NEPAL – In July of 2023, Eddie Meripol, a professional dentist with an adventurous spirit, paid a sum of over $20,000 for a guided hike up Mount Everest, only to get much more than he bargained for. Buckle up for a chilling account of survival, resilience, and a run in with the stuff of legend!
The journey began with a dream – one that took shape as a guided trek to the top of the world’s highest peak. Armed with enthusiasm and a sizable wallet, Eddie embarked on this once-in-a-lifetime adventure. “It’s true that a number of people hike Everest every year, and that number has been growing in recent history, ” says Eddie in an exclusive interview, “but I wanted to see if I had what it takes to accomplish one of the toughest feats on Earth. It took about six months to acquire all the proper permits and everything, but soon enough I found myself in Nepal at a base camp in the Himalayas, waiting for my turn to begin my trek up the mountain.”
As the day of the ascent arrived, the excitement in the air was palpable. Eddie and his team set forth, spirits high and ambition higher. They had initially thought they had a window of about ten hours in which to summit and make it back to base camp before weather made the journey impossible, however, an hour and a half into the trek, Mother Nature revealed she had other plans. A wall of intense snow and wind descended upon the mountain, forcing the sherpas to make the tough call to retreat to base camp.
Eddie, fueled by an unyielding determination and a stubborn streak as unyielding as Everest itself, insisted on forging ahead. Alone.
As he climbed the icy slopes, Eddie encountered a relentless onslaught of wind and snow, challenging even the most experienced climbers. Battling the elements, Sam trudged through the snow, each step a testament to human resilience. But as he clung to a wind battered cliffside, heavy gear and oxygen tanks dangling by his side, Eddie realized continuing would likely lead to his death. Fighting against the biting winds and the sting of icy snowflakes, Eddie made the heart-wrenching decision to turn back. Little did he know, his descent would lead to an encounter of mythical proportions.
Amidst the swirling snow, a colossal figure emerged. Panic seized Eddie as he laid eyes on the legendary yeti, a creature steeped in Himalayan mystery. The monstrous silhouette cast shadows on the snowy canvas, and Eddie, could hardly believe his eyes.
“He was huge!” Eddie exclaims, “Must have been 12 feet tall, I’d say. He stood there looking through the snow for a second, then he lurched forward and dropped to all fours. I was terrified!”
The yeti roared, living up to its reputation as a fearsome creature of lore, and began to chase Eddie, a colossal game of cat and mouse amidst the peaks and valleys of Everest. Eddie, fueled by fear and adrenaline, unknowingly scrambled uphill, towards the summit with the yeti in hot pursuit.
After what seemed like hours in an all out sprint with the legendary beast in tow, Eddie suddenly found himself at the pinnacle of Everest. Gasping for breath, Eddie turned to face his gigantic pursuer, expecting the worst.
A tense standoff ensued as Eddie and the yeti locked eyes. To Eddie’s surprise, the mythical creature now showed no signs of aggression. In fact, it simply nodded its head, almost as if acknowledging the audacity of the lone climber.
As Eddie sat back on a stone that overlooked a landscape shrouded in white, the figure of the yeti disappeared into the blinding winds. The winds soon yielded, and the snow let up just enough to grace Eddie with a truly magnificent view of the peaks and valleys, as the whole world outstretched below him. As he triumphantly surveyed the expansive vista, he noticed a large figure trudging through the snow below, moving away from the summit. The figure stopping for a moment to look back and give a quick wave before vanishing again into folklore.
In retrospect, Eddie may not have been “yeti” for the challenge, but just when he needed it, it seems he got some help from a very unexpected source. “I honestly think he was trying to get me to face my fears and get up that mountain.” Eddie says, “And most importantly, it really happened. Anyone that tells you they found me unconscious about five minutes after I refused to head back to base camp is just a dirty sherpa liar. Worst $20,000 I’ve ever spent. That summit was great though, and a yeti was there. Pretty crazy huh?”
Jessica Cortez-Hill
