Everest Base Camp Trek
Presented by Jim Vanderaa
Tuesday, August 4, 2015, 7:30 PM
San Bernardino County Museum, 2024 Orange Tree Lane, Redlands
Adventurer and traveler Jim Vanderaa will share with us photos and video clips of his incredible trek to Mt. Everest Base Camp in October 2014. With only himself and his Sherpa guide, his adventure took sixteen days and covered 92 miles. His route followed the Gokyo Lakes and the Cho La Pass, rather than the more usual one up the Khumbu Valley. The program starts at 7:30 PM, Tuesday, August 4, 2015, at the San Bernardino County Museum, 2024 Orange Tree Lane, Redlands.
Jim’s presentation will cover everything he experienced on his adventure, including the Sherpa people and villages he visited, the Everest sunrise from the summit of Gokyo Ri (17,575'), traversing Cho La Pass (17,782') in snowstorm, the Everest sunset from the summit of Kala Patthar (18,514'), Everest Base Camp (17,598') and Nangkartshang Peak (16,732'). Jim will also show his photos and videos of Kathmandu prior to the city’s devastation in the earthquake this April.
Jim tells us that this trek is far more accessible than people realize - physically, logistically, and economically. He encourages others to make a trek. He will provide valuable tips to anyone thinking about this challenging adventure.
Born in Montreal, Canada, Jim immigrated to the US at the age of 28 and lived in Colorado and New Hampshire before moving to Southern California 26 years ago. He is married with children 11 and 14 and lives in Upland. So that he could enjoy new adventures, he retired in 2012 at age 54 from a construction business he owned and operated for 23 years.
Jim is a regular guest speaker on a variety of topics at local high schools and vocational training centers. He coaches youth basketball and baseball. An avid hiker and adventurer, he loves the Canyonlands and red rock country of southern Utah. He hopes to climb Kilimanjaro in September.
