Beyond Everest Base Camp: Ethan’s Mission to Give Back
Beyond Everest Base Camp: Ethan’s Mission to Give Back
At just 15 years old, Ethan Ong did more than trek to Everest Base Camp—he made a powerful impact before even stepping foot on the trail. Ahead of his Rugged Luxury Everest Base Camp Trek and Stay, Ethan raised over $9,200 USD for the Tendi Sherpa Foundation, showing that generosity and purpose have no age limit.
Instead of just focusing on the adventure ahead, Ethan made a deliberate choice to give back to the communities that make journeys like his possible. His donation helps support the health, education, and livelihoods of Sherpa families across Nepal—and it speaks volumes about the kind of trekker he’s becoming.
Tell us about your experience on the Everest Base Camp trek. Why did you choose this adventure, and what has been your favorite moment?
The Everest Base Camp trek is a wonderful adventure. It’s been an amazing experience trekking through the foothills of the Himalayas – a once-in-a-lifetime experience. I chose this adventure to bond with my awesome dad, who really wanted to come to Nepal together.
My favorite moment was an acclimatization hike to the summit of Awi Peak (5,527 meters/17,149 feet).
Editor’s Note: Awi Peak is a lesser-known but stunning trekking peak in the Khumbu region of Nepal. Our Everest Base Camp trekkers sometimes step off the main trail to summit this gem under the guidance of Big Tendi, the Technical Director of the Nepal National Mountain Guide Association, who has been guiding and climbing in the Khumbu for over 30 years. The payoff? Unbeatable views of Himalayan icons like Ama Dablam, Everest, and Lhotse—without the crowds. It’s also a fantastic way to acclimatize and build confidence at higher altitudes, all in a wilder, more peaceful setting.
Why did you want to raise money to benefit the Nepalese people as part of your adventure? What do you hope will be achieved with those funds?
As someone born into a very fortunate family, I wanted to give back to the local community [in Nepal]. Trekking through the different unique villages, you can get a clear glimpse of the lives in the community, many of whom live in a lower economic [situation].
I found out that many families have lost their [primary] breadwinner to the unforgiving conditions of the Himalayas. Children are left with [limited] access to quality education, living in unsafe environments (e.g., an open flame used for cooking indoors), and are forced to take up potentially dangerous vocations to help support their families.
I had the great privilege of meeting Tendi Sherpa during my trek. His passion for giving back to the community was a source of great inspiration. With these funds, I hope that many Sherpa children and their families can live in safer conditions, [pursuing] education, and breaking free from the poverty cycle.
Our team had the opportunity to connect directly with Tendi Sherpa to gain insight into how the funds from Ethan will be utilized. Here’s what Tendi shared with us:
The funds will be used to purchase smokeless ovens in a remote village. To date, we have supported 250 households with smokeless ovens, and still, more villages have requested the ovens. People have open-fire kitchens in their homes, and most of the houses are filled with dense smoke that leads to huge health issues for the families, and the oven makes a huge difference.
Ethan’s funds will also go into the scholarship program that supports the students who have lost their fathers due to mountaineering. I started this program in January 2025, and we have selected nine students, but we will increase as more support is needed.
CTSS is committed to promoting sustainability, in all its forms, in the communities in which we climb and trek. Economic sustainability ensures that local communities benefit fairly from the mountaineering industry. This means supporting local guides, porters, and businesses by providing fair wages, investing in local infrastructure, and fostering responsible tourism that contributes to long-term economic stability.
Discover how your registration fees help empower local communities through education.
If Ethan’s story inspires you, too, to give, you can make a donation to the Tendi Sherpa Foundation here.
Happy Nepali New Year from Everest Base Camp and the Khumbu
Happy Nepali New Year 2082 from the Khumbu Valley and Everest Base Camp! After a few days of snow (and rain down low), the skies have cleared for the New Year, and the celebrations are in full swing. Here are today’s updates from our teams:
Our Western Guided and 3 Peaks teams spent the day at Everest Base Camp, training on the lower part of the Khumbu Glacier. Our 3 Peaks team will keep their visit to our luxury Everest Base Camp brief as they soon set their eyes on their next objective, Pokalde (19,048ft/5,806m).
Today, our private climbers and Everest Base Camp trekkers from team one arrived at Everest Base Camp and started enjoying the little luxuries at camp. We believe that things like nutritious and delicious food, along with comfortable accommodations, can make or break any expedition. This idea is part of our Marginal Gains Philosophy and a cornerstone of CTSS.
