Hi Everyone,
It’s really happening! I’m on day 7 of the 16-day Everest Hike for Kids. I’m helping lead this 21-day adventure that includes the Everest region trek and a tour of our projects in Pokhara. Our 16 participants will get to see first-hand the work Himalayan Life does to protect, nurture, and educate the disadvantaged children, most of whom have come from the streets.
I’m tapping this out on my phone at over 13,000 ft with a very poor cellular service. We jeeped into Phaplu and started trekking. It’s been quite the adventure: 8-10 hours of walking each day, lots of rain, leeches, hiking in the dark, dealing with blisters, gastric issues, etc. I’ve been well throughout and having fun!
There is a lot of time to be mindful while walking too. It’s helpful to have all the prayer monuments every few hundred meters as a reminder to pray.
We spent an amazing day acclimatizing in Namche Bazaar – the capital of Sherpa culture and the base for many climbing expeditions.
Tonight, we are staying in a little community called Pangboche at an altitude over 13,000 ft. The village was established in the 16th century and has a Buddhist monastery that contains a 17th century Yeti skull and hand.
We are slowly making our way up to a higher elevation and I’ll “peak” out at about 18,000 ft. Enjoy the pics!
Peace,
Markku
To donate to the Everest hike, click below!
For more information on our work in Nepal, visit our Projects page!
