“On a Mish” #433 The Day Sagarmatha Shook (Part Two). Kathmandu / Solukumbu, Nepal. 29.4.2015. The drive to Thamel Eco Resort in Kathmandu was a sobering one. What hadn’t toppled over in the quake was being propped up by poles, and signs of destruction were everywhere. Even though the city is 167km away from the epicentre it wasn’t spared the wrath of Mother Nature’s angry side. Very little was safe the day Sagarmatha shook, and away from the city the devastation was just as, if not even more, horrendous…
After meeting the very first ‘Active Hearts Foundation Charity Trek’ team, we took to the wild skies of Nepal (always an adventure in itself!) heading for a very small airstrip at a village called Phaplu. This was in a remote location east of Kathmandu and south of Sagarmatha Mt Everest known as Solukumbu. From here we were on foot making our way towards an even smaller village called Gurdel. The village is home to Bibek’s (a friend and workmate of Dan’s) family and friends, and one of the most scenic spots I have ever been to.
The hike to Gurdel was tough, with earthquake damage present the whole way. Each day was long but with the reward of excellent Nepali food at each stop. We needed the fuel for the undulating terrain we were tackling. It took us three days and nights to get to Gurdel and by the time we arrived our bodies were shot from the many ups and downs. However, tiredness had to take a back seat as we were welcomed to the village by its citizens and the real reason we all made the trek together to this magnificent country began.
Along with Dan and Arjun, we also had a couple of nurses with us, and they were extremely valuable when it came to helping those who hadn’t received any assistance. Some needed bandages, some medication, but some needed way more help than we could provide and, due to their location, all the girls could do was offer light pain relief. These were the times when you realise how lucky we are back home to have medical help close by.
Over the next couple of days Dan had meetings with village elders and the people of another small village south of Gurdel. It was amazing seeing Dan and his right-hand-man Arjun meeting with village representatives as they discussed what was most urgent. This was a big change from when Dan and I used to go on missions into the pubs and clubs of Queenstown!
After a couple of days living in Gurdel we had to hit the road and begin our quest back home. To get home we would go via Lukla which is where nearly everyone starts their quest to the base or top of Sagarmatha Mt Everest. Each day the biggest peaks got closer until we were under them amongst the hustle of the surprisingly busy Nepali town. Our journey was nearly over, with the only thing left being taking off from the world’s most dangerous airport…
