HiTop Images
EVEREST AND PRAYER FLAGS [EVE 2007-04-26_76]Setting up ABC is a lot of work. We spent two days setting up platforms and putting up tents. [EVE 2007-04-16]ABC is at about 21,000 feet. We stayed here for 2 weeks acclimatizing. One day we ascended toward the North Col (23,000 feet), stopping short. Another day we climbed all the way to the North Col and descended. Then we climbed to the North Col and spent the night. I experienced a lack of appetite at ABC and ended up losing weight. This is common and is why we and several other climbers descend back to the lower altitude at Base Camp to try to regain strength. Some people have trouble sleeping in altitude. Thankfully, that's not a problem for me. [EVE 2007-04-17_5]NIMA, OUR ABC COOK [EVE 2007-04-26_72]CON [EVE 2007-04-17_8]THE PUJA CEREMONY - During the Puja, the Sherpas ask and pray to the gods for permission to climb Mount Everest and for a blessing for a safe and successful expedition. Until the Puja is held, no one from the expedition is allowed to climb, for fear of angering the gods. As a Buddhist religious ceremony, the Puja is presided over by a lama, Lama Jangbu, a Buddhist holy man. During the Puja, the flag pole is raised upon the chorten and prayer flags strung across the camp. Prayer flags can be seen all throughout Buddhist Tibet and are said to purify the air and pacify the gods, as they flutter in the wind and, in so doing, release the prayers written upon them to the heavens. The 5 colors of the prayer flags--always red, green, yellow, blue and white--are symbolic of the earth's five elements: fire, wood, earth, water and iron. [EVE 2007-04-18]Prayer flags during our Puja Ceremony get a visit. This is considered good luck. [EVE 2007-04-18_26]EYES ON EVEREST [EVE 2007-04-18_38]THE PUJA CEREMONY [EVE 2007-04-18_3]TOILET SCANDAL - The blue tent is our toilet tent. You can see it's not easy to reach. When we first set it up, some climbers from another group used it, and filled it, without permission. If reported, they could be fined heavily for this (someone said $1000). We just told them to stop and get their own. Later, some Tibetan yak herders stole our toilet (full), cleaned it out and used the barrell. Ah, the troubles at ABC! [EVE 2007-04-22_2]LOPSANG, NIMA AND CON  [EVE 2007-04-22_7]ABC gets more and more crowded as time goes on. [EVE 2007-04-22_21]TRYING TO BE A FASHION MODEL ON EVEREST [EVE 2007-04-26_36]ABC [EVE 2007-04-22_3]PHANDEN [EVE 2007-04-26_21]LOPSANG [EVE 2007-04-26_18]LAMA JANGBU [EVE 2007-04-26_22]GENE [EVE 2007-04-26_40]
Click for large image

THE PUJA CEREMONY - During the Puja, the Sherpas ask and pray to the gods for permission to climb Mount Everest and for a blessing for a safe and successful expedition. Until the Puja is held, no one from the expedition is allowed to climb, for fear of angering the gods. As a Buddhist religious ceremony, the Puja is presided over by a lama, Lama Jangbu, a Buddhist holy man. During the Puja, the flag pole is raised upon the chorten and prayer flags strung across the camp. Prayer flags can be seen all throughout Buddhist Tibet and are said to purify the air and pacify the gods, as they flutter in the wind and, in so doing, release the prayers written upon them to the heavens. The 5 colors of the prayer flags--always red, green, yellow, blue and white--are symbolic of the earth's five elements: fire, wood, earth, water and iron. [EVE 2007-04-18]



Copyright © Megan Delehanty. Contact Megan at megan@hitopimages.com.