Our second team of Everest Base Camp trekkers arrived in Namache today. Below are a few photos from the team courtesy of CTSS Program Manager Dani Kluberton, who is on the trek with the team.
And finally, our 40-Day Speed Ascent team enjoyed a rest day in Pheriche and will be moving to Lobuche Base Camp tomorrow. We will update the conditions on Lobuche once they are available, but we are welcoming the good weather with open arms.
Photos below courtesy of Josh McDowell, Kat Schaumburg, Jangbu Sherpa
Everest Imagery Package
Everest Imagery Package
$14,995 USD per person
For years, having professional imagery and footage captured on an Everest expedition has been cost-prohibitive. Climbers had to buy another seat on the expedition just for their photography team–paying an average of $1,000 USD per day for a high-altitude photographer/cinematographer—plus cover the costs of all post-production and editing. This totals up to a minimum cost of about $120,000 USD once you consider all the associated filming costs, permits, equipment, editing, etc.
Climbing the Seven Summits understands how much it means to our climbers to have high-quality photos and videos of their climbs, and that’s why we’ve been working to lower the barrier to entry to get these great shots. We are proud to offer a new add-on for our Everest climbers: the opportunity to engage the CTSS staff photographer/videographer, who will accompany our teams from base camp to Camp 2 on Mount Everest.
This staff photographer/cinematographer will be tasked with capturing beautiful still and moving imagery of participating individual climbers, doing 1:1 interviews, documenting the journey, and capturing the overall spirit of the expedition.
Please note that this service extends only as far as Camp 2. Beyond Camp 2, we encourage you to bring a GoPro/phone camera, etc., to continue documenting your journey to the summit.
Following the expedition, we will deliver a package of edited high-resolution photographs, as well as edit the footage into a personalized 3-5 minute film of your expedition, as precious keepsakes to send to friends and family, post on social media, and frame.
For the film, we will use the footage our cinematographer captures, along with your 1:1 interview and any footage you submit to a collective media library for inclusion in the edit.
Our expeditions are designed to be fully inclusive, except for some services/items of a personal nature, like flights, gear, and insurance. Here’s a detailed list so you know what to expect.
Included:
- Opportunity to engage with CTSS’s staff photographer/videographer
- Collection of professional photographs from the expedition
- 5+ still portraits and hero photographs of you in action
- 20-minute 1:1 interview at base camp (suggested questions will be provided, but you are welcome to add your own)
- 3-5 minute personalized video unique to you, edited from footage our team cinematographer has captured of you, your 1:1 interview, and footage you and other participating climbers submit to the media library
Excluded:
- Video edit requests. You can request these at delivery, and they will be charged per edit, with a maximum of 3 edit rounds
- Rushes (raw footage) delivery
Important note: Given the collective nature of this project, CTSS will retain the copyright of images and footage generated by the staff photographer/cinematographer but will grant usage rights.
All prices are in US dollars. All payments, once submitted, are non-refundable and non-transferable.
Due to the unique nature of filming and other unpredictable circumstances (e.g., poor weather, an early departure due to illness, etc.), guarantees beyond best efforts cannot be made as to the inclusions, quality, or quantity of the final content.
Photos Courtesy of Guy Williment
Climbing Teams Arrive at Everest Base Camp
Our Western Guided and 3 Peaks teams are at Everest Base Camp tonight with a fresh dusting of snow. Over the weekend, these teams moved from Lobuche High Camp to Everest Base Camp after deciding that the conditions above Lobuche High Camp were beyond our risk margin with a few inches of snow that quickly turned the rock slabs into an ice rink.
Everyone was in high spirits and understood that the harsh conditions weren’t worth the risk of injury, given that the benefits of acclimatization at Lobuche High Camp were our primary goal; everyone was content to mitigate that risk and head to Everest Base Camp a day early.
Our first Everest Base Camp trekking team, under Kat Schaumberg’s guidance, is at Gorakshep, which is the last village outpost on the entire trail to Everest Base Camp. Tomorrow, they will arrive at Everest Base Camp, and all are excited to reach their goal. Over the last few days, they’ve been navigating the glacial moraine in misty weather with our Sherpa guides, who know the route like the back of their hands. When the weather is socked in, it’s easy to make a wrong turn in a world of grey and white!
The Kirby family is enjoying the views at Lobuche High Camp; they will assess the conditions above High Camp tomorrow.
Our private climbers are at Lobuche Base Camp tonight and will move to Everest Base Camp tomorrow, where Chef Emma is waiting with some seriously good food–think savory pastries with fresh parmesan, truffle, and mixed mushrooms–yum!
