Scared But Doing It: Starting the Everest Journey at Lukla

Landing at Lukla Airport was terrifying. Known as one of the most dangerous airports, it shook me. I trained hard, but standing there, I asked myself, Am I ready for this? We had 14 days ahead of us, half of it in the snow.

Fear hit me the moment I landed at Lukla. Scared as hell, unsure if I could handle the altitude, I took oxygen pills and re-geared for the climb.

At 40, I wanted to prove I was still strong—strong enough for my kids, for myself. I laughed at the thought. Was I trying to prove I wasn’t getting old? Silly, but there I was, wanting to show that I was still the strongest man alive.

Above: A video of me at Lukla Airport, taking oxygen pills, talking about the raw fear and uncertainty of starting the climb.

Re-Gearing and Oxygen Pills: Battling Fear

As soon as I landed, reality hit hard. The altitude, the challenge, everything felt bigger than I’d imagined. I took my oxygen pills, trying to get ahead of the altitude sickness, but mentally, I wasn’t sure I’d trained enough. Why was I doing this?

I asked myself over and over, What if I can’t handle it? Every breath felt uncertain. This climb wasn’t just about Everest; it was about proving to myself that I still had it. The thought of failing scared me more than the climb itself.

The First Steps: A Battle of Will

Taking those first steps was brutal. The self-doubt was louder than my thoughts. What if I don’t make it? I kept replaying all the scenarios in my head—failure, exhaustion, quitting. But quitting wasn’t an option. I had to push through.

I reminded myself why I was here: For my kids, for myself. One step at a time, I focused on moving forward, letting go of the pressure to be perfect, and just taking it as it came. Let Go Boss. It became my anchor.