Local Group of Trekkers Raise Awareness and Provide Relief to Nepal
Writer / Kara Reibel
Photos provided
April 25, 2015 – an earthquake struck Nepal nine miles away from Mt. Everest. Indianapolis trekkers Ace Yakey, David Carter, John Mead, Glenn Moehling, Dr. Michael Myers and Dr. Charles Hasbrook traveled to Nepal in April with the intention of reaching Base Camp at Mt. Everest. If they had not diverted from their itinerary, they would have been at Base Camp on April 25.
“April 25th was the eighth day of our trek,” shares Hasbrook. “Had it not been for a fortuitous unscheduled tour in Kathmandu, we would have been at Base Camp when the earthquake struck.”
At an elevation of 15,500 ft. in the town of Dughla, Nepal, the group began making their way along their final leg to Base Camp and were about an hour and a half into their three hour hike when they felt the ground move underneath them. They were in the middle of a valley 3/4 mile wide, surrounded by mountains in the clouds. At approximately 11:55 a.m. local time, the earthquake struck, lasting around 30-45 seconds and measured 7.8.
“You could hear a lot of avalanches and landslides,” recalls Carter who has reached the summit of Everest. “We sat there for about 20 minutes before hiking on to Lobuche.”
When they reached Lobuche, they realized how bad the damage was to the area. Dr. Myers got a WiFi connection and sent out some quick messages through their phone tree, sharing that they were ok and that they probably wouldn’t be heard from again for a few days.
“We had a decision to make. ‘Do we go up? Down? What do we do?’ Some of the Sherpas made it down the mountain from Base Camp, and some were injured,” shares Hasbrook. “It was determined unsafe for us to go up there which disappointed myself and Dr. Myers as we were eager to help the injured at Everest ER. We had a lot of good reasons to be there, but it wasn’t meant to be.”
Instead the group (11 trekkers and 5 Sherpas) headed to Pheriche, a village where they thought they would be safe. It is estimated that approximately 2,000 trekkers would be along the path, all wanting to travel out of Nepal. This congestion compounded the fact that all helicopters were immediately utilized for rescue efforts and would delay departure for thousands.
The group entered Pheriche the day following the earthquake where they discovered every home and building was either destroyed or suffered major structural damage. Fifteen minutes after arriving into the town, another earthquake struck, moving the ground about 24″ either way for 45 seconds under their feet.
“It was at that point we realized we were still in a fairly dangerous situation,” recalls Dr. Myers. “We would continue to see a lot of damage wherever we went.”
The trekkers would experience three earthquakes in 24 hours. These aftershocks would keep the men alert and slightly unnerved. At one point on the trek to safety, they watched the earth begin shaking under their feet.
“I thought David was experiencing vertigo,” recalls Hasbrook of one of the aftershocks. “Because I saw him taking some funny steps, and a couple gentlemen from California estimated it was an earthquake of at least a 6.0 magnitude.” It was officially measured at 6.6.
The group had to keep moving along the steep mountainside, and 10 seconds after this aftershock, they witnessed a huge rockslide to their left. The men knew they were all right for the moment but did not feel secure for quite some time.
They reached the steep mountainside town of Lobuche and went to their designated tea house with their Sherpas who made sure their group was safe. “We see this tea house with a half wall missing and cracks in the building,” says Hasbrook. “But the people were ok.”
The group would also pass through Solukhumbu on their way back to Kathmandu. The group would learn that 9,000 perished in Nepal with 19 dying at Base Camp (deadliest day in history for Mt. Everest).
Doctors Myers and Hasbrook were eager to offer their help to the effort of caring for the wounded. They were quick to approach any and all medical facilities and hospitals they encountered. Their services were not needed. The hospitals were not overwhelmed with injured, only the dead.
It took the band of trekkers four days to make their descent. The weather continued to be a challenge, impacting outbound flights. Thirty-four planes went out one day, carrying only 450 people. The group waited 30 hours to get out and flew to Kathmandu, seeing relief pallets on the tarmac.
“We felt lucky to see the airport was open,” says Hasbrook. “The next day, it was closed due to the weight of the cargo planes. The Nepalese government didn’t have resources to deliver the aid where needed.”
Since returning from their adventure, their group has been on Facebook with their Sherpas. There were five Sherpas in their team. Four of the five lost their homes. As they descended the mountain, the focus of the Sherpas was the team and getting these men and women off the mountain safely, but they must have been concerned for their families.
Carter and friend Jay Miller, who has been to Nepal three times, along with his son, Carter, who is a senior at Park Tudor, took a trip to Nepal this summer. Supported by the other members of their group and donations from corporate sponsors, they personally delivered relief to their Sherpas and their tribal villages. Carter and the Millers hauled 43 bags on United Airlines containing six-person tents, medical supplies, solar lighting and sleeping bags.
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Efforts to rebuild began immediately after the earthquake, but a mere 10 days later, a 6.6 magnitude aftershock destroyed the rebuilding efforts. “We got the message that they were ok with food but not shelter,” says Hasbrook. The team bonded together, procuring donations of tents, tarps and sleeping bags. “We had already given our equipment to our Sherpas before we left. They were all terrified of sleeping in a solid structure for fear of collapse.”
“The real work is after the media attention dies,” shares Dr. Myers. “Our efforts are very pointed and specific to helping the villages recover.”
A fundraiser will be held October 5 at the Eugene and Marilyn Glick Indiana History Center. The evening features special guest and renown mountaineer and filmmaker David Breashears who became the first American to reach the summit twice. He has since ascended to the summit of Mt. Everest five times, filmed the first IMAX film of Mt. Everest and transmitted the first live television pictures from the summit. Carter was featured in a documentary along with Breashears for NOVA, titled “Everest: The Death Zone.”
The Economic Club of Indiana will host David Breashears as their special guest speaker on October 6.
For additional information, please visit the Nepal Relief Fund through Central Indiana Community Foundation at cicf.org and economicclubofindiana.com.
