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Itinerary!!!

Carrie Holmes — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 04:17:00 GMT

9/19 - 9/21
Seattle - LA - Bangkok - Kathmandu (oh boy!)

9/22
Meet up with everyone else in the early evening. We'll meet and take rickshaws to the "famous" Rum Doodle Restaurant in the Thamel District.

9/23
Day of briefing, familiarization and sightseeing in Kathmandu.

9/24
Flight to Lukla (9,100 ft) and Trek to Phakding (8,800 ft), 7 hrs
Flight takes about 45 minutes from Kathmandu to Lukla. We'll meet out porters and yaks that will be with us for the rest of the trip and then head off on the downhill trail into the floor of the Dhub Khosi Valley close to the river, and slowly meander down through the villages of Phakding.

9/25
Trek from Phakding to Namche Bazaar (11,320 ft), 8 hrs
We take off early morning, crossing and re-crossing the river on high suspension bridges to Monjo. Beyond Monjo is the Sangarmatha National Park. We'll take a steep long trek to Namche Bazaar. If the weather is clear we may be able to see Mt. Everest!

9/26
Day in Namche Bazaar to help with the acclimatization process.
Spending the day exploring Namche Bazaar which is the main trading village in Khumbu.

9/27
Visit to the Drop Zone (12,350 ft), 1.5 hrs
Visit and brief about the jump, equipment familiarization and routines that will apply to jump days to follow.

9/28
Trek from Namche Bazaar to Tangboche (12,848 ft), 7 hrs
Descend steeply to a bridge over the river at Phunki Tenga before making a steep climb to Tangboche. The climb is a "mind game" but it presents superb mountain scenery. Tangboche is famous for its legendary monastery, the largest in the Khumbu where there will be a "puja ceremony" to bless the the adventure and all participants. The puja will revere Guru Rinpoche, the Bodhistiva who jumped the Himalayas from Tibet and left his footprints in a rock by the monastery. The local sherpa people above Namche Bazaar have decided that Guru Rinpoche is the "God of Everest Skydive".

9/29
Trek to Pheriche (13,950 ft), 6 hrs
We descend downhill through a forest, cross the Imja Khola and climb steadily to Pangboche, a village directly opposite Ama Dablam before arriving at Pheriche.

9/30
Day at Pheriche
Exploratory day wandering up the valley to lake Tshola Tsho and the mountain walls of Cholaste and Twache.

10/1
Pheriche to Syangboche, 12 hrs

10/2
Syangboche Drop Zone
Familiarization jump for solo jumpers!

10/3
Syangboche Drop Zone
Jump Day!

10/4
Syangboche Drop Zone
Jump Day!

10/5
Syangboche Drop Zone
Jump Day!
Farewell Party at Burbar Mahal and the Red Onion Bar!

10/6-10/9
Kathmandu - I'm chilling and exploring on my own until I fly out the morning of 10/9.

10/9-10/10
Kathmandu - Singapore - Tokyo - Seattle (oh boy!)

Trinkets and Such

Carrie Holmes — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 06:50:00 GMT

I've received some special "good luck" trinkets from people for the trip that I wanted to share with everyone.

1. Necklace: My sister's family gave me a necklace that says "Blue Skies" in Tibetan. For those who don't know, Blue Skies is something skydivers say, often as a signature on emails. The necklace is in roman characters and says "sngon po ginam" - I have no idea how to pronounce that but it's very cool! The necklace was custom hand-made by Amy Kahn, Anesha Jewlery - Thanks Amy!

2. World Charm: Marni gave me a little world charm and said "no matter where we are in the world we're together." I still need to figure out where to put that amongst my stuff but it will be with me for sure.

3. Seattle Skydivers Patch: Seattle Skydivers made a generous donation and gave me a patch to wear on my jumpsuit. Hopefully that bad boy sticks!

4. Virgin Mary: Irma gave me a small picture of the Virgin Mary which her grandmother gave to her some years ago. It's been in her wallet ever since. She believes that her grandmother is constantly watching over her and her family. Taking something so sentimentally valuable is a HUGE responsibilty...I'm a little nervous but will for sure have it on me as I jump.

5. Bracelet: Pennie, Marni, Danielle and Carolyn gave me a bracelet made up of closing pins. Closing pins are a small metal piece that closes your skydiving rig.

6. Shirt: my sister had everyone at the BBQ sign a long sleeve t-shirt. We've added the names of everyone who has generously donated. I'm planning to wear the shirt as my base layer on my jump so you all will be right there with me!!

I'm SO excited!!!

Pre-Everest BBQ

Carrie Holmes — Sun, 14 Sep 2008 18:03:00 GMT

While preparing for this adventure I've received cards, emails, phone calls, had dinners and coffee chats to catch up with old friends as they inquire about the adventure and lend their support.

