Today there was an ultra marathon which started at Gorak Shep (5200 meters / 17,000 feet) and ended in Lukla (2800 meters / 9,300 feet). This is the ultimate in off-road running and involves crossing suspension bridges, climbing steep stone steps, dodging yaks, and avoiding falling off cliffs. Not to mention the altitude, freezing temperatures, and glaciers. The record is just over 5 hours which not surprisingly is held by a local Sherpa.
We were in charge of providing a medical and water station around the mani stones in Pheriche. Luckily for the runners it was a clear, sunny morning, but it was cold. The water which was initially boiling, froze while we were waiting for runners.
In this race, we were initially told there were to be 50 Nepali and 3 western runners. One western runner had acute mountain sickness (AMS) symptoms and had to descend to Pheriche to start so she only ran 50km. Another western runner had vomiting and diarrhea which he was told was Giardia although it is more likely just bacterial travelers diarrhea, and he also descended part way and was just walking down. The third westerner was actually one of the organizers and the final sweep and he was also just walking. The 15 or so Nepali runners however were running and much more quickly than expected in just running shirts and t-shirts as if this was an average summer 5k. Amazing.
Luckily, no one needed our care, but we spent a few hours outside at the mani stones cheering them on and enjoying the clear morning.
While we were waiting, another guide with the same American trekking company came up to us asking to buy some antibiotics for his group which all had vomiting and diarrhea. He refused official consults and ignored my suggestion that they should not ascend with symptoms as every person we have had to evacuate so far had some type of other illness before ascending (either cough/URI or gastroenteritis). We will likely be seeing them again...
H&C
March 30, 2013
In pic: Hill and Arjun at the Mani stones trying to stay warm in the early morning, awaiting the ultra-marathoners.
We were in charge of providing a medical and water station around the mani stones in Pheriche. Luckily for the runners it was a clear, sunny morning, but it was cold. The water which was initially boiling, froze while we were waiting for runners.
In this race, we were initially told there were to be 50 Nepali and 3 western runners. One western runner had acute mountain sickness (AMS) symptoms and had to descend to Pheriche to start so she only ran 50km. Another western runner had vomiting and diarrhea which he was told was Giardia although it is more likely just bacterial travelers diarrhea, and he also descended part way and was just walking down. The third westerner was actually one of the organizers and the final sweep and he was also just walking. The 15 or so Nepali runners however were running and much more quickly than expected in just running shirts and t-shirts as if this was an average summer 5k. Amazing.
Luckily, no one needed our care, but we spent a few hours outside at the mani stones cheering them on and enjoying the clear morning.
While we were waiting, another guide with the same American trekking company came up to us asking to buy some antibiotics for his group which all had vomiting and diarrhea. He refused official consults and ignored my suggestion that they should not ascend with symptoms as every person we have had to evacuate so far had some type of other illness before ascending (either cough/URI or gastroenteritis). We will likely be seeing them again...
H&C
March 30, 2013
In pic: Hill and Arjun at the Mani stones trying to stay warm in the early morning, awaiting the ultra-marathoners.
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