Vacationing at Everest Base Camp: The Himalyan Burning Man?

by Neil Woodburn on

About 15 years ago I was in Nepal considering spending a week hiking to the Everest Base Camp. Because of time constraints, however, I opted against the long trip.

After reading High Times, Kevin Fedarko’s intriguing account of life at the base camp published in this next month’s Outside Magazine (August 2008), I now wished I had.

As it turns out, Everest Base Camp is an amazing amalgamation of nationalities and personalities that comes together for three months of the year in hopes of bagging the world’s tallest peak. The metropolis which arises can grow to 1,000 people and be so eccentric that Fedarko calls it the “Himalayan version of Burning Man.”

Rich Texans, poor Czechs, Polish Playboy Bunnies, and an oddball assortment of other characters all rub elbows here in various degrees of comfort and discomfort–depending upon how much they’ve spent on their expeditions. Base Camp, it appears, has nearly all the comforts of home–including a satellite dish and 360 pound generator one group of climbers had flown in by Russian helicopter. And of course, there is a baseball diamond as well. What base camp would be complete without one?

And then, of course, there is the enormous Sherpa population who are in charge of making sure all these numb-nuts stay alive. Some of their nicknames are rather humorous; the Ice Doctors tend to the dangerous route across the Khumbu Icefall while the Poop Doctors clear out the solid waste from the latrines (charging $1.05 per pound).

My favorite, however are the Butter People. This is what the Sherpas call the pampered western climbers who pay a fortune to have their hands held while “climbing” Everest.

I suppose I would have been a Butter Person, or at least a poser, had I made it to the camp 15 years ago. But I wouldn’t have cared; at least I would have been there to experience all of this.

Cruise Ships; Catering to a Younger Demographic

by Neil Woodburn on

A friend of mine once said, “death before cruise ships.”

It was in response to the prospect of a group vacation in which someone suggested a cruise ship as one of our options.

Like my friend, I also have a negative impression of cruise ships. Since I have never been on one, this negative impression is based on unfounded stereotypes that have nonetheless been strong enough to keep me from stepping on board. I know, this is wrong, but I can’t quite seem to shake it.

So, what are my beliefs regarding cruises? They are full of old, lazy people who eat all day and, if they are feeling particularly frisky, might play a round of shuffleboard between meals.

This is of course, not entirely true–at least according to Richard D. Fain, chief executive of Royal Caribbean Cruises.

In a recent New York Times interview, the CEO expressed dismay over the narrow minded view that people like myself have regarding cruises. He admits that cruises do skew towards the older demographic but that the industry is eagerly trying to change by incorporating more active activities on board, like surfing, rock climbing, and ice skating.

The result has been a decrease in the average age to just 42 years old.

Well, I suppose this is all great for the industry, but personally it’s still not enough to sell me; until things drastically change, I’ll remain part of the 85 percent of the American population that has never cruised.

Cold Drinks on the Trail

by Neil Woodburn on

There is nothing quite like an icy cold drink while huffing it up the side of a mountain in the summertime with a 40 pound pack.

Unfortunately, most backpack-worthy mountain tops don’t have a 7-11 to serve you some cold goodness.

One of the tricks I’ve learned is to freeze a bottle of Gatorade the night before and it will slowly melt along the trail the next day, giving you a wonderful, slushy headache every time you sip. The only problem is controlling the melt rate and the separation of flavors that occurs as a result.

So, here is an alternative idea I just came across. The PolarPak is your typical Camel Bak hydration unit that sits on your back and is easily accessible by sucking on an attached tube. The big difference, however, is that the PolarPak is insulated with a “non-toxic freezer gel” that can be frozen the night before. The gel will then keep fluids cold without diluting them. Pretty cool! And, as an extra added bonus, the website promises that it also, “makes a great icepack for trailside emergencies.”

I’m very curious how long the gel will stay frozen, however. Of course, it depends on the weather, but if it can last for more than five hours, this would most definitely be a worthy investment.

70oz: $29.95 | 100oz: $30.95

Clif Bars now Producing Wine

by Neil Woodburn on

Clif Bars are a staple part of any backpacking trip I’ve ever been on.

These chewy energy bars, in my opinion, are the best on the market–they are neither too much like cookies nor too much like paste. They’ve got great flavors such as Cool Mint Chocolate, Peanut Toffee Buzz, Crunchy Peanut butter and they are all packed with carbohydrates, protein, and fiber to increase blood sugar levels and boost energy.

The family owned business, which has done quite well providing outdoorsmen with all the healthy nutrients they need, are now branching out to a product with entirely different benefits: wine.

Clif Bar Family Wines comes to us from a plot of land in Napa Valley on which the family practices sustainable farming. So far, the vineyards have produced just four vintages:

The Climber, 2004 North Coast Red Wine
Kit’s killer cab, 2003 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon
Gary’s Improv, 2003 Napa Valley Meritage
Syrah, 2004 Napa Valley

Bottles range from $15 to $35 and can be purchased here.

I haven’t tried any myself but certainly will. In the meantime, it brings a smile to my face that after decades of getting us to the top of mountains, the Clif family is now providing entertainment for us once we’re there.

Danger Dome

by Erik Olsen on

You should check out this article in the San Francisco Chronicle a few weekends ago called “DANGER ON THE DOME“. It’s all about the climbing culture of Yosemite‘s Half Dome and how the famous rock has become so absurdly popular that a wait to ascend may take over an hour.

The Park Service does what it can to reduce crowds, or not, but it seems that there are just too many adrenaline junkies out there who want to do it. You can check out some of the interesting facts at the end that provide info on deaths in the park. Interestingly, it seems people are more likely to die in water accidents…say falling through ice or something. Probably just a product of the much larger numbers in the park these days. Wow.