Randi Gardypie took ice baths and cold showers to get used to the cold she’d experience in Nepal, but says nothing prepared her for dealing with the altitude while trekking to the Mount Everest base camp.
The 42-year-old Cree mother of three lives in Merritt, B.C., but is originally from Saskatchewan. She spoke to CBC Indigenous this week from Dingboche, Nepal, at an elevation of just over 4,000 metres.
“This has been the highest I’ve ever been in my life,” she said.
“Right now, because of how my body’s adjusting to the altitude and it’s so hard, I can’t even fathom how challenging this trek is.”
Gardypie grew up on Beardy’s and Okemasis First Nation, where her dad is from, but is a member of Yellowquill First Nation.
Visiting Mount Everest has been something that has been on the teacher’s mind over the last few years, but now with two kids already having left the nest and one in high school last October she decided to do something about it.
“It is a bit of a crazy goal, but I was always drawn to this mountain,” said Gardypie.
“It’s making more sense each day as I get closer and yesterday when I was sitting there in the monastery listening to the monks chant, it’s just so powerful.”
Gardypie said one of the challenges is how cold it is up there. After having a warm shower she needs to rush to put on warm clothes.
But there have been challenges harder than others. The low oxygen levels due to the altitude cause shortness of breath just from walking and headaches.
Gardypie said she had a panic attack trying to breathe due to the dust and a buff over her mouth, where she didn’t think she could go on anymore, but her guide stepped in to get her breathing relaxed once again.
“I’m so grateful for him at that moment because I would have called it and I’m really glad I didn’t because I ended up having like an amazing day,” said Gardypie.
Gardypie said she got in shape with walks everyday and going to the gym and did outdoor winter sports with her students at the Lower Nicola Band School, like hockey, snowshoeing, and skating.
Gardypie said her three kids have been supportive in her adventure and just asked that she makes sure she comes back home.
“I want to do this for me,” said Gardypie.
“My whole life has been about my children and their needs and they’re all moving out of the nest. They are doing good, you know, they’re all really pushing for me to live this next chapter for me. I don’t want to sound selfish when I say that, but I think as mothers we always tend to do things for other people and I wanted to prove to myself that I have faith in myself, that I believe in myself.”
Semiah Cote said she always knew going to Mount Everest was one of her mom’s lifelong goals.
“For a while she didn’t think it was possible and I just kept telling her you can do it, if you put your mind to it,” said Cote.
Cote said her mom often takes on a lot, especially when it comes to other people, especially making sure her children are OK.
“I’m honestly really proud of her for taking this time for herself because she’s always worrying about other people and sometimes she doesn’t even know that she’s worrying about other people,” said Cote.
To help with the cost of going to Mount Everest, Gardypie made a red jingle dress to raffle off and also started a fundraiser to help with the cost of her gear. She said she surpassed her goal so now her fundraising efforts will go toward helping kids with sports programs and equipment.
“I’ve come across so many talented children and that was the main reason why they couldn’t play certain sports — because they couldn’t afford to,” said Gardypie.
