Marilyn Koolstra

This pass seemingly to me was the Mount Everest of my walking and probably the Mount Everest of Eric's as well.

This pass seemingly to me was the Mount Everest of my walking and probably the Mount Everest of Eric's as well.

The Annapurna trek wasn't the only experience Eric and Marilyn shared in Nepal. They went to an orphanage school and saw how the staff there struggled to meet the needs of the kids.

The Annapurna trek wasn't the only experience Eric and Marilyn shared in Nepal. They went to an orphanage school and saw how the staff there struggled to meet the needs of the kids.

Eric was always confronted by the difference in treatment between the rich white hikers and expeditioners and the conditions that the Nepalese faced.

Eric was always confronted by the difference in treatment between the rich white hikers and expeditioners and the conditions that the Nepalese faced.

He felt so moved. He pledged financial support to the school with a recurring donation out of his pension. Eric's understanding of the inequalities came into sharper relief a year later, when he received an invite to return to Nepal. He joined an expedition co-led by a mountaineer named Stuart Morris.

He felt so moved. He pledged financial support to the school with a recurring donation out of his pension. Eric's understanding of the inequalities came into sharper relief a year later, when he received an invite to return to Nepal. He joined an expedition co-led by a mountaineer named Stuart Morris.

Stuart is my eldest son's close friend since high school.

Stuart is my eldest son's close friend since high school.

Stuart was about 20 years younger than Eric, but he had hiked with both Eric and Alan Beck in the past. He's even been to where Alan died.

Stuart was about 20 years younger than Eric, but he had hiked with both Eric and Alan Beck in the past. He's even been to where Alan died.

Stewart and a buddy made plans to attempt a climb of a mountain in the neighborhood of Everest in 2010.

Stewart and a buddy made plans to attempt a climb of a mountain in the neighborhood of Everest in 2010.

Getting there would require a week-long trek. They invited several friends, including Eric, to join them for that part of the trip. They went expedition style, with a hired team of Nepali porters carrying most of their gear.

Getting there would require a week-long trek. They invited several friends, including Eric, to join them for that part of the trip. They went expedition style, with a hired team of Nepali porters carrying most of their gear.

Marilyn saw Eric off at the Melbourne airport, where he and the party posed for photos with an Australian flag. Eric also snuck in a Scottish flag to fly at their camps.

Marilyn saw Eric off at the Melbourne airport, where he and the party posed for photos with an Australian flag. Eric also snuck in a Scottish flag to fly at their camps.

That was a statement of, you know, this is the Australian Scottish expedition. That's what that was about.

That was a statement of, you know, this is the Australian Scottish expedition. That's what that was about.