Trekking Mount Everest

Photos provided

Since January 2024, Casey Hintz, director of recruitment and training in the Mount’s Office of Admissions, has been preparing for the trip of a lifetime: a 17-day exploration of the South Everest Base Camp in Nepal.

Hintz has always enjoyed hiking, and in 2023 spent most of the summer completing the 46 peaks of the Adirondacks. At the time, he figured this was the best shape he was ever going to be in, and decided to book a trip to the South Everest Base Camp for May 2025.

Once the trip was booked, he began to prepare for the physically taxing hike, becoming more focused on exercising and trying to maintain his normal weight-lifting routine while stair climbing and running.  

Hiking became an important aspect of Hintz’s routine as well. He would spend most weekends hiking and, when the snow melted in March, would hike up Mount Beacon multiple times per week. He would even fill up his 50L hiking bag so he would have more weight.  

“I felt confident about my conditioning, but I was worried about the one aspect I could not control: altitude,” Hintz explained. “I was prescribed altitude medication for the trip.”

Making the initial trip by himself, Hintz met other members of his group in Kathmandu, the capital city of Nepal. Altogether, the group consisted of Hintz, three hikers from England, two Sherpas, and one guide. Together, they would travel to Lukla, where they would follow the marked route of Everest Base Camp alongside the Khumbu Valley, gaining a deeper understanding of wildlife, Sherpa culture and tradition, and exploring scenic landscapes.

“None of us could sleep much the night before. We were focused on packing our duffels with the appropriate equipment and making sure they were under weight (15kg),” Hintz noted. “As we landed in Lukla, the Himalayan mountains surrounded us.”

For the first few days, Hintz and his group walked past fast-flowing streams and waterfalls, crossing multiple suspension bridges adorned with Buddhist flags to climb higher and reach Namche Bazar, a city located on a mountain overlooking snowcapped peaks.

This would be the closest thing to a city they would see until they returned.  As they continued to gain elevation, they took the time to acclimate at the Everest View Hotel and had tea while looking at Mount Everest and Lhotse.  

As the days went on, the vegetation became less and the environment was rockier.  However, the surrounding peaks continued to grow.  

Photos provided

“Many times, it seemed as if we could reach out and touch the mountains,” Hintz said. “When the weather was clear it was hard not to be mesmerized.”

Eventually, they made it to Gorekshep, the last stop before their night at the Everest Base Camp.  Aside from the hikers, it was a desolate-looking place among the towering mountains.  

Finally, they hiked the two hours from Gorekshep to the Base Camp. 

At Base Camp, they ate the only meat of the entire hike thanks to fresh food being brought by a helicopter.  There were also very few opportunities to shower and when there were, they were either cold or poor quality. 

Located on a glacier, they took pictures on the large rock that marked the entrance to the camp.  After taking in the sights and having some tea, they set up their space in the tents.  

Hintz and his roommate walked around the site and eventually posted up near the base of the famous Khumbu Icefall.  As they were there, Everest summiters were finishing up their expedition. Hintz was among the first people to greet them on their return.  

The next three days, they hiked back to Lukla and flew back to Kathmandu.  

Hintz added, "The sky was clear the entire hike back and we were able to enjoy the scenery as our final views. It was an amazing experience.”