www.kowp.com.au

I hired a sherpa guide for this trek but due to being sick the night before we left for the mountains 1 day late. I was behind schedule… I leave for Tibet on the 12th.

Of course I made it my priority to make that time back up… The first day we did 3 days worth of trekking in one day.
Nima, my sherpa (who is carrying less than half of what I am) was complaining heaps towards the end. But we made the time up and we’re back on schedule.. For now.

I’m pretty sure he is going to get his own back when im struggling at altitude and he is non effected!

Besides all this we just arrived at Chime, around 2760. The view is starting to get pretty amazing, being surrounded by 4 or 5 of the 8000m peaks… Top stuff!

I arrived safely in Kathmandu, got my 3 days shopping done before I fell very I’ll with food poisoning. I think it was the dodgy chicken wrap I got. I was up all night vomiting and the runs ( yes graphic, but this is putting it very lightly). I had to postpone my trek for one day as I stayed in bed. The 9 hour local bus ride just didn’t seem manageable.

Today i visited a Hindu temple with tame cows running around and people were patting them, cremations on the side of a river (man.. the stink!) then we went to a Tibetan Monastery which was huge, very clean and very holy. I learned alot about the religion and the prayer flags etc.

I’m about to head upstairs to pack my bags for this 12 day trek. So i’ll fill in the details later on.

I have all my gear ready for Everest now.

Had to buy a down suit, 8000m boots, crampons and a couple of other things like liner gloves etc.

Wont have any Wifi connection on the trek so no updates till i get back.

Flight to Singapore was comfortable. Got stung with $180 in excess baggage and they were being generous with how much i was actually over weight!

Transit hotel was so minimalist.. There was a curtain on the wall, behind the curtain.. a rendered brick wall. Was like being in  a bunker.

I was pretty over the travelling part by the time i got to Kathmandu.

Someone wants to come???

Scientists believe that it is physically impossible to climb Everest.

Its the mental attitude and will that allows us to push our bodies beyond their limits.

This should do the trick!

This week i went to a monthly meeting for the Australian Business Alliance with Matt Kean MP. My first meeting, but i met some very interesting people.

The aim was to raise my local profile and it looks like it worked.

I met an interesting guy named Tony Johnson who explained his new business idea… www.ThebestofHornsby.com.au

This site basically puts local business’ together with local consumers. A great idea to support our local community.

He wrote the following about me.. what a champ.

Thanks Tony for the kind words!

Posted by: Tony Jon: 07 March 2012

Yesterday whilst attending a Business Networking Event run by the Hornsby Business Alliance, I had the pleasure of meeting a very fit, unassuming and humble young bloke by the name of Tom Kowpak. Tom was born and bred in the Hornsby area, just behind the RSL in fact, and attended the local school St. Leo’s College. In growing up he developed a passion for the outdoors, camping and hiking and was a very active member in the local scouts. More recently Tom got serious about mountain climbing and contacted Jamie McGuiness (a Kiwi four time Everest summit achiever) about climbing the Northern col of Everest. Jamie explained it would be advisable, cheaper and more fun to join him on his upcoming Aconcagua expedition in South America. Aconcagua stands at a little under 7000M, whilst Everest is 8,848M. So, to cut a long story short, Tom completed the Aconcagua expedition which only fuelled his passion to tackle Everest, and his performance on Aconcagua convinced Jamie that achieving Everest was well within his capabilities.

I asked Tom whether he had a specific reason for attempting Everest and he explained that after a hospital stint several years ago, where he witnessed another patient suffering a stroke, he develloped a desire to raise awareness of Stroke affliction and to do what he could to raise funds to combat the condition.

Further discussion also revealed Tom has a habit of stripping down to his Bonds undies when he reaches a major summit for a photo opportunity. He does not think Everest will allow him to partake in this unusual ritual as it will take about 20 minutes to get all the layers back on, not to mention frostbite.

I am amazed that dedicated, compassionate achievers such as Tom are living in our midsts, and are going about achieving incredible things with little or no fanfare. How many more Tom’s do we have in Hornsby? We would love to hear about other local heroes and would be happy to publicise their achievements. To find out more about Tom and his upcoming expedition to Everest, or to sponsor Tom for this worthy cause, go to http://kowp.com.au/

Go for it Tom! You are a local hero!

My first lead climb this day.