The Trek

About this book

The Trek tells the story of David Schachne's adventure in November, 2004, attempting to summit Kala Patthar, a mountain which towers above Everest Base Camp in the Himalayas. At 18,192 feet above sea level, the summit of Kala Patthar offers successful climbers one of the most amazing views of Mount Everest (29,035 feet) without having to put your life at risk by entering the Khumbu Icefall, or by climbing Mount Lhotse or Mount Nuptse. Raised in Brooklyn, NY, Schachne loved visiting the great outdoors as a teenager, going camping and hiking in the Catskills and Adirondacks. Throughout his early adult life, he had a burning desire to go trekking in the Himalayas. He believed going there would make his life more fulfilled. Schachne certainly didn't expect his trek to be a "walk in the park", but he was ill-prepared for what was in store for him. Climbing for hours and hours each day while mentally and physically exhausted; confronting sub-freezing temperatures; dealing with illness, high altitude sickness, piercing headaches, wretched odors, utter filth, bacterial infections, dysentery and more, he endured two weeks of pure, nightmarish misery. In this riveting account of his gut-wrenching trek over fourteen sleepless days and nights, while malnourished, Schachne takes you along on each and every step of his journey. You'll experience the ups and downs of the hills and valleys, and the highs and lows of his personal triumphs and chaotic travails. He flies from Kathmandu in Nepal to the most dangerous airport in the world (Tenzing Hillary Airport), in a town called Lukla, then hikes to Phadking and Namche Bazaar, a virtual flea market at 11,000 feet, then Thyangboche Monastery and then Dingboche, Dzugla, Lobuche and Gorak Shep, before finally attempting the summit. Schachne reveals what originally led him to fall in love with nature, why he was so determined to go to the Himalayas, and why he persevered despite the brutal bodily punishment he experienced. Join Schachne for the most entertaining adventure of your life, as he takes you along on this thrilling, harrowing and laugh and cry-out-loud journey.

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