Dave was amazing as always. Super knowledgeable and very attentive to changing conditions and making sure we were all comfortable with difficult terrain. Successful summit of Granite Peak, which is no small feat especially in the weather/snow conditions we were in. Dave has a cool, confident demeanor which can in turn install confidence in the climbers he is leading. Will 100% climb with Dash again!

Overall, I had a great time traveling with Dash Adventures. However, due to some unforeseen planning challenges, our women’s group was not entirely separate and ended up being combined with a men’s group. Thankfully, the men in the group were friendly and easy to get along with, but this created some confusion for me. I felt I didn’t connect with the women in the way I had hoped. This was my first experience on an all-women’s tour, and I was really looking forward to it. For some, this mix of groups could be intimidating, especially when participating in adventurous activities. I struggled a bit with finding my pace, deciding who to talk to in the evenings, and where to focus my emotional energy. While I fully understand the reasoning behind the change, I still felt disappointed about not having a women-only experience. In adventure travel, it’s important to stay as close to the original itinerary as possible when changes occur. Nevertheless, I want to emphasize that the Dash guides were compassionate, understanding, friendly, and knowledgeable about trekking and mountaineering, which significantly contributed to the positive aspects of the trip. Dash provided a fantastic itinerary, selected excellent overnight teahouses and lunch stops, and even offered an unexpected and unique camping experience at base camp. I have many wonderful memories and truly enjoyed my time with the entire group. Our partnering organization, Expedition Himalaya, was exceptional, and I want to especially recognize our female Sherpa, Ang Doma Sherpa. I had the honor of walking back from Everest Base Camp (EBC) with her and spent three enjoyable days in her company. She was kind and knowledgeable and ensured that I made it back to Lukla safely. Even while feeling under the weather, she maintained her pace and positive attitude. She was a great ambassador for both Nepal and Expedition Himalaya. The entire crew at Expedition Himalaya is wonderful! I got to know several of them and appreciated their passion for the mountains and their culture in Nepal. A few tips: If you are planning to travel to Nepal and EBC, make sure to bring some emergency cash. A helicopter ride out, if needed due to illness or exhaustion, can cost up to $600 per person. I was fortunate enough to walk out, but others did have to pay for additional travel. Tipping is appreciated by everyone in Nepal. Before leaving the airport, make sure to get some local currency and then exchange the rest near your hotel. This way, you’ll have cash available to tip your cab driver and anyone assisting you with transportation to and from the airport. Everyone at the the hotel and along the way in addition to your guides like to be tipped.

Dave and Shelley organized a great trip that created a wonderful and true challenge that many of us were seeking. They managed the planning and logistics of sleeping and eating well, they have a terrific local team that helped quick responses to unpredictable weather events and kept us on track, and they prepared us ahead and during the trek with great advice to manage the physical demands and enable the extraordinary visit to Everest Base Camp. Traveling with them was like traveling with friends -- friends who've done this before and want you to succeed!