October 22, 2007

Yesterday, we accomplished our goal of throwing the highest concert in history at the top of Khalapatar. We celebrated that evening with delicious potatoes and lentle soup that we tried to forget that we’d had every night of the trek. After dinner we all collapsed to an early sleep as we had the longest day of trekking thus far on our journey.

This morning we had planned an “optional” trek to the base camp of Everest. We had over half the team bow out due to altitude-related illnesses that had stricken us overnight as we slept at 17,000 feet with a 28 degree temperature. Thankfully, I was not one of them and I am so thankful to have joined the other 15 on this day hike to base camp and back.

As for how to explain the visuals along the way, there are simply no more words… We’ve already worn out “amazing”, “unbelievable”’, “spectacular”, “fantastic”, “dude”, and of course, “incredible”.

The difference between this day and all the other hikes is that the terrain turned from dirt and fallen boulders to ice and millions of excavated sediment rock from deep under the earth. Thanks to a quick geology lesson from our 4-time base-camper, Alan Hobson, we learned how the Khumbu Ice Fall slides down between the west shoulder of Mt. Everest and Mt. Nuptse which sits just adjacent. The ice fall is just that… A huge slide of ice in a state of crumble down 2,000 feet at a 40 degree incline. At the base of the mountain the ice crushes into the ground to form the khumbu glacier which plows through the valley for miles pushing sediment rock from deep in the earth up to the surface of the glacier and provides us with enough rock and ice to trek all the way from Gorekshep to the the base of the ice fall itself… Otherwise known as the base camp to Mt. Everest. After trekking 3 hours on the glacier to our destination, we took photos, hung out prayer flags for our loved ones, and sang a fist pumping version of “Knocking on Heaven’s Door” with Mike, Nick and Jamie leading us in unison. Our base camp celebration marked yet another accomplishment that Mike Peters and company had set for themselves less than 12 months ago.

On a personal level, today’s trek was the most meaningful to me. You see, I am not a cancer survivor, I have not lost a loved one to cancer, I am not a professional musician, I am not an acclaimed producer or camera man, I am not even an international travel enthusiast. Yet when James came to me with his vision of Everest Rocks and the Love Hope Strength foundation, I was called to get involved and I wasn’t sure why. I just knew that James and Mike were good people who had survived cancer and wanted to share their message of Love Hope and Strength with the world. So here I am on the other side of the world, climbing to nearly 19,000 feet in a culture that I know nearly nothing about. Honestly, I feel a little out of place in this group of 37 others who had a clear reason for being here as either cancer survivors or the loved ones of cancer victims. I felt that my only real connection to the group was a love for music and all that it can accomplish.

So on today’s hike over the Khumbu Glacier, I was about 50 yards behind Mike Peters as I heard him telling stories of of how he fell in love with music and was called to make it his life. So, with very little oxygen to help me, I hurried up the path till I was just a few paces behind him. I love rock-n-roll stories and I wasn’t about to miss this opportunity to hear some stories from one of my rock heroes. As we climbed through ice craters, Mike was talking about how the Alarm got their first big break in 1981 when they were asked to play as a supporting act for U2 on the last night of their October album tour. Without a true record under their belt, The Alarm took the stage in London to a sold out crowd of 3,000 people who had virtually never heard or seen the band. As The Alarm began to play, the anxious crowd of U2 fans started throwing coins at the Mike with impatience… It was then that Bono himself walked out on stage and put his arm around Mike during the chorus. Suddenly the coins stopped landing on stage and the cheers started to heighten. The Alarm was on the map.

As the afternoon sun heated the ice on our trek back to our starting point, I decided to hang back from the group and spend this last hike alone. I thought about Mike’s story and how it relates to what Love Hope Strength is all about. Everyone in life faces adversity. Whether it’s being stricken with a deadly disease, losing your job, getting your heart broken, or facing a crowd of 3,000 impatient U2 fans as an unknown opening act. We ALL need that arm around our shoulder. We all need that person who says everything will be alright. We all need that motivation from a friend to get out of bed in the morning when there seems to be no reason to. We all need that hug that says “I’m here for you”. We all need to hear “good job, I’m proud of you”. When Mike sings “Give me Love, Give Me Hope, Give me Strength”, It’s not just an acknowledgement of three great words to live by, it’s a call to action. We all need it, and we need it from each other.

We all need Love Hope and Strength and I am glad to be a part of an organization that is doing everything they can to give it.

Aden Holt
Love Hope Strength
October 22, 2007
Gorekshep, Nepal
17,200 ft, 5,242 m

How does one follow a day like yesterday? Perhaps one of the most amazing days of all our lives. Where we stood as one, high on top of the world, celebrating life! Remembering those who have passed away from cancer, friends and family who fight cancer daily and the survivors on our trip who took a brilliant stand and showed the world that together we can overcome this disease.

Have you heard the saying that their are no coincidences in life? That life is synchronistic? That all things happen for a reason? I believe this more than ever through this amazing journey. Today was unique, in that half of our LHS Army opted to trek to the Everest Base Camp, 7 hour return hike. The rest of us, like myself were nursing various illnesses and stayed back. Kudos to our amazing production team as always. As the base camp crew slowing started to trickle in from a long hike, we were also joined by many others. A vibrant young lady from Canada named Sue approached us. She too was at base camp today. She proceeded to tell us the story of a very special person in her life who died from cancer, her second mother. Today sue fulfilled the wishes of her angelic mother by returning her prayer flags to the base camp of Everest, 5 years after her passing. As she tied the flags off, Mike, Nick and Jamie began playing Knocking on Heavens Door. What a beautiful, synchronistic moment. These flags had been prayed apon by a world of people. Sue felt as if she had not only fulfilled her 2nd mothers wishes but also those of so many people who loved and cared for this special woman.

Every moment on this journey is pure perfection. Offering a deeper insight into who we are at the core and why we are here. There is such beauty in such basic and simple events. Today I sat in the dinning hall and wrote for hours in my journal. Alex and Tom were busy preparing footage for the ever growing list of media requests. Stephanie was snuggled up in a thick blanket either reading or napping. Shannon was busy working on the Mac. Cy and Glen were quietly strumming and singing, in another corner with an occasional porter or Sherpa listening in mesmerized by their melodies. It was pure bliss, pure peace and I felt so blessed to be a part of this amazing foundation. I know in my heart we are making a great difference. We come from Canada, America, Australia, England and France for this journey to raise awareness about cancer and subsequently raise money for the cause. We meet cancer on every mountain we climb, in every place we gather. Our musicians have player their hearts out and we have cried our hearts out. Listen up world and join us in our fight. There is a reason you are following our journey, as there are no coincidences in life.

Christine Allen
Love Hope Strength
October 22, 2007
Gorekshep, Nepal
17,200 ft, 5,242 m