Marilyn Koolstra

A disappointment soon overshadowed when two members of the party developed altitude sickness. One was Eric's tent partner, Peter.

A disappointment soon overshadowed when two members of the party developed altitude sickness. One was Eric's tent partner, Peter.

Eric could only watch as Peter's condition deteriorated. He developed cerebral edema and pneumonia, a life-threatening situation. The party called for a helicopter to evacuate him.

Eric could only watch as Peter's condition deteriorated. He developed cerebral edema and pneumonia, a life-threatening situation. The party called for a helicopter to evacuate him.

It was a race against time. A shored window of fair weather finally allowed a chopper to reach them. It flew Peter to a hospital in Kathmandu, where, thankfully, he recovered. But the other person who got sick, one of the porters, never made it off the mountain.

It was a race against time. A shored window of fair weather finally allowed a chopper to reach them. It flew Peter to a hospital in Kathmandu, where, thankfully, he recovered. But the other person who got sick, one of the porters, never made it off the mountain.

The Australian was airlifted out and the Nepali person, porter, died.

The Australian was airlifted out and the Nepali person, porter, died.

Eric's pictures prove he spent a lot of time getting to know the Nepali team. He took the porter's death hard.

Eric's pictures prove he spent a lot of time getting to know the Nepali team. He took the porter's death hard.

When I picked him up from the airport, he was still in a great state of agitation and distress about the inequalities.

When I picked him up from the airport, he was still in a great state of agitation and distress about the inequalities.

Those inequalities come in many forms. Like, for example, I don't even know this porter's name and have no way of finding it. Mountaineering fatalities are tracked in Nepal, but this porter's death occurred on a trek, not a climb, so it wasn't reported.

Those inequalities come in many forms. Like, for example, I don't even know this porter's name and have no way of finding it. Mountaineering fatalities are tracked in Nepal, but this porter's death occurred on a trek, not a climb, so it wasn't reported.

Eric felt shocked at seeing how the locals who shoulder the burden of the trekking trade in Nepal aren't treated as equals to the affluent outsiders.

Eric felt shocked at seeing how the locals who shoulder the burden of the trekking trade in Nepal aren't treated as equals to the affluent outsiders.

Eric wouldn't, or couldn't, see that his tent partner Peter might have died too, if not for the support of the team and a lucky break in the weather. Twice in the space of two years, Eric confronted death in the mountains. Still, he insisted it couldn't happen to him. Eric started planning a trip to North America in early 2011.

Eric wouldn't, or couldn't, see that his tent partner Peter might have died too, if not for the support of the team and a lucky break in the weather. Twice in the space of two years, Eric confronted death in the mountains. Still, he insisted it couldn't happen to him. Eric started planning a trip to North America in early 2011.

He set his sights on two separate trails considered to be difficult, though he figured neither would prove as challenging as the places he had already been.

He set his sights on two separate trails considered to be difficult, though he figured neither would prove as challenging as the places he had already been.