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sound of that. Your family, well, they needed some convincing.
But luckily, they decided they trusted Russ and Doc enough
to let you go.
Everyone grabs backpacks and, after a quick cup of
tea, Russ leads the way into Lukla. You head down a narrow
street jammed with vendors selling clothing, yak cheese, and
hiking gear.
It will take ten days of hiking through mountains and
valleys to get to Everest Base Camp. You can’t just fly there
in a helicopter—you wish!—you have to walk there slowly,
because your body needs time to get used to the altitude. The
higher you go, the less oxygen there is to breathe. That kind of
“thin air ” can make you feel pretty awful—if you’re not careful.
But you’re not worried about that at this second. Now
you’re walking with your team, feeling strong, knowing that
each step is taking you closer to Everest.
Soon you’ve left the village and find yourself on a sloping,
stony path. The hike is mostly downhill and easygoing. You’re
loving the sunshine and the bright blue sky on this late spring
day. As you take in the views of the mountainsides covered
with rice fields and little cottages, you think,
This is incredible!
I’m really here!
And then suddenly—
