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More Everest teams arriving in Kathmandu
11:44 a.m. EST Mar 10, 2004
The Mexican-Canadian team has arrived in Kathmandu and plan to be up in the hills tomorrow. Martin and Richard report, “We visited Kathmandu yesterday, but unfortunately all of Nepal had been put on strike by the Maoists. Therefore everything was closed, including all stores and Internet cafes. The city is everything that you would dislike. It stinks; it is noisy and ugly, etc. On the other hand, people are very nice and never have we felt threatened or intimidated by anyone.”
What was this latest strike all about? The Hindu writes that the Maoists women’s wing called for the strike to mark the International Women's Day and protest killings of rebels by security forces.
This is the fifth strike in two months, if you count the student strike that was called off because no one was obeying it. Fortunately, the airport typically does stay open during strikes, and the biggest problem you’ll find is getting to or from the airport.
So after some grub at the Rum Doodle, the team is ready to head up to Lukla. Akin to the Russian’s pre-acclimatization strategy of Ama Dablam, the joint Canadian/Mexican team will pre-acclimatize on Island Peak, a smaller trekking peak.
The team comprises two Quebecois and four Mexicans, "bound together by friendship and respect,” Andres Delgado, Luis Espinoza , Alejandro Ochoa Reyes, Martin Boileau, Richard Cartierts. The climbers will attempt Everest without oxygen (a first for Canada if successful). After Everest, Delgado will travel to Pakistan for a K2 double header.
Image from Kathmandu courtesy of Michael Brown and Serac Adventure Films.
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