An attempt on Lobuje East, 1991 |
 In Kathmandu: World Expeditions had told us, “When you arrive in Kathmandu you will be met by your Group Leader who will … give you a full briefing.” However, to our great surprise, when we assembled in the Hotel Kathmandu on Monday, 30 September 1991, and met Tashi Tenzing, grandson of Norgay Tenzing (who climbed Everest together with Edmund Hillary in May 1953), Tashi announced that he was no longer going to be our Group Leader, but that his Uncle Tarchen would be instead. Tarchen was a really pleasant person, but he simply didn’t have Tashi’s leadership, communication, and climbing skills. We did not know it at the time, but our expedition was, in reality, doomed to failure from the start. |