DURHAM, N.C. (Diya TV) — Monika Anand, a 56-year-old assistant research practice manager at Duke University, recently completed a grueling 14-day guided trek to Everest Base Camp in Nepal. The experience tested her limits, both physically and mentally, and left her with a newfound sense of peace and accomplishment.
Anand and her husband, Mukesh, joined a group of 28 hikers in late April. The couple, both in their 50s and of Indian origin, began their journey in Lukla, Nepal, which sits at 9,383 feet. Over two weeks, they climbed more than 8,000 feet to reach Everest Base Camp, located at 17,598 feet.
“The air got thinner with every step,” Anand said. “You would walk four or five steps and have to stop to breathe.”
Despite often trailing behind the group, Anand kept going. During one difficult stretch, Mukesh encouraged her by saying, “Come on, the Blue Devils never give up!” She smiled and replied, “Yep, Blue Devils go to the end,” continuing her climb in a Duke cap.
Anand admits she and her husband don’t normally exercise much. But when they decided to join the hike in late 2023, she began preparing through Duke’s Get Moving Challenge, a workplace wellness program led by LIVE FOR LIFE. The program promotes physical activity among employees.
Anand joined the “DCI MiSTiC EmBraCers” team and began hiking every weekend at William B. Umstead State Park. Some hikes stretched to 8 miles. “I knew if my team knew about it, it would create extra motivation in my mind because I can’t let my team down,” she said.
Their tour group had recommended months of walking or jogging daily, climbing stairs, and practicing Pranayama breathing techniques to get ready for the intense journey.
Even with preparation, the high altitude proved tough. By the time Anand reached base camp, her oxygen level had dropped to 64%. A helicopter ride back down, dropping 3,000 feet in elevation, brought her levels back to normal.
“Whatever we heard about what it takes to do the EBC, it was very different in reality,” she said.
Conditions during the trek were rough. Temperatures dropped as low as 7 degrees Fahrenheit. Many nights were spent in tea houses with no electricity, heat, or basic amenities. Anand described it as “like surviving on a cold planet surrounded by ruggedly majestic mountains.”
Each day, the terrain changed. “Every single day the terrain was different, more beautiful than the last one, less and less oxygen, and colder,” she wrote in an email to her Get Moving Challenge team. The group hiked through deep valleys and breathtaking ridges, often walking 8 to 12 hours each day.
For the Anands, the journey was more than physical—it was emotional and spiritual. “There comes a point in the trek when it’s just you and the mountains,” said Mukesh. “You don’t think about anything else. It’s kind of spiritual.”
Monika agreed. “Touching that rock filled me with an inner peace that I have never felt before,” she said, recalling the moment she reached Everest Base Camp.
Now back in Durham, she holds onto that feeling. “I get speechless remembering how beautiful it was,” she said. “And remembering the beauty of the human connection.”
Anand’s story has inspired many at Duke. Her determination, despite limited experience with fitness, shows the power of setting goals and staying motivated. Her connection to the Duke Blue Devils and the Get Moving Challenge helped push her through some of the toughest moments on the trail.
For Anand, the mountains taught her more than just how to keep moving forward—they taught her about strength, connection, and resilience. “Now that I’m back,” she said, “I hold onto the peace and the lessons the mountains gave me.”
