03-06-2025
Meet Carolyn, the oldest woman ever to reach Everest base camp
The self-described 'unadventurous' octogenarian decided she could reach Mt Everest base camp after looking at Youtube videos.
Carolyn Robinson, 80, was intrigued when her rotary club in Berry, NSW, put out a call for anyone interested to go to Nepal and trek to base camp to raise money to eradicate polio.
Motivated by the charity aspect of the climb, Carolyn turned to online videos.
"I thought 'I can do that'. So that's what I did," she said.
The club had 13 members volunteer for the April trip, with the youngest at 42 and the average age 67.
"It was very, very tough because it was all uphill, and it was very rocky," she said.
"We had to cross glaciers, which was a little bit nerve-wracking. But I just thought, if somebody else has done it, well, I can do it too."
And it was that attitude that ensured the grandmother-of-four made it to base camp after 11 days, when four others in her Rotarian group didn't, due to altitude sickness.
Ironically, Carolyn admits her age was her advantage.
"Because I was so slow, I think that's what helped me acclimatise to the altitude," she said.
Carolyn admits she didn't do as much training 'as I should have', but also believes that helped her because she didn't try and 'bound ahead'
The successful trekker's main piece of advice to people of any age wanting to go to base camp is to not rush the climb.
"Take it very slowly. You'll get there in the end," she said.
Group organiser and guide Ken Hutt said he researched The Himalayan Database before the trip and discovered if Carolyn was successful, she would be the oldest woman in the world to have reached base camp.
"No one came close to walking into Everest base camp at 80 years of age. She was hands down going to get the record if she made it," he said.
Ken said when Carolyn arrived at base camp, it was "fantastic".
"Jubilation everywhere. It was like it was party atmosphere," he said.
But for Carolyn, the moment was more matter-of-fact.
"I wasn't shouting out. I just thought, I've done it. I got here," she said.
Ken said everyone in the group was inspirational and ended up raising over $50,000. But it was Carolyn who kept everyone focused on their goal.
"The trip wasn't really designed for senior citizens, but they just excelled," he said.
"Carolyn certainly inspired them to keep going and do those high-altitude paths.
"They thought 'if she can do it and she's 80, we can do it.'"
Carolyn believes anyone can have a go at getting out of their comfort zone.
"I'm not an adrenaline junkie and I'm not an adventure seeker. I've never done anything like this before, ever," she said
But after her record-breaking climb, Carolyn is up for some new adventures.
"Kilimanjaro and the Camino. I've always wanted to do the Camino," she said.
Share your thoughts in the comments below, or send a Letter to the Editor by CLICKING HERE.
The self-described 'unadventurous' octogenarian decided she could reach Mt Everest base camp after looking at Youtube videos.
Carolyn Robinson, 80, was intrigued when her rotary club in Berry, NSW, put out a call for anyone interested to go to Nepal and trek to base camp to raise money to eradicate polio.
Motivated by the charity aspect of the climb, Carolyn turned to online videos.
"I thought 'I can do that'. So that's what I did," she said.
The club had 13 members volunteer for the April trip, with the youngest at 42 and the average age 67.
"It was very, very tough because it was all uphill, and it was very rocky," she said.
"We had to cross glaciers, which was a little bit nerve-wracking. But I just thought, if somebody else has done it, well, I can do it too."
And it was that attitude that ensured the grandmother-of-four made it to base camp after 11 days, when four others in her Rotarian group didn't, due to altitude sickness.
Ironically, Carolyn admits her age was her advantage.
"Because I was so slow, I think that's what helped me acclimatise to the altitude," she said.
Carolyn admits she didn't do as much training 'as I should have', but also believes that helped her because she didn't try and 'bound ahead'
The successful trekker's main piece of advice to people of any age wanting to go to base camp is to not rush the climb.
"Take it very slowly. You'll get there in the end," she said.
Group organiser and guide Ken Hutt said he researched The Himalayan Database before the trip and discovered if Carolyn was successful, she would be the oldest woman in the world to have reached base camp.
"No one came close to walking into Everest base camp at 80 years of age. She was hands down going to get the record if she made it," he said.
Ken said when Carolyn arrived at base camp, it was "fantastic".
"Jubilation everywhere. It was like it was party atmosphere," he said.
But for Carolyn, the moment was more matter-of-fact.
"I wasn't shouting out. I just thought, I've done it. I got here," she said.
Ken said everyone in the group was inspirational and ended up raising over $50,000. But it was Carolyn who kept everyone focused on their goal.
"The trip wasn't really designed for senior citizens, but they just excelled," he said.
"Carolyn certainly inspired them to keep going and do those high-altitude paths.
"They thought 'if she can do it and she's 80, we can do it.'"
Carolyn believes anyone can have a go at getting out of their comfort zone.
"I'm not an adrenaline junkie and I'm not an adventure seeker. I've never done anything like this before, ever," she said
But after her record-breaking climb, Carolyn is up for some new adventures.
"Kilimanjaro and the Camino. I've always wanted to do the Camino," she said.
Share your thoughts in the comments below, or send a Letter to the Editor by CLICKING HERE.
