Marin Therapist Takes EcoTourism To High Ground
After a few minutes talking with Kathy Kapps you can sense there’s something really unique about her. The tuned in Zen Shiatsu therapist and Marin resident is originally from the motor city of Detroit. She has been traveling back and forth to the Himalayan high mountain kingdom of Nepal since the early eighties. I happened to have met her up on Hill 88 in the Marin Headlands. She would say, “there is no happenstance.” She recently returned from Nepal, a journey she’s been making now for 7 years after a 15 year break. Several months ago I literally ran into her along a steep Marin trail above the Golden Gate Bridge, when she told me she was heading back to the magical kingdom. I wished her well – but what pleasantly surprised me weeks later was an email photo of a prayer flag she had placed for my mother. It turns out she places prayer flags at the Khumbu Glacier two days away from base camp at Mount Everest, the world’s highest mountain. She told me,”The memorial prayer flags for those lost loved ones are hung at the sacred memorial site at the end of the Khumbu Glacier. The sacred site is at the end of the whole huge Khumbu glacier and many people who died climbing Everest are memorialized there. My personal prayer flags for friends and family are hung at the foot of ‘Lady Everest.”
Kat as she is affectionately called not only places prayer flags, but also takes needed medical supplies to hospitals in the remote areas of the Solo Khumbuan area high in the Himalayas outside the ancient and busy city of Kathmandu.In addition to this she has also raised funds to contribute to the education of a college bound student who will be majoring in tourism.
In her soon to be released book “The Inner Mandala” Kat writes about her own personal losses and discoveries. For close to thirty years Kat has been a practicing Zen Shiatsu therapist and instructor working in San Francisco and Marin county. Inspired by author and philosopher Dadajiwhom Kat says profoundly changed her life for the better, she is initiating a new venture,“Lady Everest” for those who are interested in learning and exploring Mount Everest, the Himalayas and the Nepal region. By Richard Andrews
San Francisco Chronicle Sunday, August 30, 2009
Kathy Kapps-King of Sausalito en route to Everest base camp.
Just Back From » By Kathy Kapps-King, Sausalito
I went because: To refuel and recharge my batteries, deliver medical supplies to the hospitals in that region and to be at the foot of Everest once again.
Don't miss: The bakery at base camp. Pies and cakes are made fresh daily.
Don't bother: Doing the trek from Lobuche to base camp in one day. Most trekkers suffer from acute mountain sickness doing that. Go climb Kala Pataar first and base camp the next day.
Coolest souvenir: This trip I received a rock from the top of Everest given to me by a Sherpa climber whose family I am very close to in Upper Pangbouche.
Worth a splurge: Going to Gokyo, which is the next valley over. Climb Gokyo Ri to see an amazing view of Everest and the surrounding turquoise lakes below.
I wish I'd packed: After so many years going now, I have it down to a science. I had everything I needed this time. I value my packets of soup the most.
Other comments: Plan at least three weeks to do this trek. Try not to trek for more than a few hours a day and try to get familiar with the village and the people.
Kathy Kapps-King of Sausalito en route to Everest base camp.
Just Back From » By Kathy Kapps-King, Sausalito
I went because: To refuel and recharge my batteries, deliver medical supplies to the hospitals in that region and to be at the foot of Everest once again.
Don't miss: The bakery at base camp. Pies and cakes are made fresh daily.
Don't bother: Doing the trek from Lobuche to base camp in one day. Most trekkers suffer from acute mountain sickness doing that. Go climb Kala Pataar first and base camp the next day.
Coolest souvenir: This trip I received a rock from the top of Everest given to me by a Sherpa climber whose family I am very close to in Upper Pangbouche.
Worth a splurge: Going to Gokyo, which is the next valley over. Climb Gokyo Ri to see an amazing view of Everest and the surrounding turquoise lakes below.
I wish I'd packed: After so many years going now, I have it down to a science. I had everything I needed this time. I value my packets of soup the most.
Other comments: Plan at least three weeks to do this trek. Try not to trek for more than a few hours a day and try to get familiar with the village and the people.

My first visit to Nepal was in 1996. We often hear people describe travel experiences as “life changing” and that was certainly true for me on that trip. I fell in love with the people, the culture and the mountains. The combination inspired me in a way nothing else in my life had before. The one factor that did not inspire but which made as much of an impression was the choking cloud of poverty under which these people live. My observation that no matter how difficult day to day life was for the Nepalese I was always greeted with eye contact, a warm smile and a genuine willingness to engage with me. (I might add these were all environmental attributes that eluded me in Boston where I was living at the time.)
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