Lobuche done! Off to build a school

Linda Blakely, Bob Wood, Nima Sherpa and Tim Rippel - Lobuche 6119m

Couldn't ask for a better day to summit and being my last climb in the Himalayas it was wonderful gift .  Standing there saying good-bye to all the memories on these beautiful peaks, Ama Dablam, Pumori and Everest that I worked on for so many years. Thank you beautiful Khumbu and all my friends that live here and the valley's below. My heart is full with love from all of you who have treated me so well. Thank you higher powers for keeping me and all my climbers safe. I'm one of the lucky ones and proud to leave this way. I sleep at night knowing I always gave it my best shot in keeping everyone safe. 

We (Becky and I), are off on another path. Everyone tells us that we can't quit and they are right. We will just be doing different things.  It's in our blood after 25 years, twice and sometimes three times a year. We will return each autumn to lead a soft trek and bring volunteers to help build quality schools in rural Nepal. 

Right after this climb I scurried off the mountain and headed to our earth build school project. You can follow us at Peak Freaks Rippel Effect. 

Please keep following. We have a lot of work to do.

Tim and Becky Rippel

Peak Freaks

Island Peak Summited- Lobuche Next

Photos came in this morning from Linda Blakely from the UK on top of Island Peak with Nima Sherpa. Team is heading to Lobuche tomorrow. Weather has been crisp and clear.

Our earth quake relief "earth bag" team are about to begin their journey to Nepal this coming weekend. One adventure after another. http://rippeling.blogspot.ca 

More later.......

Becky

http://peakfreaks.com  

The World is Getting Too Small

Kala Pattar with Mount Pumori in the background 

Everest Base Camp 

PF 2016 Triple Crown team has completed the rigours of acclimatization. The team has requested a rest day today while Tim is going to head to our Island Peak base camp.  He's going on a walkabout to scout out some ice for the team to play on.

Yesterday the team enjoyed great weather atop Kala Pattar (5346m), the south ridge shoulder of Mount Pumori near Everest. It is a non-technical trail to the top. No exposure, no crevasse, no avalanche risks and the most dynamic photo-op location of Mount Everest.

As soon as they got down they went directly to Everest Base Camp and managed to get their photo there. Tim tells me that there was a line-up going up Kala Pattar,  and at least 200 people in line at Everest base camp waiting to get their photo by the base camp marker. It's nice to see that tourists are coming back, but... the traveller world seems to be bursting at the seams and it sure changes the magic that used to be here. Line-ups at places like Lake Louise in the Canadian rockies are example at home. The world seems to be getting too small.

Tim is looking forward to getting off the busy trail and getting comfortable at our base camp and enjoying some quiet time with the team.

That's all for now!  Anything exciting I'll bring it here.

Becky
http://peakfreaks.com/everest_mountaineering_course.htm
http://rippeling.blogspot.ca

HIGHEST LAMA CELEBRATES 20 YEARS LATER

In 1996 Tim Rippel was a member of climbing team who were attempting to be the first Canadians to summit Mt. Ama Dablam.  Ama Dablam today, is a very popular climbing objective in the Everest region known as the Matterhorn of the Himalayas. Also on this team was Nelson B.C's Tim Thurston,  and following in behind the team was Thurston's soon to be wife Carrie Morita who was on Becky's base camp trek team.

As the team worked their way up the mountain Lhakpa Sherpa ran down the valley to speak to Lama Geshi at his home in the village of Pangboche (the highest inhabited village in Nepal). Lama Geshi escaped Tibet in 1947. Lhakpa was to learn from Lama Geshi of an auspicious day to marry the couple. A day was picked, the team descended and Lama Geshi married the Thurston's "Tibetan style" in his home at 3985m in the Himalayas. Each year since, Tim takes his climbing team to meet with Lama Geshi and receive a blessing for safe massage while climbing on the Himalayan giants.

Twenty years later today, October 17th, 2016, Tim and Carrie's son Owen Thurston (now 19 years old), makes his firsts trip to Nepal. Trust me, these dates and this meeting were not even planned to line-up as Owen had just decided to take the journey to Nepal two weeks ago while on his travels in New Zealand. As the logistics were being put together it was realized he would arrive exactly 20 years later in the same spot, same day with Lama Geshi and Rippel who both were part of his parents marriage.

In this photo with Owen you will see Lama Geshi holding a photo of Tim and Carrie Thurston today holding their wedding photo in the exact same place in front of Lama Geshi 20 years later.

