Week 6 – Thanks Love

A lot of people have been asking about my itinerary and the logistics that’s required for an expedition like Everest. So, without having been there myself, I’ll attempt to explain it like I know.

This is a big expedition. In its entirety, it will be a 60 day trip. Holy cow, I have an amazing wife!! (But I’ll get into that a bit later) The group that I am going with has an amazing logistical network already set up to make this happen. For our team of 8 climbers we will have a huge team comprised of experts including Sherpas, guides, base camp operations and cooks that will be assisting us along the way. 

The plan (COVID rules depending) is to spend about 2 weeks trekking from Luka, Nepal to base camp at a whopping 17,598’. We won’t be climbing from this side of the mountain. This is just an acclimatization trek to get us used to the altitude. We will return back to Katmandu, Nepal and drive to base camp on the north side of the mountain in Tibet at 16,900’ which will be a base of all our operations. We will continue up this North route, instead of the more traditional South route. From base camp, we continue up to North Col at 23,000’ and return back to base camp. Again, to acclimatize to the high altitudes. At the North Col camp we will begin using oxygen during the evenings. When we have a good window we will make a 15-20 day climb back up to North Col, camp 3 (24,750’) and camp 4 (27,390’). Camp 4 is in the area aptly named the “Death Zone” because here there is so little oxygen that life cannot be sustained for very long. So, Lord willing, by the time we get to camp 4 we will have a great weather window where we can do a final summit push (29,035’).

Sounds simple, huh? On paper it does. But i’m keeping a healthy respect for this adventure. The worse thing would be for me to underestimate this mountain. I have to treat it with the respect it deserves.

This week in payer:

Did I mention that my wife is amazing?! Well she is!! I don’t take for granted how she has supported and encouraged me on all my mountaineering expeditions and during this time especially. Never has she mentioned how it’s going to be hard for her for 2 months while I’m away. And I know it will be. She just encourages me and lets me know that everything at home will be fine so I will be able to focus on my task at hand. I love her so very much!

So, this past week I have spent all my prayer time thanking God for my beautiful wife and praying that God blesses her in huge ways. She has such a big heart for others, and I want others to be encouraged and cheered on like she has done for me. She is my rock and my true love.

This upcoming week, please pray with me for my marriage, your marriage and the marriages of our friends. There isn’t a harder relationship to be in than a marriage, but when it is healthy it is such a powerful force. When a marriage is strong, the family is also strong. I want to show our kids that a great family starts with a great marriage rooted in God. I will be praying that my marriage continues to be rooted in God and not in my own selfishness. I am confident that if God is our foundation, nothing will shake us!

Thanks Love for supporting my dreams 🙂

Every night I should be on my knees
Lord knows how lucky I am
I’ll never say near enough
Thank God for this woman, Amen