Made it to Everest Base Camp!
Gautam Patil - April 18, 2006
April 18th, 2006.
Hello Everyone! Yesterday we arrived at Base Camp.
Landcruisers took roughly four hours to drive us from Tingri to Base Camp. The views were desolate and the drive was buuuuummpy! We could really feel the gain in altitude as there were many pee breaks (a sign your body is adapting to the gain in elevation). On the way, we stopped at the Rongbuk Monastery and saw an intimidating view of Everest! I could just imagine the sounds of the winds howling as I saw fragments of clouds being hurled past summit.
Today I am feeling kind of weak because my body is trying to adapt to the change in altitude. It really takes a lot out of you! You begin to lose your appetite but you know you must eat. Ah, the welcoming presents of Everest… :) Tomorrow we plan on hanging around camp and hopefully we’ll be feeling a little better.
May this message find you well and as I’m sitting here in my tent listening to the chilly winds nudge its side, I’m feeling very emotional and grateful to all who have supported my dreams. I’ve made it to Base Camp because of you! Thanks all! Until soon…
Climb High!
Gautam Patil
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Posted by Gautam Patil at April 18, 2006 10:17 PM
Comments
Dear Gautam,
I am thrilled for your accomplishment, and that you are safe, and will take some time to recover and be refreshed.
Do be sure to stay nourished. And stay warm.
I have just lighted a candle for you now, in the sanctuary of my home, I have whispered my prayers to travel where you are. May the warmth of the candle's glow reach to you.
I look forward to reading about your continued journey and discoveries you will make.
Thank you for sharing the climb here at intent.
I hope one day I will meet you.
Love and Blessings,
~ Kate
Dear Gautam,
How does a climber such as yourself; prepare for altitude climbs such as this one?
I tend to faint at altitudes, at the base of mountains(Alberta), the air is so thick, it's unbelievable!
One quick experience, driving from Alberta to Golden BC, drinking IN, Rogers Pass, in it's splendour, along the way.. just as we passed Lake Louise, I fainted in our truck!! My bladder released!! I awoke, slumped over to the passenger door; to my hubby explaining to a cop; "I don't know, she just fainted!" I looked, felt drunk! lol It was so weird.
Long story short..b/c it relates to mountain altitudes...
IT was to be a there and back trip; and all I had to wear after, were western-look, yellow flannel pajama's!! Yup!
From Golden BC that night, back to Alberta, near Medicine Hat... I had to wear PJ's!! ahahaha I'll never forget this trip!
I did the only thing I could!!
I tried to pull it off, as a "costume" of the day! ahahah walked around proud, when I had to of course, leave the truck on such a long journey.. from time to time!
Ooh, memories.. thanks for opening my door, inadvertantly Gautam; while sharing with us, your experiences!
You are admired for your capacity for work...
North
Dear Gautam,
I read about your expedition in the Times of India and would like to extend my warmest and best wishes and support to you.
If my memory is right, I had met you and your older sister in 1985 on a tour of Europe. My twin sister Mala and myself were travelling as well.
So it was even more exciting to hear about your 'adventures'.
Keep going, climb high and rest assured you are in our prayers.
Veena
You drove to the camp? I had no idea you could do that. Anyway, look forward to hearing more.
Dear Gautam,
Please Give my regards to the Yeti.
Love Simon xx
Gautam, I wish you all the luck in the world. Tonight I will say a prayer for you. God bless. Hara Hara Mahadev.
Only wish you could also post some photographs of the mountains. That would be wonderful. Wish it was technologically possible to feel the chill too.
A few days ago, I read a magazine in which most of the beauty queens said that they drink tons of water during summer. I too decided to go for it though not exactly for beauty reasons. The result is that I too have to take lots of "pee breaks"
Dear Gautam
All my best wishes and blessing to you and your team. The physical and emotional stresses of such an intense effort as you are making are hard to imagine, but your emotional post gives me some sense of what you are facing and feeling. It must be a real challenge to face Everest, them even if you have climbed some of the top peaks as you already have.
Love and prayers for your success! Thank you so much for continuing to share your progress with us.
Heather
dedicated to you and your fellow climbers, Gautam
UP WHERE WE BELONG
(Joe Cocker and Jennifer Warnes)
Who knows what tomorrow brings
In a world, few hearts survive
All I know, is the way I feel
When it’s real, I keep my pray alive
The road is long
There are mountains in our way
But we climb steps every day
Love lift us up where we belong
Where the eagles cry, on a mountain high
Love lift us up where we belong
Far from the world we know
Up where the clear winds blow
Some hang on to "used-to-be"
Live their lives locking behind
All we have is here and now
All our lives, out there to find
The road is long
There are mountains in our way
But we climb steps every day
Love lift us up where we belong
Where the eagles cry, on a mountain high
Love lift us up where we belong
Far from the world we know
Up where the clear winds blow
Time goes by
No time to cry
Life’s you and I, alive, baby
Love lift us up where we belong
Where the eagles cry, on a mountain high
Love lift us up where we belong
Far from the world we know
Up where the clear winds blow
In Spirit,
Cinda
Hey Gautam,
Must be really exciting for you to live your childhood dream. Isn't Everest the last hurdle in your mission? Wish you all the luck!
