Shipping to Nepal

This year I have some new equipment that I’m bringing on our expedition to Mt Everest. The problem is that its heavy, bulky and won’t fit in my baggage allowance. What to do?
I have been looking into sending it ahead of time and its not cheap. First of all you can’t send any batteries or food, (so i will have to take the 10 nickel/metal hydride batteries from the radios in my luggage – I’m sure a huge stack of these batteries in my luggage will not please the airport security folks) and secondly you have to pay an import duty. I’ve packed up a duffel bag’s worth of stuff. It weighs about 35 lbs (17kg) and I’ve been quoted between $450 and $600.
If anyone has a better idea, let me know. If you’re travelling light to KTM in the next couple of weeks, I’ll pay you $300 to take my bag!