That Summer: A last-minute trip to Everest base camp in 2008
Sadie Whitelocks headed to the Himalayas as a 21-year-old searching for adventure – with hardly any kit or preparation
Intense terror crept up on me as I bounced through the mountain mist with Yeti Airlines. My destination was Tenzing-Hillary Airport in Lukla, Nepal, often considered to be one of the world’s most dangerous airports.
Perched at more than 9,000ft above sea level, where the thin air already makes flying difficult, the airport has the added challenge of a truncated landing strip, which at 1,729ft long, is just a fifth of the average runway at an international hub.
The towering mountains around it offer little room for error. And then there’s the notoriously temperamental weather in the Himalayas.
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies