1. What kind of gear would be needed? (I really don't want to spend a bunch of money gearing up for something I hardly do anymore).

I have a "Packing List" which I will send when a trekker signs up. Basically you need a warm sleeping bag, especially if we sleep at base camp, a warm jacket, fleece layers, hat, gloves, toe/hand warmers are nice, long underwear, outer shell (wind), headlamp, socks, etc. Everything one needs for trekking is available in Kathmandu at great prices. It is only a few dollars a day to rent down jackets, sleeping bags and anything else. It's nice to bring gifts for porters and the families we meet and stay with. You can spend as much or as little as you want on gear. You do not need to buy anything special. Duffle bags for the trek are available for a few dollars in Kathmandu. I'm always surprised to find how little I need. You'll wear the same clothes day after day. Packing is a science. Layers are good. It's generally cold at night, warm in the sun. It is not uncommon to trek for several days without a shower.

2. What about food provisions?

There are lodges along the trail that serve an extensive menu. The route to Everest is quite populated. The usual fare is a combination of vegetables, eggs, yak cheese and spices with either potatoes, rice or noodles. The national food is dal bhat, rice with curried vegetables and a lentil soup/sauce. It's good. Nepal is one of the only cultures in the world that eats the same dish every day, twice a day. The Nepalese are used to westerners who like variety and the menus reflect this. In Kathmandu excellent food from nearly every country in the world is available including chocolate cake and pizza. We will be concerned about three things when it comes to food in Nepal: everything must be either cooked, peeled or boiled. I recommend a vegetarian diet. The meat is okay and many tourists eat lots of it without problems. However meat is a little higher on the risky scale. Stomach problems are common among trekkers, but if you are careful you won't get sick.

3. What conditions would be typical and what conditions would we need to be prepared for?

Do you mean in terms of weather? During the trekking seasons (March/April/May and September/October/November) the weather is the best for trekking. It is generally warm and sunny in Kathmandu (same latitude as Florida) and cold/cool at night. In the mountains it is the same only colder and colder as one goes higher in altitude. It can rain and snow also. In this case, we will wait it out in a lodge. The itinerary allows extra days for such delays. Also the small airplane we take to begin the trek will not fly if there are clouds -- all part of the adventure.

4. What about the political situation and the Maoists?

There is a Maoist political party that is trying to take over. So far tourists are relatively safe. These kinds of issues are an innate part of adventure travel and can be expected when traveling to far away places. We will take every precaution to be safe. Being in the wrong place at the wrong time can happen anywhere in the world, even in the parking lot of the supermarket around the corner. The safest place, of course, is to never leave the house.

Nepal is the eighth poorest country in the world with an average household income of about $200 a year -- only. The Nepalese want things to change but with little education in the rural areas, change is slow and confusing.

There was a US State Department travel advisory for Nepal during my last trip. We knew about it but went anyway and had NO problems. It IS something to monitor but doesn't necessarily have to get in the way. Check the State Department's website at http://travel.state.gov/nepal_announce1.html for the latest advisories and public announcements. They usually lean on the overly cautious side. I am not interested in unnecessary risk. My feeling now is that we will be fine. If this should change at any point, we will discuss our options.

In light of these issues, we have the makings of a true adventure! I am planning to go in September and next spring without hesitation. I am, however, watching the news and the politics closely. If the risk becomes too great, I would cancel the trip and reschedule for the next year or the next season. If flights have already been purchased there is usually a $50-75 (?) fee to reschedule. Money paid to me would go toward the rescheduled trip.

5. Do the porters carry all the gear the whole way?

Yes, portering is a good job in the mountains. Yaks are expensive and employ only one man. Yaks are good for big expeditions and 30 person trekking groups with huge loads. Our groups are small and porters are very happy to work for us. We pay them well, never overload them and make sure they have proper clothing and gear. OUR porters are respected and treated very well! They will become our friends. Other companies often load their porters down. A porter will gladly carry two loads because these companies then will pay them double. I have seen men carrying 50 and 60 kilos! Western trekking companies especially should never encourage this. I write names of the companies I see who disrespect their porters and then send nasty notes. Many US companies hire local people to organize the trek and never see or know how their porters are treated. The Nepalese are some of the worst violators. They pay very little, overload porters and cut corners frequently. Our porters are usually young, strong Sherpas who are earning money for their families and bettering their lives. They are learning English, mingling with us, understanding us, befriending us. Getting to know them is fascinating, too. They are truly amazing people. We can admire their strength, pay them well (without overpaying which also messes up the economics in these villages) and above all, we respect them. Everyone benefits. In other words, one doesn't need to feel guilty hiring porters. It is an important and necessary aspect of mountain life. If you are not convinced, I'll send an article and more information about it.

YOU can expect to carry a small day pack with water, a camera, a light jacket, snacks, etc., while trekking.

6. Would we do tents, or stay in inns the whole time?

There are "Trekkers' Lodges" along the trail which are generally warmer and less expensive than camping. My listed prices for three weeks in Nepal includes this type of trekking. Camping means double the porters, tripple the gear, double the staff by hiring a cook and assistants. Costs increase for bringing in food and kerosene, too. Eating in the lodges usually means food from the lodge owner's garden. Camping is a bit more complicated, however it is easily an option if it interests you. And some camping is necessary if you are planning to summit Everest or any other ice-and-snow peaked mountain. The last lodges are at about 15-16,000 feet. Another good reason to camp is if you have 20-30 (or more) people in your group. These numbers overload the lodges and the small kitchens. The biggest group I have seen was a group of 50(!) from Taiwan. Imagine. For an authentic Himalayan experience, you can book the Garage at the Eighth Street Trekkers' Lodge Bed and Breakfast -- mid December, of course. (You can also test out your sleeping bag there before the trek.) The Trekkers' Lodges on the trail are similar to a garage, just a wood house, no insulation. Unlike the Garage at the Trekkers' Lodge, there are yak dung burning stoves in the dinningrooms of the lodges on the trail. These are HOT and feel great in the evenings after a long trek. Someday, I hope to install one in the B&B garage. :)

7. When is the best time to go to Nepal?

The best times to trek in Nepal are in the spring (February, March, April) and in the fall (September, October, November). The summer (June, July, August) is monsoon season. This is a beautiful and very adventurous time to visit but it will be wet and muddy. The winter is also a beautiful and adventurous time to visit but it will be cold -- everywhere and possibly snowy. None of the houses have central heat.

