Three Weeks in Tibet From: University Currents Date: April 14, 2000 By: Marianne Kunnen-Jones Phone: (513) 556-1826 Photo By: Melanie Bell Archive: Campus News, General News Because of the altitude, some people can't even hike through the Smokies without gasping for air. Yet, UC's Bill Menrath biked through elevations as high as 17,200 feet in the region known as "the roof of the world" without much strain at all. A project manager in the environmental health department who is being honored this year by the university as a 10-year UC employee, Menrath took fours weeks of vacation last fall to join a group of travelers he met on the Internet to pedal 800 miles through the Himalayas of Tibet and Nepal. He not only survived the adventure to return to Cincinnati and give slide presentations about it, the fitness enthusiast never even felt sore during the journey. That's not to say the rugged but spectacular trip was completely trouble free. A slight urinary tract infection caused him some anxiety as hospitals and doctors (other than a pediatrician along on the trip) were miles and miles away. Then there were dogs to worry about. Travel guides warn visitors to Tibet to watch out for rabid dogs that can outrun you, even on a bike. While the dogs proved to be an occasional nuisance, a larger problem, Menrath said, proved to be children who begged for chocolate and money, then threw stones when they didn't get them. "The pediatrician ended up with a very bad cut on her arm from one rock," said Menrath. "None of us were prepared for the begging. It was a surprise and a disappointment." Other unpleasant aspects of the trip were the kind he had expected. He knew before he arrived that he disapproved of China's occupation of Tibet, and seeing it in person only reinforced his belief. A thousand years ago, Tibet and China were separate countries who sometimes made war against each other. At one time centuries ago, Tibet invaded China. Then in the 1950s, China invaded Tibet. "The Chinese then systematically tried to eradicate the Tibetan people, causing the deaths of 1.2 million people and destroying monasteries and the Buddhist religion," he said. "More recently China has softened their stance. In my opinion, they realize Tibet has a great deal of tourist appeal, and the Chinese are going to try to milk that for all its worth. But they are still very repressive of the Tibetan people, who are second class citizens in their own country." Forest destruction, smog, vehicular traffic and the drainage of a lake considered sacred by Tibetans to create electrical power can be counted among the circumstances that alarmed Menrath, who is active in the Sierra club here at home. In all, Menrath crossed many mountain passes, five of which were higher than 17,000 feet, on a southwestern route from Lhasa, the Tibetan capital, to Katmandu in Nepal. "It is all up and down, and it's all gravel road except for the first 50-60 kilometers and a small stretch in the middle. It's dusty - Tibet is the highest desert in the world. The tires on my bike sometimes sunk into six inches of thick fine dust. It was like biking through snow." Despite the hardships and disappointments, the Tibetan sights, people and the sounds all made the excursion worth it. On a side trip to the first-level base camp at Mt. Everest, the group met a lone monk who lived in a tiny monastery. "That was pretty impressive. He was the nicest guy. He made us tea, but only had three cups, so we all had to share. He didn't speak English, and we don't speak Tibetan. He sleeps on a bench and lives in a monastery that is at most 6-by-4 feet, with one little window." Although he doesn't describe himself as a religious man, Menrath, 58, admits the trip had a spiritual impact on him. "I do consider myself a spiritual person and seeing the monasteries and the monks and the depths of their conviction was inspiring."