Finally! Ran, Thundu (one of our Sherpa who requires some medical attention) and I boarded a Nepal Air Force helicopter this morning and landed in Kathmandu at 10 AM today. Our original helicopter plans were dashed when a airplane and a civilian helicopter crashed at Kathmandu airport yesterday. Hence, we improvised late last night and through a local contact persuaded the Nepali military to airlift us out of a small village, located five hours’ hike below Base camp. The flight itself couldn’t have been more spectacular as the two courteous pilots tried hard to impress us. We flew at breathtaking proximity past cliffs, over treetops, fields, and ancient monasteries as we headed towards the Kathmandu Valley. Now that we’re here, it feels great to breathe thicker air again, even if its somewhat polluted. Our Khumbu coughs are already much better than they were up in the Himalaya, and we received a hero’s welcome by the staff of the Hyatt Regency and about a dozen reporters from the local and international press. After a most relaxing visit to the hotel’s spa and a shave and hair cut, it feels like we’re humans again, not Taliban. It is a fortunate coincidence that we would arrive here on a Sunday, as the brunch buffet, packed with delicacies we have only dreamt of for the past six weeks, couldn’t have been a more welcome sight at lunchtime. We are, however, feeling extremely tired and exhausted - it’s as though we’ve hit a wall. Even Ran, who is famous for going on and on indefinitely, fell asleep at the lunch table. Ran departs for London tonight; I will remain here to deal with some post-expedition logistics and give a few presentations to the local community. Tomorrow, I will post the first of a small collection of stories detailing how several members of the expedition and I got into some hairy situations on our final descent from Camp 4 to Base Camp. In the meantime, below is the much sought-after summit picture. It shows Kenton Cool (our guide), Namgel (my personal Sherpa), and I raising the Navy SEAL flag on the summit of Mt. Everest.

Namgel Sherpa, Kenton Cool, and I hoist the Navy SEAL flag on the summit of Mount Everest.