Over the weekend my sister hosted a small pre-Everest get together with family and close friends. It was crazy looking around the party because I realized that some friends have come into my life in the last few years and others I've known since elementary school. I know I sound ridiculously cheesy but I'm constantly amazed at how lucky I am to be surrounded by such fabulous people!

My Biggest Fan

Carrie Holmes — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 20:37:00 GMT

One of my biggest fans is my nephew, Cole Gilbert. My brother-in-law, Mark Gilbert and I did our first tandem skydive together. Cole has watched the video numerous times. After seeing my BASE jump video Cole began practicing his BASE jumping and skydive skills - sometimes off the couch and sometimes off his bed. For Christmas 2007 I gave Cole a backpack that looks similar to a skydiving rig and an extra pair of goggles so he could look official. Most recently Cole found his own skydiving helmet to add to his gear list.

Here are some pictures of Cole doing his thing - he's already a show off!

Skydiving Polly Pockets

Carrie Holmes — Sat, 09 Aug 2008 03:44:00 GMT

Soo Anderson, a former boss who has become a great friend, sent me an email today. I'm including the email directly as she sent it. I love it!

Hi Carrie,

I was cleaning up the kitchen tonight while Sophie and Claire were working at their craft table. The picture shows what they made. It was completely their doing and a result of me telling them about your Mt. Everest jump earlier.

Soo

Everest Skydive Press Release

Carrie Holmes — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 21:59:00 GMT

Below is a press release from High & Wild:

EVEREST SKYDIVE UPDATE

RELEASE DATE: 08-07-08

THE FINAL COUNTDOWN is underway to the world's first Everest Skydive with the planning process on schedule and equipment soon to arrive at High & Wild HQ in the UK.

The management team has now been fialized and project director Nigel Gifford OBE is delighted to welcome world champion skydivers Omar Alhegelan and Greg Gasson, along with Tom Noonan, Tandem Director for Strong Enterprises, the company selected by Everest Skydive to supply thei Dual Hawk Tandem System. Tom will be a tandem master, Omar will be a jumpmaster and video cameraman dispatching skydivers and tandem jumpers and Greg will be videoing the skydivers' descents.

The new team members join Andy Elson, aeronaut, cosmonaut and specialist in high altitude life support systems, Dave wood, repsonsible for the overall safety of parachuting operations, Ryan Jackson, a trauma doctor in aviation medicine, Ben Wood, jump master and aerial photographer and Ryan Duke, ground communications and acclimatization supervisor.

Nigel says: “Since the first recce in May 2007 and the recent evaluation of the DZ in May 2008, headed up by Dave Wood, all the preparations are now falling into place. The delivery of the oxygen systems is happening at the end of July, the parachuting equipment is due for delivery in August and everything will be shipped to Kathmandu on September 6.

"I am delighted with the progess being made and with the addition of Tom Noonan, Greg Gasson and Omar Alhegelan to the management team - world-class skydivers of enormouse experience who will add to that of Dave Wood, director of parachute operations and safety."

In May, Nigel and Dave were part of the team that checked the performance of the solo canopies at the DZ at Syangboche, Nepal, successfully completety two sub-terminal openings and two terminal openings from 17,500 ft. Further checks will be made on the tandem canopies, in Switzerland in August, including a series of high altitude tandem jumps. The rigs used will have bigger parachutes than the systems used by the military for similar jumps to ensure landings are easy.

Dave says: "When we're out there, the solo jumpers will do a familiarization jump from 5-6000 ft above the DZ to get them used to the oxygen systems, how they feel and how much you can see. Everyone will be able to try out the systems on the ground. No one will jump unless the conditions are good and everyone will receive a full and comprehensive briefing.

“I’ve been to 26,500ft with oxygen and full military equipment. I’ve also been to 25,000ft with a military tandem system. The Everest Skydivers are going to experience something completely different from anything they’ve done before.

“When they step outside that aircraft into freefall the first thing they’ll see is five of the world’s biggest mountains. There will be no other skydive like it in the world and they’ll be able to see that awesome scenery very, very clearly because we’re going to make sure the jumping is only undertaken when the weather conditions are perfect.”

The DZ at Syangboche is a 352 metre long grass landing strip which is 29 metres wide at its narrowest point and 50 metres at its widest. It will be specially prepared during the weeks before the trip to ensure all ruts, lumps and bumps are taken care of as this is also where the Pilatus Porter, operated by Swiss Boogie and flown by pilots Ruedi Isenschmid and Henri Schurch, will perform a downhill takeoff prior to the jump - an experience in itself!