Lower down the valley, our 40-Day Speed Ascent team flew from Kathmandu to Pheriche, having acclimated at home in their Hypoxico Altitude Training Systems tents for the past 6-8 weeks. They will rest tomorrow before moving to Lobuche Base Camp.
Our second Everest Base Camp team of trekkers flew to Lukla yesterday and were welcomed by blooming rhododendron forests on their way to Phakding, which is one of the most scenic villages on the trek. Tomorrow, they will start uphill in earnest, tackling Namche Hill, all under the guidance of Josh McDowell.
Back in Kathmandu, we bid farewell to our final Rugged Luxury team, who all reached Everest Base Camp in style. They enjoyed a city tour of the best UNESCO World Heritage sites, massages to reward tired muscles, and a 15-course degustation dinner at the famous Dwarikas. Thank you for joining us for a rugged, once-in-a-lifetime adventure!
The Magic of the Khumbu
Our second Rugged Luxury team has departed Everest Base Camp and has arrived back in Kathmandu to celebrate their successes. To kick off the celebration, we’ve organized massages at a luxury spa for the entire team to shake off any lingering aches and pains from the trek.
Our Western Guided team is doing well at Lobuche High Camp. Today, they focused on training and acclimatization. Joining them at High Camp is our 3 Peaks team, who will also summit Lobuche East who will summit Lobuche East as the first of their objectives. We’re excited for our first Himalayan summits of the season!
At Lobuche Base Camp, our private climbers and the Lobuche team continued to hone their skills and also took an acclimatization hike. After tagging High Camp, they returned to Base Camp for the evening. Tomorrow, they will move to Lobuche High Camp.
Our Everest Base Camp trekkers, under the guidance of CTSS Guide Kat, are officially above the vegetation layer and into the high mountains. Today, they took one of the most scenic acclimatization hikes above Pheriche, with beautiful views of Ama Dablam.
The pilgrimage up the Khumbu Valley is one of the most special elements of the expedition, moving closer to our goal and aligning and bonding as a team as they pull focus to all that lies ahead. Today, we are sharing a few of our favorite shots from the Khumbu that highlight the beauty, the culture, the people, and, of course, some of our favorite peaks.
Photo Credit: Guy Williment
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Teams Prepare for Lobuche East Summit Bids
Our teams are on the move today! To kick things off, our second Rugged Luxury team has settled into Everest Base Camp and participated in our beginner-friendly ice climbing clinic at the base of the Khumbu Icefall. They will close out their day with a movie in our big house and plenty of hearty food prepared by our chef, Emma Lawrenson.
Lobuche is the place to be today for our Western Guided, 3 Peaks, and Lobuche teams, along with our private climbers. Our Western Guided team moved to Lobuche High Camp, where they will acclimatize and train before making a summit bid, while our 3 Peaks team stayed at Lobuche Base Camp for more skill training before heading onward to High Camp. Our private climbers and the Lobuche team joined the 3 Peaks team at Base Camp today, and tomorrow they will take an acclimatization hike to High Camp and then return to Base Camp for a skills clinic.
The rest of our teams and climbers in the Khumbu made their way to Pheriche today, including our Everest Base Camp trekkers, the Kirby Family, and Camp 3 climber Doug.
Back in Kathmandu, our logistics teams are gearing up for the arrival of our second team of Everest Base Camp trekkers and our 40-day Speed Ascent climbers.
Today’s photos are courtesy of CTSS Guide Ashish Gurung. He is guiding one of our private Everest/Lhotse climbers along with his wife, who is joining us for the trek to Everest Base Camp. We are proud at CTSS to be able to offer customized itineraries for any of our climbers. If you want to add on another peak, bring a friend or family member along, or even make sure you capture these moments in video and film, we’ve got you covered.
Mike Bennett’s Road to Everest
Mike Bennett’s Road to Everest
As spring unfolds in the Himalayas, our Western Guided Everest Team is making its way toward the world’s highest peak, guided by a team of world-class guides. Among them is Mike Bennett, a U.S. Marine Corps veteran, Leave No Trace Master Educator, and all-around mountain athlete with deep experience across North and South America and Antarctica.
Mike’s journey to Everest didn’t start in the Himalayas. It began in the forests and fields of upstate New York, sharpened through years of military service, and matured on the glaciated peaks of the Pacific Northwest, Alaska, South America, and even Antarctica. Mike is an accomplished guide and mountaineer with summits of Baker, Vinson, and Aconcagua, and although his climbing resume is long—his aspirations are still growing.