Hi Nimita,
Yeah, Everest is the last hurdle in Gautam's mission to become India's first to summit the 7 summits! His original goal was only to climb Everest. The 7 summits' idea was a personal goal he used to prove to himself that he was ready for Everest. He actually had no idea that he would become India's first to climb the 7!
Becca: Hello to you! Good to see you here, again--Dave
gautam : interesting your pieces.keep coming. hee is a note on my book : down memory lane : which has several mountaineering pieces. if you wish to acquire a copy : let me know. hiro shroff : email : hiroshroff@hotmail.com
DOWN MEMORY LANE
Down Memory Lane is a nostalgic book by Oral Historian & Journalist Hiro Shroff.
It is a collection of 92 Down Memory Lane pieces published in the eighties, in India and abroad, in newspapers and in periodicals, in various languages.
The book covers activities like Yachting and Mountaineering and Journalism, highlighting industrialists like J.R.D. Tata, featuring Mao tse Tung and Nasser and Pope Paul VI and Mother Teresa and the Dalai Lama, handling historic events like the Partition of India and reminiscing on the days of the British Raj.
Hiro started his journalistic career, in Mumbai (India) with the PTI-Reuters in 1949 and became a foreign correspondent.
A yachting enthusiast and a former Commodore of the Bombay Sailing Association, Hiro lives in Mumbai with his Chinese wife, Marge.
Copies available with the author.
Cheques to be drawn favouring : Hiro Shroff
Price Per Copy : inclusive of mailing
in India : Rs. 500/-
overseas : u.s. $ 20/-
Hiro Shroff : Oral Historian & Journalist :
64 Sangita : Near Hotel Fariyas
Colaba : Mumbai 400 005 (India)
Mobile +91 98208 90764
Telephone : (91)(22) 22832765
E-mail : hiroshroff@hotmail.com
April 2006
gautam : interesting your pieces.keep coming. hee is a note on my book : down memory lane : which has several mountaineering pieces. if you wish to acquire a copy : let me know. hiro shroff : email : hiroshroff@hotmail.com
DOWN MEMORY LANE
Down Memory Lane is a nostalgic book by Oral Historian & Journalist Hiro Shroff.
It is a collection of 92 Down Memory Lane pieces published in the eighties, in India and abroad, in newspapers and in periodicals, in various languages.
The book covers activities like Yachting and Mountaineering and Journalism, highlighting industrialists like J.R.D. Tata, featuring Mao tse Tung and Nasser and Pope Paul VI and Mother Teresa and the Dalai Lama, handling historic events like the Partition of India and reminiscing on the days of the British Raj.
Hiro started his journalistic career, in Mumbai (India) with the PTI-Reuters in 1949 and became a foreign correspondent.
A yachting enthusiast and a former Commodore of the Bombay Sailing Association, Hiro lives in Mumbai with his Chinese wife, Marge.
Copies available with the author.
Cheques to be drawn favouring : Hiro Shroff
Price Per Copy : inclusive of mailing
in India : Rs. 500/-
overseas : u.s. $ 20/-
Hiro Shroff : Oral Historian & Journalist :
64 Sangita : Near Hotel Fariyas
Colaba : Mumbai 400 005 (India)
Mobile +91 98208 90764
Telephone : (91)(22) 22832765
E-mail : hiroshroff@hotmail.com
April 2006
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Recent Comments
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hiro shroff commented on Made it to Everest Base Camp!
gautam : interesting your pieces.keep coming. h
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hiro shroff commented on Made it to Everest Base Camp!
gautam : interesting your pieces.keep coming. h
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David commented on Made it to Everest Base Camp!
Becca: Hello to you! Good to see you here, aga
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Becca commented on Made it to Everest Base Camp!
Hi Nimita,
Yeah, Everest is the last hu
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Nimita commented on Made it to Everest Base Camp!
Hey Gautam,
Must be really exciting for
I wish you a safe and fulfilling climb to the top of the world. Brave man. There are not many like you.
Desolate views...sounds of winds...drifting clouds...chilly winds nudging the tent...and you sitting there inside welcoming the Everest and the Everest welcoming you! How wonderful! How emotional! We are proud of you.
Climb high, my friend.