Dave says: “Providing we’re not getting a curl-over effect from the wind coming up the valley over the airfield the wind conditions will be considered at the time. I’m not going to put absolute limits on it but we’ll be looking for light winds between 5-8 knots and we’ll judge the safety on the basis of people’s experience and the conditions. The aim is to give everybody the best opportunity to perform to their ability.”

Working with Nigel on the Hazard Analysis Risk Management Plan for Everest Skydive is retired Wing Commander Phil Harrall. An ex-MoD regulator with 34 years experience as a navigator in the Fleet Air Arm, and a further four years with the Royal Air Force, he has developed safety management systems for the military and safety cases for military applications. He recently completed a safety case for the Red Arrows. He also worked with Nigel on the risk management plan for GKN Mission Everest, where paramotors were flown to high altitude in the Everest region.

Nigel says: “I absolutely love putting people in situations where they can achieve their own ambitions and goals. It can change people’s lives.”

Further information will be released at the end of August.

Chat With Women Radio Show

Carrie Holmes — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 18:46:00 GMT

This morning I was on a local radio show "Chat With Women". I was so nervous last night. I was sitting at my house trying to imagine the questions they would ask so I could be prepared with intelligent answers.

I met them at 7:30 am at the Sandusky Radio studio. Rochelle and Pam are hilarious and made me feel really at ease. I was still nervous though so I gave them a heads up that I tend to be a fast talker and we worked out a hand signal just in case I went rapid fire. I think maybe I was so nervous I couldn't talk fast so it was all good!

Maybe the coolest thing was just being in the studio, wearing the headset and talking into the microphone. Once I got over the initial nerves I thought, "hey this is fun, I could get into this!"

My phone was off during the interview so as I left I listened to voice messages from family and friends and read text messages from my friend Kyle who was texting me a play-by-play while I was on the radio. In the end he was kind enough to let me know I didn't sound like a complete ass!

I want to thank Rochelle and Pam for having me on the show and Todd Dean for introducing up which created the opportunity. It was a great experience!

To hear the radio show click on the attached link: "A women who walks through her fears every day"

SEVEN is a Sponsor!

Carrie Holmes — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 16:39:00 GMT

Today I received an email from SEVEN salon that they would like to sponsor the Everest Skydive and Positive Liberty.

This is the email from SEVEN Salon:

"SEVEN is proud to be a part of your Everest Skydive. It is an honor to be selected as one of the sponsors for such a worthy endeavor...congratulations on your successful efforts in forming Positive Liberty. SEVEN is in full support of women pursuing their dreams, and we look forward to working with you again in the future."

I'm so excited and want to thank SEVEN for their support. I mean, just because we're going to be hiking in the mountains and skydiving doesn't mean we shouldn't have good hair!!

SEVEN
Bellevue: 425 289 1777
Seattle: 206 903 1777

On a side note: all stylists are great but Stevie at the Bellevue salon is AMAZING!

Advice from Todd Higley

Carrie Holmes — Sun, 29 Jun 2008 04:07:00 GMT

So this weekend I was out at Skydive Snohomish. After a day of jumping we went to a local restaurant and bar, Fred's. I was talking with another skydiver, Todd Higley, who was asking about the jump and giving his thoughts and advice. I really appreciate jumpers with more experience providing additional insights.

Todd was asking if we were staying in tents along the trek. I said we were stopping at a series of Sherpa villages and we were staying in cabins.

Todd gave me a little smile and said "Carrie, whatever your definition is of cabin, that is not what you'll be staying in." I had to laugh because he's totally right.

Thanks Todd, I've adjusted my mindset!!

Tiger Mountain Trail

Carrie Holmes — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 03:53:00 GMT

Dave Green and I embarked on the Tiger Mountain Trail. Dave is into geocatching and had really wanted to get all 3 points on this trail.

I'm not going to lie, it was a long 16 miles. I assumed we would summit the top of one of the hills/mountains at some point but no, we never did. It was like just walking for 16 miles just for the hell of it which is not my standard hiking style. It was a trail where you park at one end to start and have a car waiting for you at the other end. Just after mile 9 we both look at each other and wondered why we were doing the whole 16?!? It was great to finish though and in the end we were both happy we did the whole thing. The last geocatch point was near some "ferns"...fyi, people, there are A LOT of ferns at the end of the trail!

This pic is from the beginning of the hike.

Everest Demo Jump

Carrie Holmes — Sun, 22 Jun 2008 21:49:00 GMT

A couple of the guys from High & Wild went to the Syangboche Drop Zone late May to do a practice jump and check out the gear. I've been told the "wind" sound has been added for affect. You can get a good picture of the landing area and how it actually is pretty "easy" (all relative) to pick out when you're in the air.