Just like many of us, Mike has his own big mountain dreams. We decided to sit down with him before his bucket-list Everest expedition to talk about everything from Mount Baker to Aconcagua.
How did your experience in the Marine Corps shape your approach to mountaineering and guiding in the mountains today?
My time in the military has proven to be very valuable for transitioning into the realm of mountain climbing. Many of the qualities and characteristics that make for a solid Marine also make for a fairly hardy mountain climber. I find that my past experience of serving has given me a great tolerance for many of mountaineering’s challenging aspects, allowing me to endure many of the difficulties that are innate to climbing. Although not directly analogous, there is a certain necessity of grit to perform well in both disciplines, something I seem to do fairly well.
Vinson is one of the most remote of the Seven Summits, and you recently guided our first team of the season. Can you share a moment from that expedition that was particularly rewarding?
Vinson Massif is a remarkably unique and beautiful landscape that I feel very fortunate to have been able to experience. Climbing in Antarctica adds a level of beauty and intensity to a large undertaking that is expedition climbing. Despite the challenges, Vinson proved to be incredibly rewarding both in natural beauty and climbing experience. As a guide, it was particularly memorable to have the entire team summit on my first expedition. It’s always a great feeling to get folks to the top, but it was even more special to do so on one of the Seven Summits in such a remote and beautiful part of the world.
You’re en route to guide on Everest but just finished guiding on Aconcagua, which is notorious for its extreme weather and heavy load carries. What advice would you give a climber preparing to take on the Stone Sentinel?
For aspiring climbers of any caliber, there is often no better substitute for consistent training in preparation for a big mountain. Aconcagua is a remarkably beautiful, albeit challenging, mountain for any climber and should be respectfully considered when preparing. The more you prepare physically and mentally for such an undertaking, the more you can hedge your bets on things going well. Long days out on the trails, lots of vert with heavy loads, and consistent and often high-intensity cardio do the trick for performing well in the mountains. The gym is also a wonderful tool for building strength and fitness, although there is little substitute for just more time spent moving in the backcountry.
For anyone interested in climbing a big mountain such as Aconcagua, they should put a big emphasis on gaining as much outdoor and climbing experience as possible, especially during challenging conditions. There’s a lot to be said for having some mental toughness to fall back on when you inevitably experience harsh conditions in the mountains.
In most cases, we as climbers need to feel what cold, tired, and wet really are to understand when things are uncomfortable versus dangerous. The more you can push yourself in controlled environments back home or local mountains, the easier it is to draw upon that experience when you’re climbing on big extended trips, such as Aconcagua. Get outside and get uncomfortable; it could really make a difference in your success and, potentially, your safety later on in your climbing career.
Your climbing resume is packed with summits in the Pacific Northwest. How do climbs on peaks like Baker, Rainier, and Shuksan help climbers build the skills and experience needed for high-altitude objectives like Vinson and Aconcagua?
The PNW is arguably one of the best training grounds in the world for aspiring mountain climbers. The density and diversity of terrain that exists all within close proximity to many major cities make it a premier location to build one’s climbing resume. Spending time on peaks such as Mount Baker and Rainier, as well as logging time in the North Cascades, is a sure way to develop the key skills needed to be successful on any of the major summits around the globe. The more competent and more comfortable you feel with the basic fundamentals of climbing, the easier it will be for you to focus on the other challenges that come with climbing big peaks like Vinson, Aconcagua, or even Mount Everest. I’d encourage anyone with high-altitude aspirations to begin with training and climbing in the Pacific Northwest.
Editor’s Note: If you want to climb with Mike this summer in the Pacific Northwest, join him on our 5-Day Mount Baker Alpine Academy from July 10–14, 2025 (availability is limited – book now to secure your spot).
As a Leave No Trace Master Educator, how do you see sustainable practices shaping the future of mountaineering, and why is it crucial for the entire climbing community to take part?
Stewardship often falls closely in hand with mountain climbing, and I believe the more time you spend in the outdoors, the more appreciation you have for the strict use of Leave No Trace practices. The beauty and spectacle that these expeditions offer should be regarded as a resource worthy of protection and thus require good outdoor practices to maintain. It’s imperative not to regard yourself as an exception when in the outdoors; adhering to good LNT practices is key to ensuring decades of future climbing.
Mountaineering is as much about teamwork as personal and mental strength. How do you foster camaraderie and trust within your climbing teams?
