Greetings From Khumbu! Land of Everest!

The breathtaking Hillary Bridge, just a few miles before Namche Bazar

Well, it's been a while since I've written a blog post. School, per usual, has consumed most of my time. But now, the semester is finished and the trip's climax has commenced. It all feels unreal as I am writing this post from a place I could only dream of when I was a child...

For those who don't know, Mount Everest is the reason for who I am. When I was seven years old, I entered the line for the Walt Disney World coaster Expedition Everest. Instantly, I was transfixed by the model temples, climbing artifacts, and pictures of the Yeti and Everest. I don't know exactly what struck me, but I've been chasing that feeling ever since. After vacation, it became my goal to become the youngest person to climb Everest. So, seven-year-old me threw on a backpack and ran laps around my house, recording every training session in my "Everest Training Log." I downloaded Himalayan trekking songs on my iPod mini, and my family's Youtube search history was composed entirely of Nepali music videos and Everest vlogs- if vlogs were even a thing in 2009. Uncertain about what to do with this odd seven-year-old passion, my parents signed me up for a rock climbing summer camp, and things have never been the same since...

Namche Bazar, the largest village in Khumbu- where one can even find an Irish pub!

Over time, my passion for Everest slowly faded as my psych shifted to competitive rock climbing. It wasn't until the summer of 2020 that my former passion rekindled. I completed the 46 High Peaks in Upstate, NY, and began incorporating more cardio into my rock climbing training. When deciding where to study abroad last year, there was no place more perfect than Nepal, and now, I am writing this post from Namche Bazar, 3,400 meters (~11,000 feet) above sea level, en route to Everest Base Camp and Island Peak (aka Imja Tse).

Friday afternoon, we took a 5-hour mountain road car ride to Raamechaap and the next morning took the"world's most dangerous flight" to Lukla, aka the Gateway to Everest. We then trekked to Phakding, where we stayed the night, and the next day headed to Namche Bazar. The team consists of myself, Ben (a fellow Boston College student studying abroad in Nepal), and our incredible guide Gopal. We've made many friends along the way, who all have very interesting stories. One group was an uncle and niece from the US. The uncle was a former NCAA football player for Nebraska and was a member of the Denver Bronco's practice squad. He's summited South America's highest peak, and no joke of a mountain, Mount Aconcagua, and attempted Everest in 2017. He brought his niece along to hike to Base Camp and to volunteer at a school for Sherpa children in Namche Bazar. We stayed at the lodge of the man who takes care of the children, as dozens are orphans who study in Namche with the hopes of studying in Kathmandu or elsewhere for secondary education. The former D1 football player/NFL practice squad member/elite mountaineer and his niece raised over $4,000 to provide socks for the schoolchildren. The owner of the lodge is an incredible person who has two kids residing in the States, and his accent strangely resembles Don Corleone. This makes sense as he is truly the "God Father" of Namche.

Myself, Ben, and our guide Gopal, featuring Ben's "Sherpa Stache"

Another group we befriended is two Russians headed to Base Camp. One has been traveling around South Asia since the invasion of Ukraine, and the other fled Russia shortly after Putin's mobilization in September. The latter has been living in India for the past eight months and hasn't seen his son or family for that duration. After the trek, he plans to head back to Russia despite the risk of being sent to Ukraine.

Hearing these stories broadens your perspective on life. Many things one frets over seem more trivial now. Khumbu is truly magnificent, not only for its incredible views (which we have yet to see because of snowfall and rain), but the people who reside here and the visitors it attracts.

Our Russian friend Lara, myself, and Ben in front of the Sir Edmund Hillary Statue in Khumjung. Sir Ed is one of the most legendary figures in Nepal, not only for his mountaineering feats but also for establishing dozens of schools in remote villages.

This experience still feels unreal- and I have yet to see Everest! There is still a lot to reflect on, especially regarding my studies in Buddhism and Hinduism. At least this gives me something to do on the 30-hour travel day back to NY in two weeks. In the meantime, there are mountains to climb! Jaaneho! Sherpinii bhetneho! Khursaanii chiyaa khaaneho!

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This is perhaps the highlight of the trip, or perhaps of my entire life, as I saw with my own eyes the Yeti's forehead. This artifact isn't kept in a museum but rather in the center of a sacred Buddhist monastery's main temple. I thought the Yeti was simply a legend popularized in the West, but little did I know it's part of the Nyingma Buddhist sect's religious ceremonies. For all I care, the Yeti resides in this sacred land, just somewhere humans have yet to explore...