Dalama Adventures Tale of two corporate types ditching their jobs and traveling the world for 14 months... check out all photos, blogs & interesting tid bits at http://www.dalama.net

One would think the descent from ABC, to the place we finally call the finish line (Phedi), would be pleasingly downhill and relieving. Not the ABC trek. At points you plunge 1000M, only to go back up another 1500M. Today was especially brutal. The downhill run from Bamboo, through to the Khola suspension bridge, was a killer on our knees. I think downhill is much more painful and difficult than any uphill we've tackled. And we're now just beginning to feel the effects of age. The uphill, though, from the river up to Chomrong, was 3500 stairs- I was envisioning the business opportunity of creating the next quads and buns of steel workout video on this stretch, but figured with the three huge meals of carbohydrates I've been eating daily, no one would be able to see a marked improvement, and they'd be a flop. Near the top of the 3500 stairs there was a small guesthouse, restaurant and "trekkers supply shop." Listed on the product board, amongst many yummy delicacies such as trail mix, glucose biscuits & chocolate croissants, was the luxury item "knee caps." I wonder if I could get not just two knee cap replacements, but new feet and legs while I'm on this buying sprees. A few steps later was a sign for massage- many specialty massages are performed her. In particular, vein massage and backbone massage... The trek does take it's toll amongst those here for the thrill. As we arrived from a dip in the hot springs in a town called Jhinu, getting ready for an icy cold shower, we saw the locals out in the vegetable garden, atop the small patch of cliff in the back of our guest house, waving a flowered pink sheet on a large bamboo stick like a flag. The whole village of maybe 15 people were standing in the field staring at the sky. Seconds later, a helicopter dropped in between the steep range of gorges, and circled several times before landing. Apparently a European guy had fallen down the steep descent into Jhinu, and had some internal bleeding and injuries. The life flight rescue helicopter was sent in immediately to pick him up and get him to a hospital. We had seen multiple helicopters over the first few days of our trek, our guide said they were rescue accident victims. I now realize just how easy it would be to need the flight out, trekking on the narrow, slippery cliffs in the rain. We're thankful that our knee caps have lasted us, despite the pain, as we are still able to walk the distance to the finish line.