Day #1 - Everest BaseCamp Trip
Saturday, February 19, 2022
I’m coming to you live somewhere over Europe on American Airline Flight AA 8118 - operated by Qatar Airways. I’m 8 hours into a 12-hr nonstop flight from JFK (New York) to Doha, Qatar. I just finished watching a movie (The Mule with Clint Eastwood), had a Mushroom & Potato Masala Pastry (handed out to us as a mid-flight snack), and I now feel inspired to write a little bit.
Just an interesting side note - a 12-hr nonstop flight (while painfully long for sure) is nowhere near the longest nonstop flight in the world. Here’s a few of the longest: (I’ve done a 16+ hr flight from Atlanta to Johannesburg)
1. JFK to Singapore (18hrs, 40min)
2. Auckland to Doha (18hrs, 5min)
3. Perth to London (17hrs, 15min)
4. Auckland to Dubai (17hrs, 5min)
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OK - it’s been 1-1/2 years since I last posted on the blog. The trip I’m starting today has been a long time coming. As I sit here writing this in my 22A window seat - I’m hoping I can sort through my feelings and emotions leading into this journey - and move forward with perspective, hope, and curiosity for what the future holds.
My buddies and I (Greg, Liam, and Korby) decided to take a trip to Everest BaseCamp about 3 years ago (late 2019). The seed was first planted while on a trek to Mt Kilimanjaro in Africa - over 15 years ago now. October 2020 was targeted for our adventure.
In some part due to this trip, I decided to resign my financial job in November 2019 and take a year of travel (which would include hiking the Appalachian Trail, followed up with the Everest BaseCamp Trip) in 2020. Well - due to Covid-19, my trip to Everest was postponed. But I wasn’t giving up.
I still wanted to go to Everest - but what company is going to let me take 5+ weeks of travel after just starting a position. Likely - not many. What do I do? I decide to take a contract position to remain flexible. I schedule the Everest Trip for October 2021. Surely - Covid-19 will subside by that time - I’ll be all good to go. Not so fast my friend (Lee Corso) - due to new variants and on-going Covid-19 issues - my trip was again cancelled in the fall of 2021.
Not being one to give up - what do I do now? I talk with my boss at my current contract job - explain my scenario - asking if I can remain in my role while taking a Spring 2022 trip to Everest. They were very gracious and had no issues - even being excited for me. They sent out an email this past Wednesday to the whole team (with a picture of Everest in the background) wishing me good health and success. Grateful!
I have to explain my feelings and emotions leading into this trip. I’ve been absolutely overwhelmed by anxiety. More than I’ve felt on any other trip I’ve ever taken. The protocols with Covid - requiring a negative PCR test 72-hours before departure to board the flight. Additional testing upon arrival which could lead to days of mandatory quarantine. The fear of getting sick and being alone in a foreign land. Getting a kidney stone 4 months ago that sent me to the ER with the strongest feelings of pain I ever experienced (and the thought it could happen again on this trip).
I want to apologize to my family and friends. I truly appreciate you - supporting me through a lot of ups and downs. See - the thing is - I really like to plan, I like to dream about the future - where can it take me? Well - the past couple years have been so filled with uncertainty- I sort of lost that ability to dream. I couldn’t execute my plan. “Without a plan, there’s no attack. Without an attack - there can be no victory”. So - I haven’t been able to get that feeling of accomplishment- of success. I feel like I’ve been floundering and spinning my wheels. It’s about time for that to end. Let’s turn the page!!
OK - so it’s finally happening. I’m on the plane to the most majestic mountain in the world. Our tour guide sent us this inspiring message yesterday: “BE READY - be ready to be humbled by the enormity, beauty, and severity of the highest mountains on the planet. Be ready to experience the warmth of an ageless culture. Be ready for the challenges - physical, mental, and emotional - that will greet you each day. Best of all - be ready for fulfillment and empowerment.”
That gives me goosebumps. I’m excited!! I’m inspired!! I’m alive!!! I have tears in my eyes while writing at this very minute. I know it’s hard to understand - but it’s something very real for me.
I’m planning to blog my journey for the next 3-4 weeks - posting whenever I have a signal.
My trip started this morning with a 3:30am Uber to RDU (Raleigh, NC International Airport). I had a flight from RDU to JFK - arriving into JFK at 7:30am. We boarded our JFK flight to Doha at 10:40am. Once the 12-hr flight concludes in Doha - we have a couple hour layover - then our last segment of the journey. We have a 4hr, 15 min flight from Doha, Qatar to Kathmandu, Nepal. We’re set to arrive into Kathmandu on Sunday, Feb 20 at 3:40pm local time. We’ll stay a couple nights in Kathmandu before we fly to Lukla - starting our trek to Everest BaseCamp. All total, I’ll be in the air nearly 18 hrs today - with the total travel experience being around 26 hours. Greg, Korby and I are together. We meet up with Liam in Kathmandu. We’ll be joining a tour group of 20 people (us being 4 of the 20)
I’m feeling OK. We’re now only 2 hrs out of Doha. I have a KN95 mask on. I was starting to get a headache from lack of oxygen - so I loosened it up a bit. I’m telling myself I’m training by wearing this mask. I’m restricting the flow of oxygen - maybe simulating what I’ll experience at 18.500’ in a couple weeks.
Page turned. Anxiety replaced with anticipation. LETS DO THIS!! My director told me in her message on Wednesday- “Good luck and Safety 3rd”. She said it’s the motto of the Medical Director of the company. Interesting! You know what - in order to achieve and gain life altering experiences- maybe you do have to risk a little bit. Safety is always there - if anyone knows me well - I will always be cautious. I have the strangest dynamic of “adventure seeker” and “most conservative person around” - all bundled into one body. It’s just part of my journey.
Good night from the dark skies above the Middle East. It’s time to have a little FUN!!
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