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Dear <<First Name>>,
Thank you for reading Dr. Jon's February Adventure Newsletter! Jon should be returning from K2 this month:
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Trekking in to K2 Base Camp with the team: Colin, Jenna, myself, and Mike.
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If you want something you’ve never had, you must be willing to do something you’ve never done.
Wherever you are in life right now, read those words carefully. How does this make you feel? How does it apply to you?
You might have to go though some major changes in your life to accomplish or grow and work towards that something you’ve never had. This can be relevant to our personal or professional lives. It can really make a difference as to how we handle our relationships.
It resonates with me on how I shape my life with the people closest to me when I return home from K2 and move forward in life’s journey.
I’m still at K2 Base Camp In Pakistan. For me, that quote has so many meanings. While I have been out here in the cold for long days, unplugged from the real world, I have had a lot of time to evaluate what my life is now, as well as what I want it to be when I return from a world like this. I've thought a lot about what I truly want to make it when I get back into the real world again.
It makes me grateful for moments like this because out here I don’t have much, and life is hard. It makes me appreciate everything I do have, and it pushes me to be more thoughtful, caring, sympathetic, empathetic, and understanding of everyday things that I will face when I get home and return to normal life.
For many years I have been doing things in the outdoors on these long expeditions that I have never done previously. K2 was my first expedition on an 8000m peak in winter, and it has been a very powerful journey.
It has strengthened my heart and soul for good. It has created gratitude and peacefulness for me, things I have always wanted in my life. When I return home it will help me work towards other things I have never had and give me the courage to do more things I have never done. I encourage you to seek the same on your own journey.
What about you? Do you have a story to share of trying something new to get something you've never had? Email me your story and I will share it in the next newsletter (anonymously if you prefer).
Dr. Jon
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Climbing up to Camp 2 on K2, with the glacier far down below.
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Updates From K2
The Climb:
In case you've missed it, I've been updating my blog frequently with what's happening here at K2. Here's some links to recent updates:
I have also been updating my Instagram most days.
K2 Raffle / Fundraiser:
My secondary objective of this expedition is to help out the Sherpa and porters and their families since they've lost so much with the pandemic and shut down of tourism.
I've written a couple stories recently about our support staff in K2 Base Camp who will benefit from your donations.
As of this writing you have all collectively donated over $8000 that I will distribute to the staff here and in Nepal this spring.
My goal is to raise $25,000 as there are a lot of porters that need the support still.
You still have time, while I finish up here at K2, to win one of these great prizes in my raffle! For every $50 you donate, you get 1 raffle ticket!
Grand Prize: A free trek to Mt. Everest Base Camp in Nepal, guided by me (April 2021). See my website for more details of what this trek entails ($5799 value): Everest Base Camp
Alternate Grand Prize: - For those who cannot do an Everest Base Camp trek, I am offering a full day adventure consultation in the U.S. of your choice with me ($1500 Value).
2nd Prize: A $100 REI Gift Card
3rd Prize- A $50 Amazon Gift Card
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Me with Sher Ali, the head of our kitchen staff at K2 Base Camp (with K2 towering over us in the background).
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Training Corner: Acclimatization
A common question I get is how to acclimatize for doing mountain adventures when you don't live at altitude.
For example, when clients come to Colorado to train with me, they often feel the affects of altitude even where I live in Vail at 8000ft above sea level.
To begin with, let's talk about what happens to our bodies at altitude and in the acclimatization process.
The effects of elevation, called altitude hypoxia, can start as low as 4000ft above sea level. This is due not to less oxygen in the air, but reduced air pressure, meaning that oxygen molecules are farther apart and less are inhaled with each breath.
Our bodies adjust to compensate for this in 2 ways, almost immediately:
- Increase in breathing frequency and volume (amount of air inhaled with each breath)
- Increase in heart rate and amount of blood pumped per minute, both at rest and during exercise, due to the increased need for blood flow when blood oxygen content is reduced, in order to maintain the needed oxygen delivery to our tissues.
In the short term, these changes contribute to reduced aerobic performance at higher altitudes.
It can take 10-14 days at altitude for our heart rate to return to normal values. This acclimatization occurs because of increased hemoglobin and red blood cell production, which carry oxygen throughout our bodies and to our working muscles during exercise.
These adaptations improve our tolerance for altitude hypoxia and last for up to 30 days after return to lower elevations.
What does that mean for you if you live at lower altitude? While there isn't really a way to cheat the process and acclimatize faster (hypoxia tents may have some benefits but they do not reduce the air pressure, nor can they simulate high altitudes), what you can do is make sure you are as aerobically fit as possible so that your body can efficiently turn oxygen into movement.
Need help with learning how to train to be an aerobic machine? Contact me for a free consult!
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Some unique features on the glacier, with large boulders balancing on the ice below.
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Travel & Adventure News
U.S. & International Travel: This feature will be return in the March newsletter.
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Decent weather night at K2 Base Camp, but lenticular clouds up high indicate unsafe winds to climb in.
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Upcoming Schedule
Everest Base Camp Trek 2021
When I return home from K2 in mid to late February, I will resume preparing myself and clients for the Everest Base Camp Trek in April and then for summiting Mt. Everest after the trek is over.
We still have a few slots open for the Trek! Discounted price of $4999 (normally $5799) if you sign up by March 1.
2021 Trekking Dates: April 9-22, 2021 (with 7 day quarantine you'll need to be in Nepal by 4/2/21)
COVID-19 Precautions and Financial Policies:
To minimize your risk in investing in this trek during this time of uncertainty, we have the following payment and refund policies.
- Final trip payment due March 15.
- Full refund of your payments if you cancel before March 15.
- If the trek is cancelled due to COVID-19 restrictions after March 15, we will refund as much as we can. However, some funds may not be refundable due to payments made for permits, lodging, and porters.
- For anything we cannot refund, we will credit you those funds and you can use them anytime on future treks, training, and other services our company provides.
COVID-19 Regulations in Nepal (https://np.usembassy.gov/covid-19-information-2/), updated 2/1/20:
- Trekkers upon arrival must submit negative results from a PCR test taken within 72 hours of departing their home country.
- Trekkers must have a hotel booking for a 7-day quarantine in Nepal (we'll help with this).
- Trekkers must possess insurance of at least $5,000 USD against COVID-19.
- On the fifth day of quarantine, trekkers must take a PCR test at their own expense before proceeding with their trek or expedition.
Email me and Aaron and we can provide you more information.
Keynote Speaking / Adventure Training & Consulting
I'm also available for:
Contact me at dr.jonked@gmail.com and my business partner Aaron Jenniges at JennigesAaronJ@gmail.com and one of us will get back to you promptly.
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