Reflections on Everest
Dear Rudy,
I always write a journal when I travel, recording sights, sounds, smells and
feelings along the way. So when you requested listeners' travel journal
excerpts, I thought I'd send you one of mine. This is from my first trip to
Nepal, a country l fell madly in love with and have since returned to
several times.
-- OCTOBER 1986 from Gorak Shep, Nepal (near Everest base camp)
We climbed Kali Pattar at over 18,000 feet to watch the sunset on Mt.
Everest. For this is it, yes, the highest peak on Earth. This is what I have
come to Nepal to feast my eyes on. And the sight leaves me wanting more time
to stare, gawk, and worship this mighty hunk of rock. With Everest, and
Nuptse before me, I have mixed emotions. Joyful and exuberant and reflective
and withdrawn. The moment I have waited eight years to experience, has at
last arrived.
The sun sets, the peaks turn to dim gold and a faint pink. The show is over
all too fast and it is time to go. I linger until the bitter end, until the
last evening rays are gone. I am the last to leave, slowly moving down by
headlamp, lifting my head occasionally to the glow of the peaks once the
light is gone. The tears flow freely, at last the dream is mine. I have seen
the roof of the world. The moment will be treasured forever.
Jean
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