All of my life I have wanted to go to Mount Everest. This was my dream. The Christmas of 1998, my husband Brent gave me such a gift to go to Everest Base Camp with him and 13 other people from various parts of the world. I could hardly wait to stand on this great mountain. Just the thought gave me the chills. During the summer of 1999, I trained with a friend, walked three times a week and went scrambling several times during the summer in the Rockies. I was determined not to let physical inability stop me from being able to stand on the highest mountain in the world. October came around and off our plane left, landing in Kathmandu where we met the other members of our group. Everyone was cordial and we were from all over the globe. There were four from Alberta, seven from Australia and three from Britain.

"Several other groups ahead of us were stranded, rumor was that three were killed in an avalanche and others had to be rescued by helicopter. You cannot imagine how devastated we were..."

Here were 15 strangers about to begin the journey of a lifetime. All of us with the same common goal, to reach the Base Camp of Everest. After several days, I had realized how hard this trip was. The altitude, the climbing up and down, having to be careful of the food and water was more than I had anticipated. There were times when I wanted to give up and turn around, however, my wonderful husband Brent was always there cheering me on and both him and this mighty mountain kept pulling me forward.

While our group was acclimatizing in a town called Dingboche, I was beginning to realize that these people I had come to know over the last three weeks had become family. Everyone took care of each other and we had all been having such a good time. We knew about each other's jobs, families, and believe me everything there was to know about each other. During this trek one must realize that you have very little dignity left as everyone is feeling the same way. There is absolutely nothing that we could not talk about to each other from who got sick first to who spent the longest in the outhouse.

Unfortunately two nights before we were to depart for Everest the area was hit with a snow storm and our group had to be turned back. Several other groups ahead of us were stranded, rumor was that three were killed in an avalanche and others had to be rescued by helicopter. You cannot imagine how devastated we were, we had worked so hard to get to this point only to be refused entry to this great mountain due to an act of Mother Nature.

"We were happier than any group had ever been. Laughing, joking, throwing snowballs and enjoying each other's company."

The next day while sitting around and feeling sorry for ourselves, Jigme, our guide, asked who would like to go to another great mountain's Base Camp called "Ama Dablam" and seven of us jumped at the chance. As we began our way, I began to realize that placing such importance on Mount Everest or even the thought of climbing a mountain was now the furthest thing from my mind. What was happening was that one forgets what the purpose of the trip was and begins to realize that it's the people that make the journey.

As we climbed through a snowstorm, the snow got deeper and the terrain became icier. However, what did happen made it seem like the sun had been shining down upon us. The seven of us did reach Base Camp of Ama Dablam and continued to reach a height of 5400m. We however from that time on forgot what our original goal had been. Here were seven people who only three weeks ago were strangers and were now enjoying each other's company and accomplishments. While we were standing on this mountain having our pictures taken by each other, we no longer had the desire to go to Everest. We were happier than any group had ever been: laughing, joking, throwing snowballs and enjoying each other's company.

Now that we are home, with several tears shed at the Kathmandu airport as I bade farewell to those I now call my big brothers Warren and Peter, my ultimate goal has changed from one who so wanted to stand on the mightiest mountain in the world to realizing that it is not the journey that makes the adventure, it is the people that make the journey. Without this, there is no adventure, only a holiday. For this change of heart I will be eternally grateful to the Himalaya.

— Terrie Holdner, MountainZone.com Pubster