These trips provide an opportunity to reboot my mind, defragment the filing system, and purge programs that are obsolete or incompatible with the current operating system.  I wish it were as easy and effective as it is on the computer.  Even this analogy suggests I need a vacation.

Finally transcribed travel journal from Himalayan trek.   You can find it here.  I guess I was a bit reluctant to post it, since there is personal stuff in it. But what could be more cathartic than launching it into cyberspace? Anyway, we’re friends, right?

I’m am looking forward to teaching an 8-hour class this Tuesday at Penn State, primarily because the classroom has all the latest technology.  I was told it even has a “green room” where the instructor can hang out during breaks.  Even though I do this course a couple times a year, I spent all weekend making changes that I thought were necessary.  In retrospect, I probably could have just left it alone and took some personal time off to recharge.  I often have trouble balancing work and personal life.  However, I did manage to go out with a couple friends on Saturday night and had a good time.  I am glad they don’t take my reclusive nature personally because  I enjoy their company. 

I have uploaded photos from the Olympic, Bob Marshall, Glacier, Brooks Range, Andes, Nepal 1997, and Grand Canyon treks.  Most of these photos were scanned from film and slides.  The panoramas from Glacier and Grand Canyon were taken with a disposable camera.  They came out surprisingly well!

Finally! My bag that was lost by American Airlines was finally delivered.  I look forward to reviewing my photos and handing out my souvenirs from the trip.  I will be posting photos and journal soon.

I have my 30th-year high school renunion back in Ohio this weekend.  I am hoping I can get there. 

Returned safely to Kathmandu after being stranded in Juphal for several days with no planes coming in or out.  They do not fly to these mountain airstrips when it is cloudy since these clouds can have rocks in them.  I was able to get on the return leg of a charter plane that was hired by another trekking company.  I knew the flight was going to be another white-knuckle flight since the Juphal airstrip is one of the shortest in the world.  Needless to say, it lived up to my expectations since the last half of the flight was flown with mountains obscured by clouds.  Watching the pilots quickly point at things was unhelpful at consoling the wide-eyed passengers.   It was a fine exclamation point to an exhilarating trip.

Made it safely to Jomsom after the most thrilling and frightening flight of my life.  There were a couple times when I was convinced the wings of the little plane were going to clip the side of the mountain.  The drop after threading –the-needle through a high mountain pass was far more exhilarating than any amusement park ride.  When we touched down I yelled “lets do it again!”  Many of the passengers were less enthusiastic.

This will likely be the last post for a while since the few villages I will pass through will not have electricity let alone an internet connection.  My current positions will still be posted to the “Tracking” page however.  I am filled with anticipation about the coming days.  It has already been an adventure of a lifetime. 

Namaste!