Getting to Everest Base Camp: Lessons from an Adventure

It was day 3 of the Everest Base Camp (EBC) trek. I was standing at Namche Bazar, a mystical gateway town tucked in the Himalayas – and it was breathtaking. The EBC stands at a humble 17,598 feet, a far cry from the towering Everest summit in the sky more than 2 miles higher. Tenzing Norway and Edmund Hillary scaled Everest exactly 70 years earlier, and they stood as close to the moon as any human had ever stood.

Now, I’ve returned.

Back to the grind of work, but feeling anew. I still have the most vibrant memories running through my head of the Himalayas: Gasping for breath in the thin air of the high mountains, sight upon sight of mighty Himalayan peaks including other 8000ers*.

Walking through tiny Himalayan villages with both warm people and guesthouses, paths flanked by vibrant purple flowers of potatoes, I soaked in the stunning scenery. Unsteadily walking over rope hanging bridges strung across gigantic crevices between mountains, I held my breath in trepidation. Listening to the soothing music that was the gurgle of the rivers that birthed right there, I understood what my name truly meant-“Saritha”, from Sanskrit meaning a flowing river. Walking into the exquisite 100 year old monastery at Tengboche which had also served as the site of planning for the Hillary and Tenzing expedition in 1953, I was transported into another world. Getting to EBC meant placing heavy exhausted steps across the cold freezing Khumbu glacier on a moonlike landscape. It meant experiencing fear and overcoming it. And it meant coming back richer than I was before.

Alongside the memories and photos, I’ve subconsciously collected lessons from my trek that have impacted my work and life back here.

Lesson #1- The power of focusing on the next step

If there was one lesson that was underscored everyday of this trek– that was to focus on the next step, and then the next and the next- to keep going. Walking 8+ hours a day, in high altitude under exacting conditions can become challenging and disheartening. The trick was to focus on taking the next step, and keep at it.?

Takeaway:?Conquer your mountain, whatever that may be, in small chunks. Focus on the next step– the final goal is just a series of next steps done right and with the right intent. I have found that this reinforces a positive mindset and shifts focus on smaller more achievable accomplishments, all of which put together gets us to the final goal.

Lesson #2-The power of creativity and innovation

There is no road that penetrates this part of the Himalayas. Porters, yaks and occasional cargo helicopters, are the means of getting goods transported to remote towns and villages in this region. Narrow paths for walking in the mountains are only wide enough sometimes for 1 person or a yak to pass. Something as basic as hot water would need a stove and gas- carried up for miles on a person's or yak’s back.

I saw simple innovations in rural homes to make life a little bit easier, leveraging basic science and nature. A radar-like concave low cost disc that would reflect sun rays to a central point on which sat a cooking utensil. The engineer in me stopped and marveled every time I saw this. See pictures below

Takeaway:?Creative thinking driving simple innovative solutions can provide high value lifts- key to many successful endeavors. Innovations can be simple - even small tweaks can result in increased productivity. The key is to keep thinking and apply out of the box solutions.

Lesson #3- The power of human connection

Exhausted and hungry trekkers congregated every evening in the dining rooms of rest houses- typically large clean spaces with a wood burning stove in the middle, providing heat and stunning views outside. No television, limited wi-fi -if available. Travelers from around the world came together connecting genuinely at a very human level. The mountains had a way of bringing people closer. Perhaps like what it must have been before we lost ourselves in technology.

Takeaway:?The experience underscored to me the incredible power of making real connections with fellow humans - and the joy and satisfaction that it brings. Not to be underestimated is also how much these connections once established make for meaningful relationships and influence spheres- whether at work or outside. These can be pivotal to a smooth execution of a program, easy resolution of issues and so much more.

Lesson #4-The power of the human mind

As the altitude increases and one moves past what is known as the “tree line” (above 15000 feet) I started experiencing symptoms of altitude sickness. Breathing was difficult, loss of appetite, an underlying nausea, a constant dull headache, and some nights felt a little like I had a slab of stone on my chest. Making my way excruciatingly across the frozen landscape of the Khumbu glacier, it was very easy to give up and return. And it was here that mental strength had to kick in. The will to complete, the need to conquer this challenge, kept me pushing ahead.

Takeaway:?The human mind is amazing. It will invariably deliver if we allow it to believe. Belief in oneself, belief that it can be done, allows us to achieve seemingly the impossible. In the end, with challenges like these or even a complex or a new endeavor / project - overcoming fear is key. Whether it is fear of failure or the fear of the unknown. In most cases this involves acknowledging the fear, accepting it and going ahead and conquering it anyway- so it does not conquer you.

Lesson #5- The power of a role model

Being in Namche Bazaar, on the 70th anniversary of Hillary and Tenzing’s summit of Everest felt like an extra special gift. Namche was hosting several celebrations to commemorate the event, the biggest being a marathon from EBC to Namche (the winner, runner up and 3rd place winners- all 3 fittingly were Sherpas). I got to observe the tremendous pride the Nepali community had for Tenzing, revered for his accomplishment, confidence, and chutzpah. For decades now, he has managed to provide aspirational hope to isolated and less privileged communities.

Takeaway:?It takes but 1 person to create a ripple of change and hope. To have the courage to be the outlier, to think differently and follow through- was what Tenzing did. With courage and conviction we can make small differences in our own little worlds. And somehow, I am convinced that many small positive differences can serve together to change the world- One difference at a time.

“To travel, to experience and learn: that is to live”- Tenzing Norgay

Footnote:* Everest’s next door neighbour Lohtse at 27,940 feet, Makalu at 28,838 feet, Nupse at a mere 26,076 feet and “little” Ama Dablam at 22,350 feet).?