Adventurer and traveler Jim Vanderaa will share his photos and video clips of his trek to Mount Everest Base Camp in October 2014 when the San Gorgonio Chapter of the Sierra Club meets at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday at the San Bernardino County Museum, 2024 Orange Tree Lane, Redlands.
With a Sherpa guide, Vanderaa covered 92 miles in 16 days. His route followed the Gokyo Lakes and the Cho La Pass, rather than the more usual route up the Khumbu Valley.
His presentation will cover what he experienced on his adventure, including meeting Sherpa people and villages he visited, the Everest sunrise from the summit of Gokyo Ri (17,575 feet), traversing Cho La Pass (17,782 feet) in a snowstorm, the Everest sunset from the summit of Kala Patthar (18,514 feet), Everest Base Camp (17,598 feet) and Nangkartshang Peak (16,732 feet).
Vanderaa will also show his photos and videos of Kathmandu before the city’s devastation in the earthquake this April.
Vanderaa said the trek is more accessible than people realize — physically, logistically and economically. He encourages others to make the trek and said he will provide tips to anyone thinking about this challenging adventure.
Born in Montreal, Canada, Vanderaa immigrated to the United States at the age of 28 and lived in Colorado and New Hampshire before moving to Southern California 26 years ago. He is married, has children ages 11 and 14 and lives in Upland.
He said that in order to enjoy new adventures, he retired in 2012 at age 54 from a construction business he owned and operated for 23 years.
Vanderaa is a regular guest speaker on a variety of topics at local high schools and vocational training centers and he coaches youth basketball and baseball.
An avid hiker and adventurer, he loves the Canyonlands and Red Rock Country of southern Utah.
He said he hopes to climb Kilimanjaro in September.
The Sierra Club meeting is open to the public.
Parking and admission are free but donations are accepted to help with room rental.
The San Gorgonio Chapter of the Sierra Club covers the geographic area of San Bernardino and Riverside counties.
Source: San Gorgonio Chapter of the Sierra Club
