The flight from Kathmandu took just 40 minutes to land on the grass strip at Tumlingtar (355m), located on a shelf above the Arun River. I met the rest of our crew: Palde climbing Sherpa, Pemba Rinji cook, Pasang cook’s helper Tenzing porter, and Pal Dorje porter. We waited for our luggage to be wheeled across the field and had a quick lunch.