Trekking – Page 3 – HIKES & HAMSTRINGS

From Lukla to Phakding

Local carrying heavy supplies in one of the villages

Post written December 19: Today is the day. The day we left the big and noisy city of Kathmandu to the mountain town of Lukla. After a night of running around getting supplies and packing our bags for the trek, we had little sleep before awaking for our 5:30 am departure time. Usually I would say “gah” to waking up so early. Maybe it was inherent excitement. Maybe my system was becoming foiled by the different foods, which is why I really needed to use the bathroom. Either way, at 4:30 am, I was wide awake and ready to go.

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Busy Kathmandu

Post written December 18: Now that was the longest day ever. I don’t even know what happened on that last flight from Guangzhou to Kathmandu. I think I passed out and missed dinner. Then I passed out again. Then suddenly I was at the Tribhuvan International Airport at 11 pm waiting to pay my $40 Visa entrance fee. I met my driver and we were off through the sparse night streets of the city. And then I grinned a large ecstatic grin. It had been many months in the making, and I was finally in Kathmandu, about to begin a trip that I’ve been dreaming about for a long time.

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First Step: Pack for Everest

The trip is here! I’m currently at a Priority Pass lounge in the Vancouver airport awaiting my long flight to Guangzhou, China. From there, it’s off to Nepal! Admittedly, I’m a bit concerned. There’s a 40 minute delay, which puts me at 1 hour and 10 minutes to navigate the large Guangzhou airport and catch my connection. But that’s future Rick’s problem.

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2014: A Year in Review

Well that year went by quickly! Okay, 2014 isn’t completely over yet, but with the grand Everest adventure just a day away, it feels like a nice day for accountability.

Honestly, I can’t help wondering where 2014 went. I had quite a few goals and I started strong with a great focus. Inevitably, life happened. I enrolled in a personal leadership and life coaching program that has taken up a bulk of my time. It’s not that I was derailed from what I wanted to achieve, but perhaps I took on too many things, and found myself dabbling more often than seeing everything to fruition. Lesson learned. I’m gearing up for 2015 to be the best year ever with a clear focus, but first, it’s time for a quick roundup. I’ve copied the post from January, now with added reflection!

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Mount Everest: The Mountain is Waiting

“It is not the mountain we conquer, but ourselves.” – Sir Edmund Hillary

Mount Everest

It seems like every week there’s a Facebook link floating around with gorgeous scenery of Iceland, or the amazing hiking trails in New Zealand… or “Things you didn’t know should be on your bucket list but should be” kind of lists. With each article I read, the possibilities seem endless. Each time I think: Geeze, there’s quite a world out there just waiting to be explored and experienced.

A few months ago, something began percolating in my mind: I should create a list of worldwide hikes, treks or mountain climbs to do. And then do them! Seemed easy enough. And even though I’m still mapping out the details, there has been a trek inception-ed in my brain for quite some time.

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