Do I need to worry about any dangers – physical, biological or issues that surround developing nations?
• Yes and no. Yes, there are possible physical issues of dehydration, altitude sickness (from going up too fast) and trips and falls when not paying attention on some of the steeper slopes. These can all be prevented and there is an orientation meeting at the home of the guides (with dinner) to explain all the requirements. If adhered to, these issues are minimized, and most people are not subject to any harm. Incidently, helicopter evacuations are also part of the safety procedures in case of need, but this has only been done twice in the last 13 years of this experience. • Food and water are all prepared under extreme care for sanitary reasons. Most western stomachs and immunity strengths are not prepared for the Himalayas, and all water is boiled and sterilized for drinking, preparing and cooking food, and iodine is used where appropriate. • In the past year, Maoists have caused considerable damage to the tourism industry through their fighting for recognition. This has been the big
