On mountains

Thursday, November 18.

I learned something from the mountains today. Lacey, Austin, and I went on a walk for some fresh air before dinner, up a trail to the very nice, garden-laden hospital and then around to a cool river bed and some great views. Meanwhile, fog was hogging the mountains so tightly that we could pretty much just see some dark outlines here and there. What I realized was that the mountains are always there, simply being, no matter what. Clouds are of no matter to them. They could be entirely covered up, but never feel shafted or down-laden. Shrouded in whiteness, but just as powerful, just as steadfast, just as beautiful.

On Friday, the 19th, we finally made it back to Kathmandu on a huge, chartered helicopter (driven, by the way, by none other than the man who lifted Back Weathers off of the Khumbu glacier on Everest). It was crazy, surreal, and so exciting all at once, and it is so nice to be finally be back here and clean.