“Rapid ascent is dangerous. Acclimatize yourself.”

That’s what every guide, every poster, every trekker warns you. And rightly so. Altitude sickness is real. The body needs time. But we had no time.

“The rains are coming.”
“There may be landslides.”
“The trail might close.”

And a thought quietly echoed within us:
We may never get this chance again.

I kept asking myself: “I’m hardwired for this challenge. But can my family do it?”

Then came more news. Bad news.

  • Return helicopters from EBC were suspended due to poor visibility and advancing monsoon. There was no escape route from the mountains except to walk back the entire trail.
  • Lukla Airport was closed, blanketed under thick cloud and rain. No flights could take off or land.
  • Rescheduling our return flight to Bangalore would cost a fortune, and there was no guarantee when we could get out.
    Can you still do it? — that question haunted us every step of the way.

A Trek Shrouded in Uncertainty

The second half of our journey was no longer just a physical trek. It became a mental and spiritual trial, a test of endurance, faith, and sheer will.

What kept us going?

Not logic.
Not guarantees.
Not even perfect weather.

It was our indomitable faith.

I have believed in the Law of Attraction long before The Secret by Rhonda Byrne captured global imagination. For me, it wasn’t just a trend; it was a lifestyle of conscious visualisation and unshakable belief.

Each morning, I followed my ritual of intention—to ask, believe, and receive.
And just when we needed it most, the clouds parted, literally and metaphorically.
We saw Everest, and we made it to Everest Base Camp.

The Barren Majesty of Khumbu

As I stood there—on that vast, rocky, barren land, surrounded by the icy jaws of the Khumbu Glacier and the looming white giants of the Himalayas—I couldn’t help but wonder:

“Why do people come here? Why does this trek mean so much to so many?”

There are no comforts.
There’s no luxury.
Just altitude, effort, and endless stone trails.

But it all boils down to one thing:

A deep, soul-stirring sense of achievement.

You forget the money you spent.
You forget the stress of planning, the sleepless nights, the aching knees, the emotional fatigue of motivating your family for such a tough journey.

In that moment—you are infinite.

Wisdom from the Legends

As I reflected on our journey, the words of the greats came alive.

Sir Edmund Hillary: “It is not the mountain we conquer, but ourselves.”

And indeed, it was true. The EBC trek wasn’t about reaching a spot on a map. It was about overcoming fear, limitations, and inner doubt.

Hillary also once said: “If you have plenty—more than enough—and someone else has nothing, then you should do something about it.”
A reminder that mountaineering is not just an act of conquest, but of responsibility and humility.

And Tenzing Norgay, whose smile symbolised more than just achievement, said: “It wasn’t just a mountaineering milestone—it was a spiritual crossing, a story of trust, courage, and deep cultural reverence.” Those words resonated deeply as I watched my family face fears, conquer fatigue, and rise beyond themselves.

A Moment Etched in Time

Today, I sit at Kathmandu Airport, waiting for our flight back to Bangalore. The fatigue is real, but what dominates is a profound sense of fulfilment.

We did it.

Not just as individuals, but as a family.

Barely days before International Everest Day—celebrated every year on May 29, to honor the historic first ascent by Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay in 1953—we etched our own small story into this mighty mountain’s legacy.

Final Reflection: Why We Climb

Some climb for adventure.
Some for pride.
Some for Instagram photos.

But those who truly listen to the silence of the Himalayas know — You climb to meet yourself.

You climb to answer a question your soul has been asking quietly for years:

“Am I stronger than I believe?”

And when you reach that snowy altar, with Everest watching over you…

The answer whispers through the wind:

Yes. You are.

Dr. Prahlada N.B
MBBS (JJMMC), MS (PGIMER, Chandigarh). 
MBA in Healthcare & Hospital Management (BITS, Pilani), 
Postgraduate Certificate in Technology Leadership and Innovation (MIT, USA)
Executive Programme in Strategic Management (IIM, Lucknow)
Senior Management Programme in Healthcare Management (IIM, Kozhikode)
Advanced Certificate in AI for Digital Health and Imaging Program (IISc, Bengaluru). 

Senior Professor and former Head, 
Department of ENT-Head & Neck Surgery, Skull Base Surgery, Cochlear Implant Surgery. 
Basaveshwara Medical College & Hospital, Chitradurga, Karnataka, India. 

My Vision: I don’t want to be a genius.  I want to be a person with a bundle of experience. 

My Mission: Help others achieve their life’s objectives in my presence or absence!

My Values:  Creating value for others. 

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