motives

[John Topping]

Greetings Patty From Aotearoa New Zealand.
I have read your message and see that you are trekking Annapurna next year.
We were in Nepal in November 2000 trekking the Everest Circuit - 23 days to
an altitude of 5445 metres.  We celebrated our 21st wedding anniversary by
traversing the Cho La Pass - 5000 metres.  I cannot recommend the trekking
highly enough.  It was wonderful for us with cool crisp days - no rain or
cloud - but cold.  It was a place of great majesty and solitude and we were
overcome with its beauty.  There were down sides - such as the rubbish along
the tracks generated by the tourism - toilet paper, human excrement,
chocolate bar wrappers, batteries, even altitude sickness and other
ailments.  Apart from the physical accomplishments of attaining different
goals one of the most memorable experiences for me was visiting Tugla - the
place where those who have perished on Everest are remembered.  There were
many large and ornate chortens commemorating people like Scott Fisher, Rob
Hall and other entenepuers who were marketing Everest as the ultimate
holiday adventure - but scattered everywhere were small piles of rocks 2, 3
or 4 high in remembrance of the Sherpas who had died helping them achieve
their dreams.  It was, however, a peaceful place.  We had a wonderful time
in Nepal - we wish you every success with your plans and hope your
experience is both meaningful and enjoyable. While walking I was often
reminded of the Psalm "If I go up to the mountains you are there, If I rise
on the wings of the dawn, If I settle on the far side of the sea - even
there I am with you and my right hand will keep your path straight.'
John & Marion Topping,
Tauranga, New Zealand.
----- Original Message -----
From: Patty Sheneman <ToulouzaWEBTV.NET>
To: <GOCAMINOaPETE.URI.EDU>
Sent: Friday, January 11, 2002 9:20 AM
Subject: Re: motives


> one of you mentioned shirley maclaine's book the camino.
>
> i'm planning myself on doing the camino in 2004, the next holy year. i
> wanted to do it a couple of years ago but was finishing up graduate
> classes.
>
> next year, when i turn 50, Lord willing, I'll be walking in Nepal on the
> Annapurna Circuit,which is a three week hike. I wanted to do the
> pilgrimage to Jerusalum, but 9-11 stopped that.
>
> Pilgrimages are spiritual journeys,where ever they may lead a person. I
> want very much to do the camino during a holy year, and also those hikes
> in nepal---also machu pucchu---canterbury---all long walks are
> pilgrimages to me in that the prolonged silence and oneness with nature
> allows so much spiritual growth.
>
> anyway,so i went and bought maclaine's book,and liked the description of
> the walk, etc., but all of those interjections of her having these
> conversations with dead people---it just really wrecked it for me.
>
> Medicine Woman
>