Saint Ursula Academy Magazine Spring 2018 SUA_MagSpring2018 (2) | Page 21

faculty profile
Amazing Educator: Mike Heizman
One of Saint Ursula’s Amazing Educators is bringing a once-
in-a-lifetime experience back to his classroom. SUA Math
Teacher Mike Heizman is now back at school after taking a
sabbatical in the fall to trek to the Base Camp of Mt. Everest.
While this type of adventure is often a life-long dream for
people, this item was not on Mike’s bucket list until about
a year and a half ago. In the fall of 2016, Mike was visiting
the dentist and while waiting for his appointment, he read
a National Geographic article on trekking trips to the Base
Camp of Mt. Everest. From the stories told in the article to the
photographs he saw, he soon began to realize that this trip
was something he really wanted to do. Within a few months,
he had worked out the details and began training for this 19-
day adventure.
Mike spent last spring and summer walking the hills of Mt.
Adams and hiking along the Miami Whitewater River, often
5-6 hours a day. In final preparation for this trip, he logged
over 100 hours of training in the month of August 2017 and
was ready to begin this once-in-a-lifetime adventure in the
middle of September. Unlike many of the participants in his
group, he elected not to travel to Colorado or Wyoming to train
in high altitude.
In September 2017, as Mike boarded a plane in Cincinnati,
his biggest concern was whether someone would be waiting
to pick him up in Kathmandu, Nepal. Much to his relief, the
guide was there to greet him. The next day, he met the other
nine group members who were also participating. The entire
group flew into Lukla, Nepal where they would meet their
porters and begin their trek. In all, it took 11 days to climb
and hike the 40 miles of mountainous terrain between Lukla
and Gorak Shep, which is the final town before reaching Base
Camp. For three of those days, the group spent time in small
towns while they acclimated their bodies to the high altitude,
taking frequent measurements of their heart rate, blood
pressure, and blood oxygen levels. Along the way they saw
breath-taking views of the mountains, met many interesting
people, passed through many small towns, and learned much
about the culture of the Nepalese people.
Finally, the day arrived
when they would reach Mt.
Everest Base Camp! Mike
mentions that this part of
the experience was the most
under-whelming of the trip,
however. Base Camp in the
fall is “a bunch of rocks and
a few tents,” says Mike.
“You can’t even see Mt.
Everest from the camp.
In order to see any of
the mountain, you must
hike another mile to the
beginning of the Summit
Trek Trail.”
The group spent about 20
minutes at the Base Camp
before trekking back to
Gorak Shep. The next day,
they began their 9 day trip
back to Lukla.
Heizman built a cairn for good luck in the mountains
Mike is grateful for the
experience and encourages
Outside a Buddhist Monastery in Nepal
anyone who has the opportunity to take a similar trip to do
so. He was physically and mentally exhausted along the
way and once he got home, but says it was well worth it to
DAILY TIMELINE:
experience another culture and step out of his comfort zone
5:00 – Unpack and get settled for the night
to try something different. He often reflects on the life of the
people of Nepal and is able to share concrete examples with
6:30 – Breakfast (pancakes and tea prepared by Active
his students about the difficulties of the Nepalese people. He
Adventures Guide)
reminds his students of the many benefits of an education,
8:00 – Begin hiking
especially a Saint Ursula Education, and can encourage his
students to use that education to build a better world.
12:00 – Lunch at a tea house along the route
When asked if he has any advice for people who might be
considering a Base Camp Trek, Mike replied, “It’s an awesome
experience; just do it! But prepare yourself mentally and
physically, including training on a StairMaster!”
5:00 – unpack and get settled for the night
5:30 – Dinner (prepared by Active Adventures guides)
7:00 – Bedtime