Jim's Little Corner of the Internet

What's Up Lately?

Saturday, June 26, and a long time since my last update. I'm happy to say that the surgery exceeded my wildest expectations! I am without neck pain for the first time in almost 2 years! I had to end my ski season a month early, but I guess it was worth it. I was able to roll right into my summer Forest Service season, once the collar was off, and now I've had a couple of backpacking outings, and happy to say there seems to be no residual deficit arising from my neck surgery.

Our Nepal trip to Nar-Phu and Tilicho Lake is languishing, a bit disappointing. We have 3 people (in addition to myself) definitely signed up, air tickets purchased, and ready to go. I'm still waiting to hear from 5 people for a go/no go decision, but airfares aren't getting any cheaper, and space on the flights into Kathmandu tends to get scarce the later into the season one waits. Our trip starts off as if doing the Annapurna Circuit, from Besisahar to Koto, but then divert a little to the north into a region that has been open only since 2003. It takes special permits to get there and this means the culture is much more intact than it is on the major trekking routes like the Annaurna Circuit or the Everest Region. We rejoin the Annapurna Circit trail briefly, until Manang, and then head for Tilicho Lake and Mesokantu Pass into Jomosom. From there we fly back to Pokhara and Kathmandu. The dates for this trip are October 11 to Novermber 6. This may be one of the last years to do the Annapurna Circuit as the road is being extended from Besisahar and will be in Chame (Koto) by next year, and all the way to Manang in 2012!

I've been working on another Sierra Club trip for next winter, another 10th Mountain Hut trip. We will be going a week later (January 16) and adding one day (ending January 23) and utilizing 2 huts, Betty Bear and Skinner. The trip was pretty popular this year, and we wanted to do it again. A draft brochure is ready and on this website; the Sierra Club brochure on the Sierra Club site won't be ready until late August. There are also some photos on my Picasa site from 2005, as well as photos from our hut trip last year.

I never seem to have enough time to get everything onto these pages that I plan, but read on, check back here from time to time, and I will add pictures from some of my travels as I have time. Also as I have time, and whim moves me, I will be adding to and updating these pages. Feedback is always appreciated!!!