In the spring of 2000, our Finnish-American team made an attempt on Mera Too, a trekking peak in the Khumbu region of Nepal. Due to confusion on maps and the official permit list, this spectacular peak is possibly unclimbed. See Petri's site for details.

Fred (who was a summit partner on Gasherbrum II) and I flew into Lukla. We met Petri and Jussi, who had trekked to Gorak Shep, in Namche and the four of us returned to Lukla. Then we began the one week approach to our goal.

Unfortunately, I caught a respiratory infection a few days before we reached basecamp. Since we were above 16,000 feet and there was no way to reach a lower altitude, it took me well over a week to recover. The loss of a quarter of its man-power may well have cost our expedition the summit.

Petri and Jussi returned to Kathmandu while Fred, myself , Lapka and five porters continued on to Mera Peak. Then we went up the Hongu valley and over Amphu Labsta, eventually visiting friends at Everest Basecamp before returning to Lukla.

Though I got sick and we didn't climb our peak, it was still a fun trip. Fred and I trekked over a hundred miles through the Khumbu — he had climbed Everest the previous year from the north but not seen this side except from above — nearly of which was above 15,000 feet. I also lost 25 pounds.