Organizing and joining an expedition is like checking off all levels of Maslow's pyramid, although in adverse order...
It clearly all starts with 'self-actualization'; for this specific project with a very clear ambition to 'do good'. To even start thinking of that (in this case; cleaning a mountain), you should feel confident about yourself combined with that activity; climbing Everest. Otherwise forget all that extra effort! So there is the 'Esteem stair'. Then, one starts to think with whom he/she would like to undertake this challenge by creating a team ('Belonging'). The penultimate level (Safety) is getting more close to the basics (resources, unsurances, getting fit, etc) and eventually, on the mountain, it all channels back into physiological needs (do I pee enough?, Can't hardly breath!, I'm hungry!, I need to rest!). So, organizing such an event forces one to stand still and master all those stairs (mostly simultanously).
To make a long story short; this week our 'homes' for the upcoming weeks were secured. Here it works just differently than just simply enter a shop and buy some tents. For many expeditions, tents are made on order instead, or in some cases are purchased 2nd hand.
Some time ago Namgyal heard some rumour related to the last option; a set of 2nd hand high quality tents would be for sale, which was left in Kathmandu by a previous expedition. Last week we've had a look at those tents to check if the quality would be high enough to take these with us and if the model is suitable to household minimum 2 persons including ca 80kg luggage (and that they call; living from a kitbag/suitcase!).
The shop concerned was situated in one of the tiny and crowded streets in Kathmandu's Asan area (local market). Not any tourist would probably pay any attention to these kind of shops and enter one of the huge 'big name shops' (e.g. North Face, Mountain Hardwear) instead, but actually that's a pity. These kind of small shops are completely packed with many interesting gear. You'll find complete downsuits, oxygen masks and cilinders, jackets, many pairs of expedition boots, ice axes and so on, mostly 2nd hand. It's a very exciting environment, especially when you realize all this gear has (probably) already been to the place you are just heading to!
To check the tent properly it should actually be pitched somewhere, isn't it? So, that's exactly what was being done: just in the middle of the dusty market surrounded by all kinds of horning vehicles and shopping people. Not that handy; the tent contained 7 poles of 3 different lengths, so it took some time and a lot of laughter to get a proper dome shaped tent out of these poles and inner tent. Actually I got a real flash back of camping holidays during my youth; always surrounded by fighting couples while pitching their tent ;-) Unfortunately this particular tent unveiled it's previous intensive use by having a huge hole in the inner tent and this wake up call was the start of checking them all very carefully.
In no time 5 (very) eager Sherpas were ready to assist and suddenly started to sort out all outer tents, poles, inner tents, ground sealings; simultanously though.... Thank God there exists something like a marker which enabled me to finally keep the right inner tent combined with the matching outer tent again. Although I could read from their faces (and in a few weeks I might agree on that) why for God's sake it should be that important to use a bag with nr 5 holding actually tent nr 5; if THAT is going to save you high up there...! But you know, we more or less already lost eachother on that pyramid here...
Anyway, the damaged pieces were collected; holes and zippers were immediately stitched and replaced by the neighbour (sewing shop); the pieces were brought back and finally checked by us again. Sometimes this circle made some extra rounds (it's really interesting to bring a tent with a small hole to the sewer and actually get it back with 2 big holes and a broken zipper....!) . As you may imagine, it was quite a logistic party, but finally we (8 dusty faces) made it and bought the whole set of 15 tents.
For sure, after this kind of labour intensive purchase you'll appreciate your 'dome' even more while staying in the camps...!
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