With only about a week left until the scary flight from Kathmandu to Lukla (Google that airport, it’s a bit unnerving to fly in and out of there), the Swiss alps are providing an ideal place to hike up to 4,000 m./13,200 feet and spend some time acclimatizing. The first day was pretty tough and I experienced a fair bit of dizziness and headache. But gradually, I am feeling better. While in Europe for a few days, I am also planning to give a talk about last year’s expedition at my high school, the Frankfurt International School in Germany. Of course, stocking up on German bread rolls and sausage will be a nice way to prepare for what will likely be a meagre few months (aside from the mountain of chocolate the porters and yaks will be hauling up to base camp, of course).

My training with the Navy SEALs ended on a high note - literally. What was supposed to be a routine hike up some marginally difficult terrain ended up being a most torturous and criminally dangerous ordeal. After six-plus hours of hiking from an elevation of about 250 feet to 7,000 feet, we discovered that our trail was blanketed with snow. I became alarmed at the prospect of being lost in the mountains, and was reminded of a prominently-placed sign warning hikers of the inherent dangers of the area - rattle snakes, scorpions and other unkindly creatures abound in the mountains outside Palm Springs. Being lost did not appeal to me. The SEALs, however, like this sort of situation. It appeals to their sense of adventure. Hence, they led me on a most improvised route, up steep ravines, over large boulders, and across steep and treacherous ice fields. Most people wear helmets and crampons while negotiating such terrain. They are also tied together with ropes and carry ice axes. The SEALs assured me that our equipment, which consisted merely of trail-running shoes, was perfectly sufficient. The sun was beginning to set when one of the SEALs gently instructed me to pick up the pace. Shortly before total darkness blanketed the area, and after almost two and a half hours, during which my clothes ended up ripped and covered in blood drawn from various cuts to a number of limbs, we reached safety in the form of a mountain station. I can say with some confidence that I have never felt more scared than during this weekend excursion. The following two days of training on the SEAL base were a breeze by comparison. But despite the ordeal, I felt very heavy-hearted when my new friends and I parted ways after a farewell-luncheon over giant swordfish tacos and lemonade. The expedition is now about to begin in earnest.

The training has intensified considerably and I am now hurling around 55 and 60 lb. kettle bells in an effort to keep up with my amphibious friends in something called cross-fit. It’s pretty tough going. Basically, one has to do four or five rotations of six or so different exercises in rapid succession - no long pauses in between. The no-pause thing is not very much fun, especially not when the California sun is burning bright in the clear sky. Dizzy spells and urges to redistribute whatever food entered my system prior to the training are the common results. This weekend, we’re going to hike up a mountain outside of Palm Springs. Apparently, the trail up the mountain is steep and gains 8-10,000 feet of elevation, depending on the route taken. Aside from training, I had a meeting with the producers of Jimmy Kimmel Live this week about appearing on his show. We now have to align our schedules to determine if I can be on the show. This is very exciting, indeed, because the more people we reach via the media, the more potential donors hear about the expedition