Trekkers to return favour to Nepal and help rebuild hope
A Sunshine Coast-based trekking organisation will return to Nepal in 2027, using adventure tourism to help support mountain communities recovering from a devastating glacial disaster.
Trek Ready Himalayas and the team behind the Himalayan Challenge have confirmed a new series of purpose-driven expeditions, including the Manaslu Circuit, Annapurna Base Camp and traditional Mt Everest Base Camp trek.
The return follows a catastrophic glacial collapse in August which sent ice, water and debris through the Langtang and Trishuli river regions, destroying villages, roads, bridges and other infrastructure and displacing thousands of families.
Founder, expedition leader and Nambour Hospital allied health worker Gary McKitterick Gillett said returning to Nepal was both practical and personal.
“Nepal has given so much to trekkers around the world. Now it’s our turn to show up for them. Our presence brings income, visibility, and hope – and right now, Nepal needs all three.”
Tourism is a major source of income in Nepal’s remote mountain regions, supporting guides, porters, teahouse owners, transport operators and other small family businesses.
With visitor numbers affected following the disaster, Trek Ready Himalayas hopes its 2027 expeditions will inject money directly into local economies while drawing attention to the ongoing recovery.
The team also plans to strengthen partnerships with local guides and community leaders and use its expeditions to demonstrate support for families rebuilding their lives.
“The trails of Nepal have endured earthquakes, landslides, pandemics, and now glacial collapse – yet they remain open, ready, and waiting,” Mr McKitterick Gillett said.
“Walking them is a tribute to the lives lost and a commitment to the future of the communities who call these mountains home.”
The Himalayan Challenge has previously combined trekking with fundraising for Parkinson’s research through support for Shake It Up Australia.
“Hope is something you carry with you,” Mr McKitterick Gillett said. “When we return to Nepal, we’re not just trekking – we’re helping rebuild belief in what comes next.”
Boogie for Parkinson’s
Friday, December 4, is your chance to dance your butt off for a good cause at the Caloundra Power Boat Club, Golden Beach, from 6pm-9.30pm. Hosted by 60 Plus Playground, Boogie Woogie for Parkinson’s promises a night of 70s and 80s disco hits, retro costumes, dance competitions, prizes and raffles. The event will raise funds and awareness for Parkinson’s research through Shake It Up Australia and support Trek Ready Himalayas’ 2027 Himalayan Challenge in Nepal. Dress in your best disco gear and join the fun. Tickets are available through Eventbrite.
Gary McKitterick Gillett “Nepal has given so much to trekkers around the world. Now it’s our turn to show up for them.”