Dreaming of Everest

Foreword by Peter Hillary Renowned mountaineer, speaker, and son of Sir Edmund Hillary We need more young adventurers like Saachi Dhillon. People prepared to head out into what is for them the unknown. We all have ’unknowns’ that can only be known by being bold and taking the first step, and then another and another. The process is exhilarating and with every step, we learn about the challenge and what will be required of us, but also, we learn about ourselves. Perhaps that is the most important learning of all. As Saachi says herself the journey highlights just how much ＂baggage all of us carry in our lives.＂ And how in the end you can ＂emerge lighter as your inhibitions float away into the thin air.＂ I think that realisation is delightful and a fine reason to trudge up the trails of the Himalayas to Everest Basecamp at 5360 metres altitude and the foot of the world’s highest mountain. As my father said, ＂It is not the mountain we conquer, but ourselves.＂ And that is the story of this book. Dreaming of Everest follows the journey of a young, courageous woman who wishes to trek to the base of the world’s highest mountain, The Everest Base Camp (5364 m) in Nepal. Despite limited trekking experience, Saachi sets her sights high and embarks on a 130-km long maiden trek through a region of outstanding natural beauty. The protagonist takes you on a sublime adventure through blooming rhododendron forests, gushing streams, and majestic mountain scenery. Along the way, the group braves many challenges - the aftermath of Cyclone Fani, altitude sickness, and extreme weather conditions. While two members drop out, the remaining manage to pull through. It is an inspiring personal narrative of grit, focus, and the weight that we carry in our lives. Completely cut off from the rest of the world, the arduous yet exhilarating journey puts life in perspective and proves that limitations exist only in the mind. In the end, Saachi emerges lighter as her inhibitions float away into the thin air at base camp.