Here is our itinerary.My friend and I will have our own guide and a porter for each of us.Includes 4 nights in a nice hotel(pre post trek),flight RT Kathmandau to Lukla. airport pickup, tour of Kathmandau etc. lodging in teahouses, all meals.

12/10/2008 Robert fly from Los Angeles
12/11/2008
12/12/2008 Robert Arrive Kathmandau, Jim leaves LA
12/13/2008 Robert Kathmandau tour
12/14/2008 Arrive Kathmandau (Jim Wolff)
12/15/2008 Fly to Lukla, trek to Benkar or Monjo
12/16/2008 Namche Bazaar
12/17/2008 Namche Bazaar, day trip to Khunde & Khumjung
12/18/2008 Tangboche
12/19/2008 Dingboche (4410 m)
12/20/2008 chhukhung (4730 m), climb Chhukhung Ri (5550m)
12/21/2008 spare day 1- Hike to Nupse Face?
12/22/2008 Lobuche (4910m) via Kongma La (5535m)
12/23/2008 Gorak Shep (5160m), climb Kala Patar (5540m)
12/24/2008 spare day 2 - EBC
12/25/2008 Zonglha
12/26/2008 Dragnag via Cho La
12/27/2008 Gokyo, climb Gokyo Ri
12/28/2008 fifth lake and beyond
12/29/2008 Rest or easy dayhike/short hike to nearer the pass?
12/30/2008 Lundgen via Renjo La
12/31/2008 Lundgen to Namche
01/01/2009 Namche to Lukla
1/2/2009 Lukla to Kathmandau first flight
1/3/2009 Alt flight kathmandau morning pm Rob fly home

1500 dollars. American companies provide the same hike, in the same lodges with a guide without an accent (can't think of another "benefit") for 2-3 times as much. 2000 extra dollars for a western guide with no accent? they also have colorful brouchures and their e-mails have no endearing language and spelling errors.

Local guides have a better understanding of the local customs etc. I like spending my money to support the locals instead of attempting to bring the west to the east. RR

Not doing South Africa????Maybe next time - 2010 for the soccer world cup will be a blast..

Robert, you'll have a great time.
My derm goes trekking in Ladhak nearly every year. He loves it, esp the Buddhist mentality of the people. Every time he comes back with this goofy smile on his face, which is very out of place in Paris.

Don't forget to go veeeerrry slow the first few days. High altitude can exhaust one.
I was on the foothills of the "same mountain", but on the Chinese side. Very tiring first few days.
Also, don't forget to boil your water longer. As you must know, boiling point is not the same in high altitude.
Lastly, you and Alain Delon, you both refer to yourselves in the 3rd person. What's that about?

Really looking forward to the trek,I am aware of altitude effects. I have been hiking at altitude for 40 years, since I was a little kid.I am sure it was quite a spectacle to see our family in the 60's with a rented mule backpacking in the sierras,with 3 little kids. After one particularily long trip my dad in his several days growth of beard was leading the mule with me on its back.Tourists were stopping to take pictures of the "mountain man, and boy".

I told Peg my wife as we were hiking up above Big Pine Near the Onion Valley trailhead,"yeah I did this hike when I was 9", she didn't believe me until she saw the famous super 8 movies.

If I do say so myself I am a little ahead of my pears when it comes to training. 24 marathons and 30 ultramarathons (longest 100K Passatore 04) so far. It's a typical vacation for me and most often my wife as well.
We planned our wedding around the Venice Marathon.etc. etc.

We did try a relaxing vacation for the first time last Christmas. So once in 15 years, maybe another one of those in 15 more years,it was nice.So many places to hike so little time....

It will be my first time to Nepal, but we won't approach my highest altitude yet,that was Kilmanjaro in 04. I will be careful.

Re water I use a Katadyn backpacker model it filters out giardia etc. Also very light.

Why 3rd person?.The itinerary is a proposal for our guide and I had to put where myself and Jim my friend would arrive, rather than listing the confusing me and him. English is his 2nd language (actually probably 3rd)

RR