Bonnie's Piggy-backing in Tibet - February, 2003

In planning her current trip to visit the Child Haven homes, Bonnie Cappuccino learned that the planes were not flying between Nepal and Tibet, probably because of the uncertain weather. She heard that a land rover can make the trip in three days, so she booked two to transport herself and six others including our sons Robin and Mohan, plus the ever-present guide. Kathmandu is about 5000 feet in altitude. Lhasa is 12,000, and our childrens home outside of Lhasa is 13,000 feet. The pass through the Himalaya mountains is 17,600 feet, the highest land pass in the world. They were going in February.

They made it safely to Lhasa, and visited the childrens home several times. We are caring for 20 children there - hence this unusual and dangerous trip. Bonnie takes her responsibilities seriously. On the way back, after they went over the highest part and were descending, a snow storm closed the road 30 km from the Nepal border. They found the small wayside inn where they had stopped on their way in, and which they were hoping to avoid because of the unheated rooms and icy outside toilet. They were able to call out by phone, but we couldn't call in. At least we knew they were safe. One word we received was that there were 20 feet of snow. We thought this must be a mistake. It was. The road was covered in places by 20 meters of snow, partly due to the funnel effect of the pass. The land rovers gave up and went back to Lhasa.

After a few days of waiting they decided to start walking over the snow. 12 or 14 porters were hired to carry the luggage. Bonnie had bought items for auctioning in Canada. Two porters alternated in carrying Bonnie for about four hours, on and off, during the eight-hour trek. 68-year-old Bonnie had a sash & strap under her bum and around to the porter's forehead, with her arms around his shoulders. After a couple hours it began to snow again. They didn't know what they would do if they had to stop again. After an hour the snow abated. En route, the guide helpfully pointed out the place where a land rover had gone over the edge three weeks before, killing all three occupants. When they came anywhere near a precipice, Bonnie, who is afraid of heights, would scream. Finally Robin went and told his mother that he would wind the scarf around her head better to keep her warm - (and also to cover her eyes more).

After the 15-kilometer trek, a vehicle came to take them the rest of the way They made it to the Nepal border at 6 pm - but the border had closed at 5:30, so they had to wait at a somewhat better hotel until morning. That's when I was finally able to talk to Bonnie. She and the others are fine. I don't think she'll be going overland to Tibet in February again.

- Fred Cappuccino

Above, the school and orphanage in Tibet.