Finally the last of the bags are packed and we’re off. The pile of gear sitting in my living room is a small mountain comprised of four base camp duffels, one ski bag, my carry-on camera bag and a small messenger bag with personal travel items. That’s just my pile, everyone else has similar loads. I have an idea how much the overweight baggage will cost but across the team it will be in the thousands of dollars to make this trip happen.
It always amazes me how much technology and gear I take on expeditions and this particular trip is one in which we have more than average. I have remote power systems to keep my laptop, digital cameras, sat phones and most important, my Ipod cranking away. Skis and climbing gear, stoves, sleeping bag, down suits, 8 lbs of jerky from my local butcher in Livingston, peanut butter and all sorts of other comfort foods to satiate me over the course of the expedition.
The start of the trip represents an exciting time and one of sadness as we embark on a journey of a lifetime we also must say goodbye to those we love. We will be in Islamabad on the morning of the 6th and will hopefully have another post up soon there after. I look forward to going back to a place that had a profound impact on my youth as I was only 23 the last time I visited, It’s been eleven years and the country is a very different place today. Change is one element in life we can all expect but sometimes it happens for the worse. I hope for the people of Pakistan the recent government changes are for the best. Time will tell.
