Fluge Global Adventures

KATHMANDU (Reuters) - Snow fell on Nepal’s capital, Kathmandu, for the first time in 63 years on Wednesday, stirring excitement and curiosity among residents and their children. “I have never seen it snow in Kathmandu in all my life,” said 45-year-old housewife Manju Shrestha, playing in the snow with her young children. Weather officials said the brief snowfall, which lasted only a few minutes, was the result of a “westerly disturbance” over Nepal that earlier in the week caused heavy rains.

Though the Himalayan country is home to Mount Everest, Kathmandu, with a population of 1.5 million people, is situated in a valley and has not had snow since January 1944, according to Independent Kantipur television.

Closer to home in the United States many people were wondering if this was an early omen of ‘challenge’ for the Fluge Everest Trek team scheduled to make their journey to Base Camp in October. While the Trek lies eight months in the future, this freakish snowfall when coupled with its proximity to the 7th and greatest of all mountains: Everest, causes me a bit of thought - but I have to admit, revs my adrenaline.

I have yet to begin my first actual 2007 adventure: SCCA RoadRacing. And while my recent SCCA exhibition for the Portland Auto Show and GSF Charity Poker events were enjoyable, the Everest Trek which looms in the future will be no cakewalk for me and my yet to be named team of adventurists. My Trainers Yelena King and Troy Carter, no strangers to fitness training, armed with degrees and knowledge in fitness, training, and nutrition, and skilled in athletics through respective successes in volleyball and soccer, show little worry.

They believe I am progressing in my training and am on pace to successfully tackle Mt Kilamanjaro (summit) in late August and then follow with the assault on Everest Base Camp in October.

Great news! The GSF Foundation raised about $90,000 for the Ronald McDonald House and other children’s charities at this last Saturday’s charity poker tournament. The FGA Team did well, with Bill Lowblad (last year’s winner) finishing 6th and Michael Stensrud finishing 11th. They played an outstanding brand of poker, bluffing and betting their way to the end of the event! Congratulations to them. The pros and celebrities added to the excitement and fun at the Adrianna Ballroom in downtown Portland. Jennifer Tilly and the Unibomber (Phil Laak) brought their persona’s but unfortunately finished lower in the pack - as did FGA’s “Lead Adventurer” - Nick Fluge!

I think I had one too many appetizers and cocktails to play my best - but there’s still the Las Vegas World Series of Poker in my not too distant future (June and July)! I’ll be serious and in training for those events.