New friends, dozens of yaks, and views that very few people get to see. Those are just some of Sydney Poole’s highlights from her two-week trip to Mount Everest in Nepal.
“I don’t know if I can pick one,” said Sydney, a 15-year old Naperville resident. “It would probably have to be either the team or the people we were with, or just the views. It was incredible.”
Sydney, her dad, and her stepmom started their trek at an altitude of about 9,000 feet in Lukla, and traveled to Mount Everest base camp at 17,500 feet.
She trained extensively on the treadmill to prepare for the rigorous hike.
“I definitely think the training was helpful, especially for endurance,” said Sydney. “But it’s so different when you’re walking on a trail and you’re constantly trying not to step on the wrong rock.”
Sydney flew back with her stepmom after reaching their destination, but her father Rick stayed and is currently making the journey to the peak, 29,029 feet in the sky.
“It was kind of sad because I mean I’m going to miss my dad of course, but it was easier than some of his other trips because I can picture where he is. I know what basecamp looks like, what his tent looks like and I know all the people he’s with. And obviously I’m so proud of him for doing this,” she added.
Reaching new heights at just 15-years-old.
Naperville News 17’s Casey Krajewski reports.