Summit Achievement: Trek for Life 2000

HOUSTON, TX -- May 1, 2000 WorldWideWalkers, a Houston-based adventure travel operator, successfully achieved the summit of Mera Peak in Nepal's Himalayas on Easter Sunday. At 21,247 feet, this peak is the highest summit reachable without technical climbing skills. The trek put four first-time trekkers and one experienced trekker along with 2 Sherpa's on the summit.

Not without suspense, the trek found the summit party's descent temporarily halted by a seasonal snowstorm. Graham Farebrother, owner of WorldWideWalkers, writes, "About 1am I was woken by an incredible crash, so loud and close that the ground literally shook. My first thought was "avalanche". Then there was a second and third crash and enormous bright flashes. We were smack in the middle of the loudest and biggest thunderstorm I have experienced...We wait, still no news from above. "

"Then about 11am one of our Sherpas appears through the gloom. The party is nearly down, and everyone is well! By noon everyone was back in Khare [base camp]...tired but very excited and happy to be out of the white out through which they had struggled for the past several hours."    

The Trek for Life for the Pulmonary Hypertension Association has raised roughly $40,000 for the charity. This success has inspired plans for more charity treks next year. For more information about participation and charitable fundraising, contact WorldWideWalkers via email at info@wwwalkers.com or call 713-807-9620.

The progress of the trekkers is detailed at www.wwwalkers.com. Daily travel logs and pictures are available as well as more information about the Pulmonary Hypertension Association.

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