I consider myself a “semi-active” person. I don’t do a lot of exercise, but I do walk very fast. I enjoy somewhat sporty activities when the opportunity presents itself (rock climbing, yoga, hiking), but I don’t really pursue them very often. I’ve definitely never been involved in anything one might classify as “extreme.” When my co-worker Kevin, asked me if I wanted to join him and his boyfriend on a trip to Everest Base Camp last November, I asked, “How much climbing is involved?” Luckily, no ice climbing is involved with visiting the Base Camp. We only had to do a little “light” hiking (at 5200 meters above sea level). I, of course, said yes and joined the “expedition” to the base of the Top of the World. I was eager to visit such a historical, holy, extreme destination.

Thar She Blows- A view from the road to Everest
We got to Everest by way of China and a winding route through Tibet, which you can read about by visiting a few of my previous posts. A link to all the places I visited during my Asian Winter Odyssey can be found here.

We set out from New Tingri early in the morning on 18 November 2010 and followed a Snake-n-Ladders like path higher and higher into the Himalayas.

A bird's eye view of our path
Side note: I’ve traveled to a lot of places and done my business in a lot of varied conditions. Let me just say that nothing I’ve experience before or after this journey compares to using the public toilet on the road to Everest. A small stone shelter with no door and a clear history of poor aiming techniques offered little comfort as I squatted in a chilly wind nearly 4 miles above sea level.

We arrived in the early evening at the guest house at Base Camp. Sadly (or perhaps not so sadly) we arrived very very late in the Everest season and the outdoor camp ground was already closed, therefore we did not sleep in tents but rather stayed at the guest house. (I still consider this “roughin’ it” as there was no plumbing, limited electricity and no heating except a small yak dung stove in the common room.)

A Nun and a Goat
Weather at the peak was pretty cloudy, but clear down below and we visited the world’s highest monastery, Rongbuk. (Interestingly enough, it is also Tibet’s only co-ed monastery.) Compared to the other monasteries we visited in Tibet, this one was so much smaller, so much poorer and so much simpler than any other. We each bought a few blessed items for souvenirs and gifts from the Top of the World.

The Rongbuk Monastery
I was very taken by the undefinable holy atmosphere in the shadow of Mt. Qomolangma (translation: Holy Mother) and I took a moment to hike up a small hill and say a few prayers.

I built stacks of stones for each prayer, just as I had seen countless times along the road
After visiting the monastery and saying my prayers, I spent the rest of the evening with the other visitors and the local Sherpas and Guest House keepers. (Another side note: Though the local men work very hard as Sherpas for Everest Summitters, the women do ALL the rest of the work including cooking, cleaning and trekking miles to get fresh water.)

The Sherpas and the drivers show off some dancing skills for the ladies
The next morning, we awoke early in the morning to catch the stunning view of Everest at sunrise. It was windy (!), it was cold (!!) and it was early (!!!). We hiked up what most people on the planet would consider a VERY SMALL HILL to arrive at the clump of prayer flags that represents the closest point a person can get to the summit without legal permission from the Chinese government (and about 10 grand). At sea level, this may have been an easy uphill jog, but at 5200 meters, this left us winded, coughing and panting. It was totally worth it. Seeing the peak of Everest turn pink with the rising sun is the closest that a “normal person” can come to the glory of actually standing at the Top of the World.

Worth it
After viewing the peak at dawn, we went back to camp, ate a meager breakfast and packed up for our lengthy trek back down the mountain and our last stop in Tibet before crossing the Friendship Bridge into Nepal.

I'm at the Top of the World
See more pictures of my trip to Everest here.