Successful Climbing for Health Care in Nepal Trip

After a stunning summit bid on Island Peak, five of our team reached the summit (20,305 feet)! Jared Wolcott, Rick Westermeyer, Jon Fessler, Brian Jensen and Les Zollbrecht all enjoyed the thin air of this spectacular 6,000 meter mountain. The climb included some 3rd-4th class scambling, glacier travel with two cravasses to jump over, a bergschrund to cross on a bridge and 400 feet of water ice to scale to the fixed lined summit ridge that led to the peak. Jon Fessler carried his HD camera to the summit and captured some high altitude shots of the team with the backdrop of the Khumbu region and several of the highest peaks in the world. The descent was marked with a high altitude rescue of a climber who contracted Acute Mountain Sickness 100 feet from the summit! Jared Wolcott helper her down the 600 foot head wall on rope and then Les and Jared short roped and guided her down another 3,000 feet to base camp where she recovered over then next few hours. For all of you who have been praying for this expedition--thanks!

After three long days of walking we 

arrived in Lukla and had a big celebration with the 18-person team who made this climb a success. 

It was an incredible time with many new 

friends made. 

A special thanks to each person for the invaluable contribution:

Nepali Guides:
Jagat Lama, Chet Lama, Lal Tamang and Nima Pisang Tamang

Nepali Porters:
Lahkpa Sherpa, Jangbu Sherpa, 

Ganga, Purna, Bishnu, Sireme Rai, Santosh Rai and Ramh Singh

US Guide:
Les Zollbrecht

Climbers:
Brian Jensen, Jon Fessler, Ann 

Westermeyer, Rick Westermeyer and Jared Wolcott

17,700 Feet

After spending five days above 15,000 and reaching a high point of nearly 18,000 feet, we are now luxuriously perched at 14, 300feet. It is great breathing the thick air of Dinboche as our team captured their first views of 20,305ft Island Peak. This will be our climbing objective in three days. Our team of six is well and we have enjoyed the stunning views of Everest, Ama Dablam, Cholatse and the many other dazzling peaks. Wish us well as we push upward!

MLI Team in the Everest Region

After passing dozens of yak/cow hybrids (called Jokios) and mule trains, the six member MLI team is resting in the thriving village of Namche Bazaar, Nepal. Two days of hiking has brought the team through the rugged valleys and across the Dudh Khosi River (over a 200' high suspension foot bridge). Today was a rest day, meaning that we hiked up about a thousand feet to help in the acclimatization process as we currently are at the same elevation as Mt. Hood's summit.

As the sun peaked over the mountains this morning, we stood in awe of our first view of Mt. Everest without a cloud in the sky! Ama Dablam stood at the entrance to the Khumbu valley perfectly framed in the dark blue sky above. After a stunning sunrise, we hiked up to Kunde where there is one of the two hospitals in this entire region. Our film crew interviewed the docter who was there about health conditions in this area. We also were able to see a "yeti" scalp at the monastery in Kumjung. What a day!

A major aspect of this expedition is to produce a film about health care in Nepal and prior to this trek, three of our team members: Jared Wolcott, Jon Fessler (our film maker) and myself (Les Zollbrecht) embarked on a harrowing jeep ride to Kumari. It is in this remote village that Jagat Lama (our head guide) is working with Health and Education for Nepal to build a hospital, improve education and help to reform his community. It was truly amazing to learn that although everyone cooks with fires in the homes there are no chimneys. The smoke just clouds the huts and eventually makes its way out the front door. Jagat told us that a recent medical camp had found that nearly 75% of people had some form of lung disease. On the final night of our trip, the local Shaman (the only health care currently available) performed a ritual dance similar to how they would heal someone who was sick.

More than ever, our team has become impressed about the desperate need for health care throughout Nepal and especially in Kumari.

Long Road to Nepal

Bleary-eyed we stirred from the short night in Portland Oregon to begin an expedition that would stretch over six weeks. The most important mission of thistrip is to create a film that will generate support to build and maintain a hospital. The second mission is to climb Island Peak and the third mission is connect as an expedition in one of the most incredible places on earth.

