[Letter from Celia Hunter to Alberta Head, January 15, 1971] Page: 2 of 2
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the top of Kala Patar (18,200 ft.) from whose summit Everest is visible. Our porter
for this trip was a Sherpa girl from Khumjung, named Sikki. Like most Nepalese, she
was small - under 5 ft. tall - but we called her our "super-Sherpa" because of her
strength and endurance, and all of the extra services she did for us. Getting to
know your porters on this intimate and informal footing is one of the bonuses of trek-
king in Nepal. We flew back from Lukla airstrip to Kathmandu to conlude this trek.
After a week of shopping and sightseeing in Kathmandu, we flew by Royal Nepal
Airlines DC-3 to Pokhara, second largest city in Nepal, to begin our final trek. On
this trip we acquired a Tibetan porter named Lobsang, an 18-year-old who had made his
way alone out of Tibet some years earlier After the death of his parents. Our route
lay over a series of ridges from Pokhara to Gorepani, from which high pass we descended
into the valley of the Kali Gondaki river, which flows out of Tibet. This trip was
especially fascinating because the trails along the Kali Gondaki are main transport
routes for merchandise to and from Tibet - a trade which is still flourishing despite
Chinese occupation of Tibet. The traffic of burden-bearers, whether huijan or yak or
donkey, was heavy; we also saw more fellow trekkers along the way. The terrain varied
from almost tropical around Beni and Kusma and Tatopani to the pine woods trails near
Lete and finally into the high, dry, barren plateau-land north of the Himalayas near
Tukche and Jomsom. The mountains dominating this area include Machupuchare "the Fish
Tail" above Pokhara, Annapurna's many summits, and Daulighari.
Traveling with Phil was very enjoyable; despite the difference in our ages, we
were most compatible. Phil's knowledge of Hindi gained during his Peace Corps work in
India proved invaluable in communicating, for most Nepalese understand it. We made
very good time for the most part; both of us managed to avoid any dysentery which
often de1F2s travelers in this part of the world.
It was gratifying to find out that it is possible to merely buy a ticket to
Nepal, and to make all arrangements for in-country travel after you get there - and
it is much cheaper to do it this way. Phil and I also decided that four people would
be the most any party should include, in order to get the most out of your trip.
My return to the United States included a side-trip with Phil through Delhi,
Jaipur, and Udaipur to his small village of Dhoinda, about a two hour bus ride north
of Udaipur, to see what village India was like. I enjoyed the experience, but felt
as tho I were in a goldfish bowl all the time, because a westerner is so conspicuous
in this setting.
Resuming my journey, I flew to Bombay, thence to Hong Kong, and on to Hawaii
via Tokyo, flying in a 747 between Tokyo and .tlilafind out what the jumbo jet is
like (mine was spacious, with only 40 passengers and 18 cabin attendants) I spent
four days sightseeing and shoppingin Hong Kong, included a bus tour of the New Terri-
tories, and the purchase of an Asahi Pentax camera and lenses (a real bargain).
My brief interlude in Hawaii included visits with friends on both Oahu and the
big island of Hawaii - I'm convinced that a return visit is a must, to get in some
hiking and camping and snorkeling and maybe even some surfing.
Returned to Alaska via Seattle, where I bade a sad adieu to my long-time friend,
Doris Bigelow; she died six days after I left there, of cancer. What a gallant strugglE
she made all through this past year, and was her generous, outgoing self to the end.
Reached Fairbanks at midnight on 21st December, in good time to have Christmas
with Ginny and Romany Wood and our neighbors and friends. So the year ends, with a
kaleidoscopic memory of far away places, and with stacks of work to do as Exocutive
Secretary of the Alaska Conservation Society, and as co-owner of Camp T'enali, plus
keeping up with all the many chores of running a home in Interior Alaska.
A wonderful 1971 to each of you,
Always,
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Hunter, Celia. [Letter from Celia Hunter to Alberta Head, January 15, 1971], letter, January 15, 1971; (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth1029603/m1/2/?q=%22~1%22~1: accessed July 13, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; crediting National WASP WWII Museum.