Nepal: The Mountain We Climb Led Me to My Journey to Mount Everest Base Camp

That feeling, that itch, that nudge to do something more.. It feels like it’s always there whispering in the background. The fixation that what we are ‘doing’ is not enough and we must do ‘more.’ Fascinating really. That’s where I ended up in the winter of 2022. An abominable spiral of doing and doing and doing until I was in an utter state of burnout and questioning, “What more can I do?” From the outside, things looked good, on the inside I was crumbling. I cried myself to sleep countless nights and one night I asked God, “What should I do?” and that’s when I heard the whisper to go to Mount Everest.

Now, Nepal and the specific trek to do Mount Everest basecamp had been on my list for years, yet I kept delaying or making excuses. “Oh this foot surgery with all of this hardware, I shouldn’t do it. It’s unsafe. Am I fit enough? Who will go with me?” And the list of doubts kept going. 

And well the Universe took matters into its own hands and once I got that lightbulb moment after New Years Eve in January of 2023, there was no stopping me. Within two weeks, I booked with an agency to do the trek and well 6 weeks later, I was on a plane on my way.

Now all of those doubts went out the window as I just went for it.

When I told my mom, she was like, “Who is going with you?” And I stated, “Well, no one.”

She thought I was crazy. But in truth, that was the norm in my decision making. 

I went to REI a few days before the flight to ask what I needed to buy and the store rep looked at me puzzled. Like doesn’t this girl know?

A normal person would consider this as ‘red flags’ to not go, but that is exactly when we should. Now within reason as I must say for safety reasons. But so often we are stopped because of opinions or slight hindrances and the path to growth is needing to go past it. 

So there I was, off to Nepal. With a pit stop in India to see Agrabah, just kidding, the Taj Mahal. Majestic site of devotion and love. 

And now I was on the plane flying into Lukla, the deadliest airport in the world. And there was no turning back. 

We landed, it was frigid cold. It was colder than expected so here I was the next day in the only town to purchase clothing, buying Nepalese knockoffs and ice tracks because the weather took a turn. There was so much snow, which was uncommon for the end of March. 

To be honest, I was regretting my decision that first night and even more so the second night when things took a turn…

I ended up being extremely sick. Every Nepalese was giving me medicines and praying. I woke up miraculously healed* - I say with an asterisk because for the next 6 days of the trek, I was functioning on a thread to make it and wouldn’t have made it without the special forces, to be mentioned soon.

Now the reaction from the trek guides and porters was one that I felt as if someone rose from the dead. I mean I was reallly sick, but their reactions felt unearthly and then I learned why. Due to the snow, no helicopters could enter and someone died from altitude sickness that night and they were terrified that if I needed aid, I may not make it. 

That reality hit fast during my breakfast of tea and half a piece of toast. 

“What did I get myself into? And how can I back out?”

Did the thought of paying any amount for a heli to get me out then, come to mind? Oh YES IT DID, but I was committed to the journey and making it to the end. 

A great mirror to how often we may give up in life too quickly.

So the journey continued and I made friends from Wales, Australia, Austria, Nepal, and the US - these were my special forces. We bonded. United. Made a pact. No one to be left behind and to make it to the end. If it wasn’t for these angels, I may have been on that heli out on day 3. 

The journey was hard. Like really hard. Food after day 3 was a plate of potatoes or noodles. There’s no meat at those higher elevations.

Fire in the dining area in the evening was lit by yak poop - made you question how badly you want the warmth because of the smell. 

You went to bed in multiple layers - nearly as much as you went to hike in since there is no heat. You’d leave just enough of your face exposed to breathe. And then come morning you would see frost and snow inside the window of your room. 

We got crafty at night by putting hot water into water bottles to put into our sleeping bags to remedy this fun sleeping adventure. The cost of water or to charge a phone was next level. Never spent so much for water but since we all kept getting sick, I didn’t want the tablets in local water. Give me that closed water at ANY PRICE.

Snickers bar and Sprite - were the golden gems of meals. Seems illogical, but when we were all sick..packaged food, sugar and bubbles was what we needed to keep going on the 8+ hour hikes each day. 

With all of these hiccups, that are total nuances…I then got second degree burns on my nose and right hand from the sun. You ask, “Well, how?” And I’ll tell you… I took off my gloves for 1 hour during the trek because they were sweating and well.. there. Now you know. And yes I had SPF on my face. The sun loved me more. 

And yet with all of this, I never quit. I was mesmerized by the courage of the fellow hikers of all ages, sizes and cultures.

The locals who would hike with a refrigerator on their back. The porters tirelessly hiking the trail to carry the goods of hikers, myself included. The strong yaks, horses and donkeys moving like waves through the hills. The smiling children who waved to you as you passed by. The pots of water that were set up outside with foil to heat up for their bath or tea. The handicrafts made with meticulous love. 

The views were like walking in a real-life painting. Never-ending picture book images of grand beauty and enchanted spirit. Majestic yaks. Kind souls of the locals.

Magic in the air all around.

Inspiration blossoming within.

Empowerment felt in the bones. 

And in the end, all climbing together to make it to the top. 

A united destination with all of us having different motives, hurdles, setbacks, but moving together like a ribbon of people through the mountain range to beaming Mount Everest.

The top of our climb. 

Some may say.. “Well, that’s not the top.”

Um wrong.

It was the top for our journey. 

We often judge someone’s destination.

But never have someone tell you what is the ‘top’ of your mountain. 

Your goal. Your mission. Your destination. 

Because it’s yours. 

And in order to reach your mountain top, special forces will push along the journey. Hiccups will happen. We persevere. 

And together, we climb the mountain of life.

So take that step towards your mountain top. You’ll make it there step by step, and some special forces along the way will meet you and some hiccups too, EMBRACE THEM!

Your mountain top is waiting for you to shine!

**As a side note, magic will happen in the end when it’s right.. Like how Mount Everest showed up with the sun shining in full glory on herself. All week, trekkers reached Base Camp covered in snow and clouds with no views. On our final day when we made it, she showed off, and rightfully so!