In a remarkable display of determination and resilience, 59-year-old Vasanthi Cheruveettil, a tailor from Kerala, successfully trekked to the Everest Base Camp without any formal training. Relying on YouTube tutorials and self-preparation, she reached the South Base Camp on February 23 after starting her trek from Surke, Nepal, on February 15.
With no prior trekking experience, Cheruveettil trained for four months by walking for three hours daily and practising in trekking boots. In the evenings, she covered 5–6 km with her companions. To prepare for interactions during her journey, she also learned Hindi. Watching YouTube videos helped her understand basic trekking techniques, route navigation, and survival skills.
Her journey was filled with obstacles. A cancelled flight to Lukla due to bad weather forced her to take an alternative route via Surke, assisted by a German couple she met in Nepal. Along the way, she encountered trekkers from across the world, including a father-son duo from Thiruvananthapuram.
Navigating steep climbs, narrow paths, and deep ravines, she trekked for six to seven hours daily, taking frequent breaks to manage exhaustion. “I walked slowly, using a stick, and paused every few steps to take deep breaths to avoid shivering and fatigue,” she shared with Manorama.
Cheruveettil’s journey gained widespread attention after a photo of her waving the Indian flag at Everest Base Camp, dressed in a traditional Kasavu saree, went viral. This was not her first solo adventure—last year, she travelled alone to Thailand after her friends backed out, doubting whether a woman could undertake such a journey.
Financing her travels through her tailoring business, with occasional support from her sons Vineeth and Vivek, she now has her sights set on her next challenge: trekking the Great Wall of China.
