dzi Foundation in Nepal

If you are not sure what the dzi Foundation is, here is a link to their site: http: dzi Foundation. It is on behalf of the dzi Foundation and Marmot that I am going to the Himalayas. The dzi foundation helps provide health care, dental, starting schools and education on nutrition in Nepal and India in the Himalayas where these services have never existed.

Here is the dZi April newsletter by

Jim Nowak, Executive Direc.

Namaste, Friends and Supporters of dZi,

The other night I was at a dinner party and a friend asked me what I thought would be the highlight of my upcoming trip to Asia this spring. I told him that it is always an adventure and I am constantly surprised at what evolves as I travel from region to region to review our projects. Projects that you thought were “spot-on” have an issue or two that need to be dealt with, and what you thought was a problem with an individual, method of deli.

We have not been able to go back to the villages of Chhulemu, Deku, and the Taksindu Monastery area for the last 5 years due to the Maoist conflict. This is the area where Kim and I were married in a Sherpa “Demchang & Zendi” Ceremony that lasted 4 days with 200 Nepali friends from the surrounding area. You want to talk about a party! As we trekked for days to get to the site, the going joke was, “Walk 75 miles and bring a covered dish to Jim & Kim’s Wedding.”

Since our last trip, the Nepal Army and the Maoists have ravaged this peaceful area of the Solu Region, each attempting to control the area. The Maoists ruled by night and the Nepal Army ruled by day and, as in most conflicts, the villagers were caught in the middle, terrorized by both sides. With this 10-year chapter of Nepal’s history (and 12,000 deaths) hopefully behind us, we look optimistically towards the future.

Bentgear.com

"Geared for Adventure"

Gear Review - Sleeping Pads

Yep, I have thought this one over quite a bit recently for my trip to the Himalayas. How am I going to get the best nights sleep without carrying a ton? I already have a Thermarest, the Thermarests that I take when I am backpacking or car camping would probably be fine when push comes to shove, but I did a shop test of the Exped Down mat and I have to tell ya, it's comfortable, I mean really comfortable.


So you guessed it, I am taking the Exped Down mat to the Himalayas. It weighs pretty 28oz give or take a couple of ounces and it packs down pretty well for the amount of insulation you get.


The Exped Down mat is insulated with down so the only hang up is that it seems to take a bit longer to fill up as you need to use the pump bag that doubles as the stuff sack to pump air into the Exped. The Exped Down mat is also made from tough polyester so it will stand a good beating on the trail, but just in case I am really too tough on the Exped it does come with a repair kit.


Yep I think my nights are going to be pleasant under the Himalayan night sky, so I hear!

Bentgear.com
"Geared for Adventure"

Gear Review - Down Jackets

I was looking into my gear closet and I noticed that my once down filled jacket will no longer do for a pillow in the summer, never mind going to the Himalayas, it's time for a new jacket. Teary eyed, I gave up my 10 year old Rab down jacket to the local thrift store and headed out to do some research.

I was drawn to two jackets the Marmot Ama Dablam and the Patagonia Down Sweater.

Marmot Ama Dablam Jacket:

The Ama Dablam jacket has 650+ fill goose down with an adjustable down filled hood that packs down really well, but will keep me warm in May in the Markha Valley. I also liked the Drimclime chin guard for days when we are heading into a wind. The pockets on the inside and outside are actually big enough to put a headlamp, map etc in them. The fit on the Ama Dablam for an athletic woman, well, it fit's, other jackets you know have made a smaller version of the men's.

Patagonia Down Sweater:

The Down Sweater as 800 goose down without a hood. The Patagonia Down Sweater weighs only 10oz and packs down to a small chalk ball. The 800 down fill gives you the added advantage of packing down while lofting better. The zippers on the Down Sweater are lightweight but can easily catch while trying to open and close pockets.

It was a hard choice but I choose the Marmot Ama Dablam becasue of the insulated hood and the Drimclime chin guard, knowing that Himalayan temperatures will drop to +15 or less at night.

Bentgear.com

"Geared for Adventure"