Dream Big because dreams come true!

Sweat, blood and tears..of JOY! 

-my journey to Mount Everest Base Camp

Ever since I can remember, I've been fascinated by the magnitude and mystique of the Himalayas. Last week, I was able to fulfill my dream of setting foot on the most magnificent mountain on this planet - Mt. Everest! I was lucky and privileged to be part of a team with experienced tour guides that helped us prepare ourselves with the the right amount of rest/food/water/stops and the right mindset to reach our goal.

It was a ~100 mile long, arduous, cold, steep 12-day hike, but all the hard work was rewarded instantly as each one of our senses was refreshed either by the spectacular views of the snow clad peaks, the shimmering waters of the river and streams, the breeze on our skin while walking over the high suspension bridges, the sounds of the bells around yaks/mules/horses, or the Himalayan climate in all its various forms - rain, snow, clouds, sun, wind, sleet - yes we had it all. On the other hand, it was quite sobering to see numerous helicopters, many of which were rescue troops carrying hikers who suffered AMS (Acute mountain sickness), throughout the hike. It would be great if we can use technology to create digital twin of our human body, to gauge how well certain body parts will function under certain conditions (like low oxygen/high altitude in this case)

The journey began with a bang, with a thrilling flight into the world's most dangerous airport- Lukla airport (tiny airplane, turbulence, shortest runway ending in a cliff). We started our walk right away, through 6 small villages over the next several days. We got the clearest views of Mt. Everest as we reached Namche Bazaar (11,300 Ft) and take a training hike up to the Sherpa Museum, boasting a tall statue of Sherpa Tenzing Norgay who summited Everest along with Edmund Hillary. 

We were continually facing Mt. Everest as we made our way to Tengboche (12,600 Ft ), which is home to the Monastery where every single summiter stops to seek blessings. If you thought you were disconnected from frenzy of daily routine and the rest of the world, wait till you experience the peace at this Monastery - the serene atmosphere, no digital frenzy, the minimalist way of life of the mountain people, the culture. The next day, we walked up to Dingboche (14,500Ft), basking in the view of several high peaks- Ama Dablam, Lhotse, Island Peak, and taking several water breaks.

On the way out from Dengboche to next night stop - Lobuche(16,100 Ft) , we passed Thukla pass- the shrine for lost climbers.  If you've seen the movie "Everest" or read "Into Thin Air", you know about Scott Fischer and Rob Hall. We saw their shrines, and those of several other climbers whose bodies still lie on the mountain.

Our final ascent day to Everest BC(17,700 ft) was via Gorakshep (16,900 ft) - where you wonder how humans can survive here- with no running water, no decent plumbing system (water in buckets was frozen), and all goods(food, other basics) transported into the village on peoples backs.  I did have nose bleeds throughout the 12-day hike, as a result of the dry and cold air. Once you pass 12,500 feet or so, you are above the tree line, which means, that the oxygen levels drop significantly. That coupled with winds, and very steep slopes made the day from Lobuche to Gorakshep the most excruciating one for me.

This final ascent day is long (13 kms), alongside the worlds largest glacier- the Kumbhu glacier - its absolutely pristine landscape takes your breath away (literally), and the feeling is euphoric - I was in tears as I set foot on Everest base camp. You can see the yellow tents at the base camp, where summiters acclimatize and do training climbs from. The next 3 days of 20km walk each day were not easy, as it involved a lot of uphill walking as well. The hygiene, the bathroom conditions and the weather conditions especially as you go higher make this a physically and mentally strenuous hike- to a point where on the 8th day (as I was fighting off a fever, and using the primitive facilities of the tea house), i just wanted to go back to the comfort, cleanliness and warmth of my home. 

They say that its not about the destination, but more importantly it is about enjoying the journey; I must say our experienced guide (www.extolloadventures.com/) was a true embodiment of the statement, and ensured that our entire group of 24 friends made it to Mt. Everest BC. Moreover, every minute of the long, arduous 12 day hike was enjoyable - thanks to the jokes, songs, dancing, snow ball flights, snow angels, oxygen parties (pushups, headstands) as we walked from one village to the other.

As I compare this journey with any other undertaking at work or life, I realize the common theme of grit, courage, mindset, patience and a great team to get through it; Work or life, here's to blazing new trails - gentle, steep, crooked, winding, but never lonesome, always adventurous, and always leading to the most amazing views! 

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