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Manaslu 2003: Jeff Justman Dispatch
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Manaslu, at 8163 meters, is the eighth highest
peak in the world. It is located in the
west-central part of Nepal, and our team will
climb it by the original route. |
JJs
Dispatch: May 23, 2003 - Jeff Justman Dispatch
The
villagers of Sama were scrambling as the Russian Mi 17
helicopter landed. It was dropping off supplies for a
new Gompa (religious center) being built. We found out
who was chartering the helicopter, a Lama named Karma
who is about to go to the U.S. to teach Steven Seagal
Bhuddism.
Well,
we asked if we could jump on the helicopter since it
was empty. He said sure as long as we made a nice
contribution to his Gompa. We did and off we went with
the majority of our expedition gear. What was amusing
was our Nepali Army friends didn't take us to the
airport. Instead they dropped us off 3 miles from
Kathmandu in a rice paddy. At first some of us thought
the helicopter was going to crash. We touched down,
the army guys got out and started throwing our stuff
out.
I
must say the Nepali Army was efficient because the
covert operation took 3 minutes and they were back in
the air heading for the airport without anyone
knowing. Except for the 500 school kids that saw the
chopper landing and were now crowding around us in
excitement. I had to laugh because just imagine if a
helicopter landed in your backyard in the United
States. There would only be 10000 phone calls! But
here no one knows...okay, except now!
The
entire team is now recuperating in the many
restaurants in Kathmandu. It was a great expedition.
Shera Sherpa who was ill up at high camp is also doing
well. Take care and we'll talk to you again one last
time.
Oh
and P.S. I just found out, Congratulations goes out to
my friends Lhawang Dhondup of Mountain Link and Ben
Clark who just summited Everest. Jeffrey J. Justman
The updates from
the Dan Mazur side is here.
 Dispatches
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