A Hitch in my Giddy Up

November 7 ~ November 9

Let’s just say the mountain wasn’t the only thing erupting with energy the last few days. Somewhere along the way, I seem to have tangled with norovirus, an uninvited guest that hit fast and hard.

It’s not my first rodeo with getting sick in Nepal. Back in 2017, I battled a respiratory infection that bordered on pneumonia, and I swore I’d do everything possible to avoid a repeat. This time, I practically bathed in hand sanitizer, kept my buff pulled up around my mouth and nose, and was extra cautious around people. Yet somehow, the bug still found me.

But before anyone worries, there are so many silver linings to this story. First, norovirus hits fast and furious, which means recovery comes quickly too, and I’m already on the upward swing after just a couple of days. Second, it happened here in Pangboche before heading up to base camp. I can’t even imagine dealing with this in a tent at higher altitude, so the timing couldn’t have been better. And finally, the support from the entire Summit Climb team, including owner Dan Mazur, several Sherpa, and my incredible fellow climbers, has been so healing and encouraging. I’m in such good hands that I feel confident I’ll bounce back and be ready for the next chapter of this adventure.

Maybe when I’m back home, I’ll have to dig into this subconscious tendency I seem to have for adding extra layers of difficulty to already challenging situations. For now, I’ll just chalk it up as part of my ongoing quest for “character development.”

The dance will absolutely continue from higher ground! I’m getting some much needed hydration today and bulking up on solid foods to energize after a couple of days of soup and tea. I might not be able to post a dispatch from base camp but will update on social media to keep y’all in the loop. We’ve got this!