Happy Anniversary Tim and Carrie!!!! Many great memories were made here and lifetime friends.

Tim & Becky
http://peakfreaks.com/everest_mountaineering_course.htm
http://rippeling.blogspot.ca


More trek photos contributions of the journey to Pangboche today.

HIGHEST LAMA CELEBRATES 20 YEARS LATER

In 1996 Tim Rippel was a member of climbing team who were attempting to be the first Canadians to summit Mt. Ama Dablam.  Ama Dablam today, is a very popular climbing objective in the Everest region known as the Matterhorn of the Himalayas. Also on this team was Nelson B.C's Tim Thurston,  and following in behind the team was Thurston's soon to be wife Carrie Morita who was on Becky's base camp trek team.

As the team worked their way up the mountain Lhakpa Sherpa ran down the valley to speak to Lama Geshi at his home in the village of Pangboche (the highest inhabited village in Nepal). Lhakpa was to learn from Lama Geshi of an auspicious day to marry the couple. A day was picked, the team descended and Lama Geshi married the Thurston's "Tibetan style" in his home at 3985m in the Himalayas.

Twenty years later today, October 17th, 2016, Tim and Carrie's son Owen Thurston (now 19 years old), makes his firsts trip to Nepal. Trust me, these dates and this meeting were not even planned to line-up as Owen had just decided to take the journey to Nepal two weeks ago while on his travels in New Zealand. As the logistics were being put together it was realized he would arrive exactly 20 years later in the same spot, same day with Lama Geshi and Rippel who both were part of his parents marriage.

In this photo with Owen you will see Lama Geshi holding a photo of Tim and Carrie Thurston today holding their wedding photo in the exact same place in front of Lama Geshi 20 years later.

Happy Anniversary Tim and Carrie!!!! Many great memories were made here and lifetime friends.

Tim & Becky
http://peakfreaks.com/everest_mountaineering_course.htm
http://rippeling.blogspot.ca


More trek photos contributions of the journey to Pangboche today.

Namche Bazaar - Mountain City

Triple Crown 2016- Nepal in Namche Bazaar

Just a quick update on our progress. We were lucky to get out on schedule to Lukla, the weather window closed in behind us so we are happy about getting in, and on, with this expedition on schedule.

I must say I'm surprised by the evidence of wealth up here in the Khumbu. New lodges are going up all around and they've built a water fountain in the village, or rather mountain city. There is a new high-end North Face store that resembles something you'd see downtown Vancouver and more shops coming. The dominating visitors this year appear to be Asian and mostly small groups. I haven't ran into any climbers yet. Things have definitely changed since I was here this time last year.

What's happening in Nepal is good example to those looking to help Haitians. 

 Grassroots works!  

We are sleeping in Debouche tonight and tomorrow we visit with Lama Geshi for pretty special blessing. We'll share the details of that with you tomorrow.


Tim

http://peakfreaks.com/everest_mountaineering_course.htm
http://rippeling.blogspot.ca  (Earth Bag Build)

Gammon Bag Demonstration 

Linda Blakely & Tee Tolliver 

Nepal Triple Crown 2016 Team

Triple Crown Team 2016' - Kathmandu - Nepal

Here is our team minus one who arrived later from India, and also minus our Sherpa staff that they'll join with in the Khumbu tomorrow.  This years team consists of professional athletes, beginner/novice climbers and the rest come with impressive climbing bios.  Members are from Canada, Australia, USA, UK and India, and most are close to the same age. 

Kathmandu is quiet. Tim met with a couple longtime Nepalese expedition agents the past couple of days and learned that tourist visits are definitely down which contradicts what local news has been reporting. Agents are however still keeping busy with administration due to more individual bookings compared to the groups they used to get. 

The past day or two the team has been busy purchasing required equipment, going out for meals together, bonding, and doing reviews of emergency equipment like the Gammow Bag (hyperbaric chamber). 

Tomorrow the team is up at 5:00am and off to Lukla if weather permits. Ive been watching high winds in my weather reports that has the potential to thwart tomorrows flights. We'll keep followers updated on the situation here on this blog.

Becky Rippel

• OCTOBER 2016 http://peakfreaks.com/everest_mountaineering_course.htm
• NOVEMBER 2016  Rippel Effect Earth Bag Build Nepal
• TO LEARN MORE AND TO DONATE TO THE EARTH BUILD First Steps Himalaya