The husband and wife climbed Imja Tse, also known as Island Peak, a mountain in the Himalayas of eastern Nepal near Mount Everest, the highest mountain on Earth.
The Hudsons began hiking on March 11, and returned home on March 31. On a scale of 1 to 10, Kathy Hudson ranks it as a 9 because she considers it a journey that she’s always wanted to do. Scott Hudson also ranked it the same.
"A trip like this is fantastic for the experience," he stated in an e-mail. "It’s not always easy or comfortable or 'fun.’ This trip is about the challenge. We have never been anywhere like it and the payback for your efforts is great."
The couple learned about the Island Peak adventure from Gary Scott, a college friend of Kathy Hudson who would be their guide on the journey. Scott has been to Mount Everest 36 times and, although he has never summated the peak, he’s been above 27,500 feet twice without oxygen, and holds the record for the fastest accent on Mount McKinley in Alaska.
The Hudsons were part of a group of about 20 on their Island Peak quest. Each day, they would hike no more than 1,000 feet, at Scott’s recommendation, to avoid getting altitude sickness. The group hiked about five to six hours a day and eight hours on a few days. Of the estimated 20 in the group, only one left after contracting altitude sickness.
On the way to Island Peak, the group crossed Mount Everest Base Camp, an elevation of about 19,000 feet. On the day they were to travel to Mount Everest Base Camp, Kathy Hudson developed altitude sickness.
"It was emotional," she said in a telephone interview. "It made me cry because that was the thing I wanted to do most and I couldn’t do it." Scott Hudson stayed with his wife for about 20 minutes before joining the group. After a short rest, she continued.
The group successfully reached Mount Everest Base Camp, but a few elderly members could not make it by the noon deadline.
The group divided, with the Hudsons and eight others going on to Island Peak’s Base Camp. Of the 10, only three summated Island Peak. The Hudsons reached about 19,000 feet. For Kathy Hudson, her dream was fulfilled.
"I think that’s why I got so emotional when I thought I wasn’t going to make it because we had come such a long way," Kathy Hudson said.
"We had flown halfway around the world and then to get so close and have my body shut down was very emotional. But I made it and so I’ve fulfilled that dream I had."
The natives also made the trip memorable, the Hudsons said. "The people are so genuine," Scott Hudson stated. "They seem to truly enjoy themselves and want you to share in that also. They work hard to make you happy. They have very little, and find happiness in a simple life. We can learn a lot from them."
Scott Hudson said he’d take the Island Peak journey again, but only if his wife wants to and Kathy Hudson said she’d do it again if it were an all expense paid trip. It was $3,500 per person and an additional $2,000 to $3,000 for a 30-hour plane flight.
Scott Hudson encourages others to go after their once-in-a-lifetime journey.
"I saw reasonably fit people go way out of their box on this trip. They were beyond what they thought they could do, but with great attitudes they just did it," he stated in an e-mail.
"If you’ll just push yourself and continue to challenge yourself in life, you can do great things. Just don’t ever give up!"