Flashback to 2001: Our long-time MT Sobek traveler John first trekked to Everest Base Camp with us in 2001 and returned triumphantly in 2022, aged 66! Today, at 70 years old, John is eager to test his abilities again by requalifying for the Boston Marathon and diving into more triathlons!
John’s Reflections on His Travels with MT Sobek
John says: “As I approach my 70th birthday, I have become nostalgic for past athletic glory. In 1986 I ran a sub-3-hour marathon and qualified for the 1987 Boston Marathon. Regrettably, due to an injury, I was unable to compete in that event. At about the same time I began doing triathlon, increasing the distances until I finally competed and finished my first of two Ironman Triathlons (2002, 2003). In 1996 I hiked up to 10,000 feet of the Matterhorn and was hooked on climbing and even, naively, aspired to the Seven Summits. In 1997 I successfully summited Mt. Kilimanjaro and got to 16,000 feet of Mt. Elbrus only to get turned back by bad weather. I got to the summit of Mt. Rainier in 1998 and Mt. Whitney in 1999. In 1999 my aggressive climbing schedule got the better of me while climbing a mountain in northern Scotland. On the way down after a successful summit, I fell, suffering a broken leg and forearm. I resolved to recover from those injuries and do triathlon again. In 2001, just a year and a half after my climbing accident my brother and I hiked to Everest Base Camp with MT Sobek. At Base Camp, I had a photograph taken of me with the Khumbu Icefall in the background. This served as my Christmas card that year. Travel plans and work kept me busy for the next two decades. After I retired in 2015 and had more time on my hands, I began to train more. I got the climbing bug again. To prove to myself that, even at age 66 I could still do it, I decided to hike to Everest Base Camp with MT Sobek again. It was a bit tougher this time, but I made it!”
John as a Triathlon Athlete
Below is a photo of John doing a triathlon. He completed and finished his first of two Ironman Triathlons consecutively in 2002 and 2003.
Everest Base Camp Trek in 2021
Below is a photo of John hiking to Everest Base Camp with MT Sobek. with the iconic Khumbu Icefall looming in the background—a stark reminder of the challenges that await those who dare to summit the world’s tallest peak.
For John, this trek was more than just a journey through Nepal’s breathtaking landscapes; it was a transformative experience that tested his endurance, resilience, and love for adventure.
Everest Base Camp Trek in 2022
Here John treks Everest Base Camp with MT Sobek in 2022, at age 66.
Looking Ahead
John’s journey exemplifies the spirit of MT Sobek: crafting transformative adventures for lifelong explorers. Today, at 70 years old, John is eager to test his abilities again by requalifying for the Boston Marathon and diving into more triathlons!
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