My connection with Nepal, the magical kingdom of yaks, yetis, and Mt. Everest, began in 1977 where I served as a Peace Corps Volunteer for over two years. As one member of a group of 20 volunteers from across America, we served as math-science instructors in Nepali high schools in remote mountain villages for two years. Upon our arrival to Nepal we 20 members had a three month in-country cross-cultural, technical, and language training, which took place in Dulikhel (two weeks) and in small villages outside of Pokhara (over two months). Then we were posted to our respective sites for two years. My post was in the far west--Rapti Anchil, Rukum Jila in the village of Rukumkot, a former kingdom of the middles hills. There I served as a science instructor for two years. The village was a seven-day walk from the nearest road head, and a two-day walk from a STOL (short take off and landing) airfield in Chaujahari.

This is a picture of me taken with other teachers and students in front of the high school where I taught science.

Rukumini Madhyemik Vidyalaya

(Rukumini High School)

During my school vacations, I took trips with other volunteers of my group to various parts of northern India, Sri Lanka, and Leh Ladakh. Treks inside Nepal included Langtang Valley, Helambu, Dolpa, Jomson, and the occasional day side trips out of my village. After closing out of service in December 1979, together with 6 other volunteers I took a two week trek to the Solo Khumbu region where our destination was the top of the mountain Kala Patar (19,000 feet). There I had the unique opportunity to meet the famous Japanese explorer and adventurer, Naomi Uehara, who was camped out at the base of Mt. Everest contemplating a solo assault of the mountain. Here is a picture of me with Mr. Uemura:

Matthew Eynon and Naomi Uemura

Here is a picture taken of me taken the same day on top of Kala Patar, with Mt. Everest in the background. (Mt. Everest is the one in the middle with only a little snow on the peak.)

On top of Kala Patar, 5545 meters
January 1980

Currently, I occasionally take trips to Nepal to renew friendships with old friends and make new friends. One of my hobbies is taking black and white photographs during my trips. Here are some examples of my work: