Machermo porter shelter & rescue post
Autumn 2007 report
Spring 2007 report
Autumn 2006 report
Spring 2006 report
Autumn 2005 report
Spring 2005 report
Spring & Autumn 2004 report
At 4410m, Machermo is ideally situated to provide a much needed rescue service, a dormitory and
a kitchen for porters plying the upper reaches of the Gokyo valley and the passes leading into it (Renzo La 5600m and Cho
La 5420m). The rescue service is also available to trekkers.
Since the spring season 2003 the post has opened each trekking season, based in a room at Namgyal’s lodge in the
village. We are now about to move to our purpose built facility (pictured) once it is plumbed and electrified. The building
was financed by Doug Scott's Community Action Nepal (CAN) and construction supervised
by Gobinda and Mahesh (CAN-Nepal), Namgyal Sherpa (Machermo User Committee) and Ian Wall (CAN-UK trustee and IPPG-UK rep).
It is being fitted out by the IPPG, who will over time repay CAN the cost of construction.
Equipment
It is equipped with a Portable Altitude Chamber (donated by the manufacturer CE Bartlett, Australia),
an oxygen generator (donated by IMEC, USA), oxygen cylinders (seasonal rental, donor sought), a pulse oximeter (donated
by Bernhard Fassl, USA), a stretcher (donated by Skipton CRO, UK), rescue equipment (donated by the Furness Mountain Rescue
team, UK), solar powered batteries (Jim’s Kili sponsors), a satellite phone (donated by Island School, Hong Kong)
and heaps of medication including Penthrox inhalers (donated by Medical Developments International, Australia). The kitchen
and dormitory fitout is underway due to donations from various people including Scotch College and Toorak College (Australia).
In no particular order, on behalf of the porters, grateful thanks to:
- The Kumbila Buffer Zone committee (KBZC) who have been instrumental in facilitating the project along with the National
Park and Local User Committee Machermo.
- Namgyal Sherpa who has supervised the construction
- Ian Wall who, as IPPG-UK rep and CAN trustee, piloted the construction
- CAN-UK and all their donors who made the construction possible
- Sir Edmund Hillary, who signed Doug Scott's photos/ posters (of the Hillary step, Everest) raising most of the money
needed to build the Porter Shelter/Rescue Post and the generosity of the bidders
- The Himalayan Trust
- The British embassy, Kathmandu
- Dr Louise Cook and Dr Trish Batchelor who manage the rescue post
- All our donors who are listed on this website and many others not
mentioned who gave time and support
If you have any queries or suggestions or feel you should be mentioned above, please contact me on contact@ippg.net
Dr Jim Duff, IPPG International Coordinator
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