Climbing enthusiast Micky Multani is heading off to the Mount Everest Base camp to prepare for a 2019 Everest ascent.
“I like adventure…I like to climb mountains,” said Multani.
He said there is a rush when you reach the peak. It’s not just the rush that keeps Multani climbing though.
“I like the whole make up to it,” he said, “the preparation that goes into it, the stories you find, the local people you meet.”
As part of that preparation for Everest, Multani and his climbing companions will be leaving for Nepal on Nov. 10, returning to Chestermere Nov. 29.
The group of climbers are going to test how they react to the elevation and reduced oxygen before their planned summit attempt in a year and a half.
“We’ll do a couple of hikes around the area,” said Multani.
He said that the highest elevation they will reach without even starting to climb Everest will be between 5,600 and 5,800 metres.
“To put it in perspective, the highest mountain here, in our Lake Louise Banff area, is Mount Temple,” he said, “the summit of that is, I think around 34-3500 metres.”
The drastic difference in elevation is why Multani and his 3 climbing partners are going to test the conditions almost two years before their planned ascent.
“We’re all in very good shape…excellent cardio a lot of peaks a lot of climbing experience here,” he said.
“But the one thing we can’t simulate…is the lack of oxygen.”
The trip to Nepal is the latest step in their preparations.
“Our plan is to go hike around the area to check out the oxygen thing first.
“Second, from next year on…try to summit higher mountains,” he said.
Some of the peaks they are considering include Mount McKinley and Mount Kilimanjaro.
As they work towards their ultimate goal, Multani said they will be watching to see how their bodies handle the sustained stress of the higher peaks and lower oxygen.
The goal of making the summit in 2019 is based on their fitness and could be pushed back if they need extra preparation time to handle the extreme conditions on Everest.
For many people the challenge, drive and focus of preparing to climb Mount Everest would be enough.
The trip to Nepal, however, isn’t just about getting ready for the climb. Multani and his travelling companions collected school supplies to donate to children in Nepal.
Each of the climbers is bringing a suitcase of stationary items and school supplies.
“We are going there, we have additional room…so why not, if we can make even a few kids happier for a little time why not,” he said.
They will be distributing the donations to an orphanage as well giving some out to the people they meet on the trip.
