UNBELIEVABLE BUT TRUE

That’s how things are in Himalaya. When you think that, after so many expeditions, nothing can surprise you, something happens and wonders you strongly. Our way to the base camp has not been easy at all. Right, we are now resting at this place, at 4700 meters, at the Dhaulagiri Base Camp. But to get here we have been through such a nightmare. Last Friday we were at 3600 meters, trapped by the snow and without any porters. Being aware of our situation, we decided to call the helicopter to take us to the base camp with all our cargo. On Friday morning the helicopter arrived. The first two trips were to take  took our colleagues from Al Filo who had been waiting for the helicopter for 5 days. And after them, it was our turn. We placed all cargo inside and the helicopter tried to rise. Impossible. Pilot told us to leave 400 kg there. We left rice and kerosene. Finally, we rose and flew to the base camp. Pilot started to land but something went wrong. It was too hot by then, too much weight, and pilot could not control the helicopter to make it land. I could not avoid remembering the accident we had exactly in the same place two years before.  Pilot aborted the manoeuvre and flew to Pokhara, where we landed by midday. Incredible! We were with our mountaineering outfit and with all our cargo, back in this beautiful city were we started our trekking one week ago. Pilot said he was very sorry, but he had felt he could not land securely. We were astonished for a little while, not knowing what to do. It was so hot… We passed from being over the base camp, to be at our starting point again. Luckily, we dealt with few issues and the following day, very early, we flew to the base camp. Finally, we are here. It is snowing, weather is really bad, but we are happy, as we now start the important part of our Expedition to Dhaulagiri. We are now safe, and for several weeks, at home.
Carlos Pauner