Indian-Origin Boy, 6, Becomes Youngest Singaporean To Reach Everest Base
The Singapore Book of Records has recognised Indian-born six-year-old Om Madan Garg for becoming the youngest Singaporean to complete the Everest Base Camp trek in Nepal. In October, Om travelled with his parents during a 10-day period, trekking 65 kilometres to the south base camp in Nepal, which is located at a height of 5,364 metres.
The adventurous youngster is no stranger to travel; ever since he was just two and a half months old, his parents have taken him on backpacking trips to Vietnam, Thailand, and Laos.
With the help of a guide and two porters, Om, his mother Gayatri Mahendram, 39, and parents Mayur Garg, 38, and Gayatri Garg, 39, began their 10-day trek on September 28.
The entire trip was chronicled in seven parts on the family’s travel channel on YouTube, The Brave Tourist.
Om and his parents were on a once-in-a-lifetime excursion, and as the going got tough on the crooked and rough pathways up to the Everest Base Camp, lollipops, raisins, and cookies kept Om going.
Mayur, a senior business analyst who enjoys mountain climbing and has scaled summits in Tanzania, Russia, and Indonesia, had visited Everest Base Camp in November 2021 and felt a family trip there would be enjoyable. The family made it a point to stay active every day for six months ahead to the trip in order to get ready for it. They also viewed YouTube videos of other trekkers who had documented their route.Even for adults, the high-altitude hike’s elevation rise of roughly 2,500 m is difficult. The group left the Nepalese hamlet of Lukla, which is located 2,860 metres above sea level, and travelled to the Sherpa capital of Namche Bazaar (3,440 metres) and the frozen lake bed of Gorakshep (5,164 metres), all of which are on the way to the Everest Base Camp (5,364 m).
The family’s original itinerary was for a 13-day hike so they could cover 5 km per day at a leisurely pace. But because of the severe weather, their helicopter trip to Lukla’s Tenzing-Hillary Airport, renowned as the world’s most perilous airport, was postponed for two days.
Picture Courtesy: Google/images are subject to copyright
