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 Jean-Christophe Lafaille: Makalu 2004 | ||||||
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|  News April 19th: Jean-Christophe begins his trek to the base camp of Makalu and I am in Kathmandu We thus have left Tingri on April 15th to join Karta after 6 hours of Jeep on a really bad track ... Karta, the end of the world.. the poverty is even more outstanding here... the children are in a sorry state... I have distributed a little of my clothing carried with me for the trekking... Karta is also the end of the Jeepable track and thus the beginning of the trekking to join the base camp of Makalu. We have then arrived, as each day, in a storm, a storm of wind. We had difficulties in assembling the tent in these conditions as now we sleep under a tent and not in lodges. The cook and his assistance have install the kitchen and prepare the evening meal and the tea. They are really very good, effective, organized and very good cook! April 16th we organize the loads for the Yaks and begin the negotiations on the number of Yaks and the timing to be respected, and so on... always talking and Tibetans are not easy... On the 17th my road with Jean-Christophe finishes, separations are always so difficult... I leave by Jeep at 9h30 in the morning and Jean-Christophe will leave about midday Karta to start his first day of trek. I sleep in Nyalam the 17th by the evening after 7h00 of jeep with pain in the back by the jolts. The night was short and without sleep... much noise in the lodge and the night the dogs take over barking all over the night. The 18th in the morning, we join "Zangmu"... the sordid city near to the border Tibetan/Chinese/Nepalese. I pass the control of customs, visa, quarantine (before returning and leaving the Country, the temperature is taken)... then my driver leaves me at 500 meters of the border where a guide makes me cross the border Tibetan/Chinese and to return again to Nepal with more formalities. I wait 20 more minutes before climbing in a car which must lead me to Kathmandu... I first believed that I was going to take another jeep, because considering the roads I never imagined I was going to reach Kathmandu in such a vehicle... I am not really relaxed, we pass 5 or 6 check point, the soldiers are behind bags of sand with the rifle aimed on the hills... it is the Maoists zone, the tension can be felt in the car with the chauffeur and my escort... two guides for me!! At our arrival at Kathmandu, another manifestation, we go back to take another way and reach the hotel. Lastly, which happiness to find a "clean" bed and to take a shower! After this essential toilet, I met Mr. Dawa of the agency with whom I resume the events. I talked, via another telephone, with Jean-Christophe. He is well, the place is beautiful, he plans to arrive at the base camp by the 20th or 21st April. The mood is good! Today April 19th , I will solve the last details of my return, walk in Kathmandu, try to rest before my departure to France tomorrow Tuesday April 20th. Translations by Fabienne for EverestNews.com Best regards, Katia Lafaille.
Read the dispatches from Spring 2002 here: Dispatch April 3, 2002 Bonjour In 2003, Jean-Christophe Lafaille, summited Dhaulagiri, Broad Peak and Nanga Parbat. His dispatches from Dhaulagiri this year are here. His dispatches from Nanga Parbat this year are here. Follow along here for dispatches from Broad Peak here. Jean-Christophe Lafaille 2003: Broad Peak Photo Show Jean-Christophe Lafaille: Annapurna 2002
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