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March
31
Hi Kids,
What a miserable night I had last night. I kept waking up with a headache and
a sniffly nose. I hardly slept at all and kept thinking about home and a nice
wa
rm fire. Everyone else seemed to be asleep and while I lay huddled in my sleeping
bag, I could hear the occasional snore and the soft sound of fresh snow against
the window pane. I felt really sorry for myself and could hardly wait for the
sun to come up so I could go and talk to Pat.
I went and told him how sick I felt and as usual, he said "Don't worry Freddy;
we'll sort something out for you." I went to lie down again, having no mind
for breakfast. Clare came in and gave me some medicine to get rid of my headache.
She said it was very important to drink plenty and made a hot chocolate for me
to warm me up.
Soon I heard all the trekkers gathering outside. I packed up my bags and headed
out to meet them. Next thing Pat came running up to me. "Freddy," he
panted, "I have a plan; we have organised a yak to take you from here to
Base Camp. He will carry all your own gear and will also carry you if you're
tired. The most important thing is for you to be healthy when we get to the mountain." I
couldn't believe what I was hearing. It was such a relief. I gave him a big hug
as I slung my rucksack on my back.
Outside was one of the most beautiful Yaks you could imagine. He had two little
bells hanging from his neck and the sherpas had already packed my gear on his
back. With a little help from them, I hopped up on his back and slowly followed
the trekkers towards Gorak Shep. As we ambled along, I decided on a name for
him - Sooty! - And I told him all about my trek so far and my plans to climb
Everest. He listened patiently all the way.
When we arrived at Gorak Shep, I gave him plenty water to drink and a special
feed that the sherpas made up. He slept just outside my tent, like a big pet
dog.
Freddy takes a ride on Sooty towards
Gorak Shep
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March
30th
Hi
Kids,
Today we had a cold, early start, heading further up the valley to a
village called Lobuche. While we were on the way, we saw a group of sherpas carrying
another sherpa on a stretcher to the clinic in Pheriche. He was barely moving
and looked really sick. I got a fright and asked
Pat what had happened to him. He told me that it is really important to tell
someone if you feel sick at altitude because even headaches can lead to something
very serious if you continue to go higher. As I walked along, I was thinking
about this and hoped nothing like that would happen to me.
After a couple of hours, we got to another bridge crossing and I said to the
others "I'm going to go for a dip." Clare said, "You badly need
a wash, Freddy, come on, I'll make sure you don't get carried away by the water".
I put my clothes in a neat pile and dived in. "Oh boy," I roared in
agony, this water is fffrreezzing!! The others laughed at me and tried to take
photographs while Clare scrubbed my paws and back. I thought I would pass out
with the cold and the others had to take me up to the next village to dry me
off alongside one of the stoves. All the sherpas stared at me and couldnít
believe I had tried to go for a wash in the icy glacier water!
I drank some hot noodle soup and was eventually ready to carry on to where we
are staying tonight - Lobuche. I'm sitting here, snuggled in the corner of the
dining area with a hot fire in the centre of the room and watching the snow outside..and
I'm still not clean!
Freddy goes for a quick wash in the icy water
Freddy tries to warm up again
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March
29
Hi Kids,
Today was a rest day in Pheriche. This is a bleak village at 4272m high. We
needed an extra day here to again give our bodies a chance to get used to the
thinner air. When I get dressed in the mornings now, I feel short of breath
and have to sit down! It's very strange. There is a medical clinic here that
I remember from last year and I called in there to see if any of the doctors
from last year were still around. They told me that Luanne, the medical doctor
in charge of Base Camp last year, is on her way up the valley at the moment
and should be in Base Camp around the same time as us. I'm looking forward
to meeting up with her again.
While I was there, I told the doctor that I was getting breathless when I do
anything to exert myself. He told me not to worry and said he would check my
'oxygen saturations'. I didn't know what this meant and asked him if I would
have to get any needles to have that done - I hate needles! He laughed and
said that it was a very easy test and was like putting a clothes peg on my
finger to count my pulse and check my oxygen level. He told me that at home
it should be 96-98%. I put my paw in the little gadget and within a minute
the figures turned red and read 82% and 96/min. "Oh, no," I groaned, "what
does that mean, doc?" He laughed at the worry on my face and said that
my readings were very good for this height and that I should do well! I was
thrilled and bounded back to the sunroom to tell the others my good news.
