Mt. Everest: What’s in a name?

Each day here seems to be more breathtaking than the next. This one was no exception. Our acclimatization day in Namche Bazaar took us first, into Sagarmatha National Park, where we got to see Mt. Everest for the first time. Then, as if we weren’t all sufficiently excited and downright giddy, we got to preview the last 5k of the Everest Marathon. I mean, WOW.

Let’s start at the beginning. Sagarmatha National Park lies just above Namche Bazaar. It doesn’t take long to get to the main attraction. After all, Sagarmatha is what the Nepalis called Mt. Everest, long before the British decided to name the mountain after Welsh Surveyor Sir George Everest, who charted much of the region in the 1800’s. It means “forehead in the sky.” The Tibetans know it as Chomolungma, meaning “goddess mother of mountains. 

But back to the park. Steps from the entrance you’re greeted by a monument to Tenzing Norgay Sherpa. It was he, along with Edmund Hillary, who first summited Mt. Everest on May 29, 1953. It was just the two of them. They charted their own way, no google maps, no oxygen, no fancy equipment. It is no surprise, their names are everywhere in the region. Both giants, whose resulting fame was used to benefit the Sherpa people. Non-profits started by their descendants have brought schools and hospitals to the region, improving life for those who risk their lives to make all those dreams of summiting Mt. Everest come true.

One such organization is the American Himalayan Foundation, which I am fundraising for, started by Tenzing Norgay’s children, some of which now live in San Francisco. 

Previewing the Everest Marathon Course

After our foray into the park, our guides led us to what, for our purposes would be much more significant. Namche Bazaar is the finish line to the Everest Marathon. After showing us where this was, we were led on a hike to preview the last 5K of the race, most of which is on a narrow, rocky trail hugging the mountainside. Every now and then Mt. Everest itself would make its presence known, each time prompting the desire to stop and take more pictures. After stopping for tea and cookies, at yet another place with a view of the great mountain, we turned around and were instructed to get in a practice run. The idea, is that we may get a better sense of how we feel, with both the terrain and the altitude. After spending only one day at over 11,000ft, the idea seemed a bit of a joke, but some went ahead. Others, including myself choosing to walk the climbs and jog the descents. 

For me, by the time I get to this point in the race, after 23 miles of let’s face it, hiking and speed walking, down a mountain with limited oxygen, I’m pretty sure my only focus is going to be on keeping to the inside of the trail. Tick tock. 10 days to go.