This jump is equivalent to the initial "hop n' pop" we'll do before the big 30,000 ft jump.

We don't have the helicopter anymore because it's been re-tasked in Afghanistan so we'll be going up in the Pilatus Porter P6 for all jumps.

Everett Herald Article

Carrie Holmes — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 16:32:00 GMT

Early June I met with Rich Myhre, a sports reporter for the Everett Herald newspaper, because they wanted to run a story on the Everest Skydive. I was excited but had not idea what to expect. We met up at a local Starbucks and we just talked over a cup of coffee. It was an easy experience but I just kept hoping that I was actually articulating how I felt in a way that he could write it.

The article came out on June 10: "Jumping from the Roof of the World"

I looked online the morning of June 10 and couldn't even read it. I sent the link to a couple friends who I asked to read it and then report back to me how it sounded. Finally I read it myself - Rich wrote a great article and I really appreciated it.

So last night, I was at Charlie Markin's house (skydiver) and he had the actual newspaper article. I had only seen the Internet version. The article looked so awesome in the physical newspaper with pictures. I emailed Rich and he gave me a couple copies of the article.

HALO Jump

Carrie Holmes — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 15:10:00 GMT

Last weekend I went down to SkyDance Skydiving in Davis, CA to do my first High Altitude Low Opening (HALO) skydive. I participated in the jump as a prep for the high altitude jump at Everest. There were 4 of us doing the jump. Everyone was super nice and it was a really fun weekend.

My friend Jesus came with me for support and to take pictures which was awesome. We arrived at the DZ by noon on Friday, went through the equipment and did two practice jumps from 12,000 ft (standard exit altitude for a normal skydive).

The 30,000 ft jump was schedule for early Saturday morning. We arrived at the DZ at 6 am (EARLY) Saturday to get geared up and pre-breathe 100% oxygen for 45 minutes prior to take off. We continued breathing 100% oxygen as we flew to altitude which took another 45 minutes. When we reached exit altitude we switched to our personal oxygen systems (bail out bottle) for the actual jump. We estimated our freefall time was just over 2 minutes (as compared to about 60 seconds in a normal skydive).

Because of the multiple wildfires in Northern California we couldn't see all the way to the CA/OR border or the coast but it was still an amazing jump.

Fairchild Air Force Base

Carrie Holmes — Fri, 30 May 2008 05:00:00 GMT

As a prerequisite for a high altitude skydive, skydivers must take the Aerospace Physiological Training course offered by the United States Air Force. The course discusses the symptoms and affects of hypoxia (lack of oxygen) that one might encounter altitudes above 15,000 ft. Though we will be under full oxygen during the flight to altitude and throughout the entire skydive, it is important to understand what could happen should you be without oxygen for some reason.

I really enjoyed the all day course and the instuctors. There was probably 10 or so people in the course, some FAA employees, some pilots and then me. Of course I didn't take any pictures when we were in the chamber so this brief description will have to suffice.

Registration

Carrie Holmes — Tue, 22 Jan 2008 16:48:00 GMT

So today I finally stepped up, took a deep breath and hit the send button to officially register for the Everest Skydive. It's on!

The Day I Discovered the Everest Skydive

Carrie Holmes — Thu, 10 Jan 2008 12:40:00 GMT

I was at home flipping through the January issue of Parachutist Magazine. Parachutist is a monthly magazine that skydivers receive once they become a member of United States Parachute Association (USPA).

While flipping through the magazine a little 2x2 blurb about a skydive at Everest caught my eye. I immediately looked up High and Wild Limited for additional information and was getting more and more excited by the minute. My initial reaction was "I'm doing it" and really, the decision was made in that minute. I of course put more thought into it but I tend to go with initial feelings/reactions about things.

I happened to be meeting my parents that day for lunch and opened the conversation up w/"Guess what? I'm going to go do a skydive at Everest!" I explained what little I knew from the website. My dad had a lot of questions for me to look into as I continued my due diligence before I made the commitment. I think my mom's response was "oh, good for you bear" - not sure if she really thought I was going to do it!?!

I immediately called my skydiving friend Oliver to see if he would do it. He was in Mexico with his family - he's the middle child of three boys. I guess he got off the phone, mentioned it his brothers and they responded "you're an ass" and went back to whatever it was they were doing. That was the end of Olly's participation in the jump! HAHA

A few weeks later and after much more investigation, I was at my sister's house and tried to just mention it in passing. Leslie was, as expected, not as chill about my participation in such an adventure as everyone else. Her hesitation came from a place of care and concern. It took a little while but Leslie is now one of my biggest supporters!

Everyone else: they may not fully understand why I want to do this jump but I'm surrounded by amazing friends and family that support me being me.