Prince George resident Lydia Troc is an adventurer — her latest trip took her up to Mount Everest base camp in Nepal.
And she wasn’t alone.
For her ascent to base camp, which sits at an altitude of 5,364 metres, Troc brought along her stuffed plushie of beloved Prince George mascot Mr. PG.
Based on Prince George’s 8.14-metre-tall roadside attraction, Troc says she’s often brought the Mr. PG plush toy with her on her travels. She also brought along two more Mr. PG plushies for her guide and porter.
Lydia Troc has brought her Mr. PG stuffie on many adventures. All photos submitted by Lydia Troc. (Submitted by Lydia Troc)
“Ever since I got him, I’ve always been traveling with him and enjoyed bringing him with me,” Troc said.
“And people really like going, ‘Oh, what’s that?’ It would always engage in conversations.”
Troc spoke to CBC’s Daybreak North about her adventure.
This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
Why did you want to do this hike to Everest base camp?
I’ve always been fascinated with people who climb Mount Everest — and I honestly don’t have a desire to climb Mount Everest, but it’s always fascinated me.
As I watched documentaries on climbing Everest, I learned you could actually trek up to base camp where they start the climbing.
And I thought, well, I might as well — while I can — do that. I started planning about a year ago. I didn’t know anyone who wanted to do it, so I planned it on my own.
It’s no easy walk in the park.
It’s not. It starts off pretty easy, but it gets really challenging as you progress.
Some days are worse, some days are better, and then the final stretch was the worst.
It took us seven days to trek out there, and it was a great experience seeing the how people lived in that area. Not only trekking through it, but enjoying the scenery.
The Himalayas are kind of unbelievable. Pictures and videos don’t do it justice.
What was the feeling when you arrived?
I didn’t know if I would make it.
I felt proud of myself for doing it without being injured, or without having to be evacuated out or getting altitude sickness.
What was the view like?
The view was amazing. It’s hard to explain it, because in pictures, people look so little compared to the size of everything.
And we’re already at a higher altitude, yet these mountains would still be high above you. Just jaw-dropping. It’s hard to put into words
Knowing people climb even higher than base camp — what do you think about that?
Well, these people are way fitter than me. I struggled with that altitude.
I just cannot imagine how people manage to get up there and continue.
I know they spend way more time up there before they actually do the trek to go up to climbing Mount Everest. I admire them for being able to do that.
But I’m happy with getting to base camp. I don’t need to get to the top of Everest — I’m good.
You took a special guest along with you on this trek, a little symbol from home.
I did. I brought Mr. PG and two of his friends, Mr. PG and Mr. PG.
I’ve travelled with Mr. PG for several years, since whenever the city first brought out the little mascot, and I enjoy taking photos of him doing his own activities everywhere.
Obviously, he was going to come along with me on my trek to Everest base camp.
I carried my Mr. PG with me and I took pictures of him doing things, and eating the local food, and reaching the base camp as well too.
And then towards the end, I gave the porter and a guide a Mr. PG of their own.
And they really liked it because they got engaged.
They were always excited to see Mr. PG when I was taking pictures, and they would worry when I didn’t have him.
So they were super happy when I gave them one. And since I’ve been home, they’ve sent me some photos of what Mr. PG has been doing in Nepal since I’ve left.
So it’s kind of been a just a nice little way to say thank you for their services and support.
How did your Mr. PG do at elevation?
He had no issues. He had no altitude sickness, he didn’t have to take any medications and he streamed along. He was quite the lazy little trekker.
Was Everest base camp a bit of a bucket list item for you?
Yeah, one of them. I want to go to as many places as I can.
It sounds like fun. What’s next?
I actually don’t know. I need to kind of figure that out. Sometimes I just look for opportunities of where I want to go, and I don’t necessarily have a place in mind.
But come January, probably, I’ll have something in mind. Just waiting for something to kind of say, hey, this is where you’re going next.