Where in the world is Healthy Yak?

In less then one week now the Healthy Yak (HY) project for 2011 will commence upon an April 5, 2011 arrival into Kathmandu, Nepal. After reorganizing our gear the HY Veterinary Team (members include Dr. Kristen Obbink, Dr. Claire Windeyer, Dr. Andrew Skidmore, and myself) will participate in an interview conducted by Kathmandu branch of the news agency Reuters. On April 7th the team will board helicopters for a quick flight up to the village of Lukla at 9,380 feet above sea level. From there it will be a ten-day trek up to the Himalayan Experience Ltd Everest Base Camp at ~17,500 feet. Along the route in, as well as back out, the HY team will conduct eight yak clinics in various villages. I hope to be able to send an occasional blog and maybe even a picture during this 3-week long trip to help the Sherpa people and their yaks high in the Khumbu Region of Nepal. For now please find below the HY itinerary:

• April 5 - Arrive Kathmandu


• April 7 - Fly to Lukla, trek to Phakding


• April 8 - Phakding to Namche Bazaar


• April 9 - Namche to Khumjung


• April 10 - Yak Clinic #1 in Khumjung


• April 11 - Khumjung to Phortse, Yak Clinic #2


• April 12 - Phortse to Macchermo, Yak Clinic #3


• April 13 - Macchermo to Goyko, Yak Clinic #4


• April 14 - Goyko to Goyko Peak to Phang


• April 15 - Phang/Yak Clinic #5


• April 16 - Phang over Chola Pass to Dzonglha, Yak Clinic #6


• April 17 - Dzonglha to Everest Base Camp


• April 18 - Everest BC up to Kala Pattar then to Lobuche Base Camp, Yak Clinic #7


• April 19 - Lobuche to Pheriche to Pangboche, Yak Clinic #8


• April 20 - Pangboche to Namche Bazaar


• April 21 - Namche Bazaar to Lukla


• April 22 - Fly to Kathmandu


• April 23 or 24 - Depart Kathmandu for home

New Dublin Dash!

I hope everyone had a groovy St. Patrick's Day! The town my family and I live near is called New London here in Wisconsin yet for the week encompassing St. Patrick's Day the name changes to New Dublin. A few years ago, according to USA TODAY, New Dublin is the second-best place to be in America during St. Patrick's. Chicago ranks #1. That being said, the luck of the Irish added to this year's New Dublin festivities the New Dublin Dash, a 1.5 mile walk or 3 mile run. My daughter and I participated along with a couple of her friends (in the first picture from L to R: me, Erika Dorrow, my daughter Bailee Fox, and Addy Graber).

Green was the theme as one would imagine but I couldn't help getting a picture with "Mr. Purple" (unknown identity).

Everyone had a blast with over 500 participants in the race and an estimated 20,000 people lining the streets of New Dublin to watch the participants finish the race, just in time for the start of the annual parade, this year encompassing over 125 entrants. Hard to imagine that in less then 2 weeks I will be landing in Kathmandu, Nepal to trek back up into the Khumbu to launch the Healthy Yak campaign. Standby for more blogs!