Traveler Jim Vanderaa to Discuss Adventures on Everest

At the next Sierra Club monthly program, adventurer and traveler Jim Vanderaa will share his photos and video clips of his incredible trek to Mount Everest Base Camp in October 2014. With only himself and his Sherpa guide, his adventure took 16 days and covered 92 miles. His route followed the Gokyo Lakes and the Cho La Pass, rather than the more usual one up the Khumbu Valley. The program starts at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 4 at the San Bernardino County Museum, 2024 Orange Tree Lane in Redlands. Vanderaa’s presentation will cover everything he experienced on his adventure, including the Sherpa people and villages he visited, the Everest sunrise from the summit of Gokyo Ri (17,575 feet), traversing Cho La Pass (17,782 feet) in a snowstorm, the Everest sunset from the summit of Kala Patthar (18,514 feet), Everest Base Camp (17,598 feet) and Nangkartshang Peak (16,732 feet). Vanderaa will also show his photos and videos of Kathmandu prior to the city’s devastation in the earthquake this April. Vanderaa explains that this trek is far more accessible than people realize — physically, logistically, and economically. He encourages others to make a trek. He will provide valuable tips to anyone thinking about this challenging adventure. Born in Montreal, Canada, he immigrated to the U.S. at the age of 28 and lived in Colorado and New Hampshire before moving to Southern California 26 years ago. He is married with children, 11 and 14, and lives in Upland. So that he could enjoy new adventures, Vanderaa retired in 2012 at age 54 from a construction business he owned and operated for 23 years. Vanderaa is a regular guest speaker on a variety of topics at local high schools and vocational training centers. He coaches youth basketball and baseball. An avid hiker and adventurer, he loves the Canyonlands and Red Rock Country of southern Utah. He hopes to climb Kilimanjaro in September. All are welcome to attend the meeting.