Promptly, our flight coursed through the short two hours to San Fransisco. After an hour layover we flew through a stunning array of ice bergs and mountains as we skirted the southern tip of Alaska before landing in Korea and finally Singapore, where I now write. All told we have been traveling for 20 hours. The next flight takes us to Kathmandu; land where tropics meet mountains.

So, we begin... We will be meeting Shannon Gibb in Kathmandu.

Till next dusty cafe...
Z

Climbing For Health Care in Nepal

The news pommelled Jagat;
“Your father has fallen.”
Jagat was working as a porter in Nepal and had a long way to go to reach his father in his village of Kumari. His father had fallen while working in the hills around the small village. The nearest medical care required a nine hour walk. However, when Jagat and his brother hoisted their father on their shoulders they knew the trip would take much longer. Time had run out for Jagat’s father. He turned to his son and said “Jagat, you try to be a good man and try to help the remote people get medical treatment. Let them not die like me.” Jagat wept as he held his father in his arms. If only there had been medical care available.
Against incredible odds, Jagat held firm to his father’s dying wish. For years, Jagat dreamed of a hospital in the village of Kumari.

Land cleared for the future hospital in Kumari

Island Peak

Help Tell the Story
In April, an MLI expedition will be traveling with Jagat and his trekking company on an expedition to Everest Base Camp and ultimately to climb 20,305’ Island Peak. As they travel on this adventure, they will be hearing the story of Jagat and his vision of bringing medical care for the marginalized people of Kumari. International film producer Jon Fessler will be along to capture this story of the climb as well as the uphill battle of Jagat to build this hospital for his people. This film will be a critical tool to build awareness and raise money for the future Kumari Hospital.
Jagat donates up to fifty percent of the money raised through his trekking company to this project but it is not enough. Help us tell his story. There are 60,000 people who will gain vital access to medical care with this hospital. People who might otherwise die like Jagat’s father. Together, we can build a hospital in Kumari.

DONATE HERE

Academy Leadership Expedition 2008

Academy Leadership Expedition

Winner of the 2008 Don Keele Excellence in Education Award!

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Student leaders from across the NPUC stepped way out of their comfort zones and developed a deeply connected community, dynamic new leadership strategies and had a lot of fun! We were privileged to summit Middle Sister under bluebird skies and then glissaded across the snow fields to our camp. On Saturday, we had guests; Annapurna Myrna and Gunther drop in for a presentation about living intentional lives and then reveled in a few hours of restful solo time as we processed where we were headed individually and as leaders.

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Student quote of the day, "For the first time in my life I realized that I am a leader. I have never believed that I was a leader until now. Now I am asking God what He is calling me to do."

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On Sunday, we bade farewell to the mountains and moved to the high desert of Smith Rocks. We reveled in the fantastic climbing and the lack of other visitors. After two strong days climbing on Monday and Tuesday we enjoyed a campfire at Haystack Reservoir. On Wednesday, Jared gave us a visual glaciology education; Doni presented a class about body movement, anatomy and physiology and finally, Les offered several practical leadership strategies before we debriefed on the summit of "our" private" mountain. 

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Personal note: I sensed an anticipation about returning to our families and friends in the valleys as we drove over the mountains to Portland. On the other hand, we lingered at the edge of the wilderness. There seemed to be an invitation calling us to remain just a little longer in this stunning gallery of God. We also experienced the warmth of a close and supportive community while we lived in the wilderness. Perhaps, as we turned down the noise of our lives for a few days, we were able to hear the whispering God speaking to us and through each other. In these rare moments, we felt the magnetic call of the Majestic. In each person on the expedition there were glints of the Divine that shone through. I saw God in the compassion, helpfulness and joy that flowed through this group. I consider it a great honor to be able to call BJ, Chris, Doni, Jared, Joni, Justin, Phillip, Shasten and Tad my friends. Stay Anchored.

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