The success of most climbs builds on the pillars of teamwork and camaraderie, as they are often the biggest factors in the success of any expedition. Climbing in itself is an inherently team-based activity, requiring members to work well to support one another in achieving their goals. The safety and even the enjoyment of a trip is dependent on investing a lot of effort into unifying a group. This is often achieved by setting clear expectations and parameters for a trip, communicating heavily and often to ensure everyone is understanding, and helping to boost morale when it inevitably falters after many long days on a mountain.
You served in the Marine Corps for 5 years. What real, tangible advice would you give to other veterans who are looking to jump into the world of mountaineering?
Being a veteran, in most cases, gives you a real advantage in the world of mountaineering. Inherently, you have already developed a work ethic, strong discipline, and a high threshold for discomfort, all attributes of a great mountaineer. My advice would be to use the skills you’ve already developed to your advantage when dealing with difficult conditions or when learning how to climb well together. Moreover, the mountains are often very unpredictable and require a flexible and loose mentality to deal with the uncertainty. This is something veterans should also be pretty familiar with and may find it easier to adapt to than folks from a more traditional background. Overall, I have found the art of climbing to be very therapeutic and purposeful, and I encourage anyone with a military background to look to the outdoors for their next adventure; they may find they are already very well suited for it.
What climb or expedition is still on your bucket list, and what draws you to that particular objective?
For myself, I’ve always approached climbing very systematically; one climb often makes me feel a bit more prepared and worthy of another. I also think I have a natural attraction to lists and projects. There’s a great satisfaction that comes with climbing a certain list of peaks or hitting a new grade on a climb. Personally, I’m very excited to climb in the high altitudes of the Himalayas; it’s a region that holds a sense of classic wonder and novelty to how I perceive climbing. I think climbing on big peaks like Ama Dablam or Mount Everest would be a great way to measure my progression as a climber while accessing and experiencing some of the most iconic and beautiful landscapes the climbing world has come to recognize.
Mike approaches climbing the way he approaches guiding—with humility, intention, and a deep respect for the process. One climb leads to the next. Skills stack. Experience builds. And the summit, whatever it may be, becomes something earned.
His sights are now set on the Himalayas—not just as a guide but as a climber. Big peaks like Ama Dablam and Everest still hold that same spark of wonder they do for so many of us. And that’s what makes Mike such a powerful mentor on the mountain—he’s walking the same path.
You might have caught this above: You can learn alongside Mike this summer during our Mount Baker Alpine Academy, July 10–14, 2025. Whether you’re dreaming of Vinson, Aconcagua, or if you’re just starting out, Mount Baker is the perfect place to find your footing in the mountaineering world.
Teams Continue up the Khumbu Valley
With the majority of our climbers and trekkers now in the Khumbu Valley, here are the updates from the field, plus a few of our favorite shots from this season!
Our first Rugged Luxury Everest Base Camp Trek & Stay of the season has officially wrapped, and we want to extend our heartfelt appreciation to all of our trekkers and CTSS Guide Pega Sherpa for kicking things off on such a positive note. Our second team is also up to big things, arriving at Everest Base Camp with a champagne celebration. The team will participate in a beginner-friendly ice climbing clinic tomorrow before being whisked away in a specialized high-altitude helicopter back to Kathmandu.
We have a number of teams at Lobuche Base Camp, including our Western Guided and 3 Peaks teams. Today, they took an acclimatization hike to Lobuche High Camp and then returned to Base Camp for a skills clinic. Tomorrow, they will move to Lobuche High Camp in preparation for their summit bid.
Farther down the Khumbu Valley, our Lobuche team and private climbers took a rest and acclimatization day in Pheriche. They visited the Himalayan Rescue Association, a non-profit organization that aims to reduce instances of acute mountain sickness and other mountain ailments in the Himalayas. The Pheriche Aid Post is one of three clinics they run in the Himalayas; others include the Everest Base Camp Emergency Room and the Manang Aid Post, located near Annapurna’s base.
Finally, we have a number of climbers and trekkers in Tengboche, including our Everest Base Camp trekkers, the Kirby Family, and Camp 3 climber Doug. Today, they visited the Tengboche Monastery, which was originally built in 1913 by Lama Gulu. It’s been rebuilt subsequently in 1934 (earthquake) and 1989 (fire), and today, it’s the largest gompa (Buddhist temple or monastery) in the Khumbu region of Nepal.
Thank you to CTSS Guides Nani Stahringer, Big Tendi, Little Tendi, Nuru Sherpa, and Walt Hailes for sharing these images with our team.
