Draft Itinerary

• Day 1 - arrive in Kathmandu (capital of Nepal)

• Day 2 - Fly to Lukla on a 20 seater Twin Otter and trek through the Dudh Koshi River valley to Phakding (elev. 8,700ft). This trail is mostly down hill which gives us a chance to acclimatise to the elevation.

• Day 3 - Trek from Phakding up to Namche Bazaar the gateway to the Khumbu Region and the major trading centre for the area (elev. 11,300ft).

• Day 4 - Trek from Namche Bazaar eastward across the slopes on the trail Khumjung/Sangnasa, across the Dudh Koshi-Imja Khola bridge and then northward to Thyangboche (elev. 12,683ft).

• Day 5 - Trek from Thyangboche up to Syangboche through evergreen forests and then into the broad valley of Dingboche (elev. 14,950ft).

• Day 6- Trek on fairly flat ground from Dingboche along the bank of Tsola Khola, and then along the western bank of the Khumbu glacier to Lobuche (elev. 16,170ft).

• Day 7 - Trek from Lobuche along the Khumbu glacier to a flat area known as Gorak Shep where we will be able to see the Khumbu Ice Fall (elev. 17,350ft).

• Day 8- Trek from Gorak Shep up a very steep ascent for about 2 and 1/2 hours to Kalapatthar where we will be able to see the southern slopes of Mount Everest and the surrounding mountains (Lhotse, Nuptse, Pumori, Makalu, Ama Dablam and Thamserkuver). Trek back down to Gorak Shep for the night.

• Day 9 - Trek for 8 hours from Gorak Shep to Everest Base Camp and then back down to Pheriche (elev. 13,000ft).

• Day 10 - Trek from Pheriche back down to Thyangboche (elev. 12,683ft).

• Day 11 - Trek from Thyangboche to Namche Bazaar (elev. 11,300ft).

• Day 12 - Trek from Namche Bazaar back down to Lukla (elev. 8,700ft).

• Day 13 - Fly back to Kathmandu.

Why would anyone do this?

Why would anyone fund raise in excess of $10,000.00 by trekking for six to eight hours a day for 14 days straight at mind numbing altitudes?

It's not because I am insane, or because I lost a bet, or because I'm suffering from a bizarre mid-life crisis, or a case of severe empty nest syndrome, or even because I have a lot of time on my hands.

I am doing this quite simply because I can.

I am just stubborn enough to spend the next year training and just stubborn enough to get it done. I love to be challenged. I love to be challenged physically, mentally and spiritually. This journey will push me beyond anything that I have ever experienced. It will take me to places that I have only imagined and it will teach me things that I have only dreamed possible. And through it all, this journey will give me the greatest gift. It will give me the opportunity to give something back so that someone else can push a little further, reach a little higher and live a little fuller.

Welcome to the journey!