“On a Mish” #422 My Nepali Family (Part Two). 2024 Ganesh Himal Charity Trek. Aotearoa to Nepal.15.11.2024. My writing began as a way to fill in the time of the Covid-19 lockdowns. Then as time rolled on and my hip kept me out of the hills, it became a way to project myself back to the wild places I missed so dearly. Now over four years after starting my short stories have become a normal part of my life, and the driving force that has got me motivated enough to venture back into the hills. And before Covid / my injury along with many adventures into the mountains of Aotearoa a normal part of my life was going to Nepal each year with the Active Hearts Foundation…
After Covid subsided Dan and Arjun went to work organising another trip to Nuwakot to see my Nepali Family, and even though it seemed nearly impossible at the time, I put my hand up to join the trek. My rehab work on my hip and back was now going to become training for a hike in the Himalayan Foothills. Something that kept me moving in the right direction was the fact that my parents would be going on this trip. They contributed greatly way back when the charity was getting underway, and it was now time to see the library their funds had built, along with all of my Nepali Family that I had told them about constantly.
The 2023 Ganesh Himal Charity Trek was harder than any hike I had trekked, or any mountain I had climbed. I had never been in a situation where I was struggling and there wasn’t an easy way out. Whenever I’ve climbed a mountain or walked up a remote valley, I’ve had the option of simply turning back. But on this mish the only option was to keep going, and as the days rolled on my limp increased to the point where my hiking poles were doing more work than my left leg!
So many times in the past I have been the ‘guide’ when going on adventures with my folks, but now the shoe (or hiking boot) was on the other foot. The grind and struggle of each day was made easier thanks to having the helping hand of my parents pushing me along the many ups and downs of the trail.
As you probably worked out, I survived the trek, just! I was in a world of pain at the end of each day, but I know for sure that if I didn’t go the pain of missing out would have been much worse. The experience in 2023 had restarted the fire to get back to Nepal as often as possible and now thanks to my brother’s Dan and Arjun (plus so many others in my Nepali Family) I am back in action in my favourite country.
A MASSIVE thanks has to go out to all the people that have helped with my rehab and physio work, and also to all of the legends that have joined the Nzhikes team and helped support the Active Hearts Foundation. Seeing the good in the world gives you hope, and plenty of good has come out of going on missions to Nepal. Even though my folks aren’t on this mish, I know they will be cheering my on from Nz along with the rest of my Whanau.
The company the takes care of all of the fine tuning of the trip is called Heartspace Expeditions and their motto is “Live life with purpose”. My purpose is to keep my connection with Nepal alive by raising funds and going on as many Active Hearts Foundation Charity Treks as possible. Helping others is the gift that keeps on giving and the fuel to the raging inferno that is my love for the country that has given me so much more that views of the biggest mountains on the planet…
