When one hears a friend of a friend climbed to Mt. 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 resident Brian Leggett, who is now the area’s resident Everest climber.
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,” Leggett explained. “I first started walking, and it gradually got to where I could run around 10 miles a day year round.”
Leggett also began hiking and backpacking in the Appalachian Mountains and trekked 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,” Leggett noted. “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.”
At first, many thought Leggett was simply talking.
Leggett’s wife, Tonya, knew he was serious as she attended the same 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,” Leggett said. “Most people that I talked to about it really thought I was crazy and probably wouldn’t do it.”
Located in Nepal’s Sagarmatha National Park, at an altitude of 17,598 feet above sea level, Mt. Everest’s Base 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.”
The trail to Mt. Everest’s Base Camp passes through the Khumbu region and is known for alpine trekking. It includes peaks of higher than 24,000 feet, including the Khumbu Glacier, a frozen river of ice that trekkers pass before reaching base camp. 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,” Leggett said. “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 breathe, and every step was a challenge, and I had to dig deep to make it through the tough times.”
Leggett said he listened to “Way Maker,” a Christian song, over and over with his earbuds and thought of his new granddaughter, Karson, to help him 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 took another three days before reaching base camp, Leggett noted.
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 Sherpa guides and porters who carried our gear to base camp.”
Leggett spoke fondly of the people of Nepal, saying they were the “most humble, most friendly people that I have ever been around.”
Leggett also said he learned a lot 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.
One thing his friends and neighbors know now: If Brian Leggett suggests a hike, be ready.
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