Embrace Your Dreams
In the winter of 2008, the idea began to foliate. Erik Bjarason, the founder of Courage to Carry On, was planning a trip with mountaineering companions, to scale Mount Everest. He wanted to include people with disabilities as far as the Base Camp. The timing of the March expedition was in conflict with Tibetan protesters so the decision to climb in October with Eion White, manager of Sherpa Encounters, was finalized.
Douglas Reid (a quadriplegic) and myself (MS x 25 years) embarked on intensive planning and fund raising. There are additional considerations and costs for people with disabilities – a larger component of porters, selection of manageable guesthouses, transport of TrailRiders to Lukla. Space and weight are at a premium so minimal packing must include only necessities Weather ranged from 32°C to -10°C – shorts, sandals, sunscreen, mitts, polar fleece, wool socks, mini hot water bottle, hot packs.
Acclimatization began in Kathmandu, 4500 feet. AMS (altitude mountain sickness) invades unpredictably and intensely so gradual climb with additional rest days enroute at 10,000 and 14,000 feet minimized the effects of reduced oxygen.
The Black Diamond TrailRider offered comfort and in conjunction with incredibly skilled porters, safety along narrow, rocky, steep ascents and descents. We traversed 18 suspension bridges, 8 m. to 1/2 km. in length, some with sides, others without, but all bridging cliffs over deep, rocky river crevices. The TrailRider is ideal for rolling along smooth hillside trails. Uneven rocky terrain required that it be lifted about 50% of the time. At times, the TrailRider passengers could be equated with a paint can being agitated in a paint shop, to obtain the desired hue Eight hours on the trail can be summarized as motivating, stimulating, sometimes a bit sore but always fun! The porters laughed and sang as we moseyed along.
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Upon arising and embarking early on the path, looking around, we could see mountains, more mountains and after that, even more mountains. They were rocky, snowcapped, encircled by glaciers, friendly, enticing, intimidating, challenging and sometimes ominous. At lower altitudes, there were trees, woodsy flowers, waterfalls and rivers. As the tree line evaporated, wide open space gave way to rock formations and memorials to those who have lost their life on Everest. We were humbled and slowed to pay our respects to the women and men who had embraced their last dream.
Sitting on the Trailrider on Kala Patar, 2500 feet above the tent city of base camp, I was overwhelmed with the incredibleness of being at the base of Mount Everest, the highest mountain in the world. How did this happen? It required a dream, motivation to follow that dream, the belief of others in the possibility (BCMOS, Eion White of Sherpa Encounters, Erik Bjaranson of Courage to Carry On, participation of many who supported our fund raising events, family, friends. I thank you all!
Do I have any regrets? No! Am I glad that I followed my dream? Of course! Would I do it again? In a heartbeat!