Whether you are an occasional hiker, or seek out challenging high-alpine hikes and climbs, there's a good chance you've thought about what it would be like to climb the world's tallest peak. While Mount Everest is what comes to mind when many of us think of Nepal, this country also boasts a rich, unique history and culture. People I know who have traveled in Nepal are most struck by getting to know the folks who live in this small country.

Some of the first reports I heard of the earthquake in Nepal pertained to deceased or trapped climbers on Mount Everest. As the week as gone on though we've learn about how the earthquake has affected the people of Nepal and destroyed many historic sites.

At the time of this writing, the death toll stands at nearly 6,000 people from the 7.8-magnitude quake. According to the country's army chief in charge of the rescue effort, that number may well climb to 15,000 (NBC News).

Join us in supporting the Nepal relief effort.

alexlowe.org
himalayan-foundation.org

See a full list of ways to give here. 

Desktop Calendar Wallpaper for May 2015

This month's downloadable desktop calendar wallpaper features a photo of Nepal's Mountain Dingboche Monastery. I hope you'll use it this month and remember Nepal in the months to come.