Pay It Forward on Top of the World
Friday, April 19, 2013 at 10:15AM How cool is this? I mean, really. How cool?
This is a photo of a Pay It Forward bracelet, the brainchild of our Pay It Forward Foundation president Charley Johnson, about to make its way to the top of Mt. Everest.
The climber’s name is Elia Saikaly. This is his 8th expedition to the Himalayas and his 5th attempt on Everest. Elia is the lead high altitude cinematographer on a 12-Part television series called "Arabs on top of the World".
Check him out HERE and let's all cheer Elia on in this amazing quest.
Catherine
Here is a working link to the Facebook page mentioned in the comment below. And another very cool PIF pic of the Police Chief of Ottawa, on the job with his Pay It Forward bracelet:
https://www.facebook.com/pifottawa
Catherine
Follow-up to the world's coolest image: Elia Saikaly doing Skype sessions from his "office" in front of the Khumbu Icefall, Mt Everest Base Camp, wearing the PayIt Forward bracelet that will ascend the mountain with him.
Reader Comments (9)
THANK you for posting this about my sweet man and partner Elia. I can't wait to share just how and WHEN he will pay his bracelet forward on the mountain. Super appreciate the blog and the post ...just so you know this picture was sent to me titled "Good Luck Charms" he had them all blessed at the puja ceremony for a safe journey! Thank you for keeping him in your prayers!
Amanda
https://www.facebook.com/pifottawa
I'm a big armchair fan of Himalayan hiking. I've probably read 20 books and seen 10 movies on Everest alone. I'm a big hiker, but would never try something at this level. I got into it far too late, and I'm not too good at extreme altitude. But I can't get enough of following the efforts of others on journeys like this, so this is particularly exciting to me.
I am gathering from the picture that he is climbing from the North side, the Tibetan side. Is that correct?
You can follow his journey REAL time here ... http://www.eliasaikaly.com/ The picture was taken at Base Camp. He is starting the rotation up the mountain tomorrow C1, C2 etc ... summit window is end of May ... Amanda
VERY cool!
I'd so love to go up there, but there's no way it's going to happen.
No, t's not going to happen for me, either. Even those treks to base camp go to a higher altitude than I ever want to go. I trekked to over 14,000 feet when I did the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu, and I promised myself, never again.
A currently lack of energy and a fear of heights would stop me, though I would truely love to go to base camp.
I was at base camp last May 12 with my 2 children (21 and 18) were part of the Huma Challenge with the Sir Edmund HillAry Foundation. An experience of a lifetime one I will cherish forever. Base camp was no walk I the park and I can't imagine a summit. Bless Elia may he be safe, being following is blog the entire time. We at the Foundation are very proud of all his efforts. Namaste
I'm a huge hiker and outdoor enthusiast, Patti, and Base Camp is way over my head. Literally. I hiked to 14,000 feet in Peru once and promised myself I'd never go that high again. So I have great respect for people who can trek in the Himalayas--even in the parts that the pros consider "low."