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.