MEDICAL MISSION TO LADAKH-'02

1. Index to the Jul-B-Series: "Medical Mission to Ladakh-'02"
2. The final countdown to Ladakh and Lingshed: A weekend long run PtP punctuated by a push to produce one of several past due chapters.
3. Launch the long haul to the far side through Frankfurt and Delhi to Lei, Ladakh.
4. First really mobile morning in Lei, Ladakh: visit the cybercafe, Tibetan market, then climb up to Lei Palace and Tsemo Castle; afternoon-set up Thiksay clinic and tour 14th C. Gompa; evening-Ladakhi cultural festival of dance and music .
5. The first day at altitude on the run-with a small group passing the Halal market, then to the "inaugural" of our first clinic day, introducing our all-green noveau clinicians at Thiksay Gompa clinic; ending with dinner with Dr. Dava, Chief Medical Officer of the five block district of Ladakh.
6. A morning headache precludes my run around the heights of Lei; we complete final clinic at Thiksay Gompa, including playing with the kids and throwing Frisbees and having lunch before an early return to pack up for our safari to remote Lake Pangong.
7. The long ride up through Chungla Pass, the highest motorable pass in the Himalayas, and our setting up medical camp in Tangste, following a remarkable welcome ceremony in this first-ever medical camp in this remote setting.
8. First day of a mobbed clinic in the Tangste PHC and a greeting from the commanding general of the nearby Indian army base; a review of cases by the medical students and lecture, then a twilight walk to the Gompa.
9. Early morning excursion to the VIP station and a dip for some of us in Pangong Lake; then a return to mobbed clinic and total of 588 patients; the special cultural program prepared in our honor far into the night.
10. Final farewell ceremony sendoff from Tangste, and a recrossing of the Chungla Pass to return to regroup at the Hotel Khangri in Lei; then a superb run all around Lei and over the Tsemo Castle mountain and a return though the irrigated gardens: A special evening dinner and medical diplomacy at the Hotel Indus and a full court press in meeting Indian officialdom.
11. Launch the extensive trip from Lei to Tso Morari through the spectacular scenery of the Indus River canyon: entry by special permit to the restricted Karzok District and medical camp at Lake Tso Morari.
12. First medical camp clinic day at Tso Morari, explore the immediate environs of our lakeside camp and summary case presentations by students.
13. Concluding clinics at the medical camp Lake Tso Morari, and afternoon climb of the mountains over the village and lake of Tso Morari.
14. Early departure from lake Tso Morari and return to Lei, regroup, repack, and farewell celebration with important members of our group as we part.
15. Our team separates, half to Delhi and US departure, and half to go on through Khardungla to our final extended medical camp to begin Aug-A-series.