Then & Now: The Mountains That Shaped Us at MT Sobek

Some places never stop calling.

Mountains have a way of doing that: pulling you back, tugging at your memory, daring you to return stronger, wiser, hungrier for the horizon. And every December 11, International Mountain Day gives us a reason to pause, lace up (mentally, at least), and look back at where it all began… before looking forward to where you might go next.

Because this isn’t just about peaks.
It’s about people. Stories. And the quiet, life-shifting moments that only happen above the treeline.

From First Steps to Legendary Routes

Established by the UN in 2003, this day celebrates the wild places that shape our world—and the communities who call them home. For us, it’s also a chance to flip through the archives, grin at the grit of the early days, and remember where this whole beautiful journey began.

What’s wild? Those same routes still pulse with life today.

Those same legendary routes? From Tour du Mont Blanc, to the trek to Machu Picchu, the W-Route, and the trek to Everest Basecamp, our travelers are still walking them, climbing them, photographing them, and falling in love with them—right now.

This legacy of adventure? You’re part of it. Every hiker, every trekker, every peak-bagger or bucket-lister. Thank you for 55+ years of bold steps and enduring mountain spirit.

Here are a few of those first ascents!

Tour du Mont Blanc: Then & Now

First MT Sobek trip: 1987

Our first TMB launched in 1987. Nearly four decades later, the Tour du Mont Blanc still feels like home. Alpine meadows, hut-to-hut days, espresso breaks in mountain villages, and that feeling—somewhere between exhaustion and euphoria—that only comes after a perfect day on foot.

Everest Base Camp: Then & Now

First American guided mountain adventure to Nepal: 1969

Before “bucket lists” were a thing, MT Sobek was already in the Himalaya. In 1969, we led the first American guided mountain adventure to Nepal—kickstarting a lifelong love affair with the Himalaya. That first journey sparked a lifelong love affair with Nepal: one that continues with lodge-to-lodge treks, monastery visits, and views that recalibrate what “big” really means.

Patagonia – Then & Now

First circumnavigation of the Paine Massif: 1987

In 1987, we became the first to circumnavigate the Paine Massif on our “Wondrous Towers of Paine” trek—helping put Patagonia on the global adventure map. Today, it’s the gold standard for dramatic landscapes and those same trails still deliver jaw-dropping days of granite, glaciers, and wind that reminds you who’s in charge.

Join Our Top Mountain Adventures

These are the journeys travelers are signing up for right now—the ones filling fast, sparking group chats, and turning someday into this year: Join a MT Sobek hiking tour in the new year!

• Everest Lodge to Lodge – Mountain Villages, Monasteries & Himalayan Peaks · Level 4 · 14 Days
• Everest Base Camp – The Ultimate Himalayan Mountain Adventure · Level 5 · 19 Days
• Bhutan Chomolhari Trek – A Spectacular Sacred Mountain & Buddhist Culture · Level 5 · 14 Days
• Summit Kilimanjaro – A Bucket-List Climb of Africa’s Highest Peak · Level 5 · 10 Days
• High Atlas Mountains – Epic Trek on a Majestic Range & Vibrant Marrakech · Level 4 · 9 Days
• Best of the Dolomites – Monumental Mountain Beauty & Scenic Valley Trails · Level 4 · 9 Days
• Tour du Mont Blanc – The Classic Three Country Mountain Loop · Level 4 · 12 Days
• Spain & France Across the Pyrenees – High Mountain Passes & Historic Paradores · Level 4 · 9 Days
• Peru Machu Picchu & Salkantay Trail – A Spectacular Lodge-to-Lodge Trek with Grand Finale at Machu Picchu · Level 4 · 10 Days
• Peru Cordillera Huayhuash Trekking – High Mountain Passes & Glacial Wilderness of the Andes · Level 5 · 16 Days
• Ultimate Patagonia – Epic Hiking in Torres del Paine & Los Glaciares · Level 4 · 12 Days
• Glacier National Park – Majestic Mountain Scenery in the Rocky Mountains · Level 3 · 6 Days
• Canadian Rockies Hiking – World-Class Trails & Lakes · Level 3 · 6 Days
• Alaska Prince William Sound to Denali – Epic Landscapes and Abundant Wildlife · Level 2 · 9 Days
• Tennessee Great Smoky Mountains – Misty Peaks & Storied Trails · Level 3 · 4 Days
• California Yosemite High County Hiking – Granite Monoliths & Alpine Lakes  · Level 3 · 6 Days

Community Partner Spotlight: Kilimanjaro Porters Assistance Project (KPAP)

Adventure doesn’t exist in a vacuum. It’s built on respect, partnership, and community.

We are proud to work with the Kilimanjaro Porters Assistance Project (KPAP), based in Moshi, Tanzania, to improve the welfare and conditions for all Kilimanjaro porters. KPAP is an initiative of the International Mountain Explorers Connection (IMEC). Learn more about MT Sobek’s Commitment to Conservation & Community.

Explore mountain adventures at MTSobek.com. Your boots belong somewhere higher.

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