Marilyn Koolstra

She handed him a small pocket journal as they said their farewells.

She handed him a small pocket journal as they said their farewells.

Even though I'd give him a journal, you know, when he went a second time to Nepal, I said, write it down. No, he didn't do that. He was not a writer. He was a talker.

Even though I'd give him a journal, you know, when he went a second time to Nepal, I said, write it down. No, he didn't do that. He was not a writer. He was a talker.

And increasingly, a photographer. Eric took many photos on this trek. Using the photos, I can trace the path of the party as they arrived in Kathmandu, then flew to Lukla, a destination familiar to anyone who knows the history of Everest.

And increasingly, a photographer. Eric took many photos on this trek. Using the photos, I can trace the path of the party as they arrived in Kathmandu, then flew to Lukla, a destination familiar to anyone who knows the history of Everest.

They landed at Tenzing Hillary Airport. It's sometimes called the most dangerous airport in the world because the runway's short, on a slope, and dead ends against the mountainside. It's often closed with no warning due to strong winds and low visibility.

They landed at Tenzing Hillary Airport. It's sometimes called the most dangerous airport in the world because the runway's short, on a slope, and dead ends against the mountainside. It's often closed with no warning due to strong winds and low visibility.

From there, the party trekked to a village called Kare. They paused there to prepare for the next leg of their journey up and over a glacier-covered pass called Mera La.

From there, the party trekked to a village called Kare. They paused there to prepare for the next leg of their journey up and over a glacier-covered pass called Mera La.

One of Eric's photos show him doing this training, wearing crampons and a harness, roped up on an angled slab of ice.

One of Eric's photos show him doing this training, wearing crampons and a harness, roped up on an angled slab of ice.

It's the closest Eric had ever been to a true mountaineering experience, but he never put the training to the test.

It's the closest Eric had ever been to a true mountaineering experience, but he never put the training to the test.

I do wonder if crossing the glacier made Eric nervous, knowing what had happened to his friend Alan. Stuart told me he saw Eric overcome by emotion at several points on the journey.

I do wonder if crossing the glacier made Eric nervous, knowing what had happened to his friend Alan. Stuart told me he saw Eric overcome by emotion at several points on the journey.

When the party made it to the foot of Shamlung, they split into two. Stuart and his climbing partner made base camp and prepared to attack the mountain, while Eric and the other trekkers turned around and started walking back the way they had come. This meant crossing Mara Pass again, and while there, the trekkers intended to visit a nearby summit.

When the party made it to the foot of Shamlung, they split into two. Stuart and his climbing partner made base camp and prepared to attack the mountain, while Eric and the other trekkers turned around and started walking back the way they had come. This meant crossing Mara Pass again, and while there, the trekkers intended to visit a nearby summit.

A trekking peak is one you can get to the top of without mountaineering skills or climbing gear. Mira is one of the highest trekking peaks in the world. Its summit is nearly 6,480 meters above sea level, or about 21,250 feet. That's higher than Kilimanjaro in Tanzania, higher than Denali in Alaska.

A trekking peak is one you can get to the top of without mountaineering skills or climbing gear. Mira is one of the highest trekking peaks in the world. Its summit is nearly 6,480 meters above sea level, or about 21,250 feet. That's higher than Kilimanjaro in Tanzania, higher than Denali in Alaska.