Donegal woman reaches Everest Base Camp after ‘experience of a lifetime’

A Buncrana woman has described trekking to Everest Base Camp as a "life-changing" experience after completing the challenging Himalayan journey alongside her partner.

Claudia Waldron, who grew up in Buncrana and attended Scoil Mhuire before moving abroad at the age of 17, reached Everest Base Camp with her boyfriend, David Hormanseder from Valladolid in Spain, following a demanding 14-day trek through Nepal's spectacular Khumbu region.

The couple arrived in Nepal on April 14 before flying into Lukla Airport, regarded as one of the world's most dangerous airports because of its short mountainside runway. From there, they trekked from around 2,000 metres to Everest Base Camp at 5,364 metres.

For David, the adventure had been years in the making.

"I had it in mind for a long time," he said. "One day I received a message with an offer to do the trek, and I said to Claudia, 'Let's do it.'

"We trained for five months, spending plenty of time on the StairMaster in the gym. We also hiked in Italy and climbed different peaks around Ireland, especially in Connemara."

The preparation proved worthwhile."It was absolutely brilliant," David said.

"There are so many challenges, such as the altitude, but it was the experience of a lifetime. It wasn't just the trek itself. The people, the culture, and seeing mountains like Everest, Lhotse, and Ama Dablam, which I'd dreamed about for years, made it unforgettable."

For Claudia, flying into Lukla was one of the most daunting parts of the trip.

"Obviously, the airport situation in Lukla is quite nerve-wracking because it is the most dangerous airport in the world," she said.

"Even watching videos before we left on YouTube to prepare ourselves, everyone was saying how dangerous it is. You're kind of hyping yourself up. But the flight was short, that's the only thing."

The couple returned by helicopter after poor weather affected their planned flight home.

The trek involved walking up to nine hours a day between remote mountain villages. "Incredibly, villages like Namche Bazaar exist at 3,600 metres," Claudia said. "They have restaurants, shops, and everything built right into the mountains."

The pair also enjoyed excellent weather throughout most of the expedition.

"We got super lucky," Claudia said. "We had sunny skies nearly every day, and we would start hiking maybe around 6am, and it was clear skies up until around 2pm, then the clouds always roll in because you're up so high."

Despite the altitude, neither suffered serious illness, although Claudia admitted the final push tested her.

"Probably the last two days, I was feeling the altitude. I was really struggling, especially on the last day towards Everest Base Camp.”

"I was like, well, I might make it or not. But it's amazing, like the mind just kind of can push you through."

David said mental strength was just as important as physical preparation.

"We met a couple who had to turn back only 200 metres from Base Camp, and we also saw a man being evacuated by helicopter with 20% oxygen at 5,000 metres.”

"It's just all this mental strength to be like, 'OK, I'm trying to do my best, drinking water, eating properly,' and not listening to other people. It's not only about being physically prepared. I think it's just being positive and knowing that you can do it."

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While reaching Everest Base Camp was a major achievement, both say the Nepalese people left the biggest impression.

Claudia said the Sherpa communities reminded her of growing up in Inishowen.

"There's like the Sherpa community that lives in the Khumbu region of Everest. They're all really small villages, and coming from a small town, I'm quite used to people cooperating in a more community way rather than like a big city.”

"We have so many small ones like Ballyliffin and Clonmany all around. So I'm kind of used to that way."

The couple is now raising money for KEEP Nepal, which supports porters and sustainable tourism, and COTS Nepal, which works with vulnerable children and an orphanage school.

"We were in awe of the work that the porters do. I wasn't really aware of porters before I went on the trek," Claudia said.

"The treks around Nepal wouldn't be possible without the porters because there's no road access. It's amazing the stuff that they carry. I really commend the work that they do."

David has been documenting their adventure on his Instagram page, DWILDH4 Adventures, where people can learn more about the expedition and support the charities.

The trek also gave Claudia a fresh appreciation for everyday comforts.

"You can't shower. There's no hot water. You'd be going to the toilet in the hole in the ground, and you have to buy your own toilet roll.”

"It's all the luxuries we take for granted."

The couple is now living in France, working in ski chalets, and is already considering their next challenge.

"We're considering either completing the Tour du Mont Blanc or climbing Mont Blanc itself," David said.

"For now, we're just enjoying every adventure and looking forward to what's next.”