A HIKE TO THE TOP OF THE WORLD October 23 to November 8, 2020 a program of the stanford alumni association Few events have better captured the essence of our human desire to explore than when Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay reached the summit of Mount Everest in 1953. Under the careful stewardship of our expert mountain guides and in the company of geophysicist and faculty leader Simon Klemperer, we’ll follow a meticulously planned approach that ensures safe and gradual acclimatization as we make our way up the Khumbu Valley to Everest Base Camp, at an altitude of 17,688 feet. Join us on the adventure of a lifetime as we experience firsthand the majesty of the Himalayas! BRETT S. THOMPSON, ’83, DIRECTOR, STANFORD TRAVEL/STUDY About Our Treks Best foot forward. To hike Mount Everest is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and our careful and measured approach provides the greatest recipe for success. On a Travel/Study trek, you’re guided by experts who really know the lay of the land. We go the extra mile. With daily medical assessments, nutritious meals and a highly strategic hiking plan, we’ll ensure you’re well-supported during your expedition. Learn on the go. Hear firsthand from our sherpas and guides about their experiences on and off the mountain. You also travel beside our carefully chosen faculty leader, a Stanford scholar who offers valuable insights along the way. COVER: MOUNT EVEREST Faculty Leader SIMON KLEMPERER became a professor of geophysics after studying at Cambridge University and Cornell University. He has taken a special interest in introducing Stanford undergraduates to scientific research, helping found SESUR (Stanford Earth Summer Undergraduate Research), and has involved them in his fieldwork on three continents. He initially visited the Himalayas and Tibet in 1992, as part of an international research team that acquired the first deep seismic imaging of the earthquake faults beneath the world’s highest mountains. He has continued to work with scientists and Stanford students to develop an integrated geo- transect across the entire Tibetan Plateau. Simon has crisscrossed Tibet and the surrounding region sampling, and even discovering, geothermal springs, using their chemistry to test ideas from his seismic images. In 2015, the devastating earthquake in Nepal led him to deploy Stanford seismographs to help study the fault shapes and future hazards. On this program, Simon will “Simon is a enlighten travelers on the plate tectonics of the Himalayas that created Earth’s highest mountain, the 2015 earthquakes and landslides in Nepal, and the role of the Himalayas in Earth’s climate terrific lecturer cycle and its future. and marvelous Positions: — Professor of geophysics, Stanford University person. I was — Professor (by courtesy), geological and environmental sciences Publications (Author/Co-Author): caught up in — “Lateral variation of the Main Himalayan Thrust controls the rupture length of the 2015 Gorkha earthquake in Nepal.” Science Advances (2019) his knowledge, Accolades: — Fellow, American Geophysical Union (2018) enthusiasm — Fellow, Geological Society of America Academic History: and passion.” — PhD, geophysics, 1985, Cornell University — MA, 1984, Cambridge University — BA, mineralogy and petrology, 1980, Cambridge University JIM HOLDEN, ’66, LLB ’68, STANFORD TRAVELER Visit our website for a complete bio. SIGN UP ONLINE: alumni.stanford.edu/trip?everest2020 OR BY PHONE: (650) 725-1093 Everest Base Camp CHINA Kala Patthar Mt. Everest Gorak Lobuche Shep Pheriche Pangboche Deboche NEPAL CHINA Namche Bazaar NEPAL andu Monjo thm Kathmandu Ka Phakding m ro f INDIA athmandu to K Lukla TENGBOCHE MONASTERY, NAMCHE BAZAAR along the holy Bagmati River, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 29 SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 1 which is lined with temples and NAMCHE BAZAAR PANGBOCHE / Itinerary Today is an acclimatization day. PHERICHE (14,250’) cremation sites. HOTEL YAK AND Continuing our trek upward YETI (B,L,D) Tour the Namche Monastery from the Khumbu Valley, the FRIDAY TO SUNDAY, and the city’s cultural center, surrounding vegetation grows OCTOBER 23 TO 25 TUESDAY, OCTOBER 27 then delve into the culture and U.S. / KATHMANDU, KATHMANDU / PHAKDING history of the Sherpa people at sparse. The land becomes NEPAL (ELEVATION: 4,593’) (8,694’) / MONJO (9,372’) the Sherpa Culture Museum. more barren as we gain altitude. Depart on flights to Nepal, Head to the Kathmandu helipad Also admire the statue of Tenzing PHERICHE TEAHOUSE (B,L,D) crossing the international date early this morning to board Norgay, one of the first known line en route and arriving in helicopters bound for Phakding. individuals to reach Everest’s MONDAY, NOVEMBER 2 PHERICHE Kathmandu on Sunday. Largely We meet our porters and Sherpa summit, along with Sir Edmund Spend today adjusting to the isolated from Western culture guides, then begin our trek. Travel Hillary. HOTEL NAMCHE (B,L,D) until the 1950s, Kathmandu is a along the Dudh Kosi Valley to high altitude of Pheriche. In the morning take a short hike to fascinating mix of Buddhist and Monjo, the official entrance of FRIDAY, OCTOBER 30 Hindu influences. Take an optional Sagarmatha (Everest) National NAMCHE BAZAAR / see spectacular views of the walk to Durbar Square to admire Park, a UNESCO World Heritage DEBOCHE (12,660’) highest peaks in the Himalayas. the temple of Kumari Chowk site, and check in to our first Leaving Namche Bazaar, traverse Later visit the Himalayan and its beautiful three-story teahouse. MONJO TEAHOUSE the steep valley above the Dudh Rescue Association Nepal courtyard embellished with (B,L,D) Kosi River. Each step provides and learn about high-altitude beautifully carved wooden magnificent vistas of the valley acclimatization. PHERICHE balconies and window frames; WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 28 as we ascend more than 1,500 TEAHOUSE (B,L,D) it’s the centerpiece of the MONJO / NAMCHE feet to the Tengboche Monastery, BAZAAR (11,500’) TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 3 residence of Kathmandu’s which has been at the heart of Make our way up the formidable Sherpa culture since 1916. Attend PHERICHE / prepubescent, divine living LOBUCHE (16,207’) Namche Hill, our first real taste of the afternoon call to prayer before goddess (or Royal Kumari). Today we ascend to the Khumbu the “hills” in the Himalayas. If the hiking on to Deboche, where Enjoy a welcome reception, Glacier. As we leave Pheriche, weather is clear, we’ll get our first we stay overnight. DEBOCHE folk dance performance and the lateral moraine of this glimpse of Everest on the way up TEA HOUSE (B,L,D) dinner this evening. HOTEL YAK to Namche Bazaar, the gateway famous glacier becomes visible. AND YETI (10/25: D) Distances are short now, and our village to the Himalayas. Observe SATURDAY, OCTOBER 31 a dynamic mix of Tibetan traders, DEBOCHE / PANGBOCHE steps become more measured MONDAY, OCTOBER 26 (13,074’) and deliberate as we move KATHMANDU tourists from around the world, In Deboche, enjoy a quieter day higher. In the early afternoon, Today visit Swayambhunath (also expedition climbers, experienced to rest from our journey thus far climb past the chortens known as the Monkey Temple), Sherpas, monks, Nepalese and to prepare for the strenuous (monuments) that have been a remarkable stupa encircled by civil servants, colorfully garbed days ahead. Stop for a visit at the constructed in memory of dozens of smaller stupas, temples villagers and yaks in this vibrant peaceful Pangboche Monastery, Sherpas and climbers lost in and fluttering prayer flags. Stroll Himalayan town. HOTEL NAMCHE (B,L,D) silhouetted against the mountain expeditions over the years. peaks. PANGBOCHE TEAHOUSE LOBUCHE TEAHOUSE (B,L,D) (B,L,D) TENGBOCHE MONASTERY, NAMCHE BAZAAR WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 4 Kala Patthar (18,500’). GORAK FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 6 Himalayas and the Khumbu Valley LOBUCHE / GORAK SHEP SHEP TEAHOUSE (B,L,D) LOBUCHE / PHERICHE to Lukla. After a brief stop at the (16,800’) Set out from Lobuche this Lukla airport to refuel, we continue The trail today meanders through THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 5 morning, heading through the our journey to Kathmandu. Upon the ice and rubble of the massive GORAK SHEP / EVEREST Khumbu Valley. Pay attention to arrival transfer to our hotel for Khumbu Glacier on the path BASE CAMP (17,688’) / the fleeting views of Mount Everest some much-deserved rest and to Gorak Shep. Historically a GORAK SHEP / LOBUCHE before settling in at Pheriche for relaxation. Enjoy a festive farewell seasonal yak grazing area, Gorak Head to Everest Base Camp, the night. PHERICHE TEAHOUSE reception and dinner this evening Shep today is the last outpost where climbing expeditions (B,L,D) to celebrate our journey. HYATT before Everest Base Camp. Take pause to prepare for their summit REGENCY (B,L,D) in stunning views of Mount Everest, attempts. Sip tea and revel in the SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 7 beauty of Mount Everest before PHERICHE / KATHMANDU Everest Base Camp and the SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 8 returning to Gorak Shep for lunch. Khumbu Icefall. Travelers interested This morning bid farewell to KATHMANDU / U.S. in an additional challenge have the Continue down the valley to our local Sherpas and load Transfer to the Kathmandu option to climb to the summit of Lobuche, where we spend the into helicopters for a scenic airport for flights home, arriving night. LOBUCHE TEAHOUSE (B,L,D) mountain flight through the the same day. (B) SELF PORTRAIT IN A FELT HAT, VAN GOGH NAMCHE BAZAAR WHAT TO EXPECT Trekking to Everest Base Camp is one of the world’s greatest adventures and challenges. Our nontechnical, 13-day route allows for maximum acclimatization. Most people, however, will experience some difficulty because of the high altitude (17,688 feet at Base Camp), and we cannot guarantee we will get to Base Camp. Participants must be physically fit, active and in excellent health. A TYPICAL DAY On average we trek six to eight hours each day (approximately 75 miles over 13 days, with a maximum of 10 hours on the day we trek to Base Camp).