Butler retiree climbs to Mount Everest base camp, completing 50-year dream
The view from 17,598 feet above sea level was far superior to the pictures in the geography book Sandy Ihlenfeld had in elementary school.
It took nine days of hiking for Ihlenfeld and her group of five to reach base camp at Mount Everest, but Ihlenfeld’s retirement dream actually began in elementary school, when she had a geography book that featured some of the tallest peaks in the world.
After tackling Machu Picchu six years ago and Mount Kilimanjaro three years after that, Ihlenfeld said reaching base camp on Everest was the most emotional of her climbing adventures so far.
“We all just stood there,” she said. “It was surreal. I think there was some tears, because I wanted to do it all my life.”
Ihlenfeld left the United States with five close friends on Oct. 15. The group included Kara Plant, Samantha Drohan, Kim Altmeyer and Alex Altmeyer, who all made it to base camp, as well as Dee Ann Demby, who took the trip but didn’t take on the climb.
While reaching base camp was an unforgettable feat for everyone who made it, Ihlenfeld said hiking eight to 10 hours per day, combined with freezing temperatures, bristling winds and the effects of being in high altitude got to every member of the team.
“All of us had at least one moment where we individually thought, 'Is this doable?'” Ihlenfeld said. “It was within the last three days. The altitude got harder and harder.”
Ihlenfeld said she seriously researched climbing Mount Everest for about a year before settling on an outfitter and planner for the trip. She had experience finding contacts for climbs thanks to her prior research to climb Kilimanjaro and Machu Picchu. She planned to make the journey once she retired from her job as executive director of the Butler YMCA, which she did in September.
Flight time to reach Nepal was about 30 hours — the longest trip Ihlenfeld said she has taken — and from there, the group integrated with the culture and people of the area. They stayed in hostels and met locals, who led them to see what life is like on the other side of the world.
“There's no roads, just trail. Everything is brought in on the back of something,” Ihlenfeld said. “There's no meat, so once you go up, you only eat carbs. Meat is brought up on the back of a yak with no refrigeration. It is not recommended for sensitive U.S. stomachs.”
The Butler County group met up with guides who were set to take them to Mount Everest base camp. Ihlenfeld remarked on how different life looked in Nepal — with the living situation being particularly difficult for Americans. However, spirits were high among group members as they began the climb to a sunny sky.
“We had perfect blue skies every day,” Ihlenfeld said. “You look out and can't believe you're there.”
Prior experience climbing mountains helped Ihlenfeld know a little about what to expect in climbing Mount Everest. She knew it would be long, cold, tiring and exhilarating, even though climbers rate the journey to base camp as only of “moderate difficulty.”
The process to climb Mount Everest is difficult in that it is a test of endurance.
“You hike two days, then acclimate, then hike two and acclimate, then hike two days and then you summit. It's something you have to be respectful of the process,” Ihlenfeld said. “If you think about sprinting, it's like you did that all day.”
Along the journey, the group crossed rope bridges 50 to 100 feet above the ground that swung in the wind, all while supporting dozens of people and yaks carrying supplies. Ihlenfeld said the bridges were wide enough that a person could not hold on to both sides at the same time, leaving some people frozen in fear.
The group even came across “traffic jams” at some points, where people were descending the mountain the same way people were going up, and yaks and sherpas were carrying supplies in other directions. People who could not make the climb were sent down the mountain on the backs of horses, which Ihlenfeld said looked even scarier than trekking up the slopes.
Samantha Drohan said the journey was scary in several ways, but being in such a supportive group made it all the more motivating to complete the climb.
“You’ve got to find the right people to do it with,” Drohan said. “There was such joy. Exhaustion and joy.”
On the last day of hiking, the group members got on their feet before 7 a.m., suited up and began the final ascent in darkness. It would take about six hours to reach base camp, but it would be the most difficult six hours of the entire journey.
“It required each individual to say, 'I'm going to finish this,’” Ihlenfeld said. “It's minus 5 degrees, you've got headlamps on, you're still in the dangerous area, you know this is your final hike, but to get from there to base camp is six hours.”
Reaching base camp was the culmination of 10-hour hikes, covering 42 miles over nine days. Drohan said reaching base camp was emotional for her as well.
“It was very gratifying to see the finish line and then cross it, and we did it together,” Drohan said. “I’m so glad I was able to go through with it.”
The group spent just one hour at the highest point they had ever reached, photographing and taking in the view. Ihlenfeld arranged for a helicopter to take the group from the mountain, which saved them nine more days of hiking downhill.
The group returned Nov. 4, completing a dream Ihlenfeld has had since fourth grade, when she got the geography book at Emily Brittain Elementary School.
“To me it was worth it,” Ihlenfeld said. “These friends I hiked with, they've been friends my whole life, and I did it on my retirement.”