The self-described 'unadventurous' octogenarian decided she could reach Mt Everest base camp after looking at Youtube videos.
Carolyn Robinson, 80, was intrigued when her rotary club in Berry, NSW, put out a call for anyone interested to go to Nepal and trek to base camp to raise money to eradicate polio.
Motivated by the charity aspect of the climb, Carolyn turned to online videos.
"I thought 'I can do that'. So that's what I did," she said.
The club had 13 members volunteer for the April trip, with the youngest at 42 and the average age 67.
"It was very, very tough because it was all uphill, and it was very rocky," she said.
"We had to cross glaciers, which was a little bit nerve-wracking. But I just thought, if somebody else has done it, well, I can do it too."
And it was that attitude that ensured the grandmother-of-four made it to base camp after 11 days, when four others in her Rotarian group didn't, due to altitude sickness.
Ironically, Carolyn admits her age was her advantage.
"Because I was so slow, I think that's what helped me acclimatise to the altitude," she said.
Carolyn admits she didn't do as much training 'as I should have', but also believes that helped her because she didn't try and 'bound ahead'
The successful trekker's main piece of advice to people of any age wanting to go to base camp is to not rush the climb.
"Take it very slowly. You'll get there in the end," she said.
Group organiser and guide Ken Hutt said he researched The Himalayan Database before the trip and discovered if Carolyn was successful, she would be the oldest woman in the world to have reached base camp.
"No one came close to walking into Everest base camp at 80 years of age. She was hands down going to get the record if she made it," he said.
Ken said when Carolyn arrived at base camp, it was "fantastic".
"Jubilation everywhere. It was like it was party atmosphere," he said.
But for Carolyn, the moment was more matter-of-fact.
"I wasn't shouting out. I just thought, I've done it. I got here," she said.
Ken said everyone in the group was inspirational and ended up raising over $50,000. But it was Carolyn who kept everyone focused on their goal.
"The trip wasn't really designed for senior citizens, but they just excelled," he said.
"Carolyn certainly inspired them to keep going and do those high-altitude paths.
"They thought 'if she can do it and she's 80, we can do it.'"
Carolyn believes anyone can have a go at getting out of their comfort zone.
"I'm not an adrenaline junkie and I'm not an adventure seeker. I've never done anything like this before, ever," she said
But after her record-breaking climb, Carolyn is up for some new adventures.
"Kilimanjaro and the Camino. I've always wanted to do the Camino," she said.
Share your thoughts in the comments below, or send a Letter to the Editor by CLICKING HERE.
The self-described 'unadventurous' octogenarian decided she could reach Mt Everest base camp after looking at Youtube videos.
Carolyn Robinson, 80, was intrigued when her rotary club in Berry, NSW, put out a call for anyone interested to go to Nepal and trek to base camp to raise money to eradicate polio.
Motivated by the charity aspect of the climb, Carolyn turned to online videos.
"I thought 'I can do that'. So that's what I did," she said.
The club had 13 members volunteer for the April trip, with the youngest at 42 and the average age 67.
"It was very, very tough because it was all uphill, and it was very rocky," she said.
"We had to cross glaciers, which was a little bit nerve-wracking. But I just thought, if somebody else has done it, well, I can do it too."
And it was that attitude that ensured the grandmother-of-four made it to base camp after 11 days, when four others in her Rotarian group didn't, due to altitude sickness.
Ironically, Carolyn admits her age was her advantage.
"Because I was so slow, I think that's what helped me acclimatise to the altitude," she said.
Carolyn admits she didn't do as much training 'as I should have', but also believes that helped her because she didn't try and 'bound ahead'
The successful trekker's main piece of advice to people of any age wanting to go to base camp is to not rush the climb.
"Take it very slowly. You'll get there in the end," she said.
Group organiser and guide Ken Hutt said he researched The Himalayan Database before the trip and discovered if Carolyn was successful, she would be the oldest woman in the world to have reached base camp.
"No one came close to walking into Everest base camp at 80 years of age. She was hands down going to get the record if she made it," he said.
Ken said when Carolyn arrived at base camp, it was "fantastic".
"Jubilation everywhere. It was like it was party atmosphere," he said.
But for Carolyn, the moment was more matter-of-fact.
"I wasn't shouting out. I just thought, I've done it. I got here," she said.
Ken said everyone in the group was inspirational and ended up raising over $50,000. But it was Carolyn who kept everyone focused on their goal.
"The trip wasn't really designed for senior citizens, but they just excelled," he said.
"Carolyn certainly inspired them to keep going and do those high-altitude paths.
"They thought 'if she can do it and she's 80, we can do it.'"
Carolyn believes anyone can have a go at getting out of their comfort zone.
"I'm not an adrenaline junkie and I'm not an adventure seeker. I've never done anything like this before, ever," she said
But after her record-breaking climb, Carolyn is up for some new adventures.
"Kilimanjaro and the Camino. I've always wanted to do the Camino," she said.
Share your thoughts in the comments below, or send a Letter to the Editor by CLICKING HERE.
