MANDY MOORE: Climbs to Everest Base Camp

Written by KingCnote on May 29, 2019

Mandy Moore feels she’s on the top of the world — literally.

The This Is Us actress climbed to base camp of Mount Everest. That’s higher than any spot in the lower 48 States. This staging area for Everest climbers is nearly 18,000 feet above sea level. At that altitude, oxygen is limited.

Mandy Moore Instagrammed, (quote) “Breathing is THE vital key in the fight against altitude sickness. It’s also a major takeaway that I will be employing back to the real world. Whether I’m in the midst of a tough workout or a weird day. Mind blown.”

The summit of Everest rises about 12,000 feet above base camp. Nearly 400 people obtained permits to climb to the top. That’s too many, some say, which has led to a spate of deaths on Everest. Crazy as it sounds, there’s a human traffic jam at the summit, which is about the size of a ping-pong table. Climbers spend precious minutes to pose for Instagram selfies. (People)

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There is so much magic in these mountains. They represent adventure in the grandest form and in a language all their own. The idea of standing at the base of the world's tallest peak with @eddiebauer, a brand that has been outfitting record-setting climbers since the beginning – from the first American ascent in 1963 (Jim Whittaker) to our guide @melissaarnot, the first American Woman to ascend and descend Everest without oxygen, is truly beyond my wildest imagination. Traversing this terrain has its challenges. Breathing at altitude, for instance, is not easy. One of the greatest gifts/lessons that Melissa simultaneously bestowed on us during this trek was the fine art of pressure breathing. It makes all the difference as you climb higher. It’s essentially a big inhale and a sharp, forceful exhale, like you’re blowing out a candle across the room, to open up your lungs, allowing you to use more oxygen, etc… Besides hydration and staying nourished, breathing is THE vital key in the fight against altitude sickness. It’s also a major takeaway that I will be employing back to the real world whether I’m in the midst of a tough workout or a weird day. Mind blown. So as we weaved around the Himalayas from 14,400ft-16,200ft-17,600ft: this particular technique was essential in propelling us forward. Needless to say, this part of the world holds a very special place in @melissaarnot’s heart so her willingness to share it, as well as her time, knowledge and endless trove of stories were so appreciated by all of us lucky enough to walk alongside her this past week. Her belief in our abilities to keep moving and ultimately make it to the base of the Mighty, Mighty Mt. Everest was so powerful. Spoiler alert: we made it!!! It’s impossible to be lucky enough to arrive at the foot of these mammoth peaks and not be attuned to the palpable energy of all of those who came before and lost their lives in these mountains. The wave of emotion: respect, reverence, appreciation….that washed over us as we took in the prayer flags and yellow domed tents of basecamp AND sat on the rocks regarding the chortens that dot the hillside of the Tukla Pass the day before, profoundly

A post shared by Mandy Moore (@mandymooremm) on May 27, 2019 at 3:15am PDT