Latest news with #TheHimalayanDatabase
The Advertiser
4 days ago
- The Advertiser
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.
Time Out
05-05-2025
- Time Out
Climbing Everest just got stricter – here's what to know about Nepal's new rules
Mount Everest is a mountain of mythic proportions, both in its sheer height and adventurers' imaginations. As the highest point on earth, it's one of the ultimate bucket list summits. If you plan to climb Mount Everest, take note – you'll now need more than a permit to even attempt the climb. The Nepalese government has announced new rules to tackle overcrowding, curb further ecological damage, and improve climbers' safety. New rules for Mount Everest climbers You must first climb a 7,000-metre peak in Nepal No amateur thrill-seekers here. First, you must prove you have the chops to tackle Mount Everest. Nepal will only issue climbing permits to those who have previously scaled a mountain peak above 7,000 metres. And yes, that mountain must be in Nepal. Present a clean bill of health A medical certificate issued within 30 days of your expedition is now mandatory to ensure you're physically fit enough for the attempt. The Mount Everest climb is physically demanding, with steep ascents and tricky crevasse crossings at high altitude and under extreme weather conditions. Climb with local mountain guides and expedition leaders Nepal's Sherpas are legendary for their extraordinary mountaineering skills. Even if you don't engage a Sherpa, all Mount Everest climbers are now expected to hire a Nepali mountain guide for their climb. The idea is that the locals know the terrain best, and are therefore the most well-equipped to keep you out of trouble, or even save your life when things get gnarly. Of course, the rule also ensures employment for local communities, which are highly dependent on mountaineering tourism. Why the new rules? Sure, Mount Everest has long stood as the pinnacle of human achievement. But this narrative has since been marred by pollution and overcrowding. According to The Himalayan Database, at least 17 people died on Mount Everest in 2023, the highest number of deaths on Mount Everest so far. Some attribute it to extreme weather conditions, but others have criticised the Nepalese government for issuing too many permits, including to inexperienced climbers, resulting in long queues at 'death zones' above 8,000 metres where oxygen levels are too low to sustain human life for long. The sheer number of people allowed to climb Mount Everest also means pollution and environmental damage are becoming a problem. As widely publicised on social and mainstream media, the mountain is littered with dead bodies, human excrement, and trash. The latest rules follow a series of measures by the Nepalese government to control traffic flow and improve climbers' safety. In 2024, it became mandatory for mountaineers to rent and wear tracking devices. In 2025, Nepal also banned solo climbers on mountains above 8,000 metres. And in September this year, permit fees will increase 36 percent – from $11,000 to $15,000 in the April-May peak climbing season.
