Caught on film

Just trialing some uploads of our EBC 2013 trek.  Pashupati Temple and Yaks returning from Gokyo.

Here goes......

More food and good company - planning our community thank you evening

A pot luck dinner always seems to work out doesn't it?  We enjoyed a great spread and many stories at a final get together dinner with the EBC team and extended family. It was a chance for us all to see some of the students' slides and hear their take on our adventure. Here are a few pictures from the evening.

A spread fit for Everest

Just like old times......

We also planned our speaking circuit - we will be coming to a venue near you soon. Here are our bookings to date: Country Womens' Institute, Rotary, Probus, a college assembly and our community thank you event.  Our Community Event will be on Sunday 4 August at 6.30pm  in the College Auditorium. The student team will each share some of their slides and experiences, There will be time for some questions and supper will be provided.

For those interested I have updated the post of the Life of the Himilayan Treker and added pictures.

Developing our media skills

Namaste

Since our return our team has been interviewed by reporters from the Otago Daily Times and The Central Otago News. Dave Borrie and I also had a very enjoyable radio interview with Ferg from Classic Hits, Queenstown.

Here are two of these links.

ODT article

http://www.odt.co.nz/regions/central-otago/257830/cromwell-pupils-top-world-after-trip

Radio interview with Ferg, Classic Hits

http://classichits.co.nz/southernlakes/player/ondemand/cromwell-everest

The team will be also making presentations at our school assembly, the local Country Womens Institute, Probus and a community thank you function.  This will be quite an adventure for many in our team!

The Teams final meal at The Hotel Tibet, Kathmandu

Team EBC 2013 has landed - the joys of a welcome home

After 15 hours flying in the past 48 hours we touched down back in Queenstown to the joys of a special welcome home from family and loved ones. What an unforgettable journey it has been.

EBC 2013, Worldly young adults home again (Pauline and me included) - Back row L to R: Leroy, Hugh. Jonny, Dave, Will, Pauline, Mason. Front row: Doug, Liam, Elsa, Bryn.

It is revealing to compare the fresh faced leaving photos with the worldly, self assured individuals in the photo above.

Peter Hillary commented at our shared Khumbu Lodge dinner that the students should continue to reflect and think about their experiences, dwell on them and learn from them. It is clear to me that they have been doing this consistently and one of the true highlights has been to see the personal growth in every one of our team. Sharing 23 days of adventure and memorable experiences in a remarkable part of our world has awakened new understandings in each one of us. I think that the full magnitude of what we have achieved will fully dawn on each of us at different times.

Peter Hillary, Khumbu Lodge Namche Bazaar - reading his Dad's account of the first ascent of Mt Everest with Tenzing (60 years ago) in a letter he sent to the President of the NZ Alpine Club 3 days after the climb. Captivating!

We have all found Nepal and the Himalaya visually stunning, diverse, demanding and stimulating. It has been extremely satisfying to achieve the expedition goals such as Phortse, Gokyo Ri, Cho La, EBC, Kala Pather but perhaps the most memorable highlight will be our time spent with the people of Nepal and enjoying their company, culture, generosity and kindness: Chhuldim owner Mountain Experience; our sherpa - Sirdar Pemba, Surya and Jethar; our porters, Akas, Pasang, Aspal and Gyalbu; Devendra his staff, children and the families of Phorste School; and the many lodge and hotel staff, shop keepers and taxi drivers.

Our Sherpa and Porter Team from Mountain Experience L to R: Gyalbu, Jethar, Pemba, Akas, Pasang, Surya, Aspal

Chhuldim Sherpa - Owner of Mountain Experience presenting Kim with kata outside the Hotel Tibet on our departure. 

I think we have all learnt the powerful impact that genuine and open respect has on people in their country - being polite and courteous, learning a little of the language and important customs, coupled with a smile.

Pauline reading Fox in Socks, one of the books we donated, to the children of Phortse Primary School

Principal of Phorste - Devendra with some of his pupils

This past 12 months has been about "Shaping Life Through Adventure" - our expedition motto. I believe this journey has done just that as well as teaching us a little more about what it really means to "Deserve Success".  Thank you again to the team of families, sponsors and supporters, especially Kim Logan and Pauline Murphy, and each of the students - it has been pleasure to be part of something so special and a privilege to be able to share our experiences through this blog.

The EBC 2013 team having just crossed Cho La Pass 5364m - Arakam Tse 6423m in the background

I am sure that Cromwell College EBC 2013 will stimulate many other adventures for the each of the members of our team. Whaia te taumata - Tashi Dele - Namaste.

Mason Stretch
Principal
Cromwell College

A selfy (alias 'Le Blogger') - Pharilapche 6017m from Gokyo Ri

The bearded ones return

Johnny, Hugh, Leroy and Dave pushing for facial hair in year 13. Boarding our 10 hour flight to Christchurch.