GRWM Everest-style—day before departure
I’m told the cool kids do get-ready-with-me videos. Having zero social media accounts of my own, here is a GenX and Boomer-friendly version fully written out about what I did the day before heading to Nepal, which was fortunately a Saturday:
Maximized my chances of remaining healthy throughout 31 hours of flying and corresponding exposure to an unwashed mass of humanity on those stuffy and grimy planes.
I made our usual daily breakfast (green smoothies, and black coffee for me/latte with Ceylon cinnamon for her—shoutout to Stumptown’s organic whole beans on both counts). Hit an ATM to pick up cash for tipping and incidental expenses, grabbed the world’s worst passport-style photos from an office supply store—wherein the likely-stoned teenaged employee captured me looking like an exhausted terrorist—to submit with the visa application when I arrive in Kathmandu, and filled up the car with gas so my wife is set for the first week I’m away.
No workout today—rest and recovery mode.
Took the wife’s advice and ran to a local wellness center for an IV drip of two saline bags to which we added amino acids, a comprehensive mineral blend with electrolytes, B12, Zinc, and Vitamin C boosters for hydration, muscle recovery, and immune support.
On a related note, I swear by and should get commission from recommending (but haven’t figured out how to get a nickel for everyone I tell or some kind of sponsorship—nonetheless, you’re welcome!) Triquetra™ Nasomin® Nasal Iodine Spray, which is antiseptic and contains Iodine and Fulvic Acid that together neutralize germs inside your nose. I use it daily and rarely ever get sick—even with my hectic travel schedule and close interactions/handshaking with people who are invariably coughing, sneezing, sniffling, and promising that “it’s just allergies.”
Left: Extra credit and props to Julie Smith (pictured here) for properly affixing the custom patches to my summit suit and down parkas.
Right: Robert getting the heaviest duty ultimate IV drip to boost immunity and general health before Everest.
Wife prepared my last full meal at home, which I was secretly hoping would be a giant dry aged grilled steak, but turned out to be an extra-large arugula salad with uncured bacon, dried cranberries, roasted pistachios, goat cheese, and balsamic vinaigrette. She said I’ll thank her later. I don’t tell her I have heard rumors that what people miss and crave most on Everest is fresh salads... (Keep that information to yourself. She has a big enough head already.) We savored the good red wine, shared a laugh about some old mountain stories I’ve repeated too many times, and enjoyed a slice of her delicious homemade pumpkin pie (yes, I know it’s spring, not autumn—don’t care—love it year round).
Bedazzled my puffy yellow summit suit and two other down jackets with fancy embroidered patches. Massive appreciation for Julie Fudge Smith, author of The Beast Keepers, world traveler, Your Family Dog podcaster, retired dog trainer, and friend who came rushing over and spent four hours straight with no food or drink all evening hand-sewing these branding pieces to my mountain apparel—couldn’t look as snazzy on Everest without her capable needlework. Everyone, say it with me: thanks Julie!
Said snuggled dog — Beckett.
Reviewed my gear list a final time and double checked the organization and contents of my bags to ensure everything necessary for two months away and the most important expedition of my life was indeed packed.
Snuggled with the dog and wife, in that order, and crashed.
