When one hears a friend of a friend climbed to Mount Everest’s Base Camp, one assumes an experienced hiker, rock-climber-type decided to step up his or her game.
Not so for Martin County’s resident Everest climber, Brian Leggett.
Leggett recently returned from nearly the highest point on earth after a mentally and physically challenging 20-day trek that began as a thought while running one day.
“It started when I began running about three years ago. At the time, I was 56 and I wanted to do something to get healthy and back into shape. I first started walking and it gradually got to where I could run around 10 miles a day year round.” explained Leggett.
Leggett also began hiking and backpacking in the Appalachian Mountains and North Carolina’s Mountain to Sea Trail. However, it was a presentation on climbing to Everest Base Camp by his cousin’s trekking company, Highland Expedition, that encouraged Leggett to make the mountainous commitment.
“While attending the presentation, I decided I would like to go to Everest Base Camp (EBC). I knew there are not many people from North Carolina that had ever been to Mount Everest, so with all the running I was doing, I decided this is something I thought would like to try,” explained Leggett.
At first, many thought Leggett was simply talking.
Leggett’s wife, Tonya, knew he was serious as she attended the base camp presentation, however, others had doubts.
“I think my sons and other family members didn’t believe me because when people think of Mount Everest, they think of the dead bodies on the mountain and how many people die trying to conquer the mountain. Most people that I talked to about it really thought I was crazy and probably wouldn’t do it,” Leggett said.
Located in Nepal’s Sagarmatha National Park, at an altitude of 17,598 feet above sea level, the camp is situated at the foot of the Khumbu Glacier, the world’s highest glacier. The trek is considered moderate to challenging and takes 14 to 18 days, starting at Lukla village at an altitude of 9,200 feet.
“After arriving in Kathmandu on April 1 and staying there exploring a couple days, we made a 4.5 hour trip on April 3 by van to Ramechhap Airport at 1,619 feet. The trip to the airport was very rough due to the poor, steep mountain roads,” Leggett said. “We took a 15-minute flight to Lukla airport at 9,337 feet, which is considered the most dangerous airport in the world.
“It was there we started the trek which was about five miles to the village of Phakding. The hiking to this village was not too bad, but the very rough 4.5-mile van ride and flying into the most dangerous airport, and the five-mile hike was a day we had all been waiting for,” shared Leggett.
The trail to EBC passes through the Khumbu region is known for alpine trekking and includes peaks over 24,000 feet, including the Khumbu Glacier, a frozen river of ice trekkers pass before reaching EBC. The trail is known for its challenging section and large crevasses.
Leggett soon learned his journey was not the typical Appalachian Trail.
“I guess after about three or four days of hiking I realized I had some type of chest cold or infection. The issue with my chest, along with reduced oxygen levels as we gained elevation, really started to take a toll on me physically. It hurt to breath and every step was a challenge and I had to dig deep to make it through the tough times,” explained Leggett. “I listened to Way Maker, a Christian song, over and over with my earbuds and the thought of my new granddaughter, Karson, gave me the mental strength to push through the hardest days on the mountain.
Day 11 on April 11 was by far the hardest day.
“We started the climb around 4:30 a.m. to make it over Cho Lo Pass at 17,800 feet before the winds and bad weather came. The climb was only 6.3 miles, but it was straight up through a boulder field to the glacier at the top,” Leggett recalled. “The climb was so steep that there were cables attached to the rocks and you had to pull yourself all the way up to the top. This was by far the hardest thing that I’d ever done in my life and I knew if I made it over Cho Lo pass that I could make it to Everest Base Camp. It was only three more days before I reached EBC.”
Leggett began the journey with a couple from Australia, who eventually were airlifted by helicopter due to sickness. Leggett completed the trek with his Sherpa guide, Horizon Rai.
“He was my head guide. When I was struggling with my breathing, he was there every step with me. He would check my oxygen levels throughout the night while I was hiking with a chest cold,” Leggett recalled. “I also couldn’t have done it without the help of the other sherpas guides and porters who carried our gear to base camp.
“The people of Nepal are the most humble, most friendly people that I have ever been around. I will never forget Horizon Rai and what he did for me,” he continued. “We do stay in contact through Facebook. I hope he can make it to the U.S. one day and come visit me in North Carolina.”
Leggett learned much on his trip.
“I guess the one thing I learned from going to Nepal was how blessed we are here in the United States. The country of Nepal is so poor compared to what we have here in the U.S.,” he said. “The people of Nepal are so humble and friendly. After seeing how the people of Nepal live it makes me realize how blessed I am.”
If Brian Leggett suggests a hike, be ready.
Most Popular
Comments / 0