The Word from Mount 7

India 2009 – images and impressions from two months of traveling in Ladakh, Uttarakhand, New Delhi and Agra.  There is also one image from Mauritius, see if you can pick it out.

India is a place worth returning to.  At first it seems so dirty, crazy and chaotic, but once you know a bit of the culture, meet the people and figure out how things work, it becomes fascinating.  There are so many layers to the culture, so much diversity and somehow it all works in its own way.  It has its brutal, unsavoury side, but I didn’t find it to be as mean or scary as places like Lima, Peru.  Somehow, there is more contentment among the people than I have seen in South America, even though the living conditions are often much worse from our point of view.  My first impression of India was more positive than I was lead to believe it would be by other peoples descriptions.  I was ready for extreme hassling and lots of chaos, but I found it no worse than other developing counties.  As the trip went on I found the Indians to be more honest and trustworthy than most.  they bargain hard, but once the deal is struck, the deal is the deal.  By the end of the trip we were leaving our luggage in cabs while we went for dinner.  We never got robbed and we stayed healthy despite the appalling lack of hygiene.  India is the dirtiest country I have traveled in.  The saving grace is that the food and tea is served piping hot.  You just need to wash your hands a lot and be careful where you step.  You are never more than a foot or two away from some type of shit or dung.

I would go back any time.  We spent 1 1/2 months in the Himalayas, in Ladakh and Utterakhand.  We were mostly trekking and also did three days of rafting on the Ganges.  We finished the trip with a beach holiday in Mauritius and a trip to the Taj.  Overall, awesome.

I posted an exhaustive collection of pictures at:

India Trip

Robson, So HAPPY to hear that you are doing well just got done reading your story Geeeze……How things change quick. So did you atleast have time to put the go pro on–Just Kidding WE are thinking about you guys. I still can’t get over your smile laying on the heli floor what a sport. Take care to both you & Olivia now you have lots of time to do wedding chores!! Hugs, Laurie & Jim

You’ve probably heard Mt. Redoubt blew its top and dusted us pretty good here in Homer. I was out cleaning the decks when Sandy came out and told me about your big ride. We’ve been in touch with Tom as he’s interested in joining us on our float down the Grand Canyon in September. I needed a break from the ash anyway and came in to read about your adventure. It looks like you took quite a beating but I suspect you’ll be back in the saddle soon. Our spring season in the high country is shot as well as the snow is black. Nice pics! I always thought you were a colorful guy but that’s not what I had in mind. We’re wishing you the best and are so thankful you’ll be there with us next season. Love to you and Olivia. Billy and Sandy

Robson,

Both Ellie and I are happy you are OK.

Get well soon and buy Tom are beer for us.

Biff and Ellen, Breckenridge CO

Hi Robson, I just wanted to thank you for your beautiful words about Hima and to say I am so grateful you survived your avalanche ride.  Today is Hima’s birthday and I am trying to focus on all the positive and fun things he did in his short life, love Doc

Chuck Jennings managed to snap a few pictures of my rescue from the bottom of Lee’s Trees.

Tom and Baron digging me off the tree that broke my femur. You can just see my right foot with a red boot between the two of them.

The crew has dragged me down to the improvised heli pad and I'm ready to be loaded onto the helicopter.

Lying on the floor of the A Star on the way to Golden.

In this picture I'm listening to Don McTighe, our regular pilot at Battle Abbey, telling me to get off my back and get back to work.

Thanks for the pictures Chuck.  It is good to have them.  I was wondering if anyone had taken any shots of the rescue and here they are.

I want to thank everybody who has helped me out during and after my accident.  It is great to see so many people come together and pitch in.  We had a big crew on Saturday to help us move, people have been bringing over lots of food and I’ve had plenty of visitors.  Most of all, Olivia has been great at keeping me comfortable and looking after me.  Thank you everyone, you are all making this a lot easier.