Intro to our Everest Trek 1

Training Hike - Cascade Head, OR

I began dreaming of visiting Everest after reading Into Thin Air by Jon Krakauer a decade ago. The story of the 1996 expedition was riveting, intriguing and thought provoking. I became fascinated by the story, and began devouring any other perspectives of the event that I could get my hands on.
The mountain has become something, almost magical, as the stage for so many life and death struggles. A place where men and women have focused their heart and soul as they pursued their greatest goal in life. Some received fame, others died for their passion. To accomplish the goal of summiting Everest requires massive, laser focused discipline and passion. Almost 40% of the climbers died who attempted Everest before 1990. Since then the number has dropped significantly. In 2004 it was 4.4%.
When Alison's parents were deciding where to go for a 1 year mission trip, they were deciding between Afghanistan and Kathmandu, Nepal. We got immediately excited about them going to Kathmandu, already thinking about the chance to visit them and trek to Mt. Everest.
Loyd and Joannie also were really excited about us joining them, and offered to help us with airfare if we would come and join them.
Thus the opportunity of a lifetime, and the beginning of planning to go to Nepal began in the Spring of 2009, almost a year before we would head to Nepal.
We began designing and revising the itinerary for the trek and all the details from that point, and have not looked back.