If you are interested in Mt. Everest Base Camp Support Team treks during the climbing season in the spring, the first trek (trekking to B/C with the climbers) might leave mid March (15 or so) and return three weeks later (April 12 or so). The second trek (hoping to be at B/C when the climbers summit around May 10) would leave around April 25 and return to the States May 20 or so. The actual summit date is extremely hard to predict since it will be determined by the weather mainly and a number of other factors. If you want to be at B/C when the climbers summit, your schedule (time away from work) needs to be very flexible. We can change tickets and flights easily in Nepal if you want to stay longer but if work is calling . . .

More on when to go:
It can be very hot in May/June in Nepal. Nepal's latitude is about the same as Florida. In general it's hot from April to August, cold from November to January, with two warm periods in Feb-March and September-October. The temperatures are considerably warmer in the south (Terai) and considerably cooler in the mountains especially with altitude, of course. Between May and June the season is changing. It's getting hotter and the Monsoon starts mid June. By the end of June and into July it is at its height. During Monsoon, it rains maybe 30 minutes in the mornings and afternoons, so it's usually not pouring all day.

Going at the end of September and into October is a good option. The big tour groups start coming in October so September is just ahead of them, and the weather is usually pretty good. We did have a few clouds and two days of rain on this last trip, but nothing too miserable. It is nice to rest and wait out the rain at times anyway. Also clouds can do amazing things. Some of my best photographs were taken in September with clouds surrounding the mountains.

8. Why should I travel with Of Global Interest?

Of Global Interest is somewhere between the uncertainty and headaches of traveling alone, and the expense and inflexibility of traveling with a larger tour group. I want to help individuals trek and explore more or less on their own in a short period of time. Thus you don't have to take a year off of school/work to travel around the world, nor do you have to fumble through the hardships, trials and tribulations of traveling to a country so completely different from home. I allow you to sit back and become an expert on Nepal (and the world) in just a few short weeks. You will feel you have been away for two years in the Peace Corps after three weeks in Nepal with me. Of Global Interest is flexible and accommodating to your needs, wishes and desires. I have excellent connections in Nepal and Sherpa friends who offer lots of flexibility. With me, you are not bound to a large group and a tight schedule. Whether you are traveling to Nepal, Spain, Hungary or Peru, you will be among friends. My trips are like visiting friends who are living abroad. I know where the good places are, how to get around, and am excited to share all the secrets and insights I have learned from living and traveling in these countries.

9. Any other info you could provide?

I have lots of excellent articles concerning the culture and Nepal which I will send when the deposit is paid. Also, a month or two in advance of departure, I will begin sending my Nepal Orientation E-mails (about 33 messages, one a day or so) which include (1) a Nepali thought (usually about the culture, what to expect, insights), 2) a Nepal related website and 3) a word or phrase in Nepali for you to practice. Trekkers in the past have appreciated these. I have also written a book called Writes of Passage through Nepal about my experiences and adventures while living in Kathmandu in 1986-87. The local library is a great place for free information. Find the travel section and check out a Lonely Planet guide book. There are a bazillion Nepal websites you can search for information as well. I have several references, trekkers who have 'been there done that' -- who have traveled with Of Global Interest who would love to share their stories. You can also read through the Adventure Journal Archives and join my mailing list to learn lots more.

10. What is the first step?

Come to one of my talks, make an appointment to meet with me to discuss a trip, call me on the phone, make contact, show interest. I will send my initial packet of information (most of which is on this website). The trip application questionnaire is a good place to start. This helps me learn more about you and your interests so we can begin to customize your trip. It will also give you an idea of what there is to do in Nepal. The hardest part of a trip like this is making that initial commitment. Once you say, "YES, I'm going!" it's easy. Most people know they will go someday, but saying YES today is what it takes to make it happen.

11. What about altitude sickness?

I have lots of information about altitude sickness. It is very preventable. Traveling in a small group makes this very manageable. 80% of all severe altitude problems occur within the large trekking companies. If one member of a group feels bad, he or she is often afraid to tell anyone, fearing they will hold up the group or be left behind. I have 88 hours of wilderness first aid training and am a certified Wilderness First Responder (WFR).

12. What if I have more questions?

13. About Questions

Thank you for asking the important questions. Please do NOT be afraid to ask anything! If I do not know the answer, I will find out. If something is not clear, it is very important that you ask. Communication is the key to making this a success.

Things to buy in Spain include pottery (dishes, tiles, jugs, plant pots, window boxes), leather (jackets, bags, belts, shoes, boots, wallets), textiles and clothes (rugs, hangings, embroidery, blankets) , two tone metal weapons, carved and inlaid woodwork, gold and silver jewelry, hand blown glass. Individual regions/cities are known for different crafts.

GUERNICA?

The town, Gernika, is near Bilbao (central northern Spain) in Basque country. Long ago this was where the Basque parliament held it’s meetings. In 1937, Franco requested Hitler’s Legion Condor to bomb on April 26, 1937. Almost 2,000 people died. Picasso remembers this massacre in his famous Guernica painting.