80yo woman takes on 17-day, 130km hike to Mount Everest base camp
Carolyn Robinson (right) has been training for the Everest base camp trek with Laurelle Price (left). (ABC Illawarra: Sarah Moss)
At the age of 80, Carolyn Robinson has embarked on a 17-day trek to reach Mount Everest's South Base Camp.
Ms Robinson, from Berry on the New South Wales south coast, isn't letting age get in the way of her accomplishments.
"It was never on my bucket list, but this is an opportunity that I couldn't let go by because I love to experience other countries and their cultures," she said.
"The challenging 17-day trek is something I will never ever forget, and it will change my life."
She is among 13 Australians, including her neighbour Laurelle Price, 74, who have set off on the hike, a 130-kilometre round trip, in Nepal.
Ms Price and Ms Robinson keep fit by walking to Drawing Room Rocks, 600 metres above sea level, in NSW. (ABC Illawarra: Sarah Moss)
The adventurers have an average age of 67 and are all members of Rotary.
They aim to walk about 8 to 10 kilometres a day on the trek and will reach base camp at 5,364 metres above sea level.
The route for the group's Everest base camp trek. (Supplied: Goutam 1962)
An 'OBE'
Ken Hutt (right) with Ms Price in the Himalayas in 2019. (Supplied: Laurelle Price)
The trekking group's leader Ken Hutt said if Ms Robinson reached South Base Camp she could be the oldest woman to do so.
"Almost without doubt Carolyn Robinson will be the oldest female to accomplish this trek," he told the ABC.
Trekking permits show the oldest woman to reach base camp is Eiko Funabashi, 78, from Japan, who unsuccessfully attempted to reach the summit four times between 2006 and 2018.
"If Carolyn manages to be successful in the trek, she will be the oldest ever in history to reach base camp of Everest — an incredible feat," Mr Hutt said.
If Ms Robinson reaches base camp, she could be the oldest woman to do so. (ABC Illawarra: Sarah Moss)
Ms Robinson, who was born in 1945, said she was now on the wrong side of 80.
"That's what they call an OBE, over bloody 80," she laughed.
"I believe everything in life happens for a reason, you don't always know what the reason is, but there's always a reason."
Preparation is key with well-fitting walking boots an absolute must. (ABC Illawarra: Sarah Moss)
Fight to eradicate polio
The trekkers are Rotary members and Mr Hutt says participants have raised $50,000 to help efforts to eradicate polio worldwide.
All but two countries, Afghanistan and Pakistan, have been declared free of the infectious disease that can, in rare cases, cause paralysis.
"Across the world, Rotary International, with the help of UNICEF and the World Health Organization, have pledged to eradicate polio," Mr Hutt said.
"But our main function is to create awareness by talking to governments and raising funds."
The cause is a big reason why Ms Robinson decided to take on the challenge.
"This trip would not be happening, and I would not be doing it, if it wasn't for the fundraising aspect," she said.
Acclimatising to higher altitude
After spending two nights in Nepal's capital Kathmandu, the trekkers began their hike in Lukla and will take a route to South Base Camp via Gokyo Lakes.
"We fly from Kathmandu to Lukla, which is apparently the most dangerous airstrip in the world because it's curved," Ms Robinson said.
The fastest way to reach Lukla airport is by taking a domestic flight from Kathmandu. (Supplied: Laurelle Price)
Then they walk around Gokyo Lake and over three high mountain passes.
Staying for two nights in some places, the group do acclimatisation walks where they go up 3 or 400 metres, then go back down and sleep lower.
The higher altitude makes each breath more laboured as oxygen decreases.
"It's not necessarily how fit you are, it's your ability to cope with the acclimatisation," Ms Robinson said.
Along the route to South Base Camp are tea houses where hikers stay the night. (Supplied: Laurelle Price)
Slow and steady
In preparation, Ms Robinson has been regularly climbing Woodhill Mountain near Berry, an intermediate grade walk that is 4.5km return.
She also attended an altitude training centre in Sydney.
"You train in a room with altitude conditions of 3,500m, that gets you used to doing strenuous workouts with less oxygen," Ms Robinson said.
"You've got to watch out for headaches. Apparently, if you start getting headaches and start feeling nauseous, that's not good."
Loading...The octogenarian is exceptionally motivated to make it to Kala Patthar near South Base Camp where you can take in views of Mount Everest and surrounds.
Ms Price has been hiking up Woodhill Mountain with Ms Robinson ahead of their trek.
In 2019 Ms Price hiked a shorter route to South Base Camp. (Supplied: Laurelle Price)
Last year, at 74, Ms Price was recognised as the oldest woman to complete the Kokoda Track.
"I've been climbing to Drawing Room Rocks [near Berry] for probably 12 months because I had some trips overseas last year and I did Kokoda as well, so I just continued throughout the year," Ms Price said.
Ms Price is looking forward to reaching base camp a second time. (Supplied: Laurelle Price)
She completed a shorter route to South Base Camp in 2019 and is looking forward to immersing herself in the Himalayas and vibrant Sherpa culture once again.
"The walking is slow and steady; a nice, even walk so you can conserve energy especially in higher altitude," Ms Price said.
"It's just one step after the other and you take a rest all the time because you struggle for air more as it's only 50 per cent oxygen when you're at base camp."