Yak Sightings

Yak Sightings 1997 | 1998
Have you spotted the Yakman???
Diagnostic: likes roadsides, often scraggly in appearance, may bare teeth in upturned mouth expression, often seen attached to slow moving two wheel vehicle, affable demeanor, not considered dangerous. If seen, approach with hot food, free emailing and information on shelter for the Yak and Yakman as offerings.

2000/01 Sightings
1999 Sightings

Claude in Japan
November 1997

December 13, 1998
The summit of Cotopaxi, Ecuador, August 1998

Here, finally, is the picture I have promised Claude and Ruedas since the day we stood on the summit together. It was a great climb and the reward was this spectacular view.

Happy Christmas
from Susanna
(England/Sweden)

September 30, 1998
Claude and Ruedas Sighting on Cotopaxi (Ecuador)

Hello Claude and Ruedas, we met on Cotopaxi on August, 6th. I promised you to send my pictures - well, here they are! How are you ? I hope fine (sometimes I check on your web site).
My compliments for your trip and best wishes for the future!
Bye

Fabio Lepore
Milan, Italy

September 14, 1998

I spent a wonderful holiday in Ecuador last summer with my family, mostly thanks to our guide, Ralph. During this trip, on the 13th of August, we met a strange guy you should know: Claude Marthaler, at Herwanos Carrel refugee of Chimborazo at 4800 meters. I am disappointed not to be able to provide you with pictures of Claude at the Chimboraza top, but I was not able to climb higher. I hope Claude succeeded in finding friends to go there.

Regards,
Rachel

September 1, 1998

Hi Stephen,
Claude asked us, to sending the Cover of our Website to you. so, here it is!

Greetings from the Swiss Yolodihooo Country :-)

Marc Kampus
VeloPlus Rapperswilerstr. 22
CH 8620 Wetzikon

Kamakura, Japan, in March 1997

Claude visited Kamakura shortly before leaving Japan for Alaska, and stayed at our home for one night. We invited several friends over that evening, set up a slide projector and screen, and enjoyed a wonderful slide presentation of Claude's journeys. Claude is a very talented photographer, and his photos add a special dimension to his very interesting travel stories. That combination, along with Claude's engaging personality, made for an evening that none of us will forget.

Two of the photos attached to this email were taken the next morning as Claude was preparing to leave Kamakura and bike back to his regular place of lodging some 40 kilometers away. One shows Claude with my wife, Chieko, and the other shows him posing with his bike. I believe Claude was planning to do some sightseeing around Kamakura before heading on, and look forward to seeing his photos from that trip.

*click to enlarge

Kamakura was the seat of the first shogunate in Japan nearly 800 years ago, and is a picturesque town near the sea with many temples scattered throughout the hills. Kamakura is famous for the "Daibutsu" (Great Buddha), and, due to its location on the ocean and proximity to Tokyo (just an hour away by train), is a popular place for marine activities such as windsurfing. A common sight on weekends are "jinrikisha", or traditional man-pulled carts that haul tourists between temples.

I would like to commend you on doing a great job with the Yak's site. I hope my small addition helps to describe one instant on the long timeline of Claude's journey.

Best regards,
David

*click to enlarge

June 28th 1998 "Le Yak"

Bonjour Mr Guerin,

I have take this pictures of the Yak in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico. He asked me to send to you this material. I'm to do it, later, but I think it's better than never.

Bye. Thierry Beauvir.

November 11, 1997

Auf einer Wohnmobil-Tour durch "Death Valley" in Kalifornien trafen wir (eine deutsche Familie aus Dresden) auf Claude. Es war Mittwoch, der 26.11.1997, 11.00 Ortszeit. Zu diesem Zeitpunkt war er noch guter Dinge und er erzaehlte uns von seinen Plaenen. Das Photo machten wir in Tecopa waehrend einer kleineren Pause, wo er und wir unser Trinkwasser nachfuellen mussten. Hoffentlich wurde er nicht zugeweht, denn kurz nach Verlassen des Ortes kam ein heftiger Sandsturm auf. Aber nachdem wir sahen wie sich Claude vom Sandsturm schieben lies sind wir voller Zuversicht, dass er dieses "kleine" Hinderniss gut ueberstanden hat. Wer weiss was ihn sonst noch bis Fruehjahr 1999 auf dem Weg nach Feuerland erwartet...

November 11, 1997

Hello,

Here are a couple of photos of Claude and YAK stuff. Liz and I met YAK in Canyonlands, Utah, mid November '97. Just briefly though; I slept in on a cold morning, and Claude didn't. I missed coffee, a few of his photos and a few stories. We met going in opposite directions, him running up a trail to get a photo as the sun was retiring of some salt dome crater in the park. But we passed again about a week later on the road just south of Moab. He was trying to get to Monticello, Utah, before a nasty looking storm hit. I thought we might connect again as Liz and I were spending another week or more in the UT--AZ area. We didn't see Claude again, but we did run into some one else who had--from Homer, Alaska--a family of three heading south also. Turns out he had spent a couple of nights the that very "over-sized camper", back in Homer about 6 months previous. But I did want to just visit--his venture is truly, truly amazing, I haven't givin up yet. I'll be in Central America for a couple of months this winter. Maybe we''ll meet.

Buenos suerte,
Jerry Baird

October 20, 1997

Ciao Yak,
come procede il tuo viaggio... Io sono il figlio di Michela Cardin. L'hai conosciuta al parco di Yellowstone. Sto cercando di inviarti la foto che ti ho gia promesso nel messaggio percedente. Speriamo di riuscire!!!

Ciao da Nicola (Trieste)Ecco la foto che ti ho promesso...E' stata scattata a Yellowstone se non sbaglio!!! Tanti auguri per il tuo viaggio!!

Ciao da Nicola (Trieste)

October 18, 1997

A Yak was spotted standing in the middle of the road on Saturday afternoon, October 18 in Littleton, CO.

I was coming back from a hike in the mtns. between Copper Mtn. and Leadville, and was about a mile from home when I was approached by a mysterious yak-like creature at a stop sign. The beast was looking for directions to Mt. Evans, apparently seeking higher altitude to escape the unseasonally warm weather at 5300'. I pulled out a better scale map and we plotted a reasonable route through Evergreen. The Yak was advised that the road up Mt. Evans was closed at Echo Lake and was rather icy up there.

This really is exciting and I was glad I got to meet Claude. Only wish I could've done more to make his USA adventure more enjoyable. I hope his journey continues safely (It's snowing in the mtns. tonite) and I plan on checking this homepage from time to time to follow Claude's progress.

Jim Denier

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