The Team Behind Mera
Mingma Sherpa walks along a narrow trail in the Nepal Himalayas beside a large rock carved with Tibetan prayer script and prayer flags overhead. A blend of cultural tradition, leadership, and movement that defines Himalayan expeditions.
My worldwide adventure does not happen in isolation — it always requires a team.
Sometimes that team is friends and family. Other times, especially in the mountains, it is specialized support. While I have extensive experience in the outdoors, trail finding, and climbing, Nepal requires working with licensed guides due to terrain, unclear trails, and rapidly changing weather conditions.
I also believe deeply in supporting the local tourism economy; one that has allowed me to experience so much over the past five years. Since my Manaslu hike a couple of years ago, I made the intentional decision to not only work with a guide, but also hire a porter. As I resume my journey as a mountaineer in a body that is still progressing toward the strength this sport demands, being able to reach altitude safely with the support of a skilled team has been invaluable.
I interviewed several companies before selecting Highland Expeditions for the Mera Peak expedition. Communication, knowledge, values, and price all mattered.
Our Sherpa mountain guide, Mingma Sherpa, was absolutely exceptional: caring, patient, and deeply experienced. A former Buddhist monk, Mingma shared beautiful cultural insights during temple visits and personally assembled a kind, capable porter team. We truly became a small unit climbing together.
His expertise was so evident that even members of other expeditions sought his guidance beyond their own teams. During an icy section of the route, Mingma assisted stranded tourists who had refused to wear spikes — giving them his own, and navigating the slope himself using socks over his shoes with remarkable skill and calm.
Despite the severe weather and storm that ultimately ended our expedition, Mingma remained positive, focused, and supportive throughout.
This is the kind of team we always strive for: professional, aligned, and human at the core! A true reflection of the Simplify & Summit™ philosophy: focus on what matters, build the right support, and move forward together.
