Sisters trekkers spend month in Nepal

Nepali villagers inspect a stretcher provided by Sisters trekkers. photo courtesy Brad Tisdel Eight Sisters residents recently returned home after spending several weeks in the mountains of Nepal.

The group delivered medical supplies and stretchers to several small villages in the Kumbu region.

High school teacher Rand Runco, who spearheaded the trip, told The Nugget that all of the stretchers were built for them by Rescue Response Gear of Sisters.

Elementary school teacher Mark LaMont, Americana Project Director Brad Tisdel, and former Sisters High School graduates Rachel Beck, Sarah and Anna Morton joined Runco, along with Rebecca Morton (Sarah and Anna's mother) and Jade Schneringer.

The group flew into Kathmandu where they planned to spend a couple of days immersing themselves in a new culture, adjusting to the change in diet and organizing everything they'd need for their trek in the mountains. Two days turned into six when flights to Lukla were canceled due to the heavy rains that come during the monsoon season.

Once in Lukla the six- to seven-day trek to Gorak Shep began. They delivered 15 stretchers along with medical supplies to 18 villages along the way. En route connections were made with doctors at the Khumbu Hospital in Khumjung who offered suggestions on where the stretchers would be most needed.

"When we showed them the stretchers," said Anna Morton, "they were very supportive and excited."

Once the supplies were delivered the group trekked to Kalapatar, a viewpoint above Everest base camp with an elevation of 5,545 meters (approximately 18,187 feet).

"The whole trekking experience is very mentally and physically challenging," " said Anna Morton. "You've got a lot of time to think as you walk all day long. You find out a lot about yourself. There are no distractions and you just pour yourself into the task at hand."

Anna, who'd traveled to Nepal two years ago, said, "The trip was emotional for me from the beginning because I knew what I was getting into. I got to see people I'd met before. Walking through a village and having people remember me was very touching. And, it was so special having my mother with me on this time. I loved being able to see her see it for the first time."

The trip made a big impression on Brad Tisdel.

"The experience in Nepal opened my eyes to a pure way of life, where there are no cars, people walk everywhere and the people open their hearts to you," he said. "The Sherpa and mountain people seem genuinely interested in preserving their way of life and sharing their unique culture with others."

Musician Tisdel widened the experience for the entire group by crossing culture barriers through music from his mandolin.

"Being a beginning mandolin player was fun because I had no road map," he said. "The music brought our group closer to the Nepali people and other travelers because we had something to share, basic American folk and rock music played in a fun, naive way. I think we met more Nepali people and heard more Nepali music because after sharing our songs, inevitably they would share theirs."

Tisdel also wrote four new songs that were inspired by the land and people.

Rebecca Morton told The Nugget it was a privilege for her to make the journey with such a great group of people and share the experience with her two older daughters.

"I so appreciated Rand being the motivation behind the trip and Brad through his music was such a large part of our connection to the Nepali people," Rebecca said. "During our trek in the mountains the Sherpa people were an inspiration to me in many ways. They live very simply, are extremely generous with all they have and work hard. Nothing is extra, nothing is wasted. They are amazingly warm and happy people and take good care of one another."

Nepal definitely holds a special piece of Rand Runco's heart.: "I think I've always been looking for this place; its mountains, rivers and little villages," he said.