Tibetan Travels: Part II

Part II:

THE GRAND TRAVERSE

It was lightly raining on the morning we had chosen for the Grand Traverse route in Teton National Park. This climb crosses nine of the mightiest peaks in the range, and includes more than 12,000ft of vertical ascent and descent in fourteen miles. The traverse is an ultra-classic alpine route in North America.

Forcing down a peanut butter and banana sandwich at 12:30am is no easy task, but I would need it to make it through the next 24 hours of climbing. I was eager and keyed up. Would the weather hold? Would I feel good? How would our team interact? So much new information lay ahead.

Ascending trails, crossing snow fields, and scrambling steep and wet rock in the drizzle of an early morning storm is a questionable undertaking. Mark, Andy and I trudged steadily uphill over the next four hours with the first summit in the link-up looming then hiding above. As we gained altitude I was in a trance-like state, listening to my breath and absorbing the mechanical step after step in the darkness. My motivation was the happy knowledge that soon I would be on the high alpine section of the mountain, moving over more technical fun terrain. The adrenaline-filled feeling and clarity in focus that comes from exciting climbing makes it all worthwhile.

Lightning and thunder cracked in the distance and the stars were veiled by thick cells of clouds overhead. After climbing roughly 3,500ft we stopped to reassess. The weather looked poor. With some careful evaluation, we decided to finish the scramble to the first summit and to keep an eye on the storm pattern as we moved up. Andy rambled along in his long smooth strides, with Mark nearby in his powerful precise steps, and the three of us chatted casually as we moved over the rocks, occasionally pausing to size up the weather trend.

We got lucky with a break in the storm and managed to top out another 2,000ft later on the summit of Teewinot at 12,800ft. Then, it was time to make a serious decision. To move forward on the traverse would commit us to climbing peaks with no bail-out option for the next few hours, putting us at risk of both an electrical storm and other dangers of bad weather in the exposed high mountains.

We pondered and evaluated for thirty minutes. Mark, a positive initiator, suggested we follow-out the traverse to access the situation further. Andy and I agreed, and the three of us climbed for another fifteen minutes, looking out at the Grand Teton from a ledge high point. It looked grim, and we mutually decided to retreat. Retracing our steps back to the Teewinot saddle, we began our descent to 7,200ft.

We made the right choice. By the time we arrived back to the parking lot near Jenny Lake, the storm had moved in and surrounded the entire length of the Teton range. Our team had worked through its first challenge.

“Now let’s go sport climbing,” the fellas declared. With their ever present enthusiasm and high energy, Andy and Mark led the way to our next soon to be rain-filled adventure that afternoon.

BEYOND THE MOUNTAIN

Climbing is often considered a self-interest sport. This may or may not be true, but often times when we pass through remote and destitute countries to explore their mountains it becomes important for us to find a way to give back to the culture that gives so much to us in our travels.

To begin our journey, we will arrive to Kathmandu, and after a few days running last minute errands in the city, we travel overland by jeep through Nepal, across the border and up a short distance into Tibet. Once in Tibet, we will cross through villages and over the Tibetan plateau, gaining altitude slowly each day until we arrive at base camp (16,400ft).

As exciting as this expedition is for us personally, we have decided to utilize this trip as a vehicle through which to make a meaningful contribution to the region. The Himalaya ( “abode of snow” as literally translated from Sanskrit) is home to the world’s largest mountains and some of the most warm and kind people we have ever met.

The dZi Foundation (www.dzifoundation.org) is an outstanding organization making a difference in the Himalayas by appropriately and prudently improving the lives of those whom they assist. Through considerable research and our personal meaningful connections with this group, we have chosen the dZi Foundation as it is doing some of the most effective and constructive work in the Himalayan region.

The dZi Foundation works primarily in Nepal, and through identifying communities’ specific needs, they implement lasting solutions. Many of the projects focus on access and advancement to education, clean water and sanitation, as well as the reduction of poverty. All funds donated will be contributed to the “Revitalize a Village” (RAV) Program that implements permanent solutions for rural areas of Nepal.

We are excited to help bring more awareness to this successful effort, and to the notable work of all those involved with the Foundation.

As of August 26, 2010, we have raised $1,156.00 and hope to keep this number rising. If you are interested in donating to the Foundation, please make checks payable to:

(In the name of team) FA Shisha
The dZi Foundation
PO Box 632
Ridgway CO, 81432

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