Frisco ecclesiastical leader, grandpa treks to Everest Base Camp

By Sharisa Lewis

[Frisco], TX  –– A Frisco dad, grandpa and Latter-day Saint ecclesiastical leader of 10 local congregations, recently returned from a life-changing trip to Mt. Everest’s Base Camp.

Kory Aoyama’s inspirational 10-day odyssey to Everest’s Base Camp fulfilled a lifelong dream.

“People have to be willing to take some chances and follow their dreams, even if they think it’s unachievable,” Aoyama said.

 Aoyama, who has only one kidney with 40% function, wanted to take this dream trip while his doctors still permitted.

Everest has always intrigued Aoyama since he was a little boy. After dropping his youngest daughter off at college, he saw an advertisement for IAN Taylor Trekking’s trips to Everest. He decided to train for it and go before turning 50 this year.

Aoyama prepared for the journey by walking on steep inclines on the treadmill. He took frequent training walks around his neighborhood with a 30-pound pack and heavy boots on even in Texas’ hot summers. He also led Scouts on a two-week hike in New Mexico’s Philmont last summer as part of his training. Despite his best efforts, Aoyama said the steep, constant climb up to Base Camp was grueling.

The third world sanitary conditions were also difficult. “It’s something you can’t prepare for,” Aoyama said. “You expect it, but the conditions still take you by surprise.”

His training guides encouraged the trekkers to bring things to hand out to the poor children in the villages during their acclamation climbs. Although Aoyama had to limit the weight of his bags, he wanted to bring the children in the villages coloring and sticker books.  To see the children’s excitement in getting these simple coloring books was one of Aoyama’s favorite things.

Aoyama’s wife, Janice, said that he was fanatical about the weight of his bags and what he took on the trek. However, he didn’t skimp on bringing coloring books to the children in the villages. She said that is so like him to think of others first.

“Those kids are extremely poor. They could play with a rock and be happy,” he said. “It was so much fun to give them little sticker books and see their eyes light up. They were just beaming.”

“The Everest scenery is breathtaking. No matter how low the lows got on the trek, the scenery was so amazing,” Aoyama said. “To stand at the foothills and base of those big mountains—there’s a majesty there that is surreal.”

“If nothing else came from this adventure, the thing that I recognized the most is the beauty of the world that we rarely ever see,” Aoyama said. “Heavenly Father created a marvelous place and His children are all over it.”

“To be able to experience my brothers and sisters from another country like that was incredible,” Aoyama said. “It was humbling, to say the least. If they could see our luxuries, I think they would just be shocked.”

Aoyama’s three-week trek was cut short after 10 days due to extreme altitude sickness. He has no regrets and is grateful he made it to Base Camp.

At 17,000 feet, “my body just started reacting negatively to the pressure, extreme headache and nausea,” Aoyama said. “I noticed it was hazy, but my Sherpa said that it was not. The altitude was impacting even my eyesight.”

Aoyama was impressed by the nurturing care his Sherpas gave to him when he got sick. They ministered to him by keeping him warm and taking care of his needs.

“Those Sherpas are so humble and incredibly compassionate,” Aoyama said. “They stood beside me while I was sick. My Sherpa would rub his hands over mine to keep me warm while waiting for the helicopter and put his big arm around me.”

Asked if he had any regrets, he said he would only train harder with heavier packs. He doubts he will do Everest again, but is ready for other adventures—like maybe Mount Kilimanjaro. However, his wife bought him a book of local adventures in hopes of inspiring him closer to home.

Kory Aoyama is a father of three and grandpa to three. He serves a second counselor in the Frisco stake presidency for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.