much of Lhasa now looks like any other big modern Chinese city, but fortunately the old town around the Barkhor central square remains intact.  Yesterday Anthony and I roamed this area and visited the Potala Palace and Jokhang Temple, two of the most famous and significant sites.  Tomorrow we are off to Shigatse, then on to Shegar and then to Kharta where we meet Lobsang and our Nepal Sherpa team for the 10 day trek to the Kangshung Face Base Camp.  There is a lot of history in that area including expeditions by the British in 1921, the Americans in 1981 and 83, and the 1988 US/Canada/UK team.  I’ve read so much about it and now its time to see it myself!

We’ll probably have internet for another couple days, but after that we have low expectations.  Fine with me, I can’t wait to turn off my phone and computer, put on a backpack, and start hiking!

Eric Simonson

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