Townsman, 1991-07, Page 13Sean Lane and Dean Robinson raise
the arms of guide Rajendra Rai after
reaching Kala Pattar peak, March 28.
At an altitude of 18,450 feet, the view
of Mount Everest is spectacular.
ignored, can and have resulted in
death. Slow, gradual ascent and good
hydration are the time -worn keys to
acclimatization and the prevention of
altitude sickness. The Khumbu five
were told to drink a minimum of four
litres of water day.
Actually the Khumbu five were
never just five. They were joined by a
contingent of Nepalese, including an
English-speaking group leader, a sir-
dar or trip manager, a cook, a kitchen
boy, a spare kitchen boy, two trail
guides, and porters — whose numbers
varied proportionally to the amount of
equipment and food to be carried.
In the beginning there were 14
porters and in addition to shouldering
the food and stove they also lugged
tents, sleeping bags, clothes and
everything else required for a trip
such as this for not only the five
clients but also for themselves. As the
amount of food was reduced so was
the number of porters. In the higher,
colder reaches more porters were
replaced by yaks, which are shaggy
oxen known for their strength, dura-
bility and sure-footedness in the
mountainous terrain.
All walk the same trails, trails worn
smooth by centuries of trade and com-
merce. At first those trails wind
Photo by Grant Debehn
through temperate and alpine broad-
leaf forests, then through temperate
and alpine conifer forests. Above the
tree line familiar alpine plants grow to
an altitude of about 16,000 feet
(4,877 metres). In the lower reaches
there are stands of pine, fir, oak and
rhododendron. There are fields of nar-
ghting Photography
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TOWNSMAN/JULY-AUGUST 1991 11