Although I had been looking forward to a hot shower in Pheriche, the owner
of the teahouse told us it was broken. I was disappointed as I
had really been looking forward to washing all the dust off my lovely fur.
Freddy outside the HRA clinic
in Pheriche
Freddy having his oxygen saturation
checked at the clinic
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March 28
Hi Kids,
What a day we had today! I was first up and finished a lovely breakfast
of hot porridge and omelettes before some of the others had even got
up! I remember the walk from Deboche to Pheriche well as Deboche
was the little village we stayed in when we came down from the
mountain for our rest week last year. I walked along happily with the group
of trekkers and looked forward to finally being able to get a hot shower in
Pheriche!
We stopped in Pangboche for a coca cola and I met this lady and her little
baby son, Pemba. They admired my new suit, although it is really dusty now!
In the nest village along the route, we had lunch and while we waited for the
food to cook, I met the owner's children who showed me how to make these cool
paper airplanes. I told them all about my flight into Lukla form Kathmandu
and they listened with their mouths open!
We arrived in Pheriche at around 2.30pm and relaxed in the sunroom
for the afternoon. In the evening, we had another sing-song - the sherpas are
great singers and so are all the trekkers. I think we kept everyone else in
the lodge awake!
Freddy's friends with
paper airplanes
Freddy with baby Pemba
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March 27
Hi Kids,
I woke feeling excited but tired. It was only 6am and time to get up and
pack our bags. We were on the move again, this time to a tiny little village
called Deboche, tucked away in a wooded Rhododendron forest. John told me last
night that the rhododendron tree first grew in Nepal.
I think its amazing that the tiny little seeds from these trees somehow made
their way all the way from Nepal to our gardens in Ireland!
We were on the move by 8am and walked for about 3 hours to our
lunch stop. While we were there, who did we bump in to but 2 of my
new Kerry heros - Mike Long and Aidan Forde who have just become
the first Irish to summit a really tough but beautiful mountain close to Everest
called Pumori (7,160m). I got this cool photo taken with them and am going
to hang this one in my bedroom too.
In the afternoon, we passed through a village called Tengboche, where there
is a big monastery with Buddhist monks and young boys from the age of 5-16
years training to become monks. While we were here, the monks did a special
blessing for the climbers and trekkers to keep them safe on the mountain.
We carried on to Deboche and camped there for the night. It was pretty cold
and I was really glad I had my own sleeping bag to snuggle into!
Freddy with Mike Long
and Aidan Forde
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March 26
Today was a rest day in Namche Bazaar. This means we still go
for a walk for 3-4 hours, but sleep a second night in the same place. This
is
to give our bodies a chance to adapt to the lower levels of oxygen. I love
this little village with its narrow winding streets, wandering yaks and trinket
shops galore.
As I wandered, I met a really nice Nepalese boy called Nima. I started
chatting to him and asked him how long he had been living in Namche. He said
just 6 months. He then began to tell me his story. Nima is 10 years of age
and lived on the streets in Kathmandu for two years. He said he left home because
his parents had very little money and he wanted to make it easier for them.
He lived on the streets, sleeping on plastic bags, in Kathmandu for almost
a year. He said there are about 5000 street children in the cities of Nepal.
He tried to make money
shoe-shining and begging but couldn't get by. He then got lucky and
met a man from Kathmandu called Ang Rita who runs a trekking company. He brought
him to Namche, where he is based and gave
him a job cooking and cleaning in his lodgings. As he gets bigger and stronger,
Nima wants to become a porter, helping to carry loads
to Everest Base Camp and eventually become a climber. I told him that
I was going to climb with an Irish team this year and he was really interested.
'I'm going to become the first Irish Bear to summit Everest!'
I told him proudly. He shook my hand, wished me luck and bounded off back to
work.
Freddy with his new friend Nima
I headed back to our lodge to meet up with the others
and have dinner. We sat huddled around the fire in the tiny little dining room
and had a sing song before heading to bed.
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March 25
Hi
Kids,
I woke feeling sleepy but excited. I hadn't slept in a tent in months and
this year, instead of having to share with Pat, I got my very own sleeping
bag made in Kathmandu and tucked it into the top corner of his tent! I was
so comfortable, I could have stayed there all day, but I knew we
had a long day ahead. I got up when Kami Sherpa came to my tent with 'breakfast
tea'. I barely washed my face because I felt too cold. No one would know! I
packed everything carefully into my gear bag and put it with all the other
bags. Jambu Sherpa has been given charge of looking after my gear.
Freddy in his new sleeping bag
After breakfast, we began the trek from Phakding to Namche. On the way, I walked
along with two of the trekkers, Deirdre and Gerry. They asked me to say 'hello'
to all their friends in the Tullow Mountaineering Club and to tell everyone
that they are having a great time. They also
told me that Noel and his class in Myshall National School, Co Carlow are following
my adventures. I glowed with pride and walked along even stronger. I really
feel good on the mountain this time and am feeling
good about the climb. I can't believe there are only a few days before
we get to Base Camp now. I can hardly wait.
Freddy with Deirdre and Gerry
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March 24
Hi Kids
I woke up at 5.30am this morning when the telephone in my room rang loudly.
I struggled out of bed and went for my last shower for 70 days!
I packed my final few bits and pieces and closed the door behind me.
I was excited about finally leaving Kathmandu to get started on the trek.
I was looking even more forward to the flight in to Lukla - I love the tiny
planes packed with people and the journey from the city into the heart
of the mountains. It can be scary if the weather is windy and the landing is
also frightening because the runway is really short and is uphill! It
feels like you are going to mow into the village.
We got to the busy airport by 6am and collected our tickets. We then had to
go through a special checking point. The security guard there looked at my
rucksack and asked me if I had any sharp objects in it. I said 'no'. She then
said they would have to check my pockets. I gasped with shock. I had put a
tiny little packet of honey into one of my pockets - reserves in case of emergencies
- or hunger! I didn't know what to do
so I said nothing and stood there with my arms outstretched. Then she felt
it. 'Hmm, what's this?' she asked, taking the packet from my pocket. 'My honey',
I muttered under my breath, half expecting her to keep it
and feeling upset even thinking about it. To my surprise, she laughed
and handed it back to me. 'Good luck on your climb, Freddy. You'll need plenty
of this!'
Freddy at airport with security guard
We all piled on the plane and Pat asked the pilot if I could sit up front.
The pilot's name was Pemba and he remembered me from last year. 'Come on Freddy;
it'll be noisy, but we'll take care of you!' I wanted to hug him I was so excited.
What a buzz! I was thrilled and it was the
best flight I ever had. I'm going to hang this photo in my bedroom and keep
it forever.
Freddy in Cockpit
We had an easy walk from Lukla to Phakding the first day and camped there.
I was really tired because we had been up so early.
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March 23
Hi
Kids,
I got up early this morning to show the trekkers some of the sites in
Kathmandu. We went to see the Buddha temples, the Monkey temple, the old village
of Bhaktapur and Durbar Square. I also showed them where I had got my new clothes
made and took them for some apple
pie and ice cream in my favourite coffee shop!
I made a new friend today, from Kathmandu. Her name is Tara. I was talking
to her while sitting outside a shop, waiting for Pat. She comes from one of
the villages outside Kathmandu and she told me that even though she is 8 years
old, she still cannot write her name. She said she started school 2 years ago
and loved it, but rarely has a chance to go to there. This is because she has
to get up around 5am to do all the household chores and make the meals for
her family before she can leave for school. It takes her 2 hours to walk across
the land to get
there. She has two brothers who are both getting on well at school and she
told me they try to help her sometimes at home. I felt so sorry for her. I
wanted to bring her back to school in Ireland with me and show her all my colourful
school books and copy books. Tara had to go back to the village with her father
so I had to say goodbye. I took this photo of her just as she left.
Freddy's new friend Tara
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