Trek Leader Dev happy

My name is Dev Raj Giri and I am working as Trek Leader with Himalayan Glacier Trekking for the last 18 years. This April, I was guiding a team of 10 tourists to Everest Base Camp. The group included four British, two South African and four Swiss tourists. Except for one, others were aged between 50 and 65. Among them Briton Robert Clark was over 60 years of age and was visiting Nepal for the first time. He had earlier experience of trekking in Kilimanjaro in Africa. 

The trip started on 8 April and would take 18 days to cover the route which included Lukla-Namche-Gokyo Ri-Cho La Pass-Everest Base Camp-Kalapathar and back to Lukla. Cho La Pass is one of the highest passes in the Himalayan region at 5420m. Gokyo Ri on the other hand is at an altitude of 4,800m and Kala Pathar at 5,545m.

The trip is no doubt one of the most challenging and rewarding treks in the Everest region but not impossible even for aged people. This trip has been developed by HGT and is tailored to provide maximum period for acclimatization and relaxation.

Well before arriving in Lukla, Robert Clark had been on antibiotic dose against his chest infection. The doctor had prescribed him to take pills for the following five days starting from 7 April. As we advanced our trek from Lukla, everyone was doing well including Robert.

As far as my knowledge, Clark always had a good appetite along the trek and was surprisingly keeping up with the groups with no difficulty. Moreover no one had any problem of altitude sickness. Having said that Clark did have breathing irregularity when walking but that was part of his chest infection for which he was taking medication regularly. 

On the 5th day of our trek, when we reached Machermo, Clark showed signs of difficulty and uneasiness. By night, he was into vomiting and diarrhea. As a result, he was immediately taken to the nearby Aid Post run by Himalayan Rescue Association. Clark was administered by a foreign volunteer doctor who attributed the reason to food poisoning and not high altitude sickness. On further check, Clark's oxygen level was found to be 90 which was average. The doctor subsequently offered Clark some tablets which he was supposed to take for next three days and told him to rest for a day.

Taking note of his health situation and the Cho La pass and Gokyo Ri we had to cross over in the coming days, I decided and suggested Clark to take an easy route through Phortse and Pheriche to Lobuche and avoid further altitude. So the following day I went ahead with the rest of the members leaving Clark with a trekking guide to take off from their for Phortse as soon as he felt comfortable. I had arranged to meet Clark at Lobuche.

By the time the rest of the group made it to Lobuche after couple of days, I came to know that rescue efforts were needed for Clark by the time he reached Pheriche. After having reached Pheriche on the 8th day, one day before Lobuche, Clark had begun to show worst symptoms of chest infection with which he had been affected earlier on. In fact he had acquired no high altitude sickness till then. He was then treated by doctors at nearby Aid Post and recommended to be rescued. Cark was fine and well and was already recovering by the time he was safely ferried to Kathmandu before he flew back to his home.

The rest of the other members successfully made it to Everest Base Camp and Kalapathar and returned to Kathmandu.

Getting high altitude sickness is one of the common problems while trekking in the Himalayan region. The itineraries developed by HGT and especially that of Everest region have been designed meticulously and based on years of experience. So there is little possibility of anyone getting high altitude sickness which definitely does not seem to be the case of Clark.

We often make sure that our clients are fit and well when trekking with no other major difficulties. I am very happy that Clark was timely diagnosed by doctor and was rescued when it was required. We would certainly like to thank Clark for his cooperation. I am thankful for myself for making the necessary decision of not encouraging him further treks.

Message from Robert Clark

Dear Sagar

 A short note to let you know that I arrived back home on Monday after a very good series of flights and connections.
I am feeling much better now, but still quite tired, so I am planning to see my doctor today after a couple of day's rest.
I can't thank you enough for all the assistance you and your team gave me during my illness. Without your prompt and caring attention I would not have recovered so quickly, nor would I have been repatriated home early enough to begin that process.

I attach a photo of me enjoying the magnificent scenery, a few days before I was taken ill.

I hope the rest of the group had a successful trek - please give them my best wishes.

Thanks again for all your help.
 

Best regards

Robert Clark

April 2008