great himalaya trail

For 3 years I planned and prepared for greatest adventure of my life. Through August – November 2015 I trekked ~1100km across Nepal, section hiking the Great Himalaya Trail. Click on the below blog post links to learn more. Throughout the experience I raised funds for earthquake relief in Nepal, for the Calgary Nepalese Community Association, and for Wide Open Vistas.

Post 12 – Nov 13, 2015: “Because I Can – Fastpacking to Everest Base Camp”:
(everest region)

Post 11 – Nov 3, 2015: “The Five Treasures of the Great Snows – Part 2 of 2”:
(kanchenjunga region)

Post 10 – Oct 30, 2015: “The Five Treasures of the Great Snows – Part 1 of 2”:
(kanchenjunga region)

Post 9 – Oct 1, 2015: “Gosainkund, Helambu, Cheese and Monkeys”:
(langtang / gosainkunda / helambu regions)

Post 8 – Sept 24, 2015: “Manaslu Circuit aka ‘LandSlideLand'”:
(manaslu circuit)

Post 7 – Sept 12, 2015: “Baggin’ the Annapurna Circuit”:
(annapurna circuit)

Post 6 – August 23, 2015: “Setbacks”:
(far west)

Post 5 – Aug 7, 2015: “First Timer to Kathmandu”:

• Post 4 – July 27, 2015 – Giving Back
• Post 3 – June 25, 2015 – Why This Trekker is Still Going to Nepal Post Earthquake(s)
• Post 2 – March 24, 2015 – Update on GHT Planning
• Post 1 – Nov 21, 2015 – Announcement – The Great Himalaya Trail! – INCL DETAILS ABOUT THE TRIP

Check out this great newspaper article about my GHT adventure, written by the talented Felicia Zuniga!

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Donate to Wide Open Vistas

Please consider supporting and inspiring me by clicking above to make a donation to Wide Open Vistas. WOV is a non-profit organization that helps improve education and health outcomes for children in Nepal. Under my campaign, your funds will go toward improving the situation of female students. Even small donations help, only $10 will send a child to school for a month. In Nepal there are low enrollment rates for girls in the school system due to lack of household resources; lack of sense of importance; girls workload at home; high school fees; and lack of female teachers, role models and adequate facilities. Female education is an important pre-requisite for development. The living standard of people increases by female education as educated women are more informed about how to resolve economic and health issues, plus they learn how to support their families financially.

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THANK-YOU

I owe many thanks to all the people who have supported me in the planning and preparation of this trip, and to those who have donated funds to help make it possible. I hope I got everyone below, but if you have been missed accidentally, please forgive my oversight, and I know that I owe you thanks as well. In no particular order:

• My family – I know it’s always worrisome to see me go, but I appreciate your love and support in all forms.
• My friends – You know who you are. Ya’ll think I’m crazy and maybe you’re right. Actually, I know so. Thanks for asking questions and keeping me real. Thank-you for loving me no matter what crazy ideas I have.
• Ian Holmes – Thank-you for the almost daily advice based on your vast experience with travelling, learning languages, trekking and climbing. Thank-you for supporting me in all the ways that you do, and then some. I really can’t thank you enough.
• Sabita & Man Basnet
• Calgary Nepalese Community Association
• Felicia Zuniga
• Rae Weniger
• All my coworkers from the Rocky Mountain Wine & Food Festival
• Doc McKerr
• Seth Wolpin & Wide Open Vistas; The Great Himalaya Traverse incl Seth, Kathleen Egan & John Fiddler
• Stuart Bilby
• Lisa Lee Johnson
• Narayan Poudel and Mac Treks – my highly recommended trekking agent in Nepal
• Robin Boustead
• Glen Hutchinson
• Dondy Ronzon
• Sarah Stoyles
• Amanda Werbisky
• Cody Nelson
• Nikolai Dossov
• Genevieve Fogel
• Petek Saracoglu
• Kurt Briggs
• Alanna Larocque
• Shelley McLean
• Jeremy Bruns
• Mary Bailey
• Renee Philpott
• John Chiasson
• Cale Klesko
• Ash Raj
• Justin LaFrance
• Kyle Lamothe
• Intensity Trekker