TALES FROM THE TRAIL: ADVENTURES WITH ALL HANDS AND HEARTS
ANNAPURNA BASE CAMP TREK
MARCH 21, 2023
“This trek with All Hands and Hearts is a travel dream come true. Raising funds for a cause I believe in while having so much fun as a gift to myself.”
Janet, Annapurna Base Camp Trekker
WHAT ARE ADVENTURES WITH ALL HANDS AND HEARTS?
Adventures with All Hands and Hearts (AHAH) gives you the opportunity to be part of an amazing, once in a lifetime experience as you help communities recover after disasters strike. We take care of all the logistics, allowing you to focus on raising funds to help build brighter futures.
Watch the video below to learn more about Adventures with All Hands and Hearts.
WHAT IS THE ANNAPURNA BASE CAMP (ABC) TREK?
All Hands and Hearts partnered with Steep Adventures to bring those with a heart for adventure to Annapurna Base Camp in October 2022.
This challenging hike brought trekkers to an elevation of 13,500 feet as they traveled approximately 50 miles on foot together. Each member of this exclusive group committed to prepare physically, covered the cost of their own trek and airfare and fundraised a minimum of $5,000 in support of All Hands and Hearts’ earthquake relief efforts in Nepal.
This incredible team raised over $45,000 to support our work in Nepal. These vital funds enabled AHAH to reconstruct and expand the capacity of Dudhauli Health Post and supported our Shree Janaprabhat Ni Ma Vi school rebuild project in Sindhuli, Nepal.
ASIA: THIS JOURNEY REOPENED THE DOORS OF THE WORLD TO ME
“My name is Asia Baez, I’m 27 years old and I’m from Cranston, RI (USA).
I decided to join this adventure because it was an opportunity to try something I wouldn’t have the experience or confidence to just set out and do alone and the thought of doing it alongside a group of people who were willing to participate in support of AHAH was particularly appealing. All Hands and Hearts has this way of drawing out the most interesting, enthusiastic and inspiring individuals and I looked forward to getting to share such a unique experience with what I was sure would be an eclectic group of people.
Completing this journey was the kind of experience that reopened the doors of the world and reminded me of all there is to do and see – and of all that I am capable of.
I would recommend participating in an AHAH adventure to absolutely anyone – regardless of age, fitness level, or prior experience. Our group was such a wonderfully motley crew of people ranging from 27 (yes, I was the youngest) to 69 years old and from all different walks of life.
One of my absolute favorite parts about the experience was getting to share it with people I otherwise probably wouldn’t even have ever met, much like on an AHAH volunteer program.
If I had to summarize the journey in two sentences they would be: “A lot of rain. The mountains were cool but the people were cooler.”
JANET: THE TREK TO ANNAPURNA WAS FILLED WITH CAMARADERIE, SUPPORT, BEAUTY AND CONNECTION
“Hello there, my name is Janet Simons Folger from Falmouth, MA and I am 68 years old.
I first got involved with All Hands and Hearts in 2018 after Hurricane Maria struck Puerto Rico.
Puerto Rico has a special place in my heart. My family and I have visited there probably 20 times over the years and it felt like it was my turn to give back.
I spent a month rebuilding the roofs and mucking and gutting storm-damaged homes to support the recovery efforts of Barranquitas. It was a life-changing experience for me. I worked with amazing people, both on the AHAH team and the local Puerto Ricans. I was treated well and empowered – that felt great. I was given excellent training and allowed to take on leadership roles, as I felt comfortable.
When the opportunity to climb Mount Kilimanjaro came along, I signed up immediately as it had been a long-term goal to climb that mountain. I am an outdoor enthusiast and I’ve had a fascination with big mountains since I was young. Unfortunately, the COVID-19 pandemic postponed the trip.
Once the world returned to the ‘new normal’, I was offered the opportunity to hike to the Annapurna Base Camp with AHAH. Because I had such a fabulous experience with AHAH volunteers and employees in my prior experiences, I had every confidence that it would be a great group to hike with. I have admired the work of AHAH in building schools in Nepal and I was excited to be a part of that program. I also have a connection to an anti-trafficking program that is working out of a remote region in Nepal, and that was even more incentive to participate.
The trek to Annapurna was filled with camaraderie, support, beauty, connection and physical output.
I don’t believe I could have done it without this group and the wonderful organization and planning that went on behind the scenes. It was a beautiful way to connect with the local culture while supporting it and having a wonderful time. There is always an enormous amount of personal growth that comes out of an experience like this.
I continue to recommend involvement with AHAH to friends and family, and would certainly recommend this type of adventure. I am single, and finding good traveling partners is key to making a trip successful. I knew that traveling with like-minded people, people who care about helping to make communities safer and healthier both at home and across the globe are the kind of people I like to hang out with and proved to be great travel companions.
This trek with All Hands and Hearts is a travel dream come true. Raising funds for a cause I believe in while having so much fun as a gift to myself.“
See you on the next Adventure with All Hands and Hearts!
