27 Comments
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Dr. Venki Padmanabhan's avatar

Kay! How wonderful. Thank you for sharing. I am a bit jealous now. I made trips to Tanzania, same airport, but I went looking for Kaolin clay for my mining business in Kerala, India. Jealous, because I didn’t even know that such experiences could be had there. I love the way you write, love the pictures. Love the sherpa vignettes, our dear frontlines.

Kay Walten's avatar

Thank you @Dr. Venki Padmanabhan . If you ever decide you’d like to go to that region, let me know I have some great contacts there.

Sean Paul Kelley's avatar

Wow, I thought my 40 hour bus trip from Golmud to Lhasa at 12,000-14,000 feet the whole time was a test of endurance. Mass respect.

And the pacing of your writing was superb. Each sentence was another victory, a new little hoorah!

Thanks for sharing this wonderful story.

Kay Walten's avatar

Thank you Sean. Actually telling the story in this fashion in the present tense to take the reader with my is my first try at this style. Usually I write in past tense. I am so glad you liked it. And I would love to hear more about your bus trip to Lhasa. I can only imagine the agony that trip was. Cheers, to you.

Sean Paul Kelley's avatar

I don't think you could've told the story more effectively than by using the present tense. I thought it was just exceptionally well paced and well done.

I look forward to reading more, and if you have any travel writers that you follow on Substack that you would recommend please do.

And I will get to work on that bus trip story, post haste.

Kay Walten's avatar

Sean are there any particular interests you have? Let me know so I can see if I have any one who you would find enjoyable to follow.

Sean Paul Kelley's avatar

North East Asia, China, Japan, all of Central Asia. The Caucasus. Iran—been there once—Turkey. Egypt. Algeria, Morocco. I adore Mexico. Have family there. I’d love to see a Safari in the Okavango. The Rockies both US and Canadian. Tierra del Fuego.

So if I didn’t mention it, I’m not really interested in it.

Kay Walten's avatar

If you adore Mexico, you must check out https://substack.com/@mexicosoul I have known Jeanine for years! She is a wealth of information, history and personal insights.

Sean Paul Kelley's avatar

Thank you

Sean Paul Kelley's avatar

She lives in the one place in Mexico that I’m not a fan of the Yucatán. I’ll explain why I did an archaeological dig for summer semester for my graduate work and the heat and everything was horrible and it was oppressive and I was not totally impressed with my building methods and it was just too fucking hot

Sean Paul Kelley's avatar

But thank you nonetheless

Lisbon Diaries's avatar

What an impressive and brave trip.Hope your headache went away after the first day. Must be the altitude?

Kay Walten's avatar

Yes I had altitude sickness, all the way up. 🥾🗻

Lisbon Diaries's avatar

But you still did it. Congrats!

Kay Walten's avatar

Yes, and I always have the intent to return, although I haven't yet. It was an amazing journey.

Mark Orwoll Is At It Again's avatar

I'm impressed with anyone who even ATTEMPTS this climb, whether they make the final slog to the top or not. Good job, nice essay. P.S., Please get your sleeping bag dry-cleaned before your next trip.

Kay Walten's avatar

😂 thank you @Mark Orwoll Is At It Again I always thought I would go back, but still haven’t.

Eileen Pozda's avatar

OMG…amazing. I never realized what you went through on a lot of your adventures. I am so glad you are writing about these things. It certainly gives me a new window into your journeys.

Kay Walten's avatar

Thanks mom! ❤️

Stacie's avatar

I admire your ability to stop peeing mid stream. I’ve lost that ability. So I forego peeing in my tent any longer because it’s too risky for my sleeping bag.

Kay Walten's avatar

@Stacie practice! 🤣

PEGGY SIJSWERDA's avatar

Kudos to you, Kay, for listening to your body. You made it to the top in my eyes.

Kay Walten's avatar

Thank you @peggysijswerda this story is actually the first time I ever explained that I fell short and the details, how and why. It really was a great internal trip and journey.

Shannon Tipton's avatar

That's what makes the story valuable. There are so many success stories out there, but part of success is also the bits we fail at, the struggle and learning from that struggle. I appreciate the vividness of the picture you painted!

Kay Walten's avatar

@Shannon Tipton thank you so much. I consider the hike a success. One thing I did not include is my hike I raised money to put a roof on a building used for a sewing coop I started in Tanzania. So it really was a win on many levels.

Tony Radistis's avatar

Wow, felt every last bit of that gasping Kay 😨 You got me right up there, in my mind! Not sure if I’d attempt it otherwise but would love to see it even from a distance!!

Kay Walten's avatar

Thanks @Tony Radistis I’m glad I could take you up the mountain!