Pre-departure Press Conference Eco Everest Expedition 2008  Hotel Yak & Yeti – April 3, 2008
	Dawa Steven Sherpa - Expedition Leader

Promoting Objectives

Invited to give a presentation on February 22^nd, 2008 at the American Alpine Club’s special event called “Climbatology” at Golden’s American Mountaineering Center, American Alpine Club in Denver, Colorado, I stopped over in Europe to contact individuals and institutions concerned with the Nepal Himalaya.  Everywhere I went I spoke to people about the issues of climate change and its impact on the Himalayas.

 At the function I made a joint presentation with Alton Byers about the impact of climate change on the melting glaciers. Alton Byers is a mountain geographer and Director of the Alpine Conservation Partnership.  He spent 30 days in the Mt. Everest region in Fall 2007, recreating the prized 1950s-era photographs of Swiss glaciologist Fritz Müller and Austrian alpinist and mapmaker Erwin Schneider. This is the first time that their photographs have been replicated, and give an on-the-ground experience of climate change in the Everest region during the past 50 years.

 The response from nearly 400 people after the presentation was overwhelming. Many people pledged to follow the expedition on the internet and many also offered their help - financially and otherwise.

 In the USA, Leo Lebon, one of the first persons to promote camping trek services in Nepal, took me in as his guest and helped me spread the word.

 In Toronto: The Sir Edmund Hillary Memorial Service held by the Hillary Foundation was a very moving experience.  People spoke of the great deeds of Sir Ed and I felt honored to be there. All the notable persons I spoke to, including Zeke O’Connor and Byron Smith, gave me their good wishes and support.

 In Salt Lake City, I met some notable climbers who have joined my expedition. I was also introduced to another community of people who were interested in the objectives of the expedition and were keen to support and help.

 One of the most important moments arose at the presentation. Bill Putnam, past president of the AAC, asked me how we cooked at base camp. I said we used an oven.  He asked: “What does it run on?” I answered cooking gas and he said that this was fossil fuel.  He remarked that if I was really being that eco friendly if I was using non-renewable energy?  I had no answer. I had never thought about it and had just taken it for granted. That got me thinking and, I am glad that question was raised. From that point on I have thought about alternative solutions and what I have prepared now is truly something that I would have easily overlooked were it not for this expedition that inspired me to look for answers.

I have raised funds for the garbage cleanup up alone.  Funds contributed mostly by individuals who believe in my mission. We have set up a fund that will roll every year and I hope to keep raising additional funds to augment this “start up initiative” to be used in other areas of need.

• We say that global warming has no answers.  But I don’t believe that. It is up to us individually to make a difference. It doesn’t take a revolution; it just takes a slight modification in our behavior.

• Individuals from all over the world are continuing to contribute for the garbage cleanup up.

• I believe that like all problems, there are solutions to Global warming.

•  We have to believe in the Power of One - our individual efforts will culminate into group efforts, and group efforts will culminate into community efforts.

• The first step needs to be taken.  I am taking that first step.   I am not setting out to “prove” anything. All I want to do is to seek, to find, and to test practicalities that, hopefully, will benefit us all.

We can make a difference!

We say that global warming has no answers.  But I don’t believe that. It is up to us individually to make a difference. It doesn’t take a revolution; it just takes a slight modification in our behavior.

• Individuals from all over the world are continuing to contribute for the garbage cleanup up.

• I believe that like all problems, there are solutions to Global warming.

• We have to believe in the Power of One - our individual efforts will culminate into group efforts, and group efforts will culminate into community efforts.

• The first step needs to be taken. I am taking that first step.   I am not setting out to “prove” anything.  All I want to do is to seek, to find, and to test practicalities that, hopefully, will benefit us all.

We can make a difference!

CODE OF CONDUCT

The Expedition will be checking practical approaches to:

Human Waste Management (using Clean Mountain Cans) above base camp

Debris and Garbage collection from above base camp, documentation and proper disposal

Using UV lights with rechargeable batteries to purify water

Using a Hot case for cooking

Using a Parabolic Solar cooker

Using a Solar Oven

Document eco-sensitive procedures of locals and other expeditions for adaptation

Information sharing and encouragement to other expeditions, trekkers, and locals to follow eco-sensitive practical procedures

FIELD TEST ABOVE EVEREST BASE CAMP

CLEAN MOUNTAIN CAN

FIELD TEST

COLLECTION, TRANSPORTATION, PROPER DISPOSAL

OF GARBAGE & DEBRIS 

FROM above Everest base camp

Expedition High Altitude Sherpas ferry food, camping equipment, and climbing equipment while establishing high camps on Everest, Lhotse, and Nuptse.  The climbing route is shared by Mt. Lhotse expeditions to above Camp 3 on Everest, and by Mt. Nuptse expeditions to Camp 2 on Everest.  They return to base camp without any loads.

v   Please Note that the following program can change without notice due to weather conditions and physical condition of climbing members. Reserve days are held for that reason.

v   The program will be sensitive to follow the Buddhist calendar. Climbers will not ascend above Base Camp until the Puja ceremony is held by a lama. This is important for the spiritual wellbeing and morale of the Sherpas. It is also an opportunity for the Sherpas to beg forgiveness from the mountain spirits for having disturbed the spiritual energy of the mountains. Sherpas will not be required to climb on days that are considered inauspicious by the calendar.

v   Although the total length of the expedition is set at 62 days, the expedition cannot stay longer if the SPCC deems that the icefall route is too dangerous and dismantles the ladders and fixed rope.

ICIMOD ECO EVEREST TRUST FUND

As a part of the Eco Everest campaign an exclusive account, the ICIMOD Eco Everest Trust Fund has been set up to finance further research in the Khumbu region for potential dangerous sites and further field based monitoring and research studies, as well as early warning systems for glacier lake outburst floods (GLOFs).At the Pre Departure Press Conference on 03 April 2008, a check for US$ 20,000, representing US $ 2,000 per climber  was handed over to ICIMOD by leader of Eco Everest Expedition 2008 organized by Asian Trekking (P) Ltd. of